Mr. Toads Wild Run 20k Trail Race 2017; Race Report #22

     Every year on the first Saturday of December the Bakersfield Track Club hosts a trail race known as Mr. Toads Wild Run. The reason for the name is the last 3/4 mile is downhill in a curvy high banked turn trail known as Toads Gulley. This year the race start was much warmer than usual so we were all in shorts for the race.
     Robin, Andrea, Aden, David, and myself along with many other friends were entered in the 20k, while Trevor was attempting the 5k. At the last minute, Trevor opted to forego the race and drive to Clovis to help with some family yard work which left just us 20k participants.

Andrea, Robin and myself prior to the 20k start.

     I did my usual warm-up, but not too much as this would be a long race for me based on my current training situation. My longest recent run had only been 10 miles to date. The 5 and 20k started together, and I took off slowly, determined to not burn myself out in the first few hills. I also opted to carry Tailwind as my drink for the first time in a race. It wasn't long before the races split and I found myself out by myself for what seemed like miles. I was careful to make sure I didn't try to run up the big hills this time. I had made that mistake in previous years. I talked to runners that I passed as I cruised along the course. I felt better as the race progressed. Soon enough I came upon the infamous "bastard hill./" It was at this point I saw Aden who had already run the hill and was heading back looking good firmly in a top 3 overall position. I power walked up the hill, then ran the rest of the race. I think I even did negative splits since I walked the hills at the beginning. I ended up finishing 16th overall, third in my age group. Aden finished second overall and first in his age group. With some consistent training, he has loads of potential.
     Meanwhile, Robin and Andrea were busy having fun hiking the uphills and running the downhills. They amused themselves taking selfies, then adding special effects during the race.

Robin and Andrea playing around during the race. 

     I grabbed a quick snack after finishing and set out running the course backward to finish with Robin and Andrea. This meant I had to go uphill in Mr. Toads gulley. I mostly hiked as I encouraged runners finishing the race as I went. I found them about 1 1/2 miles before the finish laughing and having a good time. I ran and walked downhill to the finish with them.They both finished in a time of 3:22:57.  I checked the results and got my age group award which was a cool beer glass. We had a brief rest and snacks before heading to Pyrenees Basque restaurant for some post-race nourishment. 

We had lunch in the bar at Pyrenees Basque Restaraunt. 

     According to my new rating system, I give this race a 4 IPA rating.The course is tough enough to be an IPA course. I had to knock it down a beer because they held the raffle for prizes while runners were still on the course, and I knocked it down another beer for not having a free beer after the race for the adult participants. The race is fun and close, so I look forward to doing it again in 2018.

  

     

Silver Falls Trail Races 2017, Silver Falls, Oregon; Race Report #21

     Planes, Trains, and Automobiles may have been a hit movie, but it's also how we got to the Silver Falls Trail Races in Oregon. We drove down to Burbank Airport on the Friday morning before the race for our nonstop flight to Portland. After we got through the TSA lines we ran into fellow Santa Clarita Runner Carl Stromberg and his wife who were also heading to Portland, but on an earlier flight. It turns out they were going up to watch their son Grant compete in the NCAA Cross Country Regional race. Our flight was uneventful and we landed in Portland a little early. The Portland airport was beautiful and clean as always. We grabbed our checked bag and headed to the Tri-Met station for the train ride to Beaverton way our son Kris would pick us up and take us to our hotel.

     Portland has one of the best ways to get into and out of an airport. No need for a vehicle at the airport, just buy a Tri-Met pass, hop on the train, and head close to your destination. The trip to Beaverton was about an hour and stress-free. We disembarked the train at the Beaverton Creek Station, the closest one to the Nike campus where our son was working.

The sign in the Nike woods next to the Tri-Met tracks

     Kris found us even though I was busy exploring the Nike running trails next to the tracks. We headed to lunch before checking into our room at the Marriott. One of the great things about the Portland area is there is no shortage of good brewpubs or restaurants. We stopped off at the Fireside Grill. The food was fantastic. I had my first burger of the weekend.

My burger and homemade chips at the Fireside Grill in Beaverton, Oregon

     After our great lunch, we checked in to the Beaverton Marriott then headed to the Value Village thrift store a few miles away for a couple of hours of bargain hunting before dinner. I did find vintage copies of Alfred Lord Tennyson, Robert Browning, and Lord Byron's work published between 1895 and 1905. I got all three for under 10.00. 

     The closest place we could find that served decent food that wasn't packed on a rainy Friday night was McMenamins. Pizza and beer the night before a race has always worked for me, and this night would be no different. We ate heartily preparing for tomorrows adventure and Kris dropped us off at the hotel for a good night's sleep. 

Barbeque Chicken Pizza at McMenamins

     Kris picked us up in the dark on Saturday morning and off we went South towards Salem, then East into the mountains to Silver Falls State Park. We arrived shortly before 8:00  A.M. The first race of the day, the 50k had already started. The marathon was scheduled to start at 8, and our race, the 7 miler was scheduled to start at 9:00 A.M. We headed to the check-in tent, and picked up our bib numbers and swag. One of the many things I liked about this race was the t-shirt purchase was a 10.00 option. The race directors didn't force us into buying the shirts. After we checked in, we wandered around the check-in tent and there was a portable bar set up serving free shots of Fireball whiskey. Not the type of people to disappoint, we did partake in small shots of Fireball to warm us up on a cold morning. 

