Work sent me to San Jose for 10 days of training.  The timing was perfect for the Quicksilver 50K race.  It also had a 25K and 50 Mile option.  I chose the 50K because it's all of the fun without the pain that the 50 Miler would have.  The starting temperature was in the mid 50s and climbed up to the mid 80s latter on.  And with the low humidity, it was perfect conditions for a race.

Work sent me to San Jose for 10 days of training.  The timing was perfect for the Quicksilver 50K race.  It also had a 25K and 50 Mile option.  I chose the 50K because it's all of the fun without the pain that the 50 Miler would have.  The starting temperature was in the mid 50s and climbed up to the mid 80s latter on.  And with the low humidity, it was perfect conditions for a race.

The course was about 80% dirt roads and 20% trails.  Not a rock nor a root were to be found on the course.  It was like running on a dirt sidewalk.  Fast course.  Some of the down hills were so steep you could quickly loose control if you didn't slow down.  And the loose dirt and gravel made them a bit slippery.  I ran the race at a comfortable pace and played tourist taking a lot of photos and talking to runners along the way.  It took me 5 hours and 20 minutes to finish.  There was also a post-race barbecue that was awesome.  

Here are some more photos.

photo by Efraim Manzano

photo by Wily Woo

photo by Wily Woo

My second North Shore Marathon was not as good as the first.  Last year, I ran a 3:16 course and it felt easy -  I'm totally serious.  I thought the relatively flat course was the reason.  Well this year was different.  It was not easy and not as fast.  It felt like…. a marathon.  I finished in 3:20:23.  That's a good time for me, but I had higher expectations after last year.  I'm confused why I fizzled out at mile 18.  I followed the exact same training plan as last year.  But this year, I had to do my daily runs in town with all the traffic lights, due to Nicole's Judo practice.  Maybe that had something to do with it. Or was it that 3.5 hour mountain bike ride I did last week after a 10 mile run on the same day.  I knew that was a bad idea, but I couldn't resist going for a ride. 

Anyway, it was fun race.  The weather was nice.  The race directors did a super job. I was glad to see my running friends.  I'm looking forward to doing it again next year!   

Mile Splits

1 7:18

2 7:09 Too fast need to slow down.

3 7:09

4 7:07 Hello, slow down!

5 7:17 This is the target pace.

6 7:23

7 7:08 Dude what are you doing?

8 7:40 Hilly section behind Wailua HS.

9 7:25 Going on cruise control for the next 9 miles.

10 7:17

11 7:24

12 7:21

13 7:22

14 7:29

15 7:36

16 7:39

17 7:40

18 7:56 This is where it starts to get bad  : (

19 8:04 GRR - into the 8 zone.

20 7:48 Trying to regain control.

21 8:15 Its not going to happen today.

22 8:08 My legs are done.

23 8:30 Gravity wins.

24 8:34 WTF

25 8:07 Ugh

26 7:58 Lets get this over with.

photo by Efraim Manzano

Check out the top of the medal, it's a bottle opener. Isn't that cool!

I order it on 1/31/2012.  I received the frame on 2/06/2012.  And and eternity later on 2/22/2012, I received the 2 wheels. Now I got a complete mountain bike!

Kuromi is now 1 year old.

The HURT 100 Ultra Marathon course covers the trail system starting at the Makiki Nature Center, going over to Paradise Park in Manoa, then over to Jack Ass Ginger in Nuuanu, and returning back to the Makiki Nature Center.  This circuit is repeated 5 times.   This route has a cumulative ascent of 24,500 feet and another 24,500 feet of cumulative descent (for comparison Haleaka is 10,00 feet and Mount Everest is 29,000).  The trail system is mountainous, generously covered with roots and rocks.

To prepare for this race, I would run about 7 miles a day during the week. And on Saturdays I would run 30 miles in the mountains (9 hours) and on Sundays another 20 miles in the mountains (6 hours).

photo by Sebastien How

When people head that I was training for the HURT 100, typically their first question was "why do you want to do it?"  Only serious runner geeks would understand why.  But it was simply for the challenge, adventure, and experience of trying to finish 100 miles.  Their second question would typically be, "do you stop to sleep?" Yes, I did stop every 5 to 7 miles at the aid stations, but there was no sleeping. 

photo by Augusto DeCastro

photo by Augusto DeCastro

photo by Augusto DeCastro

Paradise Park Aid Station (photo by Augusto DeCastro)

Paradise Park Aid Station (photo by Augusto DeCastro)

The best thing about this race was the attention and support you receive from the aid station volunteers and spectators.  Upon arriving at each aid station, they would go crazy cheering for you and take care of you like a Formula 1 race car coming in for a pit stop.  They were determined to give you all the aid you needed so that you would finish.

The worst thing for me about this race were all the roots and rocks on the trails, and the down hill sections (I didn't mind the uphill sections).  These things just made a hard course that much harder.

photo by Efraim Manzano

Resupplying after 40 miles at the Makiki Nature Center (photo by Efraim Manzano)

I was fortunate to have the company several pacers during the race.  Efraim Manzano ran with me for over 40 miles mostly in the dark (5:25pm to 9:30am).  On Sunday morning Tito Mac and Mathew Acosta showed up to run several miles with me.  And then at mile 88, Glenn Oshiro and ran the final 12 miles with me.  I'm extremely grateful for all the encouragement and laughs they gave me along the way.

Efraim (Iron Man) Manzano.  I can't thank this guy enough for his support and laughs throughout the night.

Sunset over Honolulu. (photo by Efraim Manzano)

Early morning up in Nuuanu looking down at Honolulu. (photo by Efraim Manzano)

Mathew and Tito coming out to do some pacing. (photo by Efraim Manzano)

Manoa Falls (photo by AkaBill)

Heading toward Pauoa Flats (photo by Sebastien How)

34 hours and 37 minutes latter at the finish. (photo by Gary Robbins)

Splits

Saturday 6:00 am - Start

Saturday 11:07 am - 20 miles

Saturday 5:25 pm - 40 miles

Sunday 0:45 am - 60 miles

Sunday 9:05 am - 80 miles

Sunday 4:37 pm 100 miles  (whew)

I'll never forget how incredibly difficult this race was.  My mind was constantly telling me to stop.  I kept to questioning why I was doing this to myself.  I felt like I was going crazy.  All of those thoughts quickly blew out the window when I finished and were replaced with massive amounts of elation and contentment.  What a relief!

In case you are wondering:  No, I won't do it again!