When I first heard about the North Face Endurance Challenge, I was excited to see a long trail run on Cougar and Squak Mts. I spoke with Jason Boyle about doing the 50K. He was game and signed up immediately. After a few weeks of going back and forth, I decided to sign up. Based on children and racing, I really didn't train at all specifically for this race. I figured I would just have to push through. Two weeks before the race Jason and I did a 16 mile race on Cougar to run part of the course. Which was the longest actual “run” I have done in a while.
The race started at 7am. The first few miles were sort of a meandering route that eventually led down to Highway 900 where the course crossed over to Squak. Probably one of the funniest parts of the day occurred when Jason was joking about how he was part of "fat kid running club" one of the other runners thought he was totally serious. It cracked me up. However I think that we should have some shirts made up for all of the people (like myself) who if we take the height to body weight ratio test find ourselves in the obese category! Yet I can finish an ultra-marathon - Go Clydesdales!
Squak Mt. was the most challenging part course by far. Basically you had to climb Squak twice! We got to run over both the West and Central Peaks. I felt bad for the 50 milers who had do the course twice! After going over the Central Peak (which is the highest point on the mountain) I was sadden to see us keep going down and down and down. I was jsut thankful that at the low point they had an aid station! The way back up seemed to climb and climb and climb. We toped out about 150 ft. from the top prior to heading back down the West Access Trail back to hwy 900. From there it was back to Cougar. We had some good conversation, I sang some great tunes as always. Some Pearl jam and Pink Flyod carried me through. On mile 25 you basically past right by the finish line. Jessica, Colby and Grandma Gayle where there to cheer us on! That was a nice lift for me, I got a big hug from Colby. Nothing beats a hug from a 2 year old! Then off we went. At the aid station, Jason asked for some Advil, (they had Aleve which was fine) however we he asked for two, he got the riot act from the helper. Are you sure you want two? It is hard on your kidneys ya know. I thought he was going to need a doctors note! It was sort of annoying at the time, but funny a little bit later. From there we grinded out the last 6 miles and made it back to the finish. We had accomplished our goal!
Thanks to Jason, it was good times for sure! RFM : relentless forward motion
A good mantra to live by.
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