The check-in area prior to the start of the Silver Falls Trail Races

Course Map of the 7-mile race at Silver Falls State Park.

Doing our Fireball shots prior to the start of the Silver Falls Trail Race.

     It was nice seeing the marathon start promptly on time at 8:00 A.M. This meant everything else would probably be on time, and it was. I did my warm-up, hit the porta potties a couple of times, and was soon ready for the start. I told Kris and Robin I would see them at the finish and lined up towards the front. I wasn't sure how long it would be before we hit single track trails and I didn't want to get stuck in the pack. I wasn't in great shape since I haven't trained too much due to plantar fasciitis issues so I didn't push myself too much on the initial hills. Soon the course went downhill towards the water which meant we had to come back up to finish. The weather was about 40 degrees, overcast, but no wind. Perfect for running. There was a chance of rain in the forecast, but it held off for the race.

     The race description told of beautiful waterfalls along the course, and we weren't disappointed. The first couple wasn't much to see, but before long we were running along and under some of the most fantastic scenery I have ever seen. We actually ran under the waterfalls. In one of them I had to duck my head as I ran, and in another, it was so dark I couldn't see the ground, but I could feel the moisture through my Nike Terra Kiger shoes.

 Waterfalls like this were everywhere along the course.

We ran under the waterfalls

At some point in the race, Robin caught up with Kris who was busy stopping to take pictures.

Note the cool waterfall in the background.

     I checked my watch and we were nearing mile five, and still running along the river. The stairs and switchbacks out of the canyon would be upon me soon enough, so I slowed down a little hoping to make the best of what was to come. What came was I the fact I wasn't in good enough shape to run up the stairs and switchbacks. I did my best power walking up the stairs, using the banister to help propel me up. When we got brief downhill or flat sections I ran at a reduced pace, fearful of the infamous "nutbuster" hill I had heard about that was close to the finish. I was soon out of the canyon and running towards the finish area. I had survived the switchbacks by walking with purpose. My mistake was, I thought the switchbacks was the "nutbuster" hill, but I was mistaken. I could see the big white tent and hear the announcer, but the course took me suddenly to the right and straight up. This was the hill, and I was relegated to walking with purpose again. I got passed by a masochist who tried running up the hill, and I got passed again on the downhill which was wet and grassy. I survived the descent with the rubber side down and proceeded to pass back everyone that had gotten by me in the short but steep up and downhill section right before the finish. I finished 69th overall, third in my age group in a time of 1:12:27. I took my finishers medal and headed to the beer truck for my first post-race IPA. The beer was supplied by Seven Brides Brewing and was fantastic. One of the great things about this race was there was no limit on how many beers one could drink after the race. Since my son was driving I decided I would enjoy a few of the tasty IPA's, and I'm not known for liking that type of beer, but on this morning they were great.

Seven Brides Brewing provided the post-race refreshments.

I got third in my age group, the guys that beat me must have been in the beer or porta potty line.

     My beer cup was empty when my son Kris finished, but that was easily remedied. Not too long after he finished Robin came in. It was at this time that I learned that a runner had had a medical issue out on the course. For the second time this year, Robin came upon people performing CPR on a runner during a race. We later learned the runner passed away from an apparent heart attack. our condolences go out to his family. 

     Not only did the race have great beer, but they also had all of the homemade chili we could eat. We had chili and beer, waited around for the awards, and picked up our race receipts. I'm not sure what else to call them, but when I went to look at the results posted on the wall a guy with a laptop and printer called out my name and handed me a slip of paper with all of my race statistics on it. This was another cool feature of this race. It was time to head back to Beaverton.

     The race may have been over but the weekend wasn't. Kris dropped us off at the hotel. We hit the indoor pool for some cool down exercises in the water, showered, and Kris picked us up so we could hit the town. Our first stop was the Thirsty Lion. We all had a beer and split some appetizers. From there we went to Orenco to hang out at the Pizza Schmizza to watch the Ducks game. The game wasn't great for Oregon fans so we headed back towards the hotel, stopping at Room 122, a taphouse, for a nightcap. 

Appetizers and beers at the Thirsty Lion

     Sunday morning found us heading to the Tri-Met station for a quick run into downtown Portland where we would spend the day. Our first stop was at Jakes Grill for brunch where we would be meeting some friends of mine from high school 40 years ago. The food and drinks were great, but the laughter and memories were better. The meal ended way too soon and I can't wait to sit down and catch up some more with those two. 

 

I met up with Judy and Scott from high school at Jake's Grill in Portland

     Robin had one more spot she wanted to hit, and it was a bucket list place for her. Hanna Andersen is one of her favorite clothing lines and there was a store within walking distance. Off we went, it was only a few blocks. Fortunately for Kris and I, there was a fine looking pub called Life of Riley across the street for us to kill time in. Robin went one way, and we headed into the Life of Riley for a pint and appetizers. 

Beers and appetizers at Life of Riley. Note the Hanna Andersen bag, Robin was successful.

