tahoe rim 100 race report

This was my second mountain 100 mile run.  I use it to keep my qualifications alive for future races, including Western States and...gasp...the Hardrock.  A nice lady I met and ran with the last 30 miles asked me what I learned.  I replied...half in jest, half in brutal honesty as we ran the last 7 miles down a rock strewn single track, dropping 2000 ft with every step agonizingly painful..."I guess Leadville wasn't a a fluke" since I was finishing this damn thing.

Tahoe Rim was not my first race choice of the year, but it turned out to be a fabulously run, well supported event that I enjoyed tremendously.  I came in to the 50 mile mark at 14 hrs, about half an hour behind schedule.  There was a generous cut off of 35 hours, so I knew I was going to finish.  The sub 30 hr finish I had planned was in doubt. Realistically, you can take your 50 mile time, double it and add 2 or 3 hours for most of us mortals who finish back in the pack.  With some cushion, I lingered in the aid station over a bad allergic reaction to whatever was blooming at 7000 ft near Lake Tahoe, and then set out about 7 pm on a Saturday night with my friend Scott for the evening of running.

We flew from Moline to Sacramento on a Wednesday night, arriving late due to the vagaries of air travel and second string airports.  Rented a car with impatience as Scott the salesman "negotiated" with the rental counter attendant for a better deal at 2 am in the morning body clock time.

Drove up to Reno on I-80, the same Eisenhower interstate that runs 10 miles from my farmstead, albeit 2000 miles east.  Turned south towards Tahoe and faced the snow covered peaks.  Arriving on a Thursday afternoon, we checked into the race hotel in Carson City, Nevada and then went for a course tour.  Only two parts of the 50 mile loop really accessible by car, we took a 5 mile up and back hike from 6500 to EL 85000 ft in two miles of climb up a ski slope...Diamond Peak.  Slow slog...and what is with this sand?

Tahoe was created by glaciers.  The granite degrades to a coarse quartz sand.  An interesting fact that would dominate the race. Picture running on loose beach sand.

Met some familiar faces from other races during the registration. I met David Tosch and his wife MaryJo at Leadville in 2009, and again here at Tahoe.  David is from Alabama, and has done many 100 mile races.  Trail work in Telluride is improving his chances for the Hardrock lottery.

After starting at 5 am Saturday, the first 6 miles of the race is on well groomed, mostly uphill trail leading from the start at Spooner Lake to the first aid station at Hobart, above Marlette Lake,  The race follows the east side of Tahoe from south to north.  After Hobart aid, another 5 miles comes Tunnel Creek aid, with a pirate theme.  During the two 50 mile loops, I will see Tunnel Creek 6 times.  They had a fully stocked bar, and I took a nip or two.  That doesn't happen in a triathlon.  Only an ultra.

Tunnel Creek was followed by a six mile side loop to the east...Red House loop.  "A taste of heaven, a glimpse of hell" as the race motto goes.  Three miles down, 2000 feet of drop.  Get your feet wet in the ice cold stream a few times, then climb out.  That's the hell part.  Not as bad as what is to come.

Leaving Tunnel Creek at mile 17,  after a weigh in, finds me a bit over hydrated.  Gained a pound and a half from the start, I decide to cut back on water.  Ditched my poles in the drop bag...I am not using these much.  But then the snow fields start....

About every few hundred yards from Hobart to Tunnel Creek, and then from Tunnel Creek to Bull Wheel, there is a snow field.  In July.  The race course had only become passable during the month of July.  Snow was up to 10 feet deep, and the race course had cut steps in the steeper parts.  These got sloppy as the temps rose into the 70's by day.  Thank the gods for the most snowfall the mountain was had seen in decades.

Came into a small aid station at mile 20 feeling good at the top of Diamond Peak feeling good. This part was familiar...having hiked it on preceding Thursday. Hugging the divide, could see both Carson City, Nevada and Lake Tahoe depending on the direction looked.

Out of Bull Wheel, mile 20-30 was dominated by rocks and snow fields.  A mountain bike course, by day it was easy to follow.  By night, a bit more difficult. White rocks in white sand by white light...low contrast.  Ran into the Diamond Creek lodge and met pacer.."Safety Runner"....Scott Hoffman.  Ate hot food, changed socks, lingered ten minutes.  Then assaulted Diamond Peak. Up the 2000 foot climb in two miles. Back and forth, sidestepping up a sandy slope at what appeared to be 1:1.

