Getting Ready

Veteran Cascade Crest runner and volunteer Mark Greenberg loads his big truck with aid station supplies.

2011 Trail Work for Entrants

Answers to a few questions about the trail work requirement for Cascade Crest:

-Where can I complete my trail work?
Wherever it is convenient based on your schedule and location.

-Can I do it on my own?
We expect you to do trail work through an organization like the Forest Service, Washington Trails Association or a similar state or local government or non-profit organization in your area. If you want clarification from us just ask.

-Does the trail I work on have to be part of a race?
No.

-Can I volunteer at a race instead?
No. While we strongly encourage runners to volunteer at races, we expect all entrants to complete 8 hours of trail work.

-Why the focus on trail work?
Trail work makes a difference for non-running trail users. By improving trails in your area you make a contribution towards all sorts of trail recreation.

-How do I report my trail work?
You'll do that via the website. We'll have you tell us the location, the date and the name and email of a contact at the organization you helped out.

-Will there be organized work parties around Seattle and Easton?
There are plenty of great opportunities around Seattle to help maintain and restore trails. We encourage you to consider events organized by EarthCorps and WA Trails Association. Work party details are updated frequently on their websites.

Other questions? Leave a comment and send us an email and we'll get them answered.

Photos and Race Reports

We will use this post to add links to photos and race reports as you send them our way. You can leave links in the comments and we will add them to the body of the post.

Photos by Glenn Tachiyama from Tacoma Pass and Thorp Mtn. Glenn has become one of the most accomplished chroniclers of trail running in the country. We are lucky to have him at Cascade Crest each year. Rainier was hidden from view on Sunday morning from the climb to Thorp Mtn but Glenn got some fantastic shots of the foggy sunrise.

Photos from John Morelock who volunteered at Cole Butte (10m) and at French Cabin (88m). If you have not been on the course before John's photos and captions will give you a good sense for the terrain in the early miles.

Race report from Michael Chastain who finished in 25:00:37. Mike ran with his Garmin the whole way and has a great map of the course as a result.

Race report from BJ Haeck may make you want to wear a helmet next year for the trip over Kecheelus Ridge.

Race report from winner and new course record-holder Jeff Browning. Attack owls and playground accidents could not deter Jeff scorching the Central Cascades.




Photos by Andrew Peet from the Lake Kachess aid station. Yes Phil, that is a flowing chocolate fountain.

Peaceful Coexistence

Thanks to all runners and volunteers for keeping the trails wild and scenic. Our sweeps said they saw little to no trash along the course and Google alerts sent this blog post from a PCT thru-hiker:

On Saturday morning a group of 5 people out trail running informed us that we were going to be in the middle of a 100 mile trail race, the Cascade Crest. We would have 200 runners passing us by. This also meant… aide stations! These runners were running a station at Tacoma Pass. They offered us food. We got there just after lunch and snacked on some turkey sandwiches and watermelon. Only 5 runners had passed us at that point and they were running fast! We got cheered on by the people at the station waiting for family members or friends running. Crow Dog was embarassed, I was taking it in. Why not get cheered on for walking 2350 miles? The next aide station was 7 miles on, we hiked to that, while cheering on more runners and eating huckleberries while they passed. The next station was put on by a local high school cross country team. They were great and more food. We heard that the big aide station was a mere 4 miles on, so we hiked to that. Tomato soup! Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! Candy! String cheese! What an inspirational day! The runners provided so much positive energy for our hike, it made it one of the best days of hiking yet.

All Done for 2010

The 2010 Cascade Crest 100-mile Endurance Run is history. Congrats to all of our runners who made the trip out to Easton -- and back -- and many thanks to our amazing volunteers for hosting another memorable race.

Overall winner Jeff Browning of Bend, Ore., ran without crew or pacers and never backed off his blistering pace, becoming the first runner to finish this race in the pitch dark. His time of 18 hours, 31 minutes, and 9 seconds takes a healthy chunk off Phil Shaw's previous course record. First female finisher Betsy Nye of Truckee, Cal., notched another win for her stellar ultrarunning resume, crossing the line in 22:32:40, the second fastest women's time ever.

Final results for all 78 finishers are up. Splits should be available later this week. Stay tuned for more pictures and links in the days to come. Thanks again to everybody who turned out to participate in this year's event!

Pacer Central

Please use the comments section of this blog post to communicate interest in pacing or being paced to other runners. Leave your request to pace or to find a pacer and leave your email or phone number so you can be contacted. If anyone wants to set up a more efficient online tool to share pacing requests go ahead and we'll link to it from the blog and website.

White River 50

Yesterday's White River 50 miler down near Mt. Rainier was a fun preview for Cascade Crest. A number of this year's CCC entrants were out fine-tuning things on the White River trails, and we're looking forward to seeing how all that hard work will pay off.

It was great to catch up with many of the folks who've been involved with Cascade Crest in previous years as runners and volunteers, including Scott Railton, Dan Probst, Wendy Wheeler-Jacobs, Jeff Wright, Janet Rosenfeld, and Kent Holder. There isn't a bright line between who's a runner and who's a volunteer at Cascade Crest lately. So many folks have done both, and we're proud of that.

Below is Pat Ackley, an '07 finisher who volunteered in '08 and '09, assisting Jenny Uehisa, an '07 finisher and '08 volunteer, at Buck Creek aid station. Photo of start above thanks to Glenn Tachiyama.

Runner Update - July 6

Runners --

A few updates as the race approaches...

Entrants List (Refunds)
I updated the entrants list earlier today. If you've contacted me to withdraw from the run I will be processing refund checks later this week. Please note that the deadline to receive a partial refund has passed.

Trail Work
Please remember that all entrants are expected to complete 8 hrs of trail work as a condition of entry. We are quite flexible about where you do your trail work but it must be via an organized work party. Any sort of restoration work is acceptable; it does not have to specifically be work on a trail. If you have questions contact Charlie. You can submit your trail work details here.

Course Conditions
If you are out on the course and find anything interesting (i.e unexpected) let me know. There is still a decent amount of snow up high but since Seattle just went from March to July overnight the snow will be melting quickly in the days to come.

Tunnel (Still Closed)
Unfortunately there is no sign that the Snoqualmie Pass tunnel is going to reopen anytime soon. If anyone has information on the status of the tunnel and the Iron Horse Trail please let me know. We plan to route you up and over Snoqualmie Pass on a similar but slightly more humane route than the one we used last year.

Training Runs
The best way to share information on training runs is via the Cascade Crest Google group.

That is all for now. Send me your questions and I'll answer via the blog if topics apply to all runners.

Cheers,

Charlie

Lost Lake 50k

My wife graciously covered the home front today so I could slip up to Bellingham for the Lost Lake 50k. For those of you who have not run it (and that's most of you since there were around 35-40 runners this morning) you missed something really special. I feel like I discovered an unknown bar band that will be selling out Madison Square Garden in a couple of years.

The clear blue sky and high 60s temps made any outdoor activity more appealing but great weather aside, Lost Lake delivered everything that makes Northwest ultrarunning rewarding. Race Director Alvin Crain gave us miles of gorgeous single track, impeccable course marking, friendly competent volunteers and a semi-sadistic scenic detour for a close up view of the Lost Lake waterfall. The course and the logistics were stellar.

Lost Lake is challenging (34 miles and > 8k of climb), very pretty, and very well organized. Put it on your calendar for next year. You won't regret it.

Preliminary Entrants List is Up

The preliminary entrants list for the 2010 race has been posted.