     From Life of Riley, we headed to Tilts for some more burgers and beers. It was a three block walk. Downtown Portland is full of fun places to eat and drink, and we were trying to hit as many as we could. The cool thing about Tilts is the decor is old school machine shop. I went with the jalapeno burger and a beer and it was very tasty. There were no paper napkins, just orange shop towels. I checked mine for metal chips before wiping my face. Old habits die hard.

     

My jalapeno burger at Tilts Portland

Tilts didn't have just burgers and beers. Check out the pie selection.

     The final stop of the night would be near the Portland Timbers stadium to watch the Timbers playoff game in a bar. If you've never been to Portland during a Timbers game you don't know what you are missing. Everyone is dressed in the team colors, and all the screens in bars are tuned to the game. NFL takes a back seat during Timbers games. We ate at Henry's Tavern, and the food was again delicious. Soon enough the game was over and we all headed to the nearest Tri-Met Stop for the ride back to Beaverton. Kris took us back to the Marriott where we said our goodbyes until Christmas. 

     Monday morning I did an easy run, then we hit Einstein Bros. Bagels next to the hotel for breakfast. The food was good, and they had the largest selection of cream cheeses I've ever seen.

My bagel sandwich at Einstein Bros. Bagels

     After breakfast, we packed our bags and checked out. Since Kris was working we used the bus to get us to the Tri-Met station for the ride to the airport. We didn't have to wait too long for the bus, and luckily it wasn't raining. We got to the airport, checked our bags, and settled down for some lunch at Henry's PDX.

The beers at Henry's PDX were about the same price as Henry's in downtown Portland,

     Our flight boarded on time, and if any passengers were wearing Portland Timbers shirts they got to board with the first class passengers. Unfortunately, I had a passenger sitting next to me that wasn't a runner, and he took up his seat and overflowed into mine a bit. I'm just glad the flight to Burbank was a short one. When we landed we got on the wrong shuttle, so that was exciting. Twenty minutes later we were on the proper shuttle headed to our car. You got to love small airports. By now we were hungry again so we decided to stop at Hoke Poke in Santa Clarita on our way home. Thank you, Bobby, for starting this place. It was nice to finish our weekend off with some healthy food.

 My spicy tuna poke bowl from Hoke Poke in Santa Clarita, CA

     Starting next year I have decided to give the races I do a rating. I'm going to rate them on all aspects of the race from the ease of check-in to course difficulty. Flat courses will be lagers, and trail runs will be IPA's. The rating will consist of one to six beers, with six being the best. If I were to rate the Silver Falls Trail races it would easily be six IPA beers. Stay tuned in 2018 as I work out the kinks in my rating system and travel around to various races.

Prostate Cancer Surgery One Year Removed

     Today is the one year anniversary of my prostate cancer surgery. It has been a rather eventful year. I had to potty train myself and learn to run again. I can kegel as good as anybody, but it was a fun few months learning how to do things I used to take for granted.

     Before I get into the highlights of the past year, I need to thank my wife Robin for everything she does for me. She was a big help keeping me positive when things were a little rough. I need to also thank some wonderful friends that went with me to various running races as I attempted to get back to my normal self. Okay, those of you that know me can stop laughing about the "normal" part. We all got matching shirts and went to various races around California, Nevada, and Oregon. We trained hard, raced hard, and celebrated finishing those races by partying hard. Okay, not like the 80's, but we all had a good time.No matter how the race went we made sure we had fun before and afterward, sometimes even during the race. Some of my friends would make me laugh so hard I peed myself, but I wouldn't trade those moments for anything.

Sporting our matching Running with Prostate Cancer shirts at the Wild Wild West Marathon

     Besides all of the running I did this year, I was also the Grand Marshall at our local Relay for Life. It was different being the person that stood up there talking about my experiences battling cancer. The event was cut short by a violent microburst, but we all made it back for the luminaria.

     I also became a grandpa for the first time when Brandon and Torri gave us Henry. I can't wait to teach him about the finer things in life from my perspective as he grows older. We flew back to South Carolina to visit. I ate at a Waffle House for the first time. Life was good that weekend. 

     Robin and I got up to Oregon again to visit Kris. We all had a blast and did a fantastic trail race up there. We sampled as many of the local dining establishments as possible.

     Through all of this, I have learned about how my body has changed because of the surgery. I don't pass up rest stops when traveling anymore. I'm able to consume drinks with caffeine again, but that has only happened recently. I can do anything without needing a diaper or pad except run hard. Running easy seems to no longer be an issue. 

     The best news of all regarding my cancer is it's still undetectable. I've had three PSA tests since my surgery and all of them have come back as undetectable. I still get nervous during the time between the test and the appointment to get the test results, but this is normal, and I will be nervous next June when I get tested again. Until then I plan to keep running, help Robin train for her first trail marathon, meet up with friends to practice, race, and consume post run nourishment, which is a good enough excuse to want to keep cancer at bay for the rest of my life.

     

2017 Rowdycon 5k; Race Report #20

     Ever since I did the SAR Bigfoot Race in Shaver Lake I had intermittent pain in the bottom of my feet. At first, I thought it was from the shoes I wore that day as I have not put too many miles in them. It soon became obvious that I was suffering from plantar fasciitis. I did a 10 mile run by myself up and down Mt. Pinos a week after the Howlin at the Moon race, and I had pretty good pain afterward. I took ten days off, then did a 4 mile run just a couple of days before a small 5k race in Bakersfield. I also started taping my feet with kinesiology tape and wearing some tight arch supports.

