The 2014 68 Mile Run: Coyote Backbone Trail Ultra

The 68 Mile Run: Coyote Backbone Trail Ultra in Santa Monica Mountains
March 15, 2014


The Coyote Backbone Trail is my first race of the season. The weeks leading up to the race, I felt under-prepared but then even if I am prepared, there is no guarantee that I would be having a great day on trail.

Taper Weekend

To boost my confidence, I had to travel to the Eastern Sierra to get that extra boost of oxygen. For many runners, they do not see this why it matters but for mountain runners, its an advantage for us.

The weather temperature in the Sierras was in 30s to 40s. It was freezing for me but I always bundled up. After all, I have been coming to this region for few years now.


Race Weekend

Fast forward to the race weekend, I drove to Los Angeles and stayed in Port Hueneme. I arrived late, so my plan to get extra sleep fell off the wagon.  Because I was very busy during the work days, I never made it to review my pace plan. Instead I reviewed the map - in case I would encounter forks on the trail. This race reminded me of my Santa Barbara 100K....it was tough. I set my mind not to take the trail markings for granted, so I wont get lost again and cost me some time.

I checked out the pre-race dinner. It was held in BJs. I got some goodies from that dinner gathering. Mingling with fellow ultra-runners is fun. I get to see their faces before we wear our usual running outfit... So it is all worth it.

As soon as I got back from the hotel, I realized that I have an online meeting to attend to. This added delay to my sleep time. By the time I get to sleep, it was past 11PM and I have to get up by 3AM.

I was feeling the anxiety of pre-race night. I remembered the TRT - 50 miles, I was so tired the night before that I didn't hear the alarm go off or did it ever go off. I arrived late on the TRT race day. This time I was partially asleep and woke before 3AM.


Race Day

It was a smooth drive to Ray Miller's La Jolla Campground. Volunteers know what they are doing too. It seemed from the start that its a well organized event. Each of us were directed properly where to park.

We collect our schwag. Lots of tattoos for the St. Patty's weekend. A lot of folks wore green colours. Some Aid Station crew I know them...


We took the bus that would take us to Will Rogers State Park, where we start our run. It was still dark when the bus departed from Ray Miller. Lots of fun mingling with ultra-runners. We all have the same mind-set and to think that most of this runners have run really long distance ultra, made everything seemed like we all belong to one group.

We arrived in Will Rogers park just before 6AM.. We didn't start the run until almost 6:10AM. There was some announcement before the start, like who gets to carry a book or who gets to wear a hat. I volunteered to carry a book. The book that was in my schwag bag was left in the bus.

Yes - a used book will be provided and you carry that the whole 68 miles. If you don't carry the book, you may get boner points but if you carry the book to the finish line, you may get bonus points.

I did not know all about this "boner and bonus" points until I attended the pre-race dinner.

Starting Line

At almost 6:10AM - off we started the run. We were split into 2 waves. During the pre-race dinner, I requested the RD that I could be transferred to WAV 1, because I have night vision trouble. I don't see very well at night and it has been a disadvantaged for me.

Mark Swanson, the RD of Me-Ow swapped with my WAV group. All was cleared then I get to start early. I paid little attention to the weather...... until

By 9AM the temperature started to rise. It was already hot in the canyons, much to my dismay and questioned myself why I have not paid attention to the weather in the past days. I started to get nervous because the past weekend, I was in the High Sierra where the temperature was freezing. I was already thinking of dropping out in the next aid station or I would progress myself station by station.


Uphilling Like a Death March 

It felt like I was walking into the death zone. A make runner passed me and I complained to him that its too hot. That runner said to me to slow down.

From the 30s temp to 90s temp I worried about myself that I might die of exhaustion. Had I done my assignment, I could have tapered and acclimate in San Gorgonio mountains...not the Sierras....

No runner since then has ever passed me.....

This traverse cost me lots of time and to think that its a gradual ascent to the summit.  I met a female runner, she was very friendly. her name is also Jeanne... Now I have two friends named Jeanne and both are ultra kick ass runners...

I walked the uphill and run slow on the downhill. Certainly I was not prepared for that much head. My sweat was pouring from my head and face.

BBT Ultra is not for beginners or mid-experience runner. It definitely for the advance level. The aid station is spread out 10 miles on average distance.