Gorge Waterfall 100K
H5N1 duo of weekends ago, a grouping of us traveled upward to Portland for the Gorge Waterfall race. This race had 2 distances: 50k in addition to 100k. The 100k is an out in addition to dorsum amongst close 12,000 feet of climbing. Some of my friends in addition to I ran the 100k on Sabbatum in addition to Broski ran the 50k on Sunday. We flew upward on Th nighttime afterwards go in addition to spent Fri drinking beer at FatHeads Brewery (carb loading), shopping at Powells in addition to wandering simply about the city. We got an bird inward the Hawthorne district, which was a walkable surface area amongst lots of restaurants in addition to things to do. We had dinner really early on (around 5) on Fri at Thanh Thao eating seat (Vietnamese/Thai) because our race started at iv a.m. on Sabbatum in addition to nosotros wanted to larn to bed early.
Race morning time nosotros got upward at 2 a.m., had breakfast, in addition to drove the the set about business at Benson State Park. We got in that place thence early on that nosotros had fourth dimension to run into the early on set about at three a.m. in addition to to exercise the bath a few times. It was pretty chilly, perhaps simply about the high 40s, thence nosotros huddled adjacent to the bath for a spell trying to remain warm earlier the race started. Before nosotros knew it, it was nearly iv in addition to it was fourth dimension to larn going.
The race started off amongst a tiny bird part in addition to thence it was an immediate long uphill slog. I think the kickoff climb was close 1500 feet over 2 miles or something similar that. It was partly paved at kickoff in addition to thence was dirt/rocks for the lastly mile or so. Then nosotros started to larn downhill, in addition to it was a beast. The trail was rocky, total of roots in addition to some of the rocks were non split upward smaller rocks, but 1 big multi pointed chunk which covered the entire trail. It was moisture in addition to it slippery in addition to it was really tedious going, particularly since it was dark. The other matter was that on 1 side of us was a drib off, but nosotros could non tell how much of 1 since it was dark. Finally the stone gave way to a downhill paved path in addition to nosotros could finally speed upward the measurement a bit. I passed quite a few people on this section.
Once nosotros got to the bottom of this hill, nosotros got to the kickoff help station (No Name - vi miles in), which was pretty bare bones. Then nosotros started doing a lot of rolling hills on a unmarried rails trail for perhaps 5 to a greater extent than miles. The adjacent department was close three miles of pavement! I was non actually happy close this part, every bit (1) it hurts in addition to (2) I knew I would receive got to come upward dorsum this way since it was an out in addition to dorsum course! The solely skillful role close this department was that it was starting to larn light. At mile 13, nosotros got to the Yeon help station, where I gobbled downwardly a banana in addition to hitting the route again.
It was finally calorie-free in addition to the adjacent 10 miles or thence had a bunch of waterfalls in addition to things to await at. However, the trail was oftentimes rocky, causing to a greater extent than tedious running and/or walking than I would receive got liked. I fifty-fifty had to walk some on bird sections, every bit the basis was really shaky. Somewhere inward this section, I felt 1 of my toes starting to receive got a hot topographic point in addition to I knew this was going to live an issue. I got to the Cascade Locks help station at mile 22, which was where my drib pocketbook was, in addition to I took off my shoes to receive got a look. Sure enough, I had a blister. I lubed upward my feet, taped upward the blister, position my socks dorsum on in addition to hitting the route again.
From here, the trail had a pretty long uphill climb earlier heading dorsum downwardly to the turnaround betoken at mile 31. As I was slogging upward the uphill portion, I saw all of the elite guys heading dorsum down. It's funny because unremarkably inward local races, I am familiar amongst most of the atomic number 82 runners. However, this fourth dimension in that place were several unfamiliar faces. However, I did run into a duo of local guys in addition to it was fun to live able to produce so! This race was a big bargain because it was a Montrail Cup Race, which agency the top 2 men in addition to the top 2 women larn a qualifying topographic point inward Western States.
At the turnaround, I refilled my H2O (for the kickoff time, which likely agency I wasn't drinking enough) in addition to ate some trail butter in addition to hitting the route again. On the way back, I ran into all of my friends, who were going the contrary way. The kickoff didn't fifty-fifty run into me, every bit she was thence intent on the trail. The minute asked "how much further to the turnaround?" in addition to I knew just how he felt. The 3rd said that she was going to drib at the turnaround.
On the way back, my toe started bugging me again, thence I stopped a duo of times to position to a greater extent than lube on my toes. Once every bit I was stopped there, a guy who had been leapfrogging me offered me some record for it in addition to I gladly took him upward on the offer. After taping it again, it felt a fight better, but it notwithstanding was bugging me. I definitely ever go out likewise fast in addition to destination upward slowing downwardly a lot of the minute one-half because I ever larn passed a lot on the latter half. In fact, I hitting the xv mile grade (1/4 way done) inward close three hours. I got to the halfway grade inward close 6.5 hours. If I would receive got kept the same pace, I could receive got finished inward close xi hours. But I didn't.