     The race I went to was called the Rowdycon 5k and was held at Cal State Bakersfield. It was a small race put on by the kinesiology department. I love the course as it was a big loop around the campus. Robin had other commitments so I made the drive down to the race by myself. I did meet David and Aden there so there were three of us from up on the mountain. 

     I did a couple of miles for a warm-up, and my feet felt okay. When the gun went off I stayed back for awhile trying not to go out hard and put too much of a strain on the bottom of my feet. I hit the first mile in 6:35. Since I hadn't done much running over the past three weeks I knew I would suffer towards the end of the race. My second mile was 6:53, and mile last mile was 7:00 flat. I finished 9th overall with a time of 21:12. The time was good enough for first in my age group. Aden and David also placed in their age groups so we all three got cool medals that actually turned in the middle.

Results from the Rowdycon 5k in Bakersfield, CA on September 30, 2017

     After the race, we hit Lengthwise Brewing for some burgers and beers, then we headed over to Sole to Soul Sports to purchase some more running goodies while we were down in town.

My post-race chili size from Lengthwise Brewing

Howlin at the Moon 5k; Race Report #19

     On Saturday night, September 9th, we headed down to Riverwalk Park in Bakersfield for the Howlin at the Moon 5 and 10k runs. This event is put on by the Bakersfield Police Department and is one of my favorite races every year. Robin and I met Trevor and Andrea there, along with Stan, Lisa, Aden, and David for a night of running fun. I did my usual warm-ups and strides. My feet were still hurting a little, and that soon subsided. The temperature was rather hot for a night time race, as the thermometer said it was a balmy 88 out, just dipping below the magic 90 number. We all had headlamps on for the race. The race was being chipped timed by the Bakersfield Track Club and post race meals were catered by Dickies Barbecue. We got all of this plus more for our 25.00 pre-entry.  This race is easily one of the best things going, yet there could be a lot more runners entered.
     The course was out and back on the Kern River bike path, and it was flat and fast. The lead vehicle is a police Quad with light strobes going. All of the runners are given glow in the dark bracelets and necklaces which makes everything look really cool when out on the course. The police put portable strobe lights on the ground at the 5k turnaround, along with a portable set of stadium lights and the aid station. It was impossible to miss.
     I didn't take off too fast at the gun, but I did settle into a quick pace, hoping to go sub 20:30. My first mile was a 6:21. I could see Aden not too far ahead of me still. It wasn't long before the turnaround point came into view. It was a bright beacon on the dark Bakersfield landscape. I watched in astonishment as Aden, who had already run a high school race earlier in the day, kept on going at the 5k turnaround, he just followed the runner ahead of him who happened to be running the 10k.
     I did the turnaround and headed back the other way, now running at people with their bobbing headlamps and glow in the dark accessories. The view is cool, but it was tough to concentrate on the people and ground while trying to maintain my pace. I saw Robin and our friends heading out as I headed back. I passed the only guy I was close to, as the other 5k runner was too far ahead for me to catch. When I went under the road and passed California Pizza Kitchen I knew the race had only a half mile to go. Stan was there cheering me on, but I knew I had lost too much time to still be able to break 20:30.
     I finished in 20:46. It wasn't under my goal time but it was my fastest 5k this year. I finished in second overall, and first in the 50-59 age group. It wasn't long before all my friends finished the 5k. I told David his son missed the turnaround and was now doing the 10k. Aden ended up finishing second overall in the 10k and received some grief from everyone for missing the well-marked turnaround.

Results from the Howlin at the Moon 5k

      The awards in this race are great. They are beverage glasses. Some would call them beer mugs, or pints. They have the race logo and finishing place on them. Remember, this race was only 25.00 to pre-register for. We got our awards and gave our meal tickets to David and Aden before heading to BJ's for some more fun, food, and drinks.

The really cool awards at the Howlin at the Moon 5 and 10k

     The race also holds a raffle after the awards. Every entry gets a raffle ticket which you place in the container for the item you hope to win. There's everything from bikes and T.V.s to spa getaways. You have the option to purchase more tickets. Did I mention the race was only 25.00 to pre-register for? The best part is all of the proceeds go the Bakersfield Police Department K-9 Department.

College of the Canyons 2017 Cross Country Series Finale; Race Report #18

     After six weeks of running every Thursday night at College of the Canyons, the big race was finally here. Unlike the Bakersfield Cross Country Series where points were earned every race, College of the Canyons came down to one race for all the marbles. It was August 17, 2017, and it was time to put up or shut up.
     This race was all about age group bragging rights, and a guy named Angel Guzman had dominated the 55-59 age group all year. He had run over a minute faster than I had to this point. This being a finals night I knew my SCR buddy Nigel Toates would be tough to beat as he always seems to run well at finals. One runner in our age group that had been fast early in the series, Greg Garmin, did not participate due to an automobile accident, but we're all looking forward to racing with him next year.
     I decided to go old school as far as shoes go for this race and I brought out my brand new pair of green Nike waffle racers. The shoes I have are actually replicas of the shoes I wore in high school and college. They even have 1977 on the insole. I don't think they are made for running, but I decided to bring them out and got a lot of great comments on the vintage nylon shoes.

