Leadville Silver Rush 50

So after a very hectic yet ridiculously amazing first ten days here in Colorado it was time for my first race here of the summer. The Leadville Silver Rush 50 miler(80km) is an out and back course consisting of mainly dirt and very rough 4x4 roads. It doesn't actually have a huge amount of climbing in it. In fact it is pretty small at around 2500m however the lowest altitude you run at is 3000m and you rise to over 3600m on four separate occasions. I was pretty nervous going into this after (in my opinion) my poor effort at the 50 mile Highland Fling back in April plus I was not fully aware until 2 days before the race that this course would have hardly any single track on it which is clearly my strongest kind of course but luckily for me and for once I was panicking over nothing.

Let's Go!

I had camped the previous few days of the race at Silverton following the Hardrock 100 and then got a great nights sleep on Saturday at a motel in Leadville. I woke up on race day feeling great. I ate my usual porridge and headed to the start line with Kim and Anna who were slightly more nervous than me as this would be their first 50 miler.

Start hill

The course starts with a stupidly steep hill that only last for about 100m max and there is actually a prize for first man and women to the top. I opted out of gunning it up this as trust me at this altitude blasting the first couple of minutes would mean ten minutes of sitting at the side trying to get your breath back and that is no exaggeration. So 6am and the gun went off and around 20 people set off up the hill at an unreal rate to try get the prize. I just got my head down and plodded up pretty slowly but could feel I was breathing hard already. It was only a minute or two until it flattened out and we were on the dirt road. The first 10 kms was rather pleasant rolling dirt track and with the odd little bit of trail thrown in to my delight. The first 10kms is actually a constant uphill and it did take a few km to just find a nice pace to cruise along but my breathing was still a lot harder than normal. I just kept checking my watch to make sure I was hitting my 10km/h pace and I was spot on even slowing down when I would see that I had hit 11.5km/h sometimes. I was just trying to be sensible. This for me was a training run and whereas I never had a time in mind I was saying to myself I would quite like to get close to back to back splits. I would have preferred to go out in 5.5hrs and back in 5.5 or 6hrs than beast it in 4hrs out and do 6 or 7 back. I just wanted some kind of consistency looking towards Steamboat in September.

Loving it

So I plodded on unexpectedly enjoying the terrain. Except one section of around 7kms on very long undulating road the rest was really good tracks and trails taking us up to some amazing viewpoints and passing a load of old gold mines. I was really really enjoying myself. The climbs were never steep and in fact they make the alps seem like monster climbs which to be honest they are sometimes. The ones on this course were never more than 600m at a time but when your going from 3200m up to nearly 3800m it is pretty slow going. I was speed hiking the ups as much as I could and making up time on the descents and also putting in decent times on the flats which was unlike me.

One of the many mines passed

By around the 35km mark I had already been eating watermelon and crisps and had taken a couple of gels. My stomach was starting to feel a bit strange and by the time the turnaround point came at 40km I ran straight to the toilet and was there for 10 minutes! I reckon it was the gel but after a bit of relief I felt great. I grabbed my drop bag had a drink of Mtn Dew changed my socks attempted to eat some beef jerky an experiment which didn't go so well then I grabbed more watermelon and off I went on the return.

More mines

Descent to turnaround point

Now I was never so sure about out and back courses before last years Leadville 100 but it is actually way better than I expected. I don't know what it is but as soon as I turn around I know I am headed home. It sounds a bit strange and yeah it is all mental but if the course was point to point you never really know what is ahead but when you have an out and back you turn around and know you are going back the the finish. The fact I was actually excited about returning the same way due to the trail and scenery also helped keep me moving well.
Almost straight out of the halfway point I climbed back up over one of the high passes and it was pretty slow going but I kept moving and would not stop. I had made halfway in 4hrs 30mins and was super happy with that time. I lost a bit of time on the climb back out of the aid station but I will get stronger over time here as I get more used to the altitude. From the pass I just somehow kept a reasonable pace down hills and on rolling terrain. I was drinking enough and eating chewy sweets and gels and it was all agreeing with me. It was starting to get hot now but this was not affecting me much at all. So on I went with the odd chat to other runners and when I arrived at the checkpoint at 58km I felt so damn good.

