Flashback 2019

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

Update so far in 2019(May)

Its 5 months into the year already and time is slowly chipping away. We got a real good running group going which has made training in insane hours easier. Shades of Brown  is a prolific group, we have logged lot of Mission peak miles.  as far myself  logged 1000 miles so far with 180,000ft climb.

I had following races planned and for the most part it has gone very well so far.


Feb: 
         Feb 4th: Eldrith 50k: 7:11hrs
         This a great course on dipsea trails , it was a raining most of the day, but any day of running in marin county is a blessing. Had strong run in this hilly 50k, might consider going back again next year

         Feb 12th:         Saratoga Fatass 50k
         Did just 26 Miles this year due to time constraints.

         Feb 23rd: Mt Hamilton 50k (Fatass)
         Had to do a altered course as we ended up running Highway 130 instead of shorter route, as it had small shoulder. so we didnt make it to Mt Hamilton but got a good uphill run of 15 miles an a easy way back. We had  Bipul, Baban, Saurabh, myself and Hima completing full run and Anil C and Prasad doing 22 miler. We got great post run beer and kichdi supplied by Bipul

         
Mar: 
         May 9th: Marin Ultra 50m
         Another quite rainy day and quite muddy conditions, it called out for a great training for Bighorn which is known for mud obstacle course. Gang did great there. I love this race and will be a regular feature in training.

         May 16th:         Dogmeat Fatass 50k
         Due to time constraints could do just 4 repeats this year, but Bipul did the 10X and got 3rd slot there.

Apr:  
        6th:  American River 50M(registered, with Josh)
        Mainly signed up to run with Josh, but he was coaching his kids baseball team so he could run just 25Miles and leave for the race. I ran 1st half with him and that worked in my favor, 2nd half went much better. Wont o next year, maybe local 50k or Sonoma 50M

       After Hamilton suffered shin pain for a good 2 months, so had to back of mileage and get good massage done by Greg at SMI, that helped relieve the pressure from tibia and go back to painfree running. I think it was too many hills and fast downhills which caused he injury.

May : 
       5th:  Miwok 100k (got in lottery, registered, with Josh)
      12th:  QS 100k (registered)

This was a double on my wish list for a long time, Baban was doing both as well, so we carpooled for those races, we ran lot of miwok together, it was perfect running weather took it easy 1st half an id a good steady 2nd half. Driving back was a slough as it was again long day. Hima finished this again this year getting his WSQ as well.

         QS 100k:  That was my 11th annual race, 6th QS finigh it was much harder than usual coz of tummy issues right from mile 30, it was a slough to get this done.. slowest of all finishes just under 17hrs. Baban did great geting sub 16, so did Shashank and Niloy. many other friends joined for 50k race as well. I am considering doing double again next year.

Since then mostly tapering for the 1st big run at Bighorn 100M in Wyoming, that's another bucket list race. Stars are aligned so far, all planning done for the race, we have a gang from bay area  staying together so that will be fun.

Flashback 2018

From Ultra perspective my main goal for the year was to complete unfinished job at TRT and have more balanced running schedule amidst all other commitments in life. I think I did fairly well on both fronts. our daughter was adjusting well at school in 2nd part of the year that was a major relief and we did plan one good vacation at Kawaii.

Listing some key runs/races of 2018 and how the year went. 

1. Duke's 10X dogmeat 50k: Duke captured report of the day here. I ran the race mostly with Jason it was fun catching up on our racing/running plans.

2. Western States Fatass Run 100M: Again started by Duke and I jumped at the idea of running WS 100 course as a Fatass event, it was on my list for a while and I am fortunate to make this happen. This was more precious than any other 100 I have finished before. I am extremely thankful to my friends Martha(Duke's wife) and Rajeev Patel for their support as crew at various points. Duke has detailed report here. Photos from the adventure are here

3. co-RD Ruth Anderson: I believe it was 39th year it went very well, Rajeev was out of town so I had to take up brunt of work on race day, we had a seasoned team of people helping us out so we worked it out fine.

4. 10th Quicksilver 100k: another of my regular runs, completed 10th run at QS and 5th 100k this year, middle miles were tough but sucked it up and got it done. Anil Chandran finished this tough 100k too, Bipul had some back issues so decided to drop.\

5. TRT 100M: 

Since the DNF 2017, this race was haunting and I was patiently waiting to get this done, for some reason day time was much harder than previous years, but 2nd half was made much easier by Bipul's companionship and his famous kichadi, it was a treat to have that at 50m turnaround.

6. Bay Ridge 100k:

mainly decided to run this local Ultra on famous Dick Collins 50M course to accompany Hart who was doing his 1st 100k, it was brilliant effort of perseverance by him and we got it done just in time and got our moneys worth.

7. 10th CIM:

got my 10th finish at my favorite marathon and had a good race as well. good participation by Akamai friends and some other bay area friends.

Amongst friends several notable accomplishments

- Satpal and Paul Tran got their RDL finishes.

- Hart finished his 1st 100k.

- Shashank and Pradeep finished their 1st 100M.

- CJ finished Tahoe 200 and inspired few of us in 2019.

- Bipul got enough points for UTMB and signed for Ouray 100 in 2019.

- Anil Chandran finished QS 100k this year apart from Comrades.

- Ganesh finished Trans USA bike tour.