My green Nike waffle racers

     I went through my normal warm-up, my legs didn't feel too tired from all of the racing I had done this summer, but the bottom of my feet hurt a little bit. That pain went away as I loosened up before the start. Robin, Keith, and Ethan also were there to finish off another COC summer series. It was nice to see some of the Frazier Mountain runners besides Aden show up for this race as well. The weather was fairly mild for August, only about 86 degrees out when we lined up on the baseball field for the start.

     I did some extra strides and lined up close to the front. I got a great start at the sound of the gun and went out fairly hard to beat some of the high school kids to the first turn. I felt good as we wound our way out and around the baseball fields.

Heading towards the center of campus early in the College of the Canyons Summer Series finale.

 Photo by Margaret Bates

     I tried to settle in at a decent pace but not hard enough that I would die when we got to the big hills during mile two. It always amazes me at how many runners don't hit the tangents or set themselves up for an upcoming turn so as not to lose momentum. The College of the Canyons course is fairly tight during the first 3/4 of a mile and some runners have no clue as to how to properly negotiate that type of a course. I have learned that when running this course, my best times come when I hit the first mile at a fairly good pace and I did a good job of that running a 6:28 for mile number one, by far my fastest time of the year. 

Feeling good rounding the turn to head up to the first-mile marker

Photo by Margaret Bates

     Now came the fun part, trying to maintain speed in the hills. I didn't try to go hard up the hill at mile one, just maintaining a nice steady pace. I was using my usual short strides and concentrated on the ground as I went. When we got to the freeway portion I was in a good place and floated along trying to miss the soft spots. Soon enough we were at killer hill. I started my usual short easy steps up the hill and got passed by people walking. I figured what the heck, and I went into the power walk mode. I'm still not sure what's better for me, but I passed those guys back as we topped the second half of killer hill. Little did I know that this was Angel Guzman, and we were actually battling for the age group title. In fact, we had been together since about mile one, I just didn't know who he was. I pushed myself down the hill towards the small hills on the top of the course. This is the hardest part of the race because your legs are fried from the steep uphills. My second mile split was a 7:35, by far my fastest of the year. From this point to the finish it was downhill to the track. No more uphills. When I got to the pavement Greg Garmin shouted at me to lean forward. I was just trying to maintain form and turnover to the track. When we got to the track I started pumping my arms as hard as I could and I got back around Angel Guzman that had passed me as we entered the stadium. I could feel him behind me and gave it everything I had, drifting out a little in the final turn, but still protecting the inside of the track. I held on to beat him to the line. My third mile was 6:14 but my pace on the track running to the finish was 4:48. 

I won my age group by a tenth of a second

     This was the most fun I've had actually racing since college. Most runs or races we do turn out to be time trials, not actually racing against another person. It was my fastest time at College of the Canyons by over a minute this year and I had a blister on each heel from my replica waffle racers for my effort. I quickly downed some waters and went out in search of Robin and whomever else I could find to cheer on to the finish. I ran and walked uphill backward on the course, cheering on the FMHS runners, some SCR's, and then there was Robin. She was looking great and powered her way to the finish with her best time of the season and a third-place finish in her age group.  

     College of the Canyons gives everyone who ran the series a free dinner on the finals night. Robin, Ethan, Keith and I elect to go to Loves Sushi and forego the dinner and awards ceremony. We gave our meal tickets to some high school runners and headed out. Our friends picked up our medals for us and we went out for a quick bite before our respective long drives home. 

Our post-race treats at Loves Sushi

     I survived the finals race without any Depends issues. I was still having leakage but nothing like the one race earlier in the season. My only issues were the bottom of my feet hurt and blisters on the back of my heels from the shoes. This also was the first time in years we had run all of the races. We are already looking forward to next year, but it's going to get tougher for me as I will be in the last year of my age group.

     

     

SAR Bigfoot Race, Shaver Lake, CA: Race Report #17

    On August 12, 2017, Robin and I headed North to Clovis, CA to check in for the Search and Rescue Bigfoot Runs to be held the following day at beautiful Shaver Lake. We were meeting our friends Trevor, Andrea, Mark, and Joan at the Fleet Feet Fresno store across the street from the famed Woodward Park cross country course. We arrived, checked in, got our bibs, shirts, and swag. We did purchase some nice socks from the store that were on sale while we waited a few minutes for everyone else to show up. We left there and headed out for a quick bite for lunch before settling in at Mark and Joan's house for the night.

Everyone enjoying an awesome lunch at Westwoods Barbecue

     Mark and Joan's house was headquarters for everyone getting ready for the race the following morning. Robin and I were treated to locally grown Fresno State corn from Gibson's market that was fantastic. After dinner and a few beers, we all got a good nights sleep before getting up and heading out in the dark for Shaver Lake. Most of the drive was on rural two-lane roads culminating in a steep climb into the western Sierra Nevada mountains. I hadn't been here since my high school days in the 70's and the roads haven't changed in 40 years. 

