Pacific Coast Trail Run’s Headland Hundred was my figurative bridge run between two other 100 mile runs this mid-to-late summer– three weeks after Tahoe Rim Trail and three weeks before Angeles Crest.
This year the course was changed due to some road closures. It was actually an improvement– one of the aid stations was almost underneath the Golden Gate Bridge, so it was also a literal bridge run. And we got to (or later on more appropriately had to) run down there four times during the race. As far as I know, this is the only ultra trail run that gets you so close to this very famous scenic landmark. Cool, huh?
I could find no pictures of the aid station with the bridge over it, but here is one of 2,450,000 images that comes up when you Google image search “Golden Gate Bridge.”
This would have been perfect, except the first time out, I missed the left turn onto the single track heading down to the bridge. Partly to blame was my reminiscing about my race last year in which bad gastrointestinal symptoms slowed me down during the last of the four 25 mile loops, so instead of finishing potentially under 20 hours, I had to recover and push it to make it under 24. link to my blog report from last year’s race
This year, due to stupidity on my part and badly placed trust in the advice of one well-meaning road runner (trail runners beware those road runners!) and three bicyclists, I almost made it down to the bridge– off course. I had to climb back up, for a total of 3.4 extra miles and 39 extra minutes. Had I not done this I would have finished 2nd overall, but instead I had to settle for 5th.
Of course, at the time, I had dropped to somewhere in the back of the pack. So I got to keep passing people for most of the next 50-60 miles– offering more exposure for Sportiva, which sponsors PCTR’s races. As an added bonus, I enjoyed an extra and different view of the bridge, one that no one else running the race that weekend got to enjoy.
Here I coming back to Rodeo Beach at the halfway mark. Photo by Tatyana Popova.
I actually ran well enough that I could have gotten back into 2nd place despite the earlier detour, but at night during the fourth and final loop the fog was so thick at night on the top, and I got lost again (though not by carelessness, but because I couldn’t see anything). link to results My glasses fogging up and lack of pacer didn’t help much either. But not to complain. Trail running is intrinsically satisfying even without the competitive thrill. Schwag-wise I will still get the same tumbled porcelain coaster, personalized with my name and finishing time.
last year’s coaster (subtract 2 hours 6 minutes for this year’s time) on top of this year’s long-sleeve Patagonia capilene long sleeve race shirt
Anyways, only wimps think 100 miles is always enough. To demonstrate you have balls (or the female equivalent, however you girls wanna define that), next race be an idiot like me and throw in a few extra miles!
Link to a longer, more self-deprecating race report on my personal blog.
