Friday, May 01, 2009

Ready for the Miwok 100k!

And here I am. One day away from the Miwok 100k. I'm pretty excited. The race boasts an incredible field of runners, just finishing in the top 30 would be quite a stretch for me. Ultra Running magazine ranked it as No.4 in the list of most competitive fields for the Men and No.3 for the women for 2008. I'm looking forward to seeing and running with everyone, from the front to the back of the pack. The forecast for tomorrow calls for cool temps but with a good possibility for rain. It's here now, the rain, the worst of it is supposed to hit tonight and tomorrow night with scattered showers in between. I'm good with the cool temps, not psyched with the rain. Oh I love running in the rain but I'm going after my PR and anything that might make that harder, delay me, is not welcome. Besides rain makes it hard for volunteers and spectators and dampens the post race celebrations. But whatever, we are all terrain, all types of weather kind of runners. What a difference two weeks made in the weather. Rain in May, I guess that's happened before.

The last time I participated in this race was back in 2006, back then there was no lottery to get in and you could still sign-up in February. It certainly has grown in stature in the short 3 years I've been away from the event. After two bittersweet races in 04 and 05 I came into the 06 race well trained and uber prepared. I used Olga's splits for an 11 hour finish and had Stephen Goldmann as my pacer while our other good friend, Jason Arth, paced Olga. When I crossed the line at 10:47, a PR by about an hour, I felt on top of the world. I did my best, surprised myself and had the greatest company. At the finish line while Stephen and I were admiring the cute, tough ultra gals and female pacers I thought to myself, "This will do, this is perfect and I want to savor this for awhile. Time to do something else."

Well it has been awhile. The Wildflower Triathlons is the same weekend and that's where I've been the last two years. While I'll miss the hard tri-racing on Saturday, the boisterous company of about 100 club members not to mention the thousands of other athletes also camping and racing, the post-race cold beers and desserts Saturday night by the campfire, and the cheering and spectating on Sunday, there's no place I'd rather be this Saturday morning - shivering and anxious in the company of a much smaller group of athletes, ready to start the 2009 Miwok 100k!

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Feeling high and on top of the world with Jason, Olga and Stephen. Miwok 2006.

22 comments:

  1. I will do everything in my power to assist you and get you on your way out of the aid station. Rock it Ricky Boy!

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  2. Holly cow, you framed the picture!!! Aw, so sweet...I actually was thinking about you this morning, I forgot about Miwok tomorrow, but was thinking about you - I think you "emerged" as a real ultrarunner at that 2006 Miwok. After that it just all goes uphill - as in "better and better":) So, knowing my OCD with predicting times, I say, you gotta hit sub-10, I would urge you to push for 9:45ish. You think you can do me proud?

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  3. You know, sometimes there is just no hiding from you Olga. I am aiming for 10 hours. I didn't want to declare it publicly but you found me out:)

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  4. rain is NOT going to make it harder for spectating nor will it dampen ANY post-race celebrations! what goes well with 60k and 10,000 feet of climbing? how about a Track Town 200 Meter Ale to celebrate those last 200 meters where Jessica and I are screaming your name? http://beerme.com/graphics/brewery/1/1670/22150.jpg
    have a great, great day, Rick! see you in T.Valley near Mile 11.

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  5. Oh this post just got me so excited for you Rick! Go kick some butt out there kid--I'll be thinking about you and sending good thoughts your way!

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  6. Yeah, yeahhhhhh! You will crack 10 hours tomorrow and get yourself into that top 30. Once you finish, relax, find your spot and then chill 6 beers for me for the next 4 hours. I'm just glad its not going to be hot tomorrow.

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  7. Well, the gauntlet has been thrown down by the best finish time predictor in the business! Go get'em and have an awesome race!

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  8. Sweet picture - I'd have it framed, too.

    Have a great run this weekend. I feel better about missing it knowing that it could rain - that would pretty much make me miserable (even worse than severe heat).

    And if you go sub-10, you're a rock star.

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  9. Best of luck Rick !!! Knock it out !

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  10. Haha, the pressure! the pressure!

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  11. I fb'd this, but again-- through your volunteering last weekend you have accrued ultra mojo, may this carry you strong up and over those last two killer hills.

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  12. Run strong, we'll be cheering as you cross that finish with a new PR!

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  13. I know you'll do great Rick. You're a rock star! You'll be finished and gone before I drag my sorry behind home, but good for you! You've earned it.

    Cynthia

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  14. Good luck tomorrow Rick - I'll be sending you "PR" thoughts all morning! I look forward to seeing you out there and at the finish line. :-)

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  15. Anonymous3:19 PM

    Rick...God be with you during this race!
    Run for His Glory and bring home the bacon.

    God bless.

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  16. will be thinking of you all day, Rick- pound it out coming back from Bolinas!

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  17. Have a great race tomorrow Rick! I'll be cheering (and praying) long distance from here for you to do a PR, finish under 10 hours and make it to the top 30, (and no rain). Godspeed.

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  18. Good luck Rick!!!!!!!

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  19. Good luck! A sub-10 hours & top 20 finish would be a great accomplishment this time. Go for it!

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  20. Run like the wind! I'll see you at the finish line with Mike-- maybe before then!

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  21. The race is probably going on as I type this, but I hope you are having a great day out there, Rick! All the best, and I will look forward to hearing how it went!

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