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SRC Member Race Reports – June 2018

Once a month we’d like to showcase the races for members courageous enough to spend a few minutes filling out a Google Form, and until we get that sick shout-out from the CEO himself on Twitter or, preferably, Instagram®, we will *NOT* promote Run Gum!

First-placers, mid-packers, sweepers, we want to hear all the tales: heroism, zeroism, and everything in between.

You racing this July? Probably! Here’s an incomplete list of “races” I accept:

  1. Real races! (road, track, trail, relays, obstacle course…..is that it?)
  2. Strava CRs! (no bikes)
  3. Strava CR attempts! (definitely no bikes)
  4. Beer Miles (5% abv or even PBR beer miles!)
  5. Beer ultras (Fat Glass is coming!)

Submit Your Race Report!

Let’s hand it off to June 2018’s BOSS HOSSES!
🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻

Jim Mansen

Member #: 1569
Race name: Bend Beer Chase
When was this race? 6/2/2018
How did you place?! Who cares?
Race website: Bend Beer Chase
Race report:

The Bend Beer Chase always starts in the cool morning hours and then summer heat breaks out almost instantly and turns any porta-potty into a porta-sauna. Team Beerly Running managed to stay cool thanks to the conveniently-located breweries along the exchanges. Our team of 5 was also supporting a solo runner so while we managed to gain several leads into the exchanges, we spent time in the care and feeding of our maniacal friend in his quest to be the solo division champ. A great way to enjoy the run (and brewery) community instead of our likely Men’s Masters champion position. We arranged to keep the finish open so Our Beery Godmother could finish all 56 miles with a roaring crowd and an awaiting champion plaque. Two teams, one race, and free beer. Seems like a win all the way around.

Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No
Race image(s):

Shoeless Joe Sez!

Ah, the ol’ BBC. More memories from this race than I have hairs on my back. I’d be remiss to not link once more to my own race report from Bend Oregon, ca 2015. I’m not going to read it again; I’m sure it’s aged quite well, not unlike a well-timed Al Bundy zinger.

…summer heat breaks out almost instantly and turns any porta-potty into a porta-sauna.

The key here, having run this race twice under similarly atrocious conditions, is to forgo the porta-potties altogether and just jerry-rig a fancy functioning jar/bottle setup in the car.

Another solution is to just not drink *any* fluids. Run/sweat hard enough and *boom*….no porta-potty needs for DAYS.


Samir Rahman

Member #: 1968
Race name: Color Run 2k18
When was this race? 06/13/18
How did you place?! Who cares?
*Your* website URL: http://www.SponsoredByRunGum.com
Race report:

I arrived in the parking lot, used the port-o-potty facilities, and began to embark on my warmup. I was locked in for this extremely competitive race – I had just begun my sponsorship from RunGum and knew that a bad race would put me off to a bad relationship with the organization. I scouted out my competition, but oddly enough, just saw a bunch of guys jogging in baggy t shirts and basketball shorts. “An easier win for me I guess,” I thought to himself.

The starting gun went off and my body was full of adrenaline. I didn’t want to get boxed in, so I went out hard, threw some elbows (knocked down a kid in the process, but oh well) and found myself quickly in the lead. After the first turn, I noticed a bunch of hoodlum teenagers covered in purple clothing trying to throw purple powder at me! I was both perplexed and infuriated, as I had no idea what these kids were doing, but angrier because this distraction was slowing down my running!

I encountered more of these troublesome individuals throughout the race, though each group had a different color (My guess was that the colors corresponded to each group’s gang affiliation). I crossed the finish line, glanced at my watch, and was shocked. “13:44? There’s no way this was a full 5k. Why did I spend 40 bucks on this stupid race?” I asked myself in utter rage.

Suddenly, I found myself in a foreign land. I was lying down, covered in blankets, and my alarm clock was beeping.

“What an odd dream. It’s already starting to get real fuzzy, but I think it was about running or something,” I thought to myself as I groggily got up to brush my teeth. I checked my phone’s calendar and realized I needed to get going quickly for my race later that morning. I was about to race the Color Run 2k18, a classic Seattle road race known for its fierce competition. I rushed to my car stuffing down a Clif bar, and off I went…

Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No

Shoeless Joe Sez!

Since Color Runs don’t have an extensive database of results from their races, I can’t confirm if you actually did run this race and throw elbows and get attacked by gang members or if this is something you wrote for credit at one of Amazon’s inter-office creative writing workshops. As a double-dipper myself, I suppose I’ll allow it.