I had been sweating a lot but I had been replacing salts via crisps and eating just pure salt and I was not cramping at all. My face was covered in dried sweat and at this aid station a medic stopped me to say I looked like I had lost a lot of fluid due to sweat but I felt fine. He kept asking if I was eating and drinking and to my replies of yes yes yes I am good he really didn't believe me. Eventually I had to tell him I felt amazing and after a slight hesitation he said I could go on but I was to keep eating and drinking. So off I ran past big crowds going wild and giving high fives everywhere. Yes VERY American but bugger it it made me feel even better.

One of the many cracking views

Now I was back at the horrible 7km road section. This was all uphill and everyone was walking it. I knew that after this climb it was pretty much all rolling downhill trail for the last 15km. I plodded on up this eating away at more sweets and listening to my ipod. Just before I got to the top and the turn off for the trail home a runner next to me asked if I was aiming for a time. My reply of No was not what he expected and he told me we were well on our way to a 10hr finish if we pushed from here. To be honest from then on I did have a time goal. I just thought to how destroyed I was in Scotland in April and I was feeling so good here on a harder course and if I could beat that time of 10hrs 59mins I would be chuffed. Again this sounds really American and cheesy but we teamed up and blasted out the next 5km switching the leader. I never normally run in groups or with people but I noticed that over the past few months running with Guillem really did make me realise how much you can push a bit more running with someone else. I never got the guys name but we just set a great pace and I could not believe my legs were going so strong and I had no pain whatsoever. Of course by this stage I was tired but I was nowhere near feeling in pain.

The only boring bit

We hit the last checkpoint with 10kms to go and I grabbed more coke and watermelon and off I went. My fellow runner waited at the aid station a bit longer. We just turned to each other and said “good push” and I went off. Now I was on a mission. I didn't want just 10hrs 05mins or 10hrs 10mins I wanted 10hrs or just under. The course continued to roll gentle ups and downs and somehow I just kept pushing through it. One section through some trees on single track I remember it being burning hot and thinking this should be affecting me but it wasn't I actually for a minute did wonder if something was wrong with me because I felt nothing was wrong with me if that makes sense! I came out the trees onto a dirt road with no shade and this slowed me a little for about a km but then it was back in the trees and I knew I was not far to the end. My right hamstring slightly started to cramp here but I just walked it for about 2 minutes to ease it off and when I started up again it was gone. It was one final little steep climb and another km and I could see the finish line down the hill. The finish is pretty cool and I came charging down the hill to be greeted by a rather big crowd going pretty wild as they always do here. I didn't actually see my time until just before I crossed the line and I looked ahead to the finish line and the girl holding my medal and the clock was ticking 9hrs something but I didn't see what. I stopped my watch and looked and I had ran it in 9hrs 25mins. I almost yes almost burst out in tears. I genuinely could not believe I had run under 9hrs 30mins never mind sub 10 and felt so strong. My overall finish was 57th out of around 400ish and I was 25th in senior mens category.

Feeling the heat but near the end

I don't mean to harp on but for me to run that time and feel that strong after being here for 10 days I still don't really understand. Pretty much the entire field were locals to the area that live at this altitude year round. The altitude really is hard work on the legs and lungs and does take that little bit more out of you. I did have good preparation going into this as I had been camping at altitude but I never expected this.

Chuffed

I just sat on the grass by the side of the course waiting on Kim and Anna. This was their first 50 miler and both were super nervous about it so when I seen Kim arrive over the hill in 10hrs 53mins with Anna just behind I was so happy for them. They both ran sub 11hrs. Brilliant run from both of them and neither of them looked bad at all at the finish. It was just the perfect day all around for all of us. I almost got my back to back splits being 4hrs 30mins out and 4hrs 55mins back. I will happily deduct my toilet time off my return and say I missed my aim by just 15 mins.

So a great start to my racing here and I can only hope I get stronger and stronger. Next on the list is Aspen Half Marathon next weekend which will be some fun and interesting speed work. But before then I am away to explore the glorious trails in Boulder.