I can't actually yell upward the middle role of the way back. I slogged along, going upward in addition to going downwardly in addition to going dorsum over the rocky sections. My legs felt fine but the bottoms of my feet hurt. People passed me. I stopped to accept some photos. I ate a lot of mash applesauce in addition to bananas. Finally I got to the Yeon help station 1 time again at mile 49. From hither it was three miles of dreaded pavement, of which I ran the whole way (and passed iv people -- yes!) in addition to thence it was some rolling trails in addition to thence No Name help station, which meant solely 1 huge loma in addition to vi miles to go.
It was the longest vi miles of my life. 1500 feet of climbing, a lot (A LOT) of tourist dodging in addition to a lot of either pavement (ouch) or pointy technical rocks (ouch). Finally I reached the top in addition to headed dorsum down. The downhill was way amend than I idea it would be. However, I forgot that afterwards the downhill yous receive got to larn dorsum upward 1 time again earlier heading downwardly the lastly bird mile to the finish. On the lastly hill, my blister broke in addition to I limped/ran along. Then I got to the lastly mile of bird in addition to it seemed thence long. You receive got to run simply about this lake in addition to yous tin run into the complete line, but it's on the other side of the lake in addition to yous tin listen the band in addition to yous know yous are almost there, but it seems to accept forever!
I finally got to the complete in addition to Broski in addition to his lady were there, photographing me inward all my finest glory. I crossed the line, got a high 5 from the race manager (his manus must live sore yesteryear the destination of the weekend!) in addition to hobbled over to the beer tent. I ended upward finishing inward 14:38:xx. I receive got solely run 1 100k earlier in addition to my fourth dimension was 15:10, thence that was a 100k PR.
The verdict? Would I produce this race again? I might. However, in that place are a few logistical things the RD needs to go on. Firstly, the help stations were poorly run. The people were friendly, but perhaps they were inexperienced. I had to larn my ain water, which is non normal inward a big race similar this. In addition, at the plough around, in that place were tortillas in addition to nut butter, but yous had to brand your ain roll-up. Usually these are pre-made in addition to set out for yous to salve your time. Also, the nutrient choices were non great. In a longer race, in that place should live some existent and/or hot nutrient choices. Generally in that place is soup or burritos/quesadillas or at the really to the lowest degree potatoes amongst salt. They had none of that. At Yeon they did receive got grilled cheese, which was good, but I actually felt that in that place should receive got been more.
On the other hand, the afterwards political party was great, although they did run out of beer yesteryear the fourth dimension my blood brother crossed the complete business on Sunday. That's non actually fair to the runners who are inward the middle/back of the pack. Back of the packers are people too!
All inward all, it was a fun weekend in addition to a hard but beautiful race.
Have yous ever been to Portland or the Pacific Northwest? What is your favorite beer?
Race morning time nosotros got upward at 2 a.m., had breakfast, in addition to drove the the set about business at Benson State Park. We got in that place thence early on that nosotros had fourth dimension to run into the early on set about at three a.m. in addition to to exercise the bath a few times. It was pretty chilly, perhaps simply about the high 40s, thence nosotros huddled adjacent to the bath for a spell trying to remain warm earlier the race started. Before nosotros knew it, it was nearly iv in addition to it was fourth dimension to larn going.
The race started off amongst a tiny bird part in addition to thence it was an immediate long uphill slog. I think the kickoff climb was close 1500 feet over 2 miles or something similar that. It was partly paved at kickoff in addition to thence was dirt/rocks for the lastly mile or so. Then nosotros started to larn downhill, in addition to it was a beast. The trail was rocky, total of roots in addition to some of the rocks were non split upward smaller rocks, but 1 big multi pointed chunk which covered the entire trail. It was moisture in addition to it slippery in addition to it was really tedious going, particularly since it was dark. The other matter was that on 1 side of us was a drib off, but nosotros could non tell how much of 1 since it was dark. Finally the stone gave way to a downhill paved path in addition to nosotros could finally speed upward the measurement a bit. I passed quite a few people on this section.
Once nosotros got to the bottom of this hill, nosotros got to the kickoff help station (No Name - vi miles in), which was pretty bare bones. Then nosotros started doing a lot of rolling hills on a unmarried rails trail for perhaps 5 to a greater extent than miles. The adjacent department was close three miles of pavement! I was non actually happy close this part, every bit (1) it hurts in addition to (2) I knew I would receive got to come upward dorsum this way since it was an out in addition to dorsum course! The solely skillful role close this department was that it was starting to larn light. At mile 13, nosotros got to the Yeon help station, where I gobbled downwardly a banana in addition to hitting the route again.
