Smuggler's 50 Mile Run
  Campo, CA
  March 21, 1999
  sunny, 35-70 F

  1. Jeff Hines                  9:49:04
  1. Tom Nielsen                 9:49:04
  1. Tracy Moore                 9:49:04
  1. Mike Rouse                  9:49:04
  1. Al Val Verde                9:49:04
  6. Paul Schmidt               10:03:45
  7. Richard Hayes              10:23:57
  8. Dave Capron                10:52:22
  9. Roger Weingartner          10:53:37
 10. Michael Whitemiller        11:20:10
 11. Sena Hoodman (F)           11:26:45
 12. Nels Ruud                  11:51:18
 13. Barbara Amato (F)          11:54:17
 14. Les Martisko               11:55:38
 15. Mary Barry (F)             12:12:07

 25 starters; 15 finishers; 60%

Bad Rats Stay Together

We had a great day out on the trail this past Sunday, as 25
runners participated in the 3rd running of the Smuggler's 50 mile
race.  Unlike in past years, we did not start at the Mexican border.
The start was near a campground at Lake Morena, near the northern
turnaround point.  The course was in great shape after the dry
winter, and some trail work had been performed by the Pacific Crest
Trail Association on the northern 3 miles of the course the day
before the race.  It was cold at the start with frost on the ground.
It was sunny all day and got a little warm in the afternoon as runners
were heading back from the 2nd turnaround at the US/Mexico border.
The first 5 runners in were from the San Diego Bad Rats, a group
of ultrarunners who train together here in San Diego.  They
treated the race as a training run for the Leona Divide 50 mile race
next month and for the Western States 100 in June.  In the womens
race, Suzanne Brana, winner of the recent Catalina 100km, was leading
early but missed a turn at mile 14 and ran a 3 hour out-back off course
with another competitor.  They found their way back to the previous
aid station and in all probably logged 48 miles on the day.  Sena Hoodman
was solid all day, running until about mile 40 with her husband, and then
took off and passed Barbara Amato, who led the middle miles of the course.
A few of the later runners had the experience of running in the
dark, and were prepared as we allowed drop bags at the mile 37 and 44
aid stations.  Everyone, volunteers and runners alike,  enjoyed
the beautiful country, well supplied aid stations, and the hot soup
and chili after the run.  We will hold the event again next year, in
March sometime, and it will be a full service race with t-shirts, a
post race pasta/soup meal, and finishers award.  Hope you can make
it out to join in the fun.

Shawn McDonald
Race Director
San Diego, CA
mcdonald@signalpharm.com