Finally a big shout out to Stuart Air who completed Hardrock last week. Stu came an amazing 22nd overall on this race which is regarded as the most beautiful and one of the toughest 100's around. Stu injured himself with 40 miles to go but hung in there to come in an amazing position. Great job.

Touchdown Colorado

Apologies for lack of post but it has been hectic since I landed here in the states and I have rarely had web due to being in the mountains. I have kept this post short but hope you enjoy the pics.

Feeling horrible on first run

Way better the next day at 3700m on Hope Pass

 I arrived in Denver and the next day went for a 26 mile run in Leadville and felt awful. The first half went fine but the second I was destroyed and was feeling sick and had a major sore head. I was just too dehydrated and never gave myself any time to acclimatise as the run was never below 3000m!

Mt Bierstadt with Anna. 4036m

Luckily avoided any contact so far

I rested a couple of days after that and then went to follow the Hardrock 100 in Silverton and I cannot describe just how amazing it was. The runs I did around there were simply the best I have ever done anywhere and I had the pleasure of running with Kilian Jornet for a section of the race and then watch him win and smash the old record by 43 minutes.

Best run of my life at Island Lake. A section of Hardrock

More Hardrock

Way too happy

I am now in Leadville looking forward to a good nights sleep in a proper bed after camping this past week. Tomorrow I get up at 5am to start the race and I am super excited to get going even though I have found out that most of the race is on dirt roads but I will do my best to enjoy just being out running at 3000m and above!

Cannot describe how good this was

And this too!

I will stick up a race report and much longer blog next week when I finally get time. Hope you liked the snaps. I have many many more to come.

It's Time!!!

I am currently sat in Heathrow airport with a long wait until my flight to Denver. The last couple of weeks in Chamonix were just amazing and I managed to get out a do all my usual favourite runs and scrambles with friends and let's not forgot a rather blurry yet awesome farewell party.

Great little final scramble with Naila in Chamonix

I won't be posting a long blog right now but I would like to thank every single person I have ever met in Chamonix for making it an awesome few years for me. I won't forget any of you and the truly brilliant times we had over many a summer and winter season. I will be back for sure for the odd trip over as the place is just too good to completely forget about but until then my sights are firmly set on just seeing how strong my running can become over the next 3 months in Colorado and hopefully I will get round my next 100 miler and maybe even feel good for most of it.

Excellent local run on my one day stop over in Scotland

Now I cannot post without mentioning my good friend Lauren who ran her first marathon last week in Chamonix. The Mont Blanc Marathon is by no means your normal marathon. It involves heaps of climbing(2500m) over some quite technical terrain and this year the weather was horrendous. Woody was always a bit nervous about it but I was sure she would do well and oh god how I was right and also amazed. She completely smashed the course running an amazing 4hrs 51mins. Coming 25th overall female and first British Female and around 200th out of 2000 runners overall! Line up the sponsors!!! She ran an amazing race and I had so much fun following her and running a bit of the last section into town alongside her. It really was very inspiring to watch and it has me pumped and ready for Leadville 50 in 10 days time.

Next stop.......Colorado!!

Chamonix Time Running Out

Well that's work now over for me for the foreseeable future and it has all been a bit strange for me having so much free time. When working and having lunch breaks to do activities and then 2 days off a week it gives me a kind of format to stick to but now that I am off everyday it's pretty hard to just relax and not do anything. Not that I am complaining one bit. It's great.

Posing on the Cosmiques

Nearing top of Tacul 4200m

Crux of Cosmiques with Naila

With a week left in Chamonix I have been out pretty much everyday doing as much as possible. climbing up the Midi , rock climbing up the Aiguille Rouge and obviously running. Now all the lifts are open it means I can access the awesome trails up high and I have been making the most of my usual favourites like Plan to Montenvers , Brevent to Col Du Montets , Index to Col Cornu. All of which are pretty much free of snow with only the odd section of snow traversing but it is pretty safe as there are good solid footsteps. I have also been doing a lot of work on my down hills by getting the lifts up high and making fairly rapid descents. Running quick downhill really does tire out the legs so I thought it would be a good idea to build up more strength and do the 1300m descent from Plan d'Aiguille to my house a few times and racked up a good 5500m of descent over 3 days last week as well as doing longer runs in the afternoons. Daily runs have been between 8-16km depending on how I feel at the time and a few times I have broken it up and done 10-12k in the morning and then another 10-12 late afternoon and this has been really good as this is when the trails are quietest. I haven't ran more than 16km on one run in the last 2 weeks but my plan is to run around 40km the day after I arrive in Colorado so I am not really worried about pushing mileage right now. I just want to get out and run my favourite trails around here before I leave.