I had just begun my sponsorship from RunGum

Wait, how did you get this sponsorship? I’ve been emailing them for months now. Did you tell them about this feature? I *have* to assume they’ve seen it by now but you never know…

I checked my phone’s calendar

#HumbleBrag


Martin Criminale

Member #: 1348
Race name: Alaska Mountain Ultrarunning Camp Beer Mile
When was this race? 6/13/18
How did you place?! I won
Race website: Race Site
*Your* website URL: Link
Race report:

I beat Dakota Jones! Is there any need to say more?

Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No
Race image(s):

Shoeless Joe Sez!

Hate to do this to ya boss, but FYI:


Rufus Park

Member #: 1545
Race name: Hope in the Vineyard 5K
When was this race? June 16 2018
How did you place?! 12th overall
Race website: Results
Race report:

This event was in Benton City at Hedges Winery about 2 miles from my new home. I rode my Stumpjumper on vineyard roads which I discovered are difficult to ride. I was probably the only person that did not come in a car. There were 175 entrants at this wine-themed American Cancer Society fund raiser. The start had a long uphill followed by a long downhill on a paved road with amazing scenery. This was probably the most scenic 5k that I have run, I ran all-out. The course was not marked and there seemed to be some confusion in the directions given by volunteers about half of us ran about 3.5 miles including me. My 3.5mi finish time was 31:06 good enough for 12th overall. I raced with much younger people! I talked with a few people afterwards. A local senior told me about a senior meetup running group in Richland which I will go to some time. This was a fun event for me. Then rode the difficult vineyard roads to home.

Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No
Race image(s):

Shoeless Joe Sez!

I rode my Stumpjumper on vineyard roads which I discovered are difficult to ride. I was probably the only person that did not come in a car.

The Ruf, the Ruf, the Ruf is inspired!

He don’t need no carpool let those knobby tires turn!

That pic of you pulling away from that golf cart has earned you a one-month reprieve from me complaining to the QFC cashiers that you insinuated I don’t put women #1 in my life. Congrats! Wine and 5Ks are definitely part of the proper Boston Qualifying marathon training plan, imo!


Aaron Roche

Member #: 1960
Race name: 29th Annual Fall City Day Run 10k
When was this race? 9 June 2018
How did you place?! 8th/101
Race website: Link
*Your* website URL: Link
Race report:

Highlights/lowlights:

I think we passed two (or was it three?) gun stores on the course on the way out of town.

[SHAMLESS NAME DROP ALERT] I looked down at my watch as we came off the bridge with 600m to go, turned to Amber (Morrison of the Bellingham Distance Project) and exclaimed, “Holy Sh!t, we’re gonna break 37!!?

I thought we were out of the nipple bleeding season and that a race of this distance wouldn’t be a problem up there. Nerp. They buh-led. It wasn’t uncomfortable during the race, though it could have been embarrassing had I noticed it while chatting with anyone shortly after the race in my copper-tinged, sky blue Seattle Running Club singlet.

Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No
Race image(s):

Shoeless Joe Sez!

Holy Sh!t, we’re gonna break 37!!? I thought we were out of the nipple bleeding season…

I appreciate how you censor yourself on behalf of my younger fans with the dreaded S word, but you chose to *not* censor yourself when reporting about your n!pple bleed!ng.

Nerp. They buh-led.

Yours or Amber’s?

Look Aaron, this is a place for genial race reports (and sure, name dropping [and, I guess if you’re Samir, making up race reports]), not graphic descriptions of blood coming out of your….whatever. Less about the bleeding, more about the….feeding (on gels)? Meeting (of celeb runners)? Beating (of CNW)? Reading (of Dean Karnazeszszzes books)?


Joe Kelly

Member #: 1938
Race name: Cougar 14.5
When was this race? June 9
How did you place?! I lost
Race website: Link
Race report:

After a pulled hamstring kept me out of the first Cougar race of the year, I was excited to get back onto the trails for some racing. I took the first few miles out easy and settled into a comfortable pace not too far off the lead (that’s the 14.5 mile lead, Evan (Williams) and Brett (Winegar) were way ahead in the 8.2 mile race). I stopped to tie my shoe at aid station 1 and was only a few seconds off the lead pack of 3 as I passed a raucous aid station 2. I caught the leaders near the top of Wilderness Peak and then opened up a small lead on the 1.5 mile decent. I was immediately confused. I never run the downhills well. What was this alternative reality that I had entered? The lead was short lived as former Portland U stud Alex Bowns caught me about halfway up the ensuing ascent. He sat on my shoulder until I inexplicably fell on the uphill when he decided to pass. Little did I know, that would not the only time I would eat trail on this day. The next 5ish or so miles were mostly uneventful. I didn’t see Alex again, I didn’t see 3rd place again, and the DeLeo Wall still hurt a lot. The real action occurred about 2.5 miles from finish line on the last few downhill switchbacks of Marshall’s Hill. My left leg decided not to lift high enough so my toes caught a root driving me straight into the ground. My right knee was pretty banged up and I had scrapes all along my right side. I got up, screamed a few expletives, and jogged toward Quarry. The last 2 miles were uneventful except for the few hikers that I freaked out with my bloody knees.

Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No
Race image(s):

Shoeless Joe Sez!

…as I passed a raucous aid station 2.

Shameless sucking up will get you everywhere, Joe!

(Sees pic of Joe’s knees)

Gah! More blood?! You know, children read this web blog! At least that’s what I tell the executive members of this running club’s board. The least you could have done was send me a picture in black & white. Or sepia-toned. In fact, that gives me a cool idea. I’m going to find my favorite gif and add some old-timey sepia toning!

Oh that’s pretty boss! It’s as if Cinnamon Frosted Flakes, milk, and kitchen islands existed in the 1890s!

On a less interesting note, I volunteered at this Cougar race Joe’s reporting from and while jogging around the park afterward, *also* tripped on a rock and ate dirt! Instead of blood though, I merely tore all five ligaments in my left knee 🙁 My vibram-clad feet were happy though!

(Watches that tony the tiger gif loop 7 more times)

Nice 😎


Jim Mansen

Member #: 1569
Race name: Ross Lake Rally 50k
When was this race? 6/9/2018
How did you place?! Who cares?
Race website: aspireadventurerunning.com
Race report:

North Cascades is a spectacular place to run. In the long-long ago when I wasn’t a runner, I used to backpack along Ross Lake every year. Now that I’m often a runner, I’ve wanted to return to those trails. This year Aspire Adventure Running Company hosted a trip with an overnight camp and a boat ride that dropped us mere feet away from Canada. It’s a low-key trip with great folks, really more of a group run than a race and just the way I wanted to ease into 50k season. After a 45 minute boat ride with raging water falls and misty mountain peaks, we ran through a campground only accessible from Canada and incurred some puzzled looks. Nice, soft single-track through mossy woods with lake and creek views; there was no shortage of scenery. My watch suggests I spent 3 hours stopping for the scenery and taking photos, otherwise it was one of my faster 50k runs. It was a good opportunity to practice fueling and pacing, and highlight my first run of the season with a pack (oops). Most everything held up pretty well even though I wasn’t quite ready for the distance yet, but I did learn that when everything starts going South just pick up the pace again for a bit and work through it. So I was able to scream the last 5k downhill and finish strong. Just have to work on my middle game a bit more for the Lake Marlette 50k in August above Lake Tahoe.

Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race? No
Race image(s):

Shoeless Joe Sez!

but I did learn that when everything starts going South just pick up the pace again for a bit and work through it.

OH IS THAT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO, JIM?!!?…….I’ll remember that next time my hamstring tears at the 2 mi mark of a 10k xc race and the CNW coach says “Tough luck! At least you guys have enough for a full team…..right?”

we ran through a campground only accessible from Canada and incurred some puzzled looks.

I actually got nothing else for this one…..look at those pics!!


Emma Saarel

Member #: 1947
Race name: Squaw Peak 50 Mi
When was this race? 6/2/18
How did you place?! 2nd Place Age Group
Race website: squawpeak50.com
Race report:

I ran my first official Ultra on June 2nd back in my home state of Utah! 50 miles, 14,000 ft of gain/loss, topping out at 9,300 ft.

Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race? No

Shoeless Joe Sez!

Lose that exclamation point and this is downright Hemingway-esque!

(I just listened to one of his audio books)

(No further questions!)

my home state of Utah

This reminds me of the first time I met Emma and found this out and spent the entire conversation convinced she was Mormon, so I didn’t talk about energy drink’s.


Trisha Steidl

Member #: 328
Race name: Whistler 30k
When was this race? June 2, 2018
How did you place?! 2nd woman, 1st masters woman
Race website: whistlerhalfmarathon.com/
Race report:

I had a lot of fun racing this course. The first half of the course is primarily paved trails and residential roads, whereas the second half is primarily ski runs/roads, with a short section of single track, finishing back on paved trail.

The half and 30k start together, so it’s difficult to tell who is racing which distance. There is an out-and-back section fairly early on in the race, though, so you can look at the bibs ahead of and behind you to see (distances each have their own colour on the bib).

For the first ~10k of the race I was with a group of women. I felt a great energy running in a group with 5 other women for awhile. I can’t recall the last time I had an experience like that. I savoured it while it lasted.

