Saturday marked another running of the Elephants Perch Backcountry Run. This annual run draws runners from around our region for two distances of ten (actual 9.1) miles and sixteen miles. The elevation gain for the ten miler is around 1100′ and comes between mile 1 and 6 with no flats. The overall gain for the sixteen is around 1800′. Not much gain for the distances but this race proves to be difficult. If you plan to “race” the ten miler, you need to plan on running around an hour to be in the top three and for the sixteen, you need to plan on running sub two in order to grab a top three spot. The competition running this type pace can be pretty deep. We can always count on a few local nordic ski animals to show up for an early season lung buster. This year was no different. I was told a few days prior that the entire Olympic Development Team would be running the ten miler. This is a group of young men and woman that are approaching their top form in nordic skiing through the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, and their fitness levels is almost untouchable. I knew I had my work cut out for me since I was stepping down to run the ten. I also knew right away that the race day tactic would be to go out hard and try to hold on.
As we toed the line, standing next to friend Hank Dart (www.runjunkie.blogspot.com) I commented and pointed out the intimidation I was feeling. In front of me to my left was the group of Olympic Devo. kids with Mike Sinnot standing tall. Mike is a former Sun Valley Ski Education Nordic phenom, Captain of the Dartmouth Nordic squad, and past winner (many times over) of the ten mile course. Nobody has come close to touching him on this run. To our right was a small group of kids from an out of area high school cross country running team. Let the fun begin.
Nappy started us at 8:05 after RD Rosso gave a short briefing. It was game on from the gun (not really a gun). I wasn’t on the line for the start but was a few deep and when the gun sounded we took off, except I about tripped a kid, we both stumbled a bit. After recovering I could see Mike pulling away. I apologized for just about putting this kid down and quickly made my move to the front. Heading along the residential road it’s important to be where you want to be within about 1/4 mile because the course turns onto a single track. I made sure I was within reach of Mike and fell into third as we rounded the turn onto the single track. Settling in, I could see Mike pulling away, the single track dumps us onto another short stretch of pavement at which point I surged to within about fifty feet of Mike. That is where I would stay for about three miles; Mike just out of reach and me leading a train of “kids”. I thought to myself more than once that it would be nice if someone else wanted to set pace. But I know the course well and passing opportunities can be rare and a sure way to lose too much ground. I held my second place spot and Mike would slowly pull away.
By mile four Mike was gone and I was now fighting for second with four or five on my tail. A couple of them would end up turning onto the sixteen course. I topped out at the high point still holding second and began the descent. Due to our very wet spring and folks just dieing to get on the trails, this downhill section was trashed. Very hard descending. I would be passed on this first section by Evan Honeyfield (winner of the sixteen 1:52:? – CR!!!). I knew Evan was running the long course so no worries there. Continue to hammer. As I was picking my way down there were a few girls walking up the trail. As I approached them they stepped off and were yelling and screaming for “Sammy” to “kill yourself” at which point a large nordic ski kid blew by me running through the sage (we would laugh about this later). He was moving so fast he never asked me to step aside, and I was happy with that, instead he picked his line through the sage and totally dropped me. Fight for third. It would turn out that Sammy also caught Evan and did the same thing.
Sammy was now my rabbit but he was hammering so I was hoping to use him to keep my distance from anyone coming up from behind. It worked. I finished with no threats from behind to take third in 1:02. Mike Sinnot would run :57:? and Sammy a minute or so quicker than I. Overall I was happy with my run. While I wanted to break an hour I really wanted to finish with no knee pain; and that I did. A good day! Can’t wait for next year – I wonder who will show up?
GEAR FOR THE DAY: La Sportiva Crosslites with Defeet Socks, Sugoi 42K short and Sugoi Team La Sportiva Singlet. Headsweats hat – always! Prerace: 1st Endurance EFS and a GU, Post Race: 1st Endurance Utragen.
