Just few days shy of 2019, it is time to get some notes on exciting year of racing in 2019. This yearly marks a significantly higher training thanks to training group Shades of Brown, which made training at insane hours easier.
Around same time last year I did blog about racing plans for 2019 and for most part most of them were completed except for Bighorn 100 2019 DNF at 80
http://outdoorzone.blogspot.com/2018/12/races-2019-more-doing-less-dreaming.html
Mini race updates are covered until May here:
http://outdoorzone.blogspot.com/2019/05/update-so-far-in-2019may.html
Bighorn 100 2019:
Race pictures are covered
here. This was my most sought after race, after trying to do this race for past few years finally stars aligned and could get to start line. I synced this trip mainly with another running buddy Samir Shah from SF and once at Sheridan we stayed at College Dorm along with Jeff Kosbie. It was a fun experience and cheap to stay in dorms.
Race had predicted to be wet, cold and trail conditions extremely muddy so they allotted 35hrs instead of usual 34hrs. Race went as expected for most parts but during night I ended up spending 45 minutes each in 3 aid stations which costed my precious time and got closer to cutoffs. I made the mile 66 cutoff at Sally's Bridge by foot bridge with 15 minutes to spare, but after getting out of AS there's a steep hill to climb called Wall, that guy was muddy , wet and steep took long time by the time I reached next AS it was clear I wont make mile 83 cutoff. I continued till that AS and eventually DNFed at mile 80. Unfortunately other friends missed cutoffs as well. I surely will go back to get this done maybe in 2021, Its a breathtaking course, filled with wild flowers, remote as it gets. low key v well organized race.
Bengaluru 24hr:
This was a bonus race during a trip to India, ended up doing this just to keep the feet moving, it was v well organized race by NEB in Kanteerva stadium. ended up getting abt 63 miles for the day and about 16hrs of run/walk. Vachu spent some time crewing for me.
Skyline 50k:
Another 50k as a training run, previous day got about 20 odd miles in Mission peak area and was looking to get some swift running going. Carpooled with KK, Sajeer, Eswar to race. all managed to get it done. Met Chuck at race and discussed few Tahoe 200 race logistics and his experience pacing at race.
Castle Peak 100K:
This is a notorious race claiming lot of DNFs in 2018, so I added to calendar as it had a image of being a gorgeous point to point course with some treacherous sections near palisades which comes usuallt during night for back of pack. This race calls for a separate race report, but in short race was going v well untill mile 35 when I took wrong trail and lost 30 mins, I got back to trail and continued with SB to mile 50 only to find cutoff has been extended, then I ended up sloughing to finish to get a unofficial finish in 21:49hrs (Official cutoff is 21hrs), need to go back and do a batter run there. Highly recommend this race.
Tahoe 200:
Calls for a separate blog, race pictures are
here, overall finished with Saurabh and CJ in about 98hrs 40 minutes.
CIM 2019:
11th CIM in books finished in just under 3:45, it was a good effort considering I recovered late from Tahoe 200 and got short training for CIM. Next race for PR is at Mt Charleston Apr 4th
Across the years 72hr run:
Next race starting Dec 29th
