Not all stories have a Cinderella finish but ALL add fabric to the journey.

Saturday’s ultra in Colorado’s Golden Gate Park a short hour-15 from home.  Coordinated bib pick-up Wednesday, short drive from the American Mountaineering Center (formerly Golden High School, venue for the nite’s Trails in Motion Film Festival).  Easy peasy, check done.

50k Start times: 6am, 7am & 8am.

Past couple 50Ks have finished 6 hours or under – only my first trail trek in Moab did I exceed 8 hours.  However after listening to the chatter (preceded by a flurry of emails), opted for the early early Saturday option.  Would also help avoid [a] good portion of the day’s summer heat.

3am wake-up, walked Ro, packed my ultra vest.  Neighbor dropped me near the Start, approximately 4 miles of the Visitors Center (thanks Larry).  Prepacked 2 drop bags: one for mile 17.4, other at the Finish line.  First Colorado run of 2018.  Warm, thin-air trail, elevation 9500ft.  Good prep for Bighorn.  Late add to the calendar, ensure a June marathon finish (extend streak to 55 months).

Beautiful scenic start.  Colorful Colorado.  Most eye catching of 2018.

Single track trail.  Aspen & canyon walls, up-n-down day bouldering.  Toughest trail run of my life.  Looking back, the whole thing’s a blur.  More hike than run.  All UP, all DOWN, not much in between.  Couple switchbacks, few stretches of Aspen, whole lotta boulder.  Elevation gain similar a 14er hike.

Nervous start but digged the temps – upper 40’s, my kinda weather.  Despite being my third race in 6 days, legs/mind felt strong at the first Aid Station.  No delay, no dillydally.  Refilled my water bottle, kept moving.

Start to Aid Station #1 (5.0 miles) — Enjoy a flat 0.25 mile run up the dirt road before reaching single-track trail. At mile 1.95 begin a steady, single-track climb through a cool, lush valley, crossing the stream 11 times. At mile 3.4 leave the stream and begin a 0.4 mile lung-burning climb. This section is steep but short. Keep pushing; it will be over before you know it. At mile 4.0, turn right at the junction for a short 0.2 mile climb to the top. The descent is rocky but fast. Take a moment to enjoy the great view of Mt. Evans to the south. Descend the 4 or so switch backs to Aid Station #1 at mile 5. Fuel up here for a steady 1,000 foot climb over the next 3 miles.

Long 7 miles between aid stations.  Multiple climbs kicked my butt.  All UP, all DOWN, crazy steep.  Lotta pressure from behind, folks running the downhills blind.  Lotta wasted time, dropping off trail/hugging a tree, letting the faster runner pass.  Sunshine, jump in temp, altitude sickness.  Altitude sickness?  Me?  NEVER an issue hiking ANY Colorado peak, yet today: headache & nausea.  Body jarred, rushing over rock.  Lead legs now, quick feet gone.  5 miles from my Drop Bag – salty snacks & Imodium awaiting, couldn’t stomach day’s Aid Station offerings (lotta sweet, little salt, no protein).  Walked, rehydrated, kept moving.  Short electrolytes.

Aid Station #1 to Aid Station #2 (6.9 miles) — Climb the Buffalo trail (double-track dirt road) for 1.2 miles to the metal gate. Take advantage of the rest rooms here if you need them. You are heading west, .5 miles up the Snowshoe Hare trail to the Aspen Meadows Camp Ground. Take a hard right at the bottom of the hill. If you cross the stream across the road you have gone too far. Continue the steady climb up to Mule deer trail. Take a moment to enjoy the great views of the divide. Turn left on Coyote which begins one of the toughest climbs of the race. Aid Station 2 is just .1 mile ahead on Mountain Base Road. This is a great place for crew, friends and family to meet you.

Puke fest, mental breakdown.  NOW here come the elites (8am start), argh.  AMAZING athletes.  Even MORE time wasted, standing aside waiting for runners to pass than slogging/hiking/walking.  No pace, nothing steady.  Temps heating up.  Complete mental blowup, super disappointing.  2 of the athletes on my Twitter feed raced past, flying over rock.  WOW!

Aid Station #2 to Aid Station #3 (4.9 miles) — This climb up Coyote is tough, but the reward is worth it. Breath taking views of the divide to the west – so be sure to turn around and enjoy them when you get to the top of this 1.4 mile climb. The top is a rock scramble, so follow the cairns and trail markings, keep your head up and you will stay on the trail. Over the next 2 miles you will descend 1,100 ft…this section is technical – travel at a comfortable speed, keep your eyes ahead and pick up your feet! No Diggers! After the long, fast descent you will come up onto a junction on your left that traverses over to Horseshoe. Cross the foot bridge and turn right for .1 miles to Aid Station #3 and your drop bags at Fraser Meadows Trailhead.

120 marathons under my belt.  Today however, felt like the ultimate impostor.  Far beyond my skill level.  Too technical, too quick.  Too much elevation, too much everything.  Felt heavy, large, overweight.  No sugar-coating today’s result.  Tough one.

Aid Station 3 arrival.  No mas.  Flagged down an official & called it.  Less than 5 hours in, DNF.

Too many runners, too tight a trail.  Just couldn’t imagine another 15 miles.  380 participants on a single-track hiking path; far too crowded, notta lotta fun.  Crazy beautiful/technical course.  For me however, not a good fit.

Dear Dirty 30’ers,

I hope you are recovering well and relishing in your accomplishment.  Regardless of which distance you  raced at the Dirty 30 this past weekend, the challenge was real and the courses were tough. 

KEENAN HAGA #99  STATUS: DNF

START  6:08:12 AM

AID 1   Time: 7:15:49 AM      Split: 1:07:36.66

AID 2   Time: 9:02:44 AM     Split: 1:46:54.98

AID 3   Time: 10:57:18 AM     Split: 1:54:33.99

50k Overall Results

1. 15 50k      Jackson Brill   M         19        *      4:35:52.1     8:52
2. 24 50k     Chris Mocko M        32        *      4:46:15.7     9:12
3. 18 50k      Brian Condon M         31         *      4:51:33.9     9:23
4. 69 50k      Seth Demoor  M         32       4:51:49.8        9:23
5. 1096 50k      Dylan Marx     M         26       4:57:56.3     9:35
6. 203 50k      Jonathan Rea M         26        5:07:26.3        9:53
7. 1092 50k      Adam Loomis M         26        5:10:47.6     10:00
8. 21 50k     Timothy Olson M        34       5:11:30.4      10:01