Subject: MiWok 100k race report - 2001
From: Karen_Claire@gillette.com
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 13:27:55 -0400

Saturday began early with a drive to the start of the 100K - a gorgeous moon in 
the sky that looked like you could reach out and grab it! It was good that the 
start was so early we needed to get there in the dark to see that moon ... it 
was getting light by the time we walked from the registration area to the start 
on Rodeo Beach at 5:40. The run started by running across Rodeo Beach for what 
seemed like the only flat portion of the run (that beach) for the next 30 miles 
or so!!  [:)] We were treated to a succession of climbs/descents up and down the 
Marin Headlands yielding us unbelievably beautiful views (I used to live near 
there and sometimes run there, and *whenever* I run there I *still* find the 
views spectacular and unbelievable!). The wildflowers on this course were so 
beautiful! This course had it all! Coastline, Redwood Forest, Jurassic Park!  
[:)] 

We worked our way through the Golden Gate Recreation area (just north of San 
Francisco) running trail up and down the Headlands - each new climb brought us 
to view a bit further north/northwest - our first astounding views were to the 
south - San Francisco, the Golden Gate bridge, and the water traffic below - 
then down down down and up up up repeat you get the picture! As we moved
along (and up and down) we ran down into an aid station in Tennessee Valley, 
then out on the Coastal Trail - ahhhh the Coastal Trail - lots of ups and downs 
and ocean ocean everywhere! Great views of the coastline and on toward Muir 
Beach ... from Muir Beach (and aid) upupup (and upupup) in Mount Tamalpais State 
Park playing tag with the Dipsea Trail to our highest spot on the course - Pan 
Toll. MAN was it a hot day! That climb was toasty but ice awaited at the aid
station at Pan Toll and shade (albeit brief) followed ... 

Then we continued to run along a "ridge" - a single-track trail cut through the 
brush/grass at the angle of the hillside ... open open exposed forEVER  [:)] but 
with gorgeous ocean views (Stinson Beach and beyond?) to take some of the sting 
of the heat away  [:)] finally reaching the aid station at Bolinas Ridge. This 
back of the packer got to see the 1st and 2nd place men and 1st place woman Ann 
Trason before even reaching the Bolinas aid station at 27.7 miles ... then it 
seemed like forever before I saw the next *mortal* runners go by (Ann Trason is 
amazing!) Then 7.75 miles out to the Olema turnaround (or was it 17.75??  [:)] ) 
I had been warned often when running that this part would feel like it would 
feel L O N G (exactly how it's written in the race info) but I actually loved it 
once we got into some shade - I felt rejuvenated with the shade and was happy to 
be running and felt strong from mile 30 or so to the OPEN EXPOSED turnaround at 
Olema (mile 35.4). I got to cheer my trail buddies on (east and west coast both) 
on this section as they headed back as I was on my out. Ice again at Olema! Life 
is good. While I was talking to one of the RD's of the Quicksilver 50K/50M at 
the aid station my pack was filled with water to its full capacity (100oz!) (I 
usually ask them to fill it a 1/3 full but was busy telling the RD how much I 
like their pottery awards that I forgot). No worries - I probably drank 40oz of 
water and had 60ozs of waterpack shower on the way up that flippin' climb from 
Olema (not *that* long but man was it exposed! And did I mention it was hot??) 
Probably not good for my sunscreen but it felt good to wash down my legs and 
arms with the extra water. Back on through to Bolinas Ridge aid (now mile 43.2) 
and to pick up my pacer, Jon. Feeling good going back along the Coastal Trail to 
return to Pan Toll, this time topping out at Pan Toll at mile 49.9 ... now if 
only this event had been 50 miles instead of 100K ...   [:)] For me, I think 
just after this is when the wheels started to fall off!  [:)] After Pan Toll the 
1600+ foot descent - oh, a downhill, good you say??? Well, that *is* what I 
wanted ... downhill training for the quads! I started to hurt here and never 
really felt much better after that ... got to the bottom of the descent and 
turned around and head up another climb - this through the Jurassic Park/poison 
oak(!) ecosystem. An aid station at Highway 1 at mile 55.1 followed by the short 
(but nasty) remainder of *that* climb to head on down to Tennessee Valley (as 
darkness fell for me) one more time below. Jon, my pacer trying every trick in 
the book to get me to run and me not having anywhere deeper to dig it seemed to 
do so! Now, any barn that was smelled at this time was not the barn of the 
finish line but the barn of the horses at Tennessee Valley at mile 58.4 ... less 
than 4 miles to go but one heck of a climb in between Tennessee Valley and the 
finish at Rodeo Beach! Treated by the gracious host/captain at Tennessee Stan 
Jensen yet again and then upupup the *final* climb (800 feet or so?) to the top 
with Jon actually getting me to run the few and far between flat sections - 
treated to a final fantastic view of the lights of San Francisco from the top 
(the speedsters missed out on *that*!)  [:)]  before climbing down the cruel, 
cruel stairs leading to the cruel cruel final descent!  [:)] Finally the finish 
line truly in sight!! Massachusetts folks and Palo Alto Run Club and Stevens 
Creek Striders folks and 2 of my old roommates from grad school waiting at the 
finish! Handed a MiWok Trail Ale  [:)] (how many ounces are they, anyway?), a 
MiWok CoolMax t-shirt, and a gorgeous finishers medallion for my 16:24 hours of 
work!

I'd do it again in a heartbeat!!!  [:)] It was tough but worth every step (and 
around 10,000ft of climb!)"