First time try I made it in. I considered myself lucky. However I am not a die hard trail runner. Im an alpine climber cross triathlete. Not only that I dont have that spare monies to pay for race registration, I dont have much time and resources. And the economy overall does not help put oneself at ease.
I am already familiar with the course but it has been a while since I last visited this part of Cool and Auburn trails. The Dave Wilmott's hike was way more difficult because its all uphill. If a hiker starts whining then one won't make it to the next Tahoe event posting (survival of Dave Wilmotts hike). There's a reason why Norcal Peakbaggers say "I survived the Dave Wilmott's hike".
Jan 19 - the training run for WTC consist of 8, 12, 20 and 23 miles respectively. I opted to run the entire course, that is, the entire 50KM or 31 mile run. I did the 23 loop first and then the 8 mile loop. I've decided to run this course during the training run because its going to be well marked and hundreds of runners doing various distances.
Why ? It may be to satisfy my minimum weekend workout. I got used to leaving Folsom Friday around 4pm heading to Eastern Sierras. Its a 7 hour drive, only to sleep (not really sleep) in my SUV for 2 hours, start the assault around Saturday 4AM, to make it to summit a 14er peak around 11AM, and back to Folsom at dawn of Monday.
To have this weekend just to run, relatively closer from home, without breathing "thin air" and hardly any dangers of rockfall, slid on ice and what not, I can't be thankful enough. The only downside, is to find a way, to match as much as I could, the typical mountaineer's weekend workout. Therefore running 31 miles does not really equal to summiting a 13er or 14er, but at least, I burned some calories and have some cardio exercise.
23 Mile Loop
The 23 mile loop was generally downhill. Im not saying its an easy run but its not difficult either. Anyone who has done 14er climb in a day and combine that with months of run training can definitely do an ultra without much cardio maxed out. Suffice it to say, the North Face Endurance series in San Francisco was definitely more strenuous because of its hilly terrain.
Whilst running the 23 mile loop, I learned to be more efficient with my running time. Remember that I've only been running for a year, I dont have much experience what to prepare on long runs. I run the downhill trail while eating. At first, I tried eating on the uphill slug but that made me do more work on my cardio. I fuel up at miles 8, 15 and 23 and GU gels every hour. As usual I can't run without my coco-water and bananas. Why ? Im one of those runners who could not sustain running without the boosting of potassium/sodium!
Some runners used funny terms like "Goat Hill" but I wont be surprised because runners called Training Hill as K2. Training Hill - is where the National Guard do their training, to run that hill in their fully geared backpack, in their uniform and boots. In my opinion, runners should not use the name K2 (Karakoram II). Its a respectable term by most climbers understanding and we understood it as the world's second highest mountain and one of the most deadliest. I can guarantee any hopeful athlete running the Training Hill for first time would not die there.
I remember running Training Hill repeats and saw group of runners, while Im about to start my next lap, they asked me where is K2. I did hear about its K2 pseudo name but I find it really ridiculous to be called K2 because it does not have the terrain, vertical steepness and above all - altitude equivalent. Training Hill or K2 is not even above 2000 ft. This hill does not even qualify to be called "Goat Hill" but anyway it is what it is.
I took a break at mile 23, chatted with few runners but not conversing too much (or I might not be able to complete my plan running the entire WTC course), and then off to continue the last 8 mile loop, with aa runner buddy joining me this time.
8 Mile Loop
This 8 mile loop is actually part of the Olmstead loop, again its not strenuous at all. The hill, if you are coming from the Confluence to Wendell P Robbie Trail, has more elevation gain than Olmstead. By the time I started the 8 mile loop, the markings were already sweep. I came prepared to run this course though. I used gpx file, downloaded from last years' event, to follow the unmarked trail and I brought with me my Garmin Dakota and my droid app Viewranger and Google My Track as the backup gps.
It was good thing bringing the extra gear, even if it added extra weight to my packbag. I know there are so many forks along this trail from what I can remember when I was training myself to become a mountaineer. Alas, I finally reached the last creek crossing of the last 8 mile loop :)
And it paid off, I ran the exact WTC course, with a decent pace and unsupported :)
I did this whole course as part of my training run for the February 50 mile course in San Bruno Mountains ultra http://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=18952.
Finally, I felt that there is no need for me to run WTC in March and I needed the refund anyway, to pay for my other race due in May 2013.
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