     We paid extra for "preferred parking" at the race. Most of the runners parked miles away and were brought in by buses. The preferred parking got us close enough that we only had to walk about 3/4 of a mile to the start/finish area. The race seemed to be held at a logging site. We parked around logging equipment, and the start/finish was just a wide spot on some logging trail where the organizers did a great job of erecting tents, porta-potties, and everything else necessary for putting on a great race. 

The starting line one hour prior to race time

There was plenty of cold water for everyone after the race

Krei brought out portable changing rooms for anyone that had to change before or after the race

     The race started on time. I was doing the 10k. There was also a 5k, 1/2 marathon, and 2-mile family walk. The races all used the same starting point, but when we got to the bottom of the starting hill, each race went a different direction. The course was mostly on soft dirt for the first mile or so. 

The downhill start at the SAR Bigfoot Race

    The first mile was downhill, then we hit some steep short uphills, before heading downhill even more. Unfortunately, all this downhill at the start only meant one thing. It would be uphill going back to the finish.

The turns were well marked when one was faced with a fork in the road

I was glad I wore my Nike Wildhorse Trail Shoes

    I had no problem walking some of the steep parts. My hike and running format combined with the fact I ran the downhill in the soft stuff early at an easy pace found me passing people that had gone out too hard during the early portions of the race. I also found the trail full of runners from the 5k and the 2-mile family hike as I pushed towards the finish.   

The view of the uphill finish at the SAR Bigfoot Race

  The race featured 645 feet of climbing. There were search and rescue personnel stationed around the course in case there were any issues. We were all given whistles before the race which we were supposed to carry in case we got lost. The races were sold out, and I was lucky enough to finish 14th overall, and 1st in the 50-59 age group. The races were really fun, and I would really like to go back, maybe try a different distance next time.

My brass Moscow mule 1st place cup and Bigfoot

    The post-race party was great. Tioga Sequoia Brewing had some tasty beers along with Michelob Ultras. We also got some burgers and ice cream. Everyone had a really good time, even those that ran the 1/2 marathon. Now I had to recover quickly as the COC finals were just four days away. 

College of the Canyons Summer Series Race #6; Race Report #16

     The sixth race of the College of the Canyons Summer Series was my first race of three in a weeks period. My goal was to run easy, get a workout in, and make sure I didn't get too tired as I had a trail race at Shaver Lake the following Sunday, and the COC Finals in just one weeks time. The temperature was a balmy 91 as I went through my warm ups and drills.

     I went out a little easier than I normally do trying to keep the pace slow. the down side of this is getting stuck behind slower high school runners that go out too fast and seem to like to run three wide and chit chat during the race. I ran a comfortable 7:13 first mile, talking to people as I went. The second mile was as tough as always, and I hit it in 7:52. Even though the final mile was downhill, I didn't push it too hard with two more races coming up in the next seven days. 

Following Nigel in the first mile of the College of the Canyons Cross Country Series Race

     My final time was 22:56, a minute and a half slower than the previous week, but hopefully I saved enough of myself for the 10k trail race at Shaver Lake and the finals at College of the Canyons in one weeks time. 

     For the last time we hit Vincenzo's for our post race meal. Next week being finals we will be having sushi to celebrate completing all seven of the College of the Canyons Summer Series races. 

College of the Canyons Summer Series Race #5; Race Report #15

     On August 3, 2017, we went back to College of the Canyons for the fifth race of the annual cross-country summer series. The weather was warm for Santa Clarita being 95 at race time. I was tired from Tuesday night's race in Bakersfield but decided to give it my all since I had peed myself to a stop the week previous.
     I did my normal warm-up and drills and made sure to hit the bathroom multiple times before the start. I think part of my problem is I'm consuming lots of liquids due to the heat, maybe too much liquids. I think I would rather have incontinence issues than risk being dehydrated so I 'm back to wearing a bigger pad.
     When the gun finally went off I took off at a decent clip but my legs felt tired from the effort in Bakersfield. I hit the first mile in 6:54, not great but fast enough on this night with the heat. The second mile is always the toughest at COC and this night was no different. My second mile with the big hill was 7:51. I strode through the downhill last mile in 6:26 feeling surprisingly strong for all of the racing that I have been doing. My time was 21:13 for the race. It was my fastest time of the year and came just 48 hours after pushing myself really hard in 100-degree heat in Bakersfield.
     With two weeks before the finals, I was pretty happy and confident that I may be able to place in the top three again this year even though I have been through a lot physically and mentally with my prostate cancer issues.
     Robin, Keith, Ethan and I headed to Vincenzo's Pizza for our weekly pizza and beer recovery meal, then we hit I-5 north for the 45-minute drive home, reliving our respective races as we went to keep ourselves awake. 

