The Western States 100

Last weekend was the Western States 100 mile run. No, I didn’t participate – it is way beyond my capabilities. But I did go up to help at one of the aid stations and as always I am in awe at these folk that can run in such difficult conditions (not only 100 miles but 18,000 ft. vertical gain and 23,000 vertical drop).

This year’s race was more difficult than most as we had a heat wave with temperatures way over 100 degrees. There were a record number of drops as people felt the effects of the heat (399 started, 188 dropped and only 211 finished).

The other remarkable thing about this years race was that the first person across the finish line arrived in the stadium (the last 300 yards is around the High School track in Auburn), and then proceeded to fall down or perhaps collapse might be a better word. In fact he did it several times. He was helped to his feet each time and somehow managed to cross the finish line after 18 hrs. Unfortunately, although he was 12 minutes before the next runner, the fact that he was assisted over the last few yards was enough to disqualify him. How tragic is that? The lad seems to have a good attitude towards it – saying that it was the right decision by those that helped him and by those that disqualified him. But still – after 99.8 or 99.9 miles and a 12 minute lead he must be a little miffed.

Mt. Ralston

After spending the last few weeks in England and again becoming enchanted by the English countryside, it was nice this last weekend to get out into the California countryside and do some hiking in the Sierra Nevadas. While back in England, I had made several trips through the Peak District (a National Park near my home in England) and had once again become struck by the beauty of it all. Now, back in the US and in the middle of the mighty Sierras, I realize how wonderful that is too. Its different, of course, everything is on a much grander scale here, big dramatic mountains, not the more subtle hills of England.

Anyway four of us went up Mt Ralston on Saturday, one of the smaller and more accessible peaks on south east side of Tahoe. It was a bit of a slog up the 2,600 ft of elevation gain but it was well worth it when we reached the top – great views of the Tahoe Basin, the Central Valley and the high Sierras to the south.

Mr Straw's House

The other day I visited an old Edwardian house in the nearby town of Worksop now owned and operated by the National Trust. The house was previously owned by a couple of brothers who were grocers in the town and it has been preserved as a kind of museum to early 20th Century life in Britain. Though quite well off for their day, the brothers did not live an extravagant lifestyle and in many ways they were very frugal. The house was originally owned by their parents and when they died in the 1930’s the brothers did hardly anything to change or modernize the house. When the last brother died in the late 1980’s the house was a snapshot of how people lived in the early part of the 20th Century.

I found it quite fascinating - not the usual National Trust property (usually they are the grander stately homes), and more of something that I could relate to (though I/we did not live like that, I am sure there were people in my home town that did).

It was just like stepping back in time 60 years and to think as recent as 1985 someone was living in the home - no telephone, no TV, lead plumbing, original 1910 wallpaper and paint, calendars on the wall from the 1930's, cans in the pantry from the same period ...

Well worth a visit.

Stockholm

Last weekend I went over to Stockholm to run the Stockholm Marathon (and to have a nice relaxing weekend in Sweden). While the marathon was, yet again, one of my less stellar performances, the weekend was great. Stockholm is a lovely city – lots of water, lots of bridges, lots of ferries, beautiful old buildings (and a few less inspiring more modern ones), and, as expected, it was all very, very clean.

The marathon was one of the better organized races I have participated in. Some nice touches that I have not seen before – color coded cups at aid stations (water in blue cups, electrolyte in clear cups), bagged food and drink at the finish so that everyone gets the same and those earlier finishers don’t get to scarf it all, and, the most unusual thing I have ever seen, pickled gherkins at one of the aid stations. I cannot imagine why anyone would want a pickled gherkin in the middle of a marathon but if you do then Stockholm’s your place. I tried one but its not for me. Judging by the number of squashed gherkins on the pavement, it wasn't for a lot of other either.

The finish of the marathon was a lap around the Stockholm Olympic stadium and that nearly made all the pain and suffering worthwhile. The stadium was built for the 1912 Olympics and has the honor of being the location where 83 Track and Field World Records have been broken (that in itself is a record for a single location). Alas my performance was not quite so record breaking – actually it was a personal worst!

I have a new rule now - no more marathons unless I train for them - train properly that is.