It was finally calorie-free in addition to the adjacent 10 miles or thence had a bunch of waterfalls in addition to things to await at. However, the trail was oftentimes rocky, causing to a greater extent than tedious running and/or walking than I would receive got liked. I fifty-fifty had to walk some on bird sections, every bit the basis was really shaky. Somewhere inward this section, I felt 1 of my toes starting to receive got a hot topographic point in addition to I knew this was going to live an issue. I got to the Cascade Locks help station at mile 22, which was where my drib pocketbook was, in addition to I took off my shoes to receive got a look. Sure enough, I had a blister. I lubed upward my feet, taped upward the blister, position my socks dorsum on in addition to hitting the route again.
 |
| Rocky Road -- Photo Credit: Broski |
From here, the trail had a pretty long uphill climb earlier heading dorsum downwardly to the turnaround betoken at mile 31. As I was slogging upward the uphill portion, I saw all of the elite guys heading dorsum down. It's funny because unremarkably inward local races, I am familiar amongst most of the atomic number 82 runners. However, this fourth dimension in that place were several unfamiliar faces. However, I did run into a duo of local guys in addition to it was fun to live able to produce so! This race was a big bargain because it was a Montrail Cup Race, which agency the top 2 men in addition to the top 2 women larn a qualifying topographic point inward Western States.
 |
| Mossy Fairy Bridge -- Photo Credit: Broski |
At the turnaround, I refilled my H2O (for the kickoff time, which likely agency I wasn't drinking enough) in addition to ate some trail butter in addition to hitting the route again. On the way back, I ran into all of my friends, who were going the contrary way. The kickoff didn't fifty-fifty run into me, every bit she was thence intent on the trail. The minute asked "how much further to the turnaround?" in addition to I knew just how he felt. The 3rd said that she was going to drib at the turnaround.
On the way back, my toe started bugging me again, thence I stopped a duo of times to position to a greater extent than lube on my toes. Once every bit I was stopped there, a guy who had been leapfrogging me offered me some record for it in addition to I gladly took him upward on the offer. After taping it again, it felt a fight better, but it notwithstanding was bugging me. I definitely ever go out likewise fast in addition to destination upward slowing downwardly a lot of the minute one-half because I ever larn passed a lot on the latter half. In fact, I hitting the xv mile grade (1/4 way done) inward close three hours. I got to the halfway grade inward close 6.5 hours. If I would receive got kept the same pace, I could receive got finished inward close xi hours. But I didn't.
I can't actually yell upward the middle role of the way back. I slogged along, going upward in addition to going downwardly in addition to going dorsum over the rocky sections. My legs felt fine but the bottoms of my feet hurt. People passed me. I stopped to accept some photos. I ate a lot of mash applesauce in addition to bananas. Finally I got to the Yeon help station 1 time again at mile 49. From hither it was three miles of dreaded pavement, of which I ran the whole way (and passed iv people -- yes!) in addition to thence it was some rolling trails in addition to thence No Name help station, which meant solely 1 huge loma in addition to vi miles to go.
It was the longest vi miles of my life. 1500 feet of climbing, a lot (A LOT) of tourist dodging in addition to a lot of either pavement (ouch) or pointy technical rocks (ouch). Finally I reached the top in addition to headed dorsum down. The downhill was way amend than I idea it would be. However, I forgot that afterwards the downhill yous receive got to larn dorsum upward 1 time again earlier heading downwardly the lastly bird mile to the finish. On the lastly hill, my blister broke in addition to I limped/ran along. Then I got to the lastly mile of bird in addition to it seemed thence long. You receive got to run simply about this lake in addition to yous tin run into the complete line, but it's on the other side of the lake in addition to yous tin listen the band in addition to yous know yous are almost there, but it seems to accept forever!
I finally got to the complete in addition to Broski in addition to his lady were there, photographing me inward all my finest glory. I crossed the line, got a high 5 from the race manager (his manus must live sore yesteryear the destination of the weekend!) in addition to hobbled over to the beer tent. I ended upward finishing inward 14:38:xx. I receive got solely run 1 100k earlier in addition to my fourth dimension was 15:10, thence that was a 100k PR.
The verdict? Would I produce this race again? I might. However, in that place are a few logistical things the RD needs to go on. Firstly, the help stations were poorly run. The people were friendly, but perhaps they were inexperienced. I had to larn my ain water, which is non normal inward a big race similar this. In addition, at the plough around, in that place were tortillas in addition to nut butter, but yous had to brand your ain roll-up. Usually these are pre-made in addition to set out for yous to salve your time. Also, the nutrient choices were non great. In a longer race, in that place should live some existent and/or hot nutrient choices. Generally in that place is soup or burritos/quesadillas or at the really to the lowest degree potatoes amongst salt. They had none of that. At Yeon they did receive got grilled cheese, which was good, but I actually felt that in that place should receive got been more.
On the other hand, the afterwards political party was great, although they did run out of beer yesteryear the fourth dimension my blood brother crossed the complete business on Sunday. That's non actually fair to the runners who are inward the middle/back of the pack. Back of the packers are people too!
All inward all, it was a fun weekend in addition to a hard but beautiful race.
Have yous ever been to Portland or the Pacific Northwest? What is your favorite beer?
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