Subject: Lost Boys-Long Date: Thu, 17 May 2001 20:25:39 -0700 From: "John Malick" Arrived in Borrego Springs on friday to check out the start area for the 2001 Lost Boys 50 Mile Trail Run. I had always heard that it is a tough 50, and provides the runner with some awesome scenery from desert to lush medows to pine forest. Driving through from Brawley on hiway 78 pass Ocotillo Wells, I knew I was going to meet my match. Temps were already hovering around 98 degrees, and the landscape looked like Death Valley. Found the start line at Pinyon Wash, all it was,was a small sandy dirt road that seems to go no where. I was beginning to worry, since this was only my second 50, I thought perhaps I had chosen the wrong one to do. I knew going into this one by the course profile that it was going to be mostly all up hill, but I thought I could handle it. Woke up at 0315 am Saturday and found that some cloud cover had arrived. Was wishing that the cloud gods would be nice to me today. I'm from Phoenix and used to high temps, but I also knew that this could be a problem after a few hours. Ruben Cantu, the RD gave the briefing to approx 65 of us hardy souls at 0450 hrs and warned us about rattlesnakes on the course. At 0500 hrs off we went scurrying through the desert wash in soft sand. After 4.4 miles the first aid station "the boulders" provided me a glimpse off what to expect in the desert portion. Large rock boulders had to be climbed. Montrail Vittesse was not made for smooth rock surfaces, so I had to use hand holds and pull myself through. The the boulders we went. I felt really good and thought I was clipping along at a pretty good pace. I passed James Hamilton ( a 2 time AC100 finisher) and thought I was kicking some ass, but after the Pinyon Mountain aid station ( after a 9.6 mile climb) He blasted by me on the 7.3 downhill to Blair Valley. I yelled to him that he was hammering away and he yelled back " Its the only time I get to rest". The desert portion was beautiful ( remember I'm from Arizona and don't normally see much beauty in it ) Lots of different wash to got through, each with its own personality. Had to climb a dry waterfall ( Vittesse not good on this either!) and saw lots of reminders of days of old when miners worked this area. After Blair Valley came Oriflamme Mountains to climb. I was told by some aid station people that thing would be ok until Oriflamme, then " your life is over" Boy, they were not kidding! About 8 miles of vertical hill to climb. I got into the Oriflamme aid station and had ran out of fluid. I told one of the aid station volunteers there that this course seemed like it was all uphill. he replied " Na, its only 43 miles uphill and 7 miles down!". Off I went refueled and had a little plastic goodie bag containing PB&J sandwiches one of the aid station personnel had made up for me. What a climb! Reduced to a whimpering mass, I continued to hammer up the hill. After going pass mile 25, when 1 volunteer was waiting in his pick up "all I have is water and some coke", I continued to climb upward. I looked back over my shoulder, and what a view. By this time we had started to go through elevation change and junipers replaced low desert scrub. I could see on the trail below me 2 figures hammering away. I remember one aid station person informing me that after I cleared the top of Oriflamme I would come into a beautiful green meadow. Up over Oriflamme I went, and within a minute or two, Robyn Benincasa and Katherine Coltrin came charging passed me..( ok I know what you're thinking, I'm slow...,but not THAT slow!) The meadow was absolutely beautiful, rich green and full of small flowers. It started to sprinkle and the temperature dropped to the point where I was getting cold. Into Sunrise aid station, refueled and off again I went, through more beautiful meadows, next to Cuyameca Lake and continued to climb up into pine forests. Coming into Paso Pacaso campground at mile 33, I had to wait for a minute for 2 deer, who just stood there and stared at me. I raised my arms to ward them off the trail , but they just looked at me. I guess since they knew I wasn't a mountain lion, why should they run. Well, I got tire of waiting for them and just ran right by them into the aid station. After a cup of nice split pea soup and some chips, refueled and away I went...more climbing..lush beautiful forest and then down a short hill into aid station 37. Refueled and was told I had another 4 mile climb to the mile 41 aid station ( which goes around this mountain and returns to the same aid station. Oh shit, another climb and back again. Refueled and a 2 mile uphill bitch of a climb to aid station 43. I was so hungry by this time. I noticed that there was a large jar of Costco brand 3 bean salad sitting on the aid station table. The woman who was there could see the gleam in my eye and asked if I would like some. After 2 large bowls of bean salad with potato chips crushed over the top, off I went down the hill 7 miles of it to the finish line. After a quad killing while I crossed the finish line, ate 2 hot dogs and drank some more coke. Ruben handed me my finisher's plaque and said "cograts" I was impressed with the Lost Boy course. I had heard it was tough, and yes it was that. The scenery along the way more than made up for the suffering. I noticed that this race does not get very much mention, but it should. Very organized, great aid stations, great volunteers. I'll be back next year.