Back through Tunnel Creek at mile 35 and up the east side of Marlette Lake via the highest point on the course....Snow Valley Peak Elev 9000 ft or so. Lots of snow fields.  Butt slide.  Eagle scouts had an aid station at the summit, secured against the high winds by healthy anchorage.  Hot soup never tasted better. Out of Snow Valley at mile 43, it was only 7 miles down hill to Spooner Lake....end of first 50 mile and start of the next.

Between Snow Valley and Spooner, there is a good trail, initially single track.  Rocks kept this from being a quick run, but the views of Tahoe and Marlette lakes were spectacular.  Got some great photos. After dropping to 7000 ft, the vegetation got thicker and the path wider.  Something allergic got me.  I could not see....both eyes burning.  Nothing to wipe my face with.  Took an anti-histamine, but it took an hour of tears and running with one eye closed to purge the toxins.  Finally pulled into Spooner, at about 14 hours. My initial hope was 12:30 on the "plan".

I felt good, but the course was tough.  Tougher than course map or elevation chart could say.  Not as high as Leadville, but less runable.  All on single or double track, the footing was: 50% loose sand, 25% rocks and 25% snow.  Maybe not so much snow, but it seemed like it as you picked your way through.  I really wasn't expecting the extra effort of running on sand...

Started the second 50 mile loop with Scott at around 14:30.  7 pm local time...yes, I lingered 30 minutes in the aid station.  Figured at that point...well, maybe no 30 hr buckle, but certainly finish.  At that point, pressure gone, this started to get FUN.  I snapped some great pictures of sunset over the lakes.

The night is rarely pleasant running.  Your body wants to sleep, tells you to rest.  Wind started to pick up to 20 mph gusts and the temperatures dropped to below freezing. The snow fields started to re-freeze, and the creeks rose in response to the day's melt.  The second Red house loop near midnight was my low point.  Still holding steady weight and fluid, started taking a bit of gels and caffeine to keep moving.  Changed socks and shirt in the night, putting on long sleeves and long pants against the chill.

Passing mile 70 and Bull Wheel aid the second time, came across a lady Karen from Chicago in the darkness of 2 am.  Do you know where the trail is?  Well...somewhere that way.  Stick with us.  Not a lot of conversation between 2 am and dawn.  Mostly picking the way among snow field and rock between mile 70 and 80.  Hit mile 80 Diamond lodge at about 6 am.  Changed socks, ate hot food.  Lingered too long at Karen went ahead and hit the steep uphill climb.

After dawn, got my second wind for the climb up Diamond Peak.  Started pulling on my friend Scott.  At the top, he took my extra water bottle and poles.  He told me "go for it'.  Felt good enough to run at mile 82.  Caught Karen and another lady Debra.  Debra was safety runner for two 100 milers who had dropped out in the night.  She was finishing for her own benefit.

Good conversation and company for the last 20 miles.  Last 7 miles out of Snow Valley to Spooner...miles 93-100...took 2 hours.  I thought I was running fast, but it was barely 18 minute miles.

Came into sight of Spooner Lake and finish, Karen asking me "What have you learned?"  She is a PE teacher, fitness instructor and girls track and cross country coach.  She always asks this question of her  students.  We talked all the way in.  I guess I learned something of nutrition and hydration.  No problems of the major causes of not finishing 100 mile races.  I can take gels during an ultra I find, and my stomach doesn't go sour.  Real food helps too, but variety important when nothing tastes good.  One bottle an hour of water by day, one bottle in two hours by night.  Clothes barely wet by sweat in the dry climate.

Finished strong, feeling better than any other 100 miler.  Ate the ominously named "Burito Bar'...had a beer, took a shower.  Came back for awards. Got my buckle.

All in all...the best 100 mile mountain race I have ever run.  Ran 4 days later.  Speedwork 8 days later.  Back in the groove with little recovery. Now I just have to decide what to do for fall.

Thanks to Scott Hoffman for support and driving my broken body around Tahoe.  Hope to return the favor for him at Leadville in August.

Best-
Larry