H.U.R.T. Hawaii

Western States Race Report

My race report follows.  Warning - It is long. 

Western States 2009 – Unexplored Resilience

Western States 2009 was epic.  Not because I had the race of my life (I didn’t) and not because I reached some higher consciousness (just a little confusion and inability to think); but because I went to new places with my mind and my body.  Places to which I had been fortunate enough not to visit previously.  As I write this, I am still digesting those places as well as evaluating my strengths / weaknesses that reared up over my 28 + hour journey.

I really cannot describe the phenomenon that is Western States.  The lead-up to Saturday morning is exhilarating, nerve wracking, and fantastic.  The buzz is electric – even the animals felt the energy of Squaw Valley.  Thursday morning, all four of the HURT runners and their respective crews hiked the 2,040 foot climb to the Escarpment for the flag planting ceremony at Emigrant Pass. 

The gathering was very nice, especially Cheryl sharing memories of Ed Fishman and his contribution to HURT and ultrarunning.   The afternoon was spent relaxing and going over gear, drop bags, and race plans.  We shared a great dinner and got a good night’s sleep. 

Friday was a series of weigh-ins, medical checks, goodie-gathering, drop bag depositing, and pre-race meetings.  It was an early dinner and early to bed for me.  Unfortunately, sleep wouldn’t come until about one hour prior to the alarm ringing to wake me!  I felt somewhat rested and very anxious to get going.  After checking in, we went to the start line and before I knew it, we were counting down the seconds to the start. 

The gun went off and 399 runners headed up the climb to the Escarpment.  I jogged until I felt my heart rate rising, and then walked the steep stuff.  The temperature was in the 50’s and I knew I should enjoy it while I could.  The forecasts were for blazing hot both days, so I knew that heart rate and body temperature both needed to be kept low and moderate or there would be trouble later.

California Running Adventure Report

Well I have finsihed my LONG report from my adventurous trip to California.  If you wish to read it is available here.  I would also like to extend a welcome home and a job well done for all who prepared for and tried their best at WS 100.  Aloha and E Komo Mai.  See you on Saturday.  Jah Bless.

Devon

WS 100: I GAVE MY ALL - "NO REGRETS"

START (SQUAW VALLEY): Saturday, June 27, 2009 @ 5:00:00 a.m.

FINISHED (AUBURN): Sunday, June 28, 2009 @ 9:23:11 a.m.

TOTAL DISTANCE: 100.2 MILES

TOTAL TIME (HRS):  28:23:11

RACE SUMMARY: AWESOME JOURNEY!!!

We trained hard, did all our homework & got ready for this race the best way we knew how.   I knew I had to be physically strong for this challenge & prayed unceasingly that my knees would hold up during the race('cos it's only been about 10 months ago that I had both my knees scoped).  The main concern for me was all the downhill running that this course was notorious for.  I knew I was ready for the climbs.  This time will also be the first time that I will be using a pacer only because I was not familiar with the course. 

Prerace, we all hung out & enjoyed ourselves taking in the race atmosphere and admiring the beautiful Squaw Valley scenery. We were able to do this only because we were staying at the Olympic Village Condominiums near the start line.  This proved to be the right move, especially on race day, where convenience triumphs everything else. I stayed calmed the next couple of days & only got a little nervous the night before the race, but I still managed to put in about 6 hours of good sleep.  Overall, the sequence of events on the race schedule were followed without any hiccups. 

Holcomb Valley 33 Miler and AC 100 Night Training Run

 

