Sunday, September 16, 2007

Big Basin 50k


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Marathon Maniac Rob Cowan wins PCTR's Big Basin 50k. At the finish with his daughter. For the photosetclick here.


Not too short but sweet nonetheless and a whole lot of whoop ass! - PCTR style.

Signed up for the race as a training run for the Firetrails 50-miler in October. The course consisted of a 15k loop and a 10k loop. Like most PCTR races there were multiple distance options for the runners, the 50k folks like myself had to do both loops twice. Big Basin is a beautiful run in the Santa Cruz mountains, lots of single track and shade. On the 15k loop you get to scramble up the side of a waterfall.

I started out hard on the 15k loop. I knew my body wasn't fully recovered from the triathlon last weekend but I figured that I could always scale back if needed. Ran great the first hour but then felt myself weaken and had to pull back. Getting stung by yellow jackets was no help either. I was moving pretty well but only up to a certain point. My heart rate monitor said I could go harder but my legs said no more. It's a fine line between pushing and listening and I opted for the latter knowing I've been going hard the last three weeks. Ran with friends, made new ones and they made a world of difference. On the last loop one of the guys I was running with gets his second wind and pulls away slowly, he takes me with him. I follow and surprisingly I get my second wind. As he tired I took my turn at the front and kept on going. The pull of the finish line and my desire for a sub-6 finish took over at this point. I would end up passing two more runners. Finished 5:52? or something like that to come in at 5th place. I publicly declared shortly after finishing that I won't be doing another PCTR event, was met with laughter because I was grinning. What a great run.
Sorry no shots of the trails. I put everything into the run.


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Addy with parents. Dad did the 25k and Mom hiked the 10k. Hanging with Patrick and Steve at the finish over chili.



13 comments:

  1. Those PCTR things gave me an idea or few...looks like awesome times again, but when are they not if we hang out with like minded out on trails? It's cool that Addy's parents share same passion. Now if you wear a skirt next race, I'll come over!

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  2. olga- My parents actually both came up as part of an early birthday celebration, sort of a present of sorts :). I am working on getting my dad into ultras though! Maybe by next year....

    wow....5th place!?!? Congrats :D I could definitely tell you were moving out there from when I ran into you during the out and back. It was so nice to see you out there. Next up, Dick Collins :)

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  3. Geesh, 5th place--WOW Bro, u are turning into a speedy front runner peep...I hope we can still be friends, I promise to work on getting faster ok--LOL

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  4. Great job!! You guys are really making me want to try an ultra..or maybe a trail run or two. :>)

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  5. i was really bummed about having to miss this run. looks like you all had a grand old time out there.

    dude, you're fast. 5th overall and a sub-6 hour finish. congrats.

    see you at firetrails then, eh?

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  6. Wow, congrats on the great run, Rick! 5th place? That is some awesome running! It is hard to fathom covering that distance in that time on that kind of terrain.

    Fantastic job!

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  7. Way to go, Rick! I am so jealous of all of you who are able to hit the trails.

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  8. Wow - nice race. Congrats! I think I'll be lagging behind you at Firetrails.

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  9. P.S. - I just saw the results page - my friend Andrew is the guy who finished 4th. You probably ran a lot of miles with him - I've got a picture of him on one of my post-Big Sur posts.

    Over 50K, I'm sure he'd beat me by at least the margin he put on you, probably more.

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  10. 5th place in a 'training run'... Super star.

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  11. It must be yellow jacket season on the west coast. My sting (fortunately it was just one) is still itchin'! Sounds like a nice day and a great run. : )

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  12. You are speedy! Congrats! I hope I will meet you at Firetrails.

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  13. Anonymous7:49 AM

    rick! we're kinda running together already i mean virtually! :) see you in our next run! :-)

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