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.