Well I am back from my California Running Adventure and it couldn't have been better:)  Holcomb Valley 33 Miler on June 14th in Big Bear Lake, California had to have been the most challenging for my lungs.  The whole course is above 7000' and I sure felt it.  I showed up 1.5 hours before race start and it was about 30 degrees.  It warmed up to about maybe 70 degrees by the end of the race.  I finished in 8:45.  The course had 7000' elevation gain and loss and was pretty much runnable the whole way....if you are used to running at that altitude:)  It was a great training run for AC 100.  The highlight of my trip was running on the PCT during the race,  it was just awesome.  I then hopped over to Wrightwood, CA where the start of the AC 100 will be in September and camped there with my mom and step-dad.  On June 20th I did the AC 100 Night Training Run, which consisted of the final 26 miles of the course, from Chantry Flats to Loma Alta Park, Altadena, CA.  We carpooled from the park and went high up into the mountains where you could see forever.  I rode with co-race director Hal Winton.  We then started at 1900 and ran for a while until it got dark which was about an hour and 4 miles in.  It was a different experience running at night mostly by yourself in unfamiliar territory, in bear and cougar country.  I was like, "I am definitley not in Hawaii anymore."  I got to mile 14 at the top of Sam Merrill and my knee started to hurt.  I ran walked the next 4 miles and could not continue to injure myself, thus I walked the last 8 miles in 3 hours or so.  I finished the run in 9.5 hours at 0430 in the morning.  And there was Hal Winton, Dave, and Dave waiting for me to make sure that the Hawaii runner did not get eaten:)  All in all it was a great experience and a wonderful way to spend three weeks in California and great prep fpr AC 100.  I did get a little injured but the doctor just said to take it easy for a couple weeks, also I did come back with a bad case of Psoriasis, not poison oak. But,  I will talk more on my blog about my trip later.  Jah Bless.. .....Devon Webb                                   

 

Trevor 160 Report

If you never dare to dream, you never really live. 

 

For me, I am very pleased with the outcome of the event despite not completing the distance goal.  The awareness and support for Trevor was the main goal, and for that I cannot be happier.  Ultimately, I had to withdraw after some health problems presented themselves and this was the right, but difficult decision.  Ironically and to keep things in perspective, while attempting to run around the island, Trevor was admitted to the hospital with treatment complications.  And as he recovered and was released, I will also recover to continue to support as I can.

One...more...mile...Challenge Update

Well I am more than halfway through the month in this challenge.  There are 5 of us out of 9 left.  After today we will have run 171 miles.  Collectively we have run 1028 miles.  I have ran 177 miles since the 1st of November.  I went to California, to see my Grandma pass away, and continued the challenge running on the coastal bike trail.  It was pretty.  I also met The Zombies at their store in Palo Alto.  THey were very nice people.  It hotter than here on the last day when I ran from Castroville, CA to Monterey, CA (16.8 m).  Not much of an ultra-challenge yet but soon to come.  We will see how far I go.  Last one standing wins for their organization.  I am still vertical..  Gotta RUN....

       

The Eastside Shuffle

....Here M. Minch recounts the running adventure so named above, having taken place last Saturday and in the company of noted Ultra runners Ernest Tay and Fish.  (Note: a few explitives remain in this highly edited version of reality.  Somethings just can not be said any other way.) 

   

After the Run with a View race we were talking about ‘next week’ and Fish tells me that he and Ernest are doing the Eastside. “It’s a nice run,” he says. “Not too long, just fourteen miles, and a few good hills. You’ll like it,” he says flashing me a smile. Well I’m not bad at hills, and I figured that fourteen road miles was well within in my bracket so I tell Fish “You can count me in!”

   

Now I wasn’t drunk, nor had I been smoking da paka, so one has to wonder why I would listen to Fish tell me about this run and not massage the incoming information a bit before committing to ‘count me in’ status. But you know how it goes. Fish says something and smiles and tells you how much fun it is going to be, and Ernest looks you straight in the eye. It’s like the word of the running god coming down. How can you doubt it? You just know it’s got to be the way they are saying it is going to happen. It is, but they are doing the saying and the running god is just sitting back there with a smirk on his face, I think. Unfortunately the off- kilter grin is aimed at you and not the guys describing the fun event.

              

So, Curious Minds Want to Know--Are you going to Peacock Saturday?

This race-pace training run up on the N. Shore at Peacock has generated some interest and discussion. Who would have thought so many people would be willing to give up shopping at Ala Moana on a Saturday in December to go run 50 miles? Apparently quite a few people. The only other explanation is these people must not have Warrior football tickets?

