Grey Rock and Goat Peak

This weekend I ran Grey Rock 50k just outside of Yakima in 5:16 and took 3rd in the over 40 group behind Miles Ohlrich and Jim Kerby and 6th overall. Yeah Miles just turned 40 a couple weeks ago and Jim's knee and fitness are back ...great.

This race was a return to my roots. It was my first ultra and second marathon or longer race way back in 2005 ... 86 marathons and/or ultras later I shaved 2 1/2 hours off my ultra debut. This course is as technical as they get. Lots of big ass rocks and single track. Next time I run it I'm going to put foam pads on my ankles. I kicked a couple large rocks into the opposing ankle. Ouch!

I ended up not carpooling to the race. I rode my Yamaha Warrior over the morning of the race. That meant a REALLY early wake up. I was out the door a little after 3:00 am and made it to the start of the race about 25 minutes before the start. I just had enough time to change and hit the bathroom before the race started.

We all (the 12k, 25k, and 50k) started together but it worked out. I think all the 12k people were walkers and only 3 or 4 of the 25k guys were fast enough to be ahead of the lead 50k pack. Everybody thinned out into small packs pretty quickly.

I did not go out with the lead pack but kept them in site for about 4 miles. I hammered the single track downhill into the first a/s at 12k but did even catch a glimpse of them.
I went back forth with a couple of guys for the first 15 miles. They'd catch and pass me on the ups and I'd pass them on the downs. I think one of them did the same thing I did my first time there, take 50% longer on the return trip then he did on the out portion.

At the second a/s I was in ~7th place then I moved up into 5th on the return trip. Some how I was short on water a mile out of the last a/s so I slowed down a little and tried to conserve water. That only leaves you out in the heat longer needing more water. I was caught by the 1st female and we ran together for a couple miles. She was faster on the ups than I was and I was low on water so I let her go.

With 6k to go I stopped to talk to the Firefighters/Search and Rescue guys that were there. There was a new fire that was growing fast on a nearby ridge and we were being buzzed by numerous helicopters. They were up to date on the fire. That was good to hear. Only thing left to do was finish the race. I didn't push it too hard down to the finish. There are so many large rocks on the trail it was hard to get a good stride going.

After I finished I sat in a stream to cool my legs for a few minutes but the mosquitoes quickly found me and I was starting to get sucked dry. The after race meal was fabulous once again and the ride home was actually easier than I thought it would be.


Sunday I went up to Easton and did an out and back on the first part of the CCC course. I only did 22 miles and the pace was pretty pedestrian. The weather was nice and hot even though it was raining hard on the way up. It was kinda cool halfway through the run standing on a ridge line and on one side to see rain and green and on the other it was dry and hot. I made it back to the car in 5:15 almost the exact same time as the day before. I figured it was a sign that I should call it a day.

I'll have to settle for 90 miles this week.




Grey Rock 50K Trail Race Results
Tampico, WA
July 11, 2009

1. Chris Twardzik 34 Snoqualmie, WA 4:34:56
2. Miles Ohlrich 40 Seattle, WA 4:43:26
3. James Kerby 46 Carnation, WA 4:56:38
4. Benjamin Chaffin 33 Portland, OR 5:12:36
5. Tara Crowley 31 Portland, OR 5:14:09
6. Arthur Martineau 41 Bellevue, WA 5:16:48
7. Eva Lust-Wright 39 Yakima, WA 5:41:59
8. David Fullford 48 Issaquah, WA 5:47:36
9. Jay Clark 42 White Salmon, WA 6:04:45
10. Renbo Trout 44 Portland, OR 6:04:46
11. Herb Reeves 55 Olympia, WA 6:12:16
12. Annie Duong 30 Portland, OR 6:13:00
13. Mike Schmitt 41 Yakima, WA 6:20:06
14. Jeff Hagen 62 Yakima, WA 6:21:20
15. Gary Redwine 52 McMinnville, OR 6:21:47
16. Kristiann Vlieger 23 Sunnyside, WA 6:24:52
17. Andrew Lingbloom 21 Edmonds, WA 6:29:50
18. Mark Dahlby 45 Tacoma, WA 6:31:33
19. Eric Anderson 57 Yakima, WA 6:40:08
20. Francie Hankins 44 Spokane, WA 7:04:09
21. Harvey Hall 43 Olympia, WA 7:07:11
22. Brandy Garton 37 Enumclaw, WA 7:07:39
23. Debra Barnabee 53 Seattle, WA 7:15:36
24. Brandon Lott 36 Burbank, WA 7:26:56
25. Ron McDermott 48 Mt. Vernon, WA 7:27:20
26. Lisa Wheeler 45 Kirkland, WA 7:27:44
27. Gene Griffiths 46 Yakima, WA 7:33:12
28. Cheri Pompeo 57 Woodinville, WA 7:45:56
29. Rick Arnold 47 Yakima, WA 7:48:55
30. Dori Harrell 44 Yakima, WA 7:54:19
31. Cady Chambers 19 Roy, WA 8:15:58
32. Rick Haase 63 Shoreline, WA 8:24:53
Rainer Schulz 66 Roy, WA 8:24:53
34. George Midbust 55 Richland, WA 8:28:27
Micah Smith 53 Edmonds, WA 8:28:27
36. Dennis Rose 57 Portland, WA 8:31:39