Scoping the Marathon route with Woody

Awesome running above Le Tour

Evening run/scramble with the troops

It really has been a bit of everything for the past week and I have been enjoying some easy rock climbing and little ridge traverses when I feel like I need a break from the running. This weekend is the World Sky Running Championships here in Chamonix and the who's who of trail running have descended here to compete. There is a Vertical KM , 10km, Cross(23km) , Marathon and 80km over the weekend. The big guns are all out to battle over the Marathon and 80km and with pretty much everyone in the trail running scene here it is a pretty good atmosphere. I have ran the Marathon twice and the 80km last year. I really do wish I was doing the 80km again this year but with Leadville 50 miler on July 13^th I just feel it is a little too close for me to fully recover. I don't doubt I could do both but I would like to feel strong in America and doing the Mont Blanc 80km would take its toll on me and I really think it would affect how I felt in the US where I want to feel strong and fresh and hopefully finish Leadville feeling good. I am pretty sure I could suffer through both but that appeal left me a long time ago. Meanwhile Lauren is here to run the Marathon(her first) so I am excited to be supporting her over the course on Sunday as well as watching other friends battle over the KM Vertical and 80k. In hindsight I should have entered the Cross or the 10km just to be a part of the weekend.

Woody and Naila enjoying trails above Les Houches

All smiles

One of my faves above Brevent

So my next race is only a couple of weeks away and even closer is my flight to Colorado. I still cannot wait to get out there and get running. I feel ready for Leadville 50 miler having done the 53 mile Highland Fling late April and then the 40km race in Cerdanya earlier this month. I just need to get over there and get used to the altitude but that shouldn't take me more than a few days. Then the rest of the summer is just run , run , run until the big race in Steamboat on September 12^th.

Cerdanya

Well it was a pretty hectic and non-stop weekend but totally worth the long journey to run some amazing trails and meet some amazingly friendly people. I don't really know where to start explaining it all but I would guess going from the beginning is wise.

My friend Nailas father has organised a race weekend in Cerdanya for the past 3 years which involves races of various distances like a vertical km , 13km , 37km , 87km and a ridiculous 217km! It is growing more and more popular and since she was driving there to help with the event and I had the days off of work then I thought it would be a great chance to go and explore some new trails in a place totally alien to me and also take part in the 37km event.

We left Chamonix at 7pm on Thursday night and began the long long drive to Cerdanya. After a slight navigational error which was not totally our fault we arrived at Nailas home around 4am and it was straight to sleep. After a great but very short 5 hour sleep we headed off out to watch some of the 217km race. I still can't really get my head around running a 217km race but we found a sweet little spot to stop and cheer on the runners and we also met running legend Pablo Vigil who was over to help out and do a bit of running as well so it was great to chat to him and with any luck I will be in touch with him in a few weeks in the states as he lives in Colorado , great super friendly guy. The rest of Friday was spent just helping out with odd jobs with the race organisation. We arrived back at the house around 6pm and I went for a short nap and ended up waking at 9am the following morning! So my entire birthday evening was spent asleep but my god did I need it.

Clearing the start of 87km

So on Saturday it was the 87km race. Our job was to follow the race for the first 13km and clear the course markings and make sure everyone was ahead of us and not lost. It was an awesome morning but I wouldn't really class this as a run. There was so many course markings we couldn't really get up any rhythm until we had to stop and untie dozens and dozens of white markers attached to the trees but it was a cracking morning with amazing views. Again the afternoon was spent just wandering around Puigcerda having the odd coffee and then it was time to watch the winner of the 217km arrive in a time of 35hrs! Naila then had to go back to work as she was in charge of the after race massage tent and was working non stop the whole weekend so I headed with her father to get my bib and listen to his pre race briefing which being in Catalan I did not understand a word but was pretty sure there was nothing I really needed to know or someone somehow would have told me as I appeared to be the only Brit (definitely only Scot) there for sure. I then made my way home to fill up on pasta and get another good sleep as the next day was race day.