Bakersfield Track Club 2017 Summer Series Final Race; Race Report #14

     On August 1st, Robin and I headed to Bakersfield for the Bakersfield Track Club Summer Series finale. The weather wasn't the worst we had run in, but it was still 100 degrees at race time. We arrived at Hart Park, and soon Trevor and Andrea showed up to complete the summer season with us. I did my usual warm-up and drills while Trevor watched in amazement. The club again had brought out multiple cooling misters, had the music playing, and everyone was amped up to run hard one last time. My race was scheduled to start at 7:08, Robin and Andrea took off minutes earlier for their head start based on the handicap system. I lined up with everyone else old like me and some pretty fast 14-year-olds. I can't wait for some of them to age up. Anyways, when the starter said go, we all went.
     In spite of the heat, I went out on the downhill first mile fairly hard. I was wearing my watered down hat, cooling bandana, and carried my frozen water bottle which I moved from hand to hand to help keep my body cool. Occasionally I squirted some cold water on the back of my neck to assist with the cooling. Being as how it was only a three-mile race there was really no need to drink much so I skipped all of the water stations.
     My first mile was a 6:39 and I caught Andrea before we got there. I felt pretty good. The second mile, which has the only real hill was a 7:08. I didn't work the hill too hard but just tried to be consistent as I chugged up to the water station before turning back onto dirt and a short downhill. The third mile is mostly flat with a slight incline in some softer dirt so to keep the same pace it does require some effort. My third mile was a 6:52 and I sped up to 6:25 pace as I ran to the finish. My final time was a 21:25. It wasn't long before Carl and Joe finished in my age group. I grabbed some watermelon then went back to finish with Robin. Trevor finished in 30:19, Andrea in 37:00, and Robin in 38:54. My finish was good enough to give me 7th overall in the final standings of the summer series.

Yes, it was hot in Bakersfield for the final race of the Bakersfield Track Club Summer Series

The final standings after four races of the Bakersfield Track Club Summer Series

     The top ten got awards, and unlike most races, we got gift certificates to local businesses. My award for seventh place was a 10.00 gift certificate to Sole to Sole, a local running store, and a gel to use on my next long run.

     Since it has become a custom for us to eat and socialize somewhere after we run we headed to Tony's Pizza this time for the all-around runner's favorite of pizza and beer.

 

College of the Canyons Summer Series Race #4; Race Report #13

     I arrived at COC ready for the fourth race of the summer series with high hopes. The previous Tuesday I had been at the same exact place for a track workout and felt surprisingly good. This week there was no race in Bakersfield so I was excited to see what I could do. I went through my usual warm-ups and drills, hung out with Keith, Ethan, and Robin, then did some strides right before the race. The air temperature was a balmy 90 degrees, not bad for July 27th in Santa Clarita.
     When the gun sounded I took off and tried to get ahead of as many of the slow high school kids as possible since they all think they must run three wide for some reason.

The view after the first turn at the COC Summer Series

     I felt pretty good, so I kept the pace up as we did the first small hill through campus. When we hit the first downhill I tried to pick up the pace and something strange happened. I could feel myself peeing into my custom depends. I slowed a little but kept up with those around me. I went through the first mile in 6:56, not great, but on pace for a decent time if I survived the big hills ahead. The peeing thing was strange though. When we started the downhill along the freeway I felt the same sensation. I was peeing myself while I ran. This was something I had never had happen to me before. By the time I got to the big hill, my pad was overflowing and I had pee running down my legs. I stopped running and started to walk, looking for a way down the side of the mountain. Since there wasn't a way that looked like something I could navigate without falling, I continued to walk the course. I went through the second mile in 10:14, but the peeing had abated. I tried running slowly and things did not get any worse. Either the easier running was slowing down my problem or my bladder had emptied itself. I cruised to the finish in a 26:06 on a night when I had hoped to run my fastest time so far this season.  

Running along the I-5 during the COC Summer Series Race #4

     I really don't know why I had this issue. I used the restroom three times before the race. On Tuesday during the track workout, I didn't have any problems. We all changed, and as has become our custom, drove to Vincenzo's for some post-race pizza and beer. 

College of the Canyons Race #3; Race Report #12

     Just two days after the Bakersfield race we went back down to Santa Clarita for the third race in the College of the Canyons seven race summer series on Thursday nights. We tried to park where we normally do, but some studio types with Napolean complexes forced everyone to park in a tight grid so Nissan could film a commercial in the adjacent parking lot. Eventually, Keith and Ethan joined us along with Aden and Dave.
     We went through our warm-ups and drills, but I could tell tonight wasn't going to be my night. My legs still felt the results of the race just 48 hours earlier. Not as young as I once was. The weather was uncharacteristically cool for this time of year so I was disappointed I wouldn't be able to push the pace. We all lined up on the baseball field to await the starting gun.
     I went out easier than normal since I was feeling fatigued from Tuesday. I cruised through the first mile in 7:19, not fast but I felt within myself at this pace considering my tired legs. The second mile still had all the big hills. Funny, they just don't seem to go away. For over 30 years that hill by the Valencia Blvd. offramp has been there, and it's still just as steep and as long as it was the first time I ran it. I suffered up the hills and my second-mile split was 7:55. With the hills behind me, I powered down the hills to the track as best I could with a third mile split of 6:34. My finishing time was 21:55. I grabbed a quick drink and went back to find Robin. I cheered Keith on as I went backward on the course looking for Robin. I found her about a half mile out and finished with her. We all headed to the parking lot, changed and headed to Vincenzo's for some pizza and beer.

