Ohlone Wilderness 50K Trail Run

Christy and I went to Del Valle Regional Park this morning to see a few of my favorite ultra-runners cross the finish line of the Ohlone Wilderness 50K Trail Run.

The final four miles of this run are downhill. My plan was to get there early enough so we could go out at least those four miles and then run back, getting in a good (steep and hot) trail run before our 25K Saturday. I expected the first of my friends to come in around 2:30. We did get there early enough (started at 11:00) and my first friend came in at 2:38. Our running portion of the plan however, didn't go so smoothly.

We parked, gathered our hydration packs, applied sun screen, and headed over to the finish line area. From there, we started our Garmins and headed on up the road. And up, and up we went. It soon became a very overgrown, extremely steep single track trail. I knew it was going to be steep but I was really surprised how steep it was. In less than 3/4 mile, we had climbed 1,000 feet! That's really STEEP. Then we hit a fence. Uh-oh. Back down we went. Back down to the finish line area. This time I asked someone where the runners come in from. He pointed in the opposite direction. DOH! Okay, well that was a nice little two mile warm-up. Sheesh.


We, once again, headed up the road. The right direction this time. We had some very pretty views. Neither of us had been here before so we were enjoying all the new scenery.

Now we were heading up the four miles we originally had planned on going up. We continued up the road, that looked like this, for about a mile.

Why only a mile? Because we spotted this:

Fire road or single track? Hmmmmm. That's a no-brainer! Why would I stay on a fire road when I can run on single tracks and experience the shaded beauty they offer?

We did eventually get to the end of the beautiful single track trail and had to turn around and go back to the fire road.

Below is the road we came up.

But all was not bad because we saw Catra coming down the road at this point. She and I were able to catch up on our lives a little bit and then we ran in with her. She was finishing up 100 miles that she had started almost 34 hours earlier.

After that, we had some food and continued to watch the other runners come through. I was surprised to see Rick (365me) there. He was volunteering at an aid station and had driven to the finish line. I saw Kathy Davies come in at 6:38 and Sue Corrie at 6:51. They totally smoked the course. They both said it was the run of their lives. Woohoo! Then I saw my girl, Victoria (flirty 'n dirty) coming down the road. Christy and I cheered our heads off as she ran across the finish line in 7:15. Good job girlies!!! Congratulations to all the runners that completed this very challenging 50K today.

Victoria

It was hard to believe, after all the time Christy and I spent out there, we had only run six miles. But, we had a great time regardless. (We always do!!) I had my ankle taped up. It felt good. Actually wasn't an issue at all. I did go back to wearing my Montrail Hardrocks because they are more stiff than my XT-Wings. I think I need that right now. I am icing tonight, just because the ankle can tell it did a lot of pounding today. It's not swollen or anything.

I hope everyone did well in their races this weekend. I know there was a lot going on. I'm anxious to read the reports.

Until later.............