Checking out a section of the 217km race

More 217km race section

I had a great sleep yet again and was up at 6.30am. I just drank some water and ate some fruit and we were off to the start. I decided to go into this race different to most others I have ever done. Yeah the distance was not huge but still not far off of a marathon and it did have 2000m of climbing and the same descent so it is not exactly easy. I decided not to carry my backpack. Only putting 4 gels in my back pocket of my shorts and an empty packable water bottle(will explain later) No jacket or wind shirt at all as it was to be a scorcher. The aid stations were not that far apart and there was 6 over the course so I was confident that was plenty.

We set off at 7.30am from the centre of Le Tour de Carol at a nice pace and it was a quick nip through the village and out on the trails. It was pretty flat for about 3km and I was just finding a good pace then we started to climb but it was not a super steep climb so I managed to keep running all of it. We climbed up with the odd little dip for nearly 900m to the first aid station. I grabbed some coke , water and a banana and off I went again. To be honest I can't really remember exactly everything about the start of the race but do remember running on some truly amazing trails with just brilliant views everywhere I looked. I knew to get to halfway we had a long 1000m descent and this bit was bloody excellent. It was not super steep but just really nice sweeping single track winding down and down and I was feeling great and moving well but not pushing myself at all. I was just loving how good I felt and was going at (for me) a pretty rapid pace. I arrived at the halfway village and was hosed down with water as it was starting to get rather hot. I had a gel and more Banana and set off of the (impossible to run) climb. It was super steep and went on and on for around 800m but I just got my head down and new it would be over soon. I arrived at the next checkpoint next to a very picturesque lake and surrounding scenery. I had more coke another gel another banana and again filled up my 500ml soft flask with water. From here on it was some of the best single track I have ever run and again I felt great. I used my bottle to pour water over my head or take a small sip when I needed it and when it was done I stuffed it back in my pocket and from here on repeated that for the rest of the race refilling at each aid station and it worked a treat.

Awesome views

From then on the race was again more sweeping single track heaven and I was still feeling so so good. We then ran across a pretty big kind of summit plateau with amazing views in all directions. Once off of the plateau and away in the distance I could see the tower of the church at the finish line 10km away and 900m below. I made fast work of the descent but was starting to get a bit of problems with my feet burning up on the soles which never ever happens to me. It was getting a lot hotter as I was descending and by the time I hit the road at the bottom it was scorching hot and still 5km to the finish. Up until this point I felt great the whole race but as soon as I hit the road the heat really really started to affect me. I was just not used to that temperature. I continued to run but had to stop every time I came across water to just pour it over me. I was slower here than I should have been but I was still happy with how my legs were feeling.

More exploring the day before my race

It was then a great little run through a very busy town centre and across the finish line in a time of 4hrs 38mins coming 50th/400 and 36th in the senior mens category which I was very very surprised at. I knew I had run a good strong yet comfortable race that I thoroughly enjoyed but really did think I was running in the middle of the pack. It felt great to finish well within the top half and feel fresh and strong at the end. The official distance is meant to be 37km but my watch(and many others) was showing 40km. It was then time for me to grab some lunch and a cold shower and then go and drag Naila away from her work(she hardly slept all weekend) to begin our long drive back to Chamonix.

Cool finish line. I didn't run with my camera on race
day so afraid no pics of the course.

I am so glad I had the chance to go and run this race. It really was brilliant trails for 95% of the course but they could do with taking out the final road section if possible. I don't normally run a race more than once as I like to explore other areas but for sure I would go back and do this one again. Thanks to everyone I met down there for being so friendly and also thanks to Naila for letting me tag along for a great wee trip. Put this race on your list of to do's. http://www.ultrafons.com/fr

Great weekend!