In all seriousness, the organizers of this training run would like a headcount (approximate) of how many people to expect on Saturday. If you are going, please contact Don or Cheryl or post a comment to this post so they know. Don can be reached via expo@hawaii.rr.com or Cheryl at CHERYL.LOOMIS@cubic.com

If you are entered in the H.U.R.T. 100 in January, this will be an important day to get in 50 miles.

Be smart and use this run to dial in your nutrition, electrolytes, hydration, and lighting for January. By now, those things should all be pretty set, however this day--given the mileage and time on your feet will be a great test.

Aloha, Bob
P.S. I look forward to shopping and cheering on the Warriors (from in front of my TV) Saturday!

Questions of Old Graves and Fat Waterfalls.

Cheryl and I were just out to do a clean up at one of the drops and make sure it was stocked for the Friday/Saturday training sessions.   It didn’t take us long to clean things up, and restock and we were ready to go back to the cars.  Standing there on the trail, it was hard to just not do anything, so to speak,  the magnet of the trail was pulling at us and despite the need to get on with the rest of the day, we just stood there looking down the trail. 

“Have you ever seen the graves,”  Cheryl finally asked?

“Graves?”

“Yeah, a lot of them, and some high rock walls, and another waterfall.” 

“Another waterfall?” 

“Yeah, its not too far up really,  PJ and I went back there once and it was just amazing. 

You want to go take a look?”

I’m standing there in my street/work running shoes and ‘I’m a painter’ work clothes and I look up the trail and figure, well it doesn’t look too muddy.  Anyway what am I supposed to say to Cheryl,  ‘No my mommy expects me home at Three.”   “Not far ehh?”  I hem.

“Oh no.  Just around that bend up there on the trail and off on a side trail.  Not far at all”  lied Cheryl.

Leon's Pie Stand Underwater!

Well, the thunder should have given me a hint.  The winds that broke my deck umbrella another clue.  And the mud flowing over my retaining wall, just a slight idea that the trails may be damp.  Since I have a pre-negotiated schedule with my wife, I didn't have a choice.  So come Sunday morning during the teeth of the slicing rain, I ventured forth to run from PP to JG a few times.

The river that replaced the road leading to the trail head was interesting to wade through.  No one was there to chat with (losers) so I kept going.  Officially ready to start, the rains became even heavier with excitement for me.  The Class V rapids were impressive as was the flowing trail over my shoes.  Never before have I seen so many rivers crossing the trail.  At the cutoff near the falls, I was greeted by heavy winds forced on me by Niagara Falls' sister that was splashing onto the trail.  No, there was no mud to be found on me by then.

Waterfalls continued to live above me no matter how far I climbed.  When I finished forging the rivers up the switchbacks, I thought I could wade through Pauoa Flats easily.  Then I saw a puddle that looked like Lake Pontchartrain (no Katrina reference intended).  Of course, I leaped then though about how deep it might be and to my dismay, there were no pies under the 3 feet of water.  Leon forgot to anchor them down.  As I swam across the lake using my transition skills from years of triathlon racing, I just new Nuuanu would be bone dry.

In the water park of Nuuanu, I was greeted by the rivers that seem to grow from some unknown force adding more water ever second.  I just jumped across them holding my flashlight with a vice grip since that was my only light.  I assumed it was get brighter with daylight (wrong again).  Through the descending adventure to Judd trail, I heard the ever building presence of an outboard motorboat race.  Maybe Monica was not hallucinating that year, and there really are boats in the stream.  But actually, it was the Class VI river that decided to flow over its bank causing me to scramble over rocks to keep on the side trail.  I needed to get to high ground and refill my water bottles.  Then I realized that with all this water, I only drank 12 ounces on the way over.  I was good to go.  Note to those male readers.  When it rains and you are submerged in cold water for hours on end, the obsessive urge to pee is normal. I was faced with 4 urges per 5.5 mile leg and it’s not the age.

Excellent day to do repeats.