Argh! Does ANYTHING compare to the agony of writing out a whole blog post, only to have it eaten by computer gremlins before it’s saved or published? Yep, I’m pretty sure lack of auto-saving blog software is the biggest problem facing the world today. You will just have to take my word that I had crafted a beautiful, moving, eloquent blog post all about the upcoming Western States 100 mile race this weekend. There was humor. There was pathos. There were statistics. It was a thing of beauty, and it is lost forever.
Instead, you get this half-hearted, second-rate babble studded with movie links. It’s at least 35% less satisfying. Either create some auto-saving blog software for me, or deal with it.
So long story short, the great-granddaddy of hundred mile races, Western States, is this weekend. I haven’t run a hundred miler and I don’t have the itch…yet…but when I do, you can bet WS will be the one I gun for. Last year’s race was absolutely epic, with the first two finishers both breaking the course record substantially and coming in under 15:30 (and this on a course with 18000 ft elevation gain and 22000 ft loss.) There’s a movie coming out this fall that captures the showdown last year, and I recently saw the trailer and immediately fell in love:
Here’s the video from the 2011 Shadow of the Giants 50k (or in my case, 35k). Trying to decide whether to watch it? I’ll break it down for you. Pros: relatively short, awesome soundtrack song, cameo by a sassy Australian RD, and serious landscape porn. Cons: shaky camera work, I eat a cookie in a very unladylike fashion, and by the end I have a raspy Marge Simpson voice. The choice is yours.
Shadow of the Giants is usually the highlight of my spring racing season. It’s the race I return to year after year because of the atmosphere, the beautiful scenery, the saucy race director, and the chance to escape LA and play in one of the country’s most scenic areas. I was especially looking forward to it this year because my recent races have been going so well and I intended to try and break my recently-set 50k PR on the course.
But instead of coming on the blog to (modestly!) gloat about another awesome race, I instead have to type those three letters I’ve never written before: DNF. For the first time in my life, I didn’t finish a race, and to say I have mixed feelings about it is to put it mildly. But let me back up…
I finally finished the video for the Leona Divide 50 miler! I cannot believe it took me a month to put it together. When is someone going to start paying me to do these videos so I can prioritize them over my real work? It was really fun to watch over all the footage and re-live the race. There may not be stripey knee socks like my last race video, but there are still some sweet dance moves on display! Other bonuses: sexy rockstar wigs, creepy dolls along the trail, and I discover the next big running superfood. Check it out.
In other news, I’m getting really excited about Shadow of the Giants this weekend. I finally booked our hotel room (procrastinator much?) and our weekend plans are set. Word is that the race was almost cancelled because of impassable trails due to snow and fallen trees, but Big Baz found a way. I’m hoping to shoot video during the race (you know, so I can edit it together by August) but it looks like it might be pretty rainy, so I’m going to have to play it by ear. See you on the other side!
Random “vintage” Shadow running shirts decorating the course for the 20 year anniversary!
I look forward to running Shadow of the Giants every year. I rave about it to running friends, bore my poor non-running friends talking about it, and in general need to set up some sort of affiliate referral program, because I plug this race all. the. time. Shadow of the Giants was one of the first 50ks I did (maybe the second or third?) back in 2005, and I’ve tried to run it every year since, injuries & schedule permitting.
So what makes Shadow of the Giants so special?
Well, the setting is gorgeous, for one thing. Located at the base of Yosemite, the race runs on fire roads and singletrack through towering forests. It’s beautiful, it’s green, it’s peaceful—except for the year I came face to face with a black bear halfway through the run. I think nostalgia also plays a factor, since it was one of my first ultras and one of the pivotal races that got me hooked on trail running in the first place. Mostly, though, I think it’s the spirit of the race. It’s low-key and friendly, and presided over by that most mischevious of RDs, Baz Hawley (who also directs Saddleback, Twin Peaks, and a number of other CA races.) Baz spends the pre-race briefing telling dirty jokes, hassling the regulars, and swearing up a storm, but behind the laid-back act, there’s a well-organized race directing machine.
