From owner-ultra@caligari.Dartmouth.EDU Tue May 20 07:12:11 1997 Date: Mon, 19 May 1997 09:39:55 -0700 From: Dan Baglione To: IUS List , Ultra Caligari Subject: dbag on Silver State 50/50 On this list, frequent use has been made of the phrase 'relentless forward progress' (RFP). If you ever decide to do the Silver State 50K/50mile, be prepared for RFPU, relentless forward progress UP. I realize that those who did MMT100 this past weekend have a great appreciation for uphills; and I have hiked up the front side of Hope Pass many times; But never before had I encountered an unrelenting 10 mile up starting at 4700 ft and ending at 8900 ft. Actually, according to all I had heard in the past, conditions for this year's Silver State were among the best ever. Temperature was not excessively warm, no raging wind, no sleet or hale, no mud; and only 5 miles of frustrating, slipping, sliding snow. The course was excellently marked although there were some who insisted on stepping over the log and going straight off the course instead of looking around and following the clearly visible line of ribbons up to the left. Early in the race, those doing the 50 miles take off on their added loop and then rejoin the 50K people several miles later. For me it was an added pleasure to be passed by elite runners late in a race. This was a test for me to see what my knees would still let me do. Happily, all they did was force me to go more slowly on the downs and spend even more time out on the course, having more fun, and feeling sorry for those people who are less tough and feel the need to finish the course quickly. Dan Baglione Here on the Foresthill Divide, 5.5 miles from the Western States Trail. Run long, Run strong. dbag@foothill.net http://www.foothill.net/~dbag