Race Report: PCTR Skyline to the Sea 50K

Mission accomplished.

I set out for the Bay Area to run the 2010 edition of PCTR's Skyline to the Sea 50K race with two main objectives: 1) to serve as a 30+ mile training run for the PCT 50 coming up and 2) exact revenge on a course that chewed me up and spit me out last year.


Part II!

I arrived in San Francisco the Friday of race weekend and right from the get-go, it turned into an eating ultra event with my cousin Frank and I trying out all kinds of different fares and cuisines the Bay Area had to offer. We're talking noodles, ice cream, sandwiches, BBQ, beer, etc. By the time Sunday morning came around, I was starting to wonder if my stomach would start to rebel at my cavalier prep for a 31+ mile trail race. I stuffed a handful of toilet paper in my pocket just in case.


Hanging out with Gundy and Rick at the start.

Thanks to ultra studs Gundy and Rick, I was able to secure a ride to the start in Big Basin Redwood State Park. Having seen the course last year (okay, a little more than half of it) I can tell you it's hard to keep your eyes on the road ahead of you. To call it scenic would be an understatement. So it was hard to make the decision to leave the camera behind but that is precisely what I did. I wanted to work on running a strong, steady race without being distracted by things like, "ooo, gotta take a pic of that for the blog!". Selfish, I know.


Me with Johannes and Jen before the start.


Pretty much the coolest gal in the world, Sarah the RD.

The race started a little after 9am and for the first 10K or so, it is mostly downhill on a series of windy, rolling single tracks. I intentionally started a few rows back from the leaders and tucked in behind a half dozen or so guys running at a moderate pace. Focused on nothing but a few yards ahead of me, I shut my mind off and tried to stay zen during the early descent because I know it would be a mental game later in the day. Made it by the first aid station a little after the 10K mark at right under an hour. Saw my friend Johannes who was volunteering there, gave a quick hello and got out of there after a quick refill of the bottle.


(From 2009)

We encountered our first bit of climbing during the next stretch and not coincidentally, when I started feeling sluggish. It was only mile 8+ and already I was feeling tired. My ability to handle climbs has been shit lately. Thankfully, it did not last and within a couple of miles I started feeling normal again. Great even. Especially after aid station #2 (a little after mile 10) when my spirits were restored and I was having fun again. By then, the runners were pretty spaced apart and the few I encountered, I was able to pass. We did a bit of bouldering here before beginning another series of descent down to Gazos Creek.


(From 2009)

My fueling thus far has consistent. Thanks to the advice of Gundy and Rick, after the initial hour had passed, I stuck to taking in a gel every 25 minutes and a salt stick every other time. Hydration was Nuun in one handheld and regular water in the other. This strategy provided a steady stream of energy and I never felt like I was going to bonk.


Brief footage running the start of the trail from last year

Down in Gazos Creek, I did not see another runner for the longest time. Still feeling good, I was running at a good clip but there was that nagging voice in the back wondering if I was still on the right path. Once a ribbon appeared, that voice was quelled a bit but still, after going through what I went through last year, can ya blame me?

Finally, I hit the aid station #3 (which would also be #4 for us 50K-ers too after completing a hilly, exposed 7K loop). It was a little after this station where I missed the turn last time around so once I refilled my bottles and grabbed a couple of boiled potatoes dipped in salt, I started running up the fire road wide-eyed and attentive. Sure enough a little less than a mile up the road, there was the turn off to the right. It couldn't have been any louder or well-marked if it had neon lights pointing down to it. How I missed this last year is still beyond me. Chuckling to myself, I made the turn and took this time to hike a bit during the long exposed climb. It was the first time the trees cleared and the sun beat down on us. So I kept things nice and easy in this stretch and started back up running once we were back down in the shady Gazos Creek section.

Back on the Skyline trail, there were many runners (mostly the marathon distance runners) when I came back on this stretch so I had to make some passes to keep running. I diligently took my gels and salt and while I was still feeling relatively good, the legs were tiring. But I kept the arms pumping and although I slowed a bit, kept on running. I knew it would be awhile before we'd hit our next aid station (near the finish), but I didn't anticipate just how far. As we ran on rolling, muddy fire roads my fluids starting dwindling and at the 4-hour mark, took the last gel I had. C'mon aid station...where are you??

When I finally ran out of fluids, there was still no aid station in sight. My left foot and hip also started acting up and each step became painful. Told myself to just toughen up and keep the arms pumping and running no matter what. This was certainly the most difficult section and just to taunt me, we were running almost exclusively next to an inviting creek. Me and a couple of runners were leap-frogging one another with passes but at this point, my finishing time was less a factor and being able to quench my thirst was the priority.

Mercifully, after several miles, the final aid station appeared. Best of all...they had Coke! I probably spent a good 2-3 minutes here as I downed a couple of cups, had my bottles refilled and regained composure. I left feeling 100x's better and began the final stretch down the flat fire road to the finish. One by one, spectators emerged cheering us runners on and finally after 5+ hours of running and slogging through, the finish was in sight and sweet vindication was mine!

Sarah the race director and several other folks cheered me in and they were definitely a sight for sore eyes. Official time = 5:11:27. I'm sure with more miles and effort, I can drop that time but that was not the point of today.


Celebrating with my SttS shirt and Pepsi!

I made a beeline for the ice chest and after grabbing some more coke and chocolate milk, I also grabbed a handful of ice for my left foot. Sarah even had a can of Pepsi waiting for me (a joke carried over from last year's race that stuck til now). I saw Rick and Gundy, both of whom ran fantastic times (top 15 for both) and also Joahnnes who was finished with his volunteer duties and was waiting for his girl and my friend Jen to finish her first ultra. Once I finally got up, I put on some dry clothes and milled around the finish to talk to some folks and hang out.


The Finish area.


Jen finishing her first ultra!


New Course Records: Leor Pantilat (3:25:17) and Caitlin Smith (4:00:48)



Families were out in full force as many made signs and ran in some of their loved ones. While I didn't know many of these people, you couldn't help but cheer them in. Especially when you see their determination of crossing that line, and the immense self-satisfaction and raw joy when they realize what a monumental task they had just accomplished. I lingered for a few hours before finally heading back to the city with Johannes and Jen.

I'm glad I came back to run this race and I will no doubt be back to run it in the future. It was a great vibe, a great day. Bring on the PCT 50! (ok, actually, give me a sec..)