Plain 100 is a very unique, tough 100-mile race held on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountain Range in Plain, Washington. This was my most challenging 100 miler to finish with all of its tough and unique challenges. The challenges (besides running a 100+ miles) include: 1) There are no course markings. Racers must use maps, directions, and navigation skills. 2) There are no aid stations and no pacers are allowed. It is a self-supported race. You must haul enough food for at least 60 miles before stocking up again and must obtain water in passing streams. 3) The trail conditions can be very challenging because of dust that permeates shoes and socks as well as having deep rutted out motorcycle tracks. 4) There are three massive climbs of nearly 5,000 feet and a total of 22,000 feet elevation gain. Leading up to the race, I did not set myself up for success. I was very nonchalant even though I knew this race had all the challenges I mentioned above. After Crazy Mountain 100 in J...
Let’s just start this race report with a BIG WOW! About the race from the website : Crazy Mountain 100- With around 23,000 ft of vertical gain reaching heights of 10,200 ft. Point to Point. Primarily single track. Extreme technical descents and ascents. Long sections with no trail, two track, and the occasional forest service road, this event is one of a kind. The course is considered extremely rugged, extreme exposure, and challenging. While "hard" is relative, many expressed that this course was more challenging than they thought, and some were greeted with what they expected. Just know, if you are not accustomed to remote mountain running with scree, steep accents and descents, and all possible footing, then you may be in the "harder than expected" boat! It will test your grit and leave you feeling accomplished crossing that finish line like no other event around. The race course itself navigates through the Indigenous lands of the Apsaalooke (Crow Nation), priv...
Wow. What an "#OurayExperience." I'm still a bit speechless but I hope I can share with all what I went through at the Ouray 100 this past weekend in this report. Maria and me at the "Switzerland of America" Look Out Point Pre Ouray: Okay here we go... well sorta. Let's back up first. I first knew about this race when a fellow ultrarunning friend, Avery Collins ran it back in 2016 and had his documentary made on Amazon Prime. It had been on my radar for five years and I knew I would want to run it one day. Then in 2019, I was approached by The North Face Japan to help crew/pace their sponsored athlete, Hiroki Shimura the back 50+ Miles. We made a documentary of Hiroki's race and that is now on Youtube as well as the Ouray 100 website (definitely a must watch). After being on course in 2019, I knew I would want to run in 2020, but you know what happened... COVID-19. 2020 was a bust to run the race so I had to wait until this year, 2021. Leading up to th...
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