I also felt like the local ladies were using team tactics on me early in the race. It didn’t pan out as I ended up passing almost all of those ladies later on in the race, but it sure was fun!

One lady had started super fast (and looked strong doing so) and was way out front already by the short out-and-back section and I was able to see she was racing the 30k. Just before the half-way point, all of a sudden I saw a lady ahead of me who looked like that lady. I thought, “Gosh, did she take a wrong turn somehow (virtually impossible as the course is really well marked)? Or did she have to answer the call of nature? Or maybe it’s not the lady who had been in first and just looks like her?” Turned out to be her. No wrong turn, just bonked. HARD.

After that point, it was pretty much me against myself, the clock, and a couple of guys as the now first place lady was fairly far ahead and I knew the third place woman wasn’t going to bounce back without some serious magic happening.

I was able to push fairly well, but took a gel that had 35mg of caffeine in it, which is not something I usually use, which seemed to backfire. It actually made me feel more tired (I have actually had another experience with caffeine making me feel tired, but it was significantly more than this)! That was a bummer, but nothing I could do about it other than keep pushing.

The last 3k+ is back on paved trail and the half-marathoners and 30k runners meet again. The trail isn’t very wide and I spent a lot of energy calling out, “On your left,” and other, similar things. At one point, a lady was in front of me and despite calling out three times, she didn’t move to the side. Since I expected her to move, I hadn’t slowed down at all and by the time I figured out she wasn’t going to move, *I* didn’t have time to move (and there wasn’t anywhere for me to go as there was a small drop off to the left of the path and more people to our right). I put my hands out, grabbed her shoulders and, as gently as possible, but still firmly moved her slightly to the right so I could squeeze by on the left. The weird thing is that she didn’t even seem surprised by it (nor did she apologize…there really wasn’t any response…strange). Crisis averted!

I was able to hold onto second and put ~7 minutes on the third place woman, beating the previous CR, but, of course, that didn’t mean much since the woman who won beat me and bested it by quite a bit.

The best news is that my hammy held up for the most part! There was still a concerning twinge, some discomfort, and I didn’t feel I could fully push the last 5-ish miles, but such a big, positive step forward!! I hope I can go back next year!

Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race? No
Race image(s):

Shoeless Joe Sez!

I was able to push fairly well, but took a gel that had 35mg of caffeine in it

Speaking of energy drink’s, I haven’t raced in what feels like 10 years, has Monster or Rockstar or NOS gotten into the ultra distance fuel game yet, with some xtreme gelz that have like full-on GRAMZ of caffeine in em?

I spent a lot of energy calling out, “On your left,” and other, similar things.

For some reason I’m reminded of that Ludacris song that all the #teens in my neighborhood sing at me outside the local Marshall’s even if I’m nowhere near their path and just minding my own business, carrying bologna.


Martin Criminale

Member #: 1348
Race name: Needles 50k
When was this race? 6/30/2018
How did you place?! I won my age group and got 9th overall.
Race website: facebook.com/needles50k/
*Your* website URL: martin.criminale.com
Race report:

This was the 3rd edition of this race and I’m so glad to have finally run it. I usually do better and prefer races with some vertical gain but course takes that to the next level with 10k of climbing. For reference, people were taking about 2 hours longer to finish this than your “average” 50k.

This race starts and finishes in Easton, WA. The first half of this race is remote! Which is cool! You are running through old, big trees, climbing over logs that are 5′ in diameter and you don’t see anyone that isn’t part of this event. Oh yeah, it’s a “Fat Ass” style event so there are only two aid stations which pretty much just have water. Not literally, but pretty much. Plan your nutrition and hydration accordingly.

The second half of this course is more-or-less the last 15 miles of the Cascade Crest 100 course. You climb up to the Thorp Mountain fire lookout and then head back down to Easton.

Everything that goes up must come down and this last descent is a quad buster if you have not been training your descents…

If there is very little aid (and no timing mats, etc.), how does the promoter tell that you really ran the course? Well, they give you a map at the start and there are two hole punches hung on trees along the route. And you need to punch your map with them. For real.

Thanks to fellow SRC member Arthur Martineau for taking the only picture of me actually running in this race.

Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race? No
Race image(s):

Shoeless Joe Sez!

how does the promoter tell that you really ran the course?

Hmm. They aske–

They give you a map at the start and there are two hole punches hung on trees along the route.

Oh I see, you were asking rhetorically.

this last descent is a quad buster

Word to the wise: do *not* google “quad buster” on your work computer if you’re at all happy at your job.

(Leaves to update LinkedIn)