Ethan, myself, Robin and Keith at Vincenzo's

Bakersfield Summer Series Race #4; Race Report #11

     On July 18th Robin and I headed to Bakersfield for what was supposed to be the fourth race in their summer series. The third race was postponed and later cancelled because of a lack of volunteers to help put on the race. In my previous post, I mentioned that a runner suffered from a medical issue during the race, and unfortunately that runner passed away and I think that might have played into the third race being postponed. It's very sad that Benjamin Greene passed away, and its equally sad the Bakersfield Track Club had to put up with the negative diatribes from Mr Greene's family and acquaintances for simply providing us with an opportunity to run.
     This week the weather cooler compared to the last run, only 100 degrees out. The race had the usual misters and this week there was an industrial type cooling center set up. It looked like it was made for someone working in the Sahara desert, or in this case running in Bakersfield during the summer. Honestly, I don't feel much difference between 99 and 108, I think it's mostly mental. I did my warm up, drills, and strides before the race like always. I think I peed at least three times to make sure my bladder was as empty as possible before the race. Even Robin and Andrea did somewhat of a warm up by walking around the park before the start. Trevor did his usual warm up, he watched us. I again wore my hat and bandanna that I soak in water and carried a frozen water bottle to help keep my hands cool. I headed to the start area where I awaited my designated starting time and wished Shane, Joe, and Carl good luck.
     This time when the gun went off I went out faster than before, trying to take advantage of the mostly downhill first mile. I hit the one-mile mark in 6:42. Not too bad for an old fat guy. The second mile consisted of the only hill on the course and saw us go from pavement to dirt trails for most of the rest of the race. My second mile was 7:14 and I kicked it in for a 7:07 third mile and a finishing time of 21:40. I ate a slice of watermelon and filled my water bottle up since I had used my water to squirt on the back of my neck to stay cool during the race and headed out to find Robin to help her on her run in. I only had to go about a quarter of a mile, and there she was. I walked and jogged at her pace back to the finish again as a cool down and to give Robin moral support.
     After we had all cooled down we headed down the road to Ethel's roadhouse bar and grill for some adult beverages and sandwiches. The food there is really good, and the wait staff was prompt and courteous, definitely someplace I would be returning to.

The giant American Indian statue in front of Ethel's

   

COC Race #2; Race Report #10

     Well the second COC race went much better for me than the first. On July 13th we went South to Santa Clarita for the race, and the weather was much cooler than before. With the temperature a cool 84 degrees and my legs somewhat rested I looked forward to the race. I did my usual one and a half mile warm up with some drills and stride and was ready to go. There were many more runners at the second race than the first. 

     When the gun went off I went out a little faster than the first race, hitting the first mile in 6:47. The second mile is the toughest still, and with all the hills my split was 7:56. The downhill third mile was my quickest, 6:37 was my time. I finished with a time of 21:25. This was a minute faster than the previous week. I was pretty happy since I still haven't done much speed work on the track this year. My average pace for the race was 7:05 and my legs felt pretty good. With a lot of races scheduled in the near future, I made sure to warm down a little before the quick drive to Vincenzo's for a quick bite of pizza and some beer before the drive home. 

COC Cross Country Race #1; Race Report #9

     With just 48 hours of recovery, Robin and I made the drive down to Santa Clarita for the first of seven weekly Thursday night 3-mile cross country races at College of the Canyons, also known as COC. This year it's the 44th annual happening of the summer cross country series, and everyone from high schools to us masters runners look forward to this event. We drove down, paid our money, got our bibs and timing chips, and warmed up for the first race. I could tell right away warming up that my legs were still feeling the effects of Tuesday's 5k so I knew this would not be a night for a fast time. Unlike the Bakersfield races, COC only matters on the finals night as far as awards go so just getting used to the hills again was my plan for the evening. Keith and Ethan also showed up, as this has become our annual weekly get together to talk about old times, and catch up on family. The race is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM after the kid's race which began at 6:45. I'm not sure why, maybe it was the 4th of July holiday, but there was a very small crowd there for the first race.

Keith and Robin before the start of the start of the COC Summer Series Race #1

     We all line up on the COC baseball field listened to the instructions and took off at the sound of the gun. A lot of the people were complaining about the heat but after running in Bakersfield the temperature didn't seem too bad. It was 93 at the start. It was fun running along and chatting with some of my friends during the race. I hit the first mile in 7:26, and continued up the first big hill to the freeway downhill but had no leg strength. I guess I'm not as young as I once was. Soon enough the fun was over and killer hill loomed up in front of me.

The view up killer hill at the COC Summer Series

     I trudged up the hill, made the right turn and continued on up the hill. A quick down hill, and back uphill we went some more. It wasn't long before I hit the second-mile mark in 8:15, and it was downhill or flat to the finish. I cruised along at a 6:56 final mile. My official finishing time was 22:35.2. Not bad considering the hills and the fact that I had run hard just two days earlier. I saw Keith finish in a 29:33, and I jogged back to run in with Robin as a cool down. Robin crossed the line in 37:31. 

     With the race over there was only one thing left to do. As it has become a tradition for us we headed to Vincenzo's Pizza on Lyons for some post run nourishment.

Vincenzo's Pizza was the scene of our post race nourishment.

     We split a family meal deal and a pitcher of beer four ways. While we ate we relived the race and caught up on various family and friend issues from the past year. Next week it would be race #2, and back to Vincenzo's Pizza.