Argh! Does ANYTHING compare to the agony of writing out a whole blog post, only to have it eaten by computer gremlins before it’s saved or published? Yep, I’m pretty sure lack of auto-saving blog software is the biggest problem facing the world today. You will just have to take my word that I had crafted a beautiful, moving, eloquent blog post all about the upcoming Western States 100 mile race this weekend. There was humor. There was pathos. There were statistics. It was a thing of beauty, and it is lost forever.
Instead, you get this half-hearted, second-rate babble studded with movie links. It’s at least 35% less satisfying. Either create some auto-saving blog software for me, or deal with it.
So long story short, the great-granddaddy of hundred mile races, Western States, is this weekend. I haven’t run a hundred miler and I don’t have the itch…yet…but when I do, you can bet WS will be the one I gun for. Last year’s race was absolutely epic, with the first two finishers both breaking the course record substantially and coming in under 15:30 (and this on a course with 18000 ft elevation gain and 22000 ft loss.) There’s a movie coming out this fall that captures the showdown last year, and I recently saw the trailer and immediately fell in love:
Here’s the video from the 2011 Shadow of the Giants 50k (or in my case, 35k). Trying to decide whether to watch it? I’ll break it down for you. Pros: relatively short, awesome soundtrack song, cameo by a sassy Australian RD, and serious landscape porn. Cons: shaky camera work, I eat a cookie in a very unladylike fashion, and by the end I have a raspy Marge Simpson voice. The choice is yours.
Shadow of the Giants is usually the highlight of my spring racing season. It’s the race I return to year after year because of the atmosphere, the beautiful scenery, the saucy race director, and the chance to escape LA and play in one of the country’s most scenic areas. I was especially looking forward to it this year because my recent races have been going so well and I intended to try and break my recently-set 50k PR on the course.
But instead of coming on the blog to (modestly!) gloat about another awesome race, I instead have to type those three letters I’ve never written before: DNF. For the first time in my life, I didn’t finish a race, and to say I have mixed feelings about it is to put it mildly. But let me back up…
I finally finished the video for the Leona Divide 50 miler! I cannot believe it took me a month to put it together. When is someone going to start paying me to do these videos so I can prioritize them over my real work? It was really fun to watch over all the footage and re-live the race. There may not be stripey knee socks like my last race video, but there are still some sweet dance moves on display! Other bonuses: sexy rockstar wigs, creepy dolls along the trail, and I discover the next big running superfood. Check it out.
In other news, I’m getting really excited about Shadow of the Giants this weekend. I finally booked our hotel room (procrastinator much?) and our weekend plans are set. Word is that the race was almost cancelled because of impassable trails due to snow and fallen trees, but Big Baz found a way. I’m hoping to shoot video during the race (you know, so I can edit it together by August) but it looks like it might be pretty rainy, so I’m going to have to play it by ear. See you on the other side!
Random “vintage” Shadow running shirts decorating the course for the 20 year anniversary!
I look forward to running Shadow of the Giants every year. I rave about it to running friends, bore my poor non-running friends talking about it, and in general need to set up some sort of affiliate referral program, because I plug this race all. the. time. Shadow of the Giants was one of the first 50ks I did (maybe the second or third?) back in 2005, and I’ve tried to run it every year since, injuries & schedule permitting.
So what makes Shadow of the Giants so special?
Well, the setting is gorgeous, for one thing. Located at the base of Yosemite, the race runs on fire roads and singletrack through towering forests. It’s beautiful, it’s green, it’s peaceful—except for the year I came face to face with a black bear halfway through the run. I think nostalgia also plays a factor, since it was one of my first ultras and one of the pivotal races that got me hooked on trail running in the first place. Mostly, though, I think it’s the spirit of the race. It’s low-key and friendly, and presided over by that most mischevious of RDs, Baz Hawley (who also directs Saddleback, Twin Peaks, and a number of other CA races.) Baz spends the pre-race briefing telling dirty jokes, hassling the regulars, and swearing up a storm, but behind the laid-back act, there’s a well-organized race directing machine.
