I decided to run this race about a week before it was happening, thinking it would be a fun way to get in a taper run just before Rio Del Lago 100. It was kind of short notice for me, not a lot of time to think out my race strategy (as though I am some pro runner.. I'm a legend in my own mind!). The race was put on by Pacific Coast Trail Runs and would be run in the Marin Headlands in the San Francisco Bay Area. John and Maureen Brooks of PCTR put on awesome ultra races in the Bay Area and beyond. Plus they are super cool and always very friendly. The vibe at the start/finish line is always upbeat and fun with great volunteers and good music jamming in the background. I have run a bunch of their events in the past couple years and it has always been a great experience.
There were several distances offered for Eldrith's Gosney's Pure Ultra: 11k, 13.1 mi., 36k, and 50k. I chose the 36k distance, as it seemed the perfect distance that I would still be able to run hard but not overdo it on distance. This course is actually unique in that it's a new route in the Marin Headlands different from any other race. With so many runs in the Marin Headlands, it's pretty difficult to come up with a new route, but here it is! Before I go any farther, let me explain about Eldrith Gosney. At 74, Eldrith is a Bay Area legend in the running community. She has completed hundreds of ultras in the last 27 years, including four 100 mile races including Western States 100, forty four 50 mile races, fifty nine 50k's, and twelve Quad Dipsea races (she is the current 70-79 age group record holder). You can find Eldrith most weekends running these same trails that the race was created around. In creating this race, Eldrith, Maureen and John were trying to capture what ultra-running events were like at its beginning- purposefully small and intimate events, challenging terrain and sense of community among its participants. I had never met Eldrith before the race, but then again, I am just a relative newbie in the sport.
The race began at Santos Meadows off of Highway 1 towards Muir Beach. Held on October 24th, it was a bit chilly waiting for the port-potty just before the sun came up, but it quickly warmed up as the sun rose and the fog lifted as we were treated to an awesome sunrise. Santos Meadows, on Mt. Tamalpais, is large and there was plenty of parking which was nice. Just before the race began, we all stood behind Eldrith for a group photo and you could see her eyes get a bit watery, it was a really cool moment for everyone.
Courtesy: Jesse Ellis Let's Wander Photography
The general course route originates at Santos Meadows and heads towards Muir Beach through Muir Woods National Monument. You then travel down the Dipsea stairs towards Mill Valley. Of course, Then you have to come back up the stairs (a lot of them!) and head out to Cardiac Hill and down to Stinson Beach. Then it's back up Cardiac via the Steep Ravine Trail, then a fun downhill to Santos Meadows. The 36k course removes one tough climb and the Muir Beach Loop at the end.
The start times were staggered and the 50k runners took off first. Since the race started in a meadow, it was flat so I took off kind of fast... Maybe a bit too fast. The adrenaline that always comes from a race start kicked in and I was off like a rocket. After a mile or two, I settled into a comfortable pace and then just kept going. Pretty quickly the first climb came in the form of Dias Ridge. I had done this climb a couple months ago on a night run with my buddy Jason Wimmert. He was training for Pine to Palm 100 (he came in 8th). I had a super bright headlamp on that night and I kept practically stepping on the rabbits as they ran across the trail and under my feet, since my headlamp was blinding them. It didn't seem as bad of a climb during the race as it did that night, and I actually enjoyed it. We then hit a bit of the Miwok Trail to the Dipsea Trail. We then headed out towards Mill Valley and descended the famed Dipsea Stairs. On my home turf in San Bruno, I run on GGNRA managed Sweeney Ridge, and there are some stairs on one of my routes that I usually go up and down- but those stairs are nothing like the Dipsea Stairs. I tried to fly down the Dipsea stairs but I was really skittish, having been just a couple weeks out from Rio Del Lago 100. The Dipsea stairs are a bit narrower than I was used to. I just couldn't get a rhythm and go fast- which was fine, I wasn't really in the mood to go go ass over teakettle down the stairs anyway. At the bottom of the stairs was an aid station and the turnaround.
Courtesy: Jesse Ellis Let's Wander Photography
As I was descending the stairs, I saw the lead 50k runners heading back up and was feeling pretty confident about my 36k lead, when all of a sudden some dude came flying past me. He turned around quick at the aid station and was looking strong heading back up the stairs. I didn't waste any time in the aid station and was right on this guy's heels. I made small talk to find out what distance he was running and to determine how hard I was going to have to work to stay ahead of this guy. I was working about as hard as I wanted to at that point. He was running the half marathon distance- which was good because he was flying. I let him go at that point and got into my routine of climbing the stairs. I used the handrail to help offset some the strain on my legs which seemed to help. I also saw a new running friend, William Dai who was volunteering at one of the road crossings, which was a nice confidence booster- it's always cool to see someone you know out there in a race. I recently joined the Pamakids Running Club and William is part of that club.
Once I got back into the trails I was sailing down some trail stairs and I hooked my toe on a piece of rebar sticking out of a piece of wood. For a split second I was expecting a crash landing, but with all of the grace of a baby mountain goat, I managed to recover and not wipe out. At this point, another guy and I played hopscotch for the next few miles out to Panormaic Aid Station at Stinson Beach. I knew he wasn't running my distance, but it was fun to feel like he was- it was a race after all! There was another turnaround at this aid station, where again I was greeted by familiar faces Jenni Love and Jesse Jay. I initially met Jenni and Jesse in 2014 at PCTR's Summer Solstice 6/12/24 Hour Run and they seem to be at all of the runs. They were volunteering at the aid station and hooked me up with motivation and some goodies. I wasn't sure about my lead so I got water, topped off my perpetuem and headed back towards the finish. There was one more climb, one more aid station and then a fun downhill to the finish.
As I was headed back up to the Cardiac Aid Station I saw the familiar Pamakids running jersey on a guy and it caught my eye. In true form to runners introductions as we passed each other, "Are you Matt?" "Yeah, are you Bull?" "Yeah, nice to meet you," as we passed each other. Bull Dozier and I have been following each other on strava for awhile and it was nice to meet him, albeit brief (we got to hang out a bit at the finish line). Once I got to the final aid station at the top of Cardiac Hill, I was feeling great and I knew the finish was on the horizon. I probably had a little too much water at the last aid station as I started getting some cramps heading to the finish line. There was another 50k runner just ahead of me and I stayed on his heels, not letting him get too far ahead of me, just to keep pace. He eventually pulled away about a mile from the finish. The Coast View Trail is the final trail down to the finish, and it has a lot switchbacks. I always seem to slow down around the bends- as I told you, I'm not too graceful.
I dropped back in to Santos Meadow and ran hard to the finish for the 36k win! I was grateful that I was finished, as another loop towards Muir Woods didn't really sound too appealing at that point. My final time was 3:39:05, a new course record! Don't be too impressed with my CR... remember, 1st Annual Eldrith Gosney's Pure Ultra. My CR should hold until at least next year! Kelly Haston, another Pamakids runner, took 1st for the women with a time of 4:27:59.
Overall, this was a great race and an opportunity for me to run some trail (and stairs) that I never have never been on before. The route really was unique and different from any other race in the area, which made it fun. The trails were in beautifully perfect condition which made for some fast running. The distance was perfect and finishing strong was a nice confidence booster as I look towards Rio Del Lago 100, my first 100 miler. Stay tuned...
Photo courtesy of Jesse Ellis Let's Wander Photography
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