One Mississippi,
Two Mississippi...
Andy Roth & Larry Gassan, Co-RDs
Each year before the Baldy
Peaks 50k, the enigmatic and reclusive Bighorns sift through purloined race
entry-forms in their hideaways. Reading these forms,
they alternately snort with derision at preposterous claims, laugh until they
weep at enhanced resumes, or fall silent as they contemplate a
modest truth. Finally, they gather together the entire heap, shuffle them, and
scatter them in the wind to predict the race. This augury has never
failed. All bets were in, and the race was on.
James Maynard and Mark "Pinenut" Kiner fought one of the closest,
most exciting duels in the race's history. Only 50 seconds in the last quarter
mile were between the first-time ultra-runner winning and the seasoned erstwhile
front-runner.
Having traded the lead repeatedly, Kiner came into the final Manker Flats aid
station with a slight lead on Maynard. Kiner had been gapping Maynard
on the technical trail sections and climbs, but Maynard consistently closed
those gaps on the stretches of dirt service road. Knowing the finish was 3
miles and 1,000 feet of descent down a brutal pavement stretch, Kiner ran through
the aid station. Maynard stopped to rehydrate but only allowed
himself a count of ten Mississippi's before resuming his chase. By the finish
Maynard had passed Kiner, but each were equally stoked. This was
Maynard's first ultra; Kiner knocked 79 minutes off his 13th place finish in
2003. This improvement nearly earned him the coveted Crabtree Award, for
the most improved time. However, Carmela Layson improved by over 92 minutes
to edge Kiner.
The Women’s Winner Julie Arter showed that she is back from a long, injury-induced
hiatus. The contrast between her utter modesty the night
before the race and her absolute competence and enjoyment out on the course
is solid testament to her character. Ann Langstaff, who has won Baldy Peaks
several times, Laura Nagy, Honey Albrecht and Jana Gustman gave good chase,
but on this day Arter ran on her own. Arter's time is the fourth fastest by
a woman in the race's history.
Other finishers provided real-time color and perspective. Finisher J.B. Benna
consulted his wrist-top computer, smiled, and informed us that he had
burned 7,880 calories out on the course. Before we could ask how many hours
on the gym stair-stepper that amounted to, he knelt over and dry-heaved
again. John Davis, the event's founder and the anchor of our elite team of HAM-radio
operators, looked on stoically. This was the fifteenth year at
Baldy Peaks and he knows first-hand how tough the course that he devised can
be.
Tom Crull, representing the Sovereign Republic of Texas, was the final
finisher in the mythic 69th place, running with heart, one step ahead of Barking
Ducks, while battling the loquacious Jurgen “UltraKraut” Ankenbrand
for the second and third positions in the mens' veterans (60+) division. Jurgen
had changed into a special pair of German-made racing flats at the Manker aid
station in order to hold off Crull's final charge.
All-round Tough Gal Mary Campilongo showed mettle and competence in finishing
the course while in the midst of a greater battle — with cancer.
At the Sierra Hut aid station, where most runners can barely speak, much less
utter kind words, Mary told the aid crew how grateful she was to be
participating. Runners who'd trained in the higher elevations of Colorado, Minnesota,
and North Carolina were not disappointed. Bob Metzger of Minnesota
was our first entrant, winning a Ricky Martin t-shirt for his efforts, averred
that if there was a harder 50k, he didnt want to hear about it.
In
addition to high-altitude full-bore physicality, Baldy offers time for meditative
reflection. This year, entrants had the opportunity to tap their
artistic muses by participating in the Baldy Peaks Haiku Köntest. Josh
Miller's winning entry earned awesome Patagonia swag. His poem departed
from traditional haiku conventions (three lines of five-, seven- and five-syllables),
not to mention the content standards of a family magazine
like Ultrarunning. (Check back to the <http://larrygassan.com/BP50k_index.ht>Baldy
Peaks webpage -- -- for his poem, and additional race photos, reports, etc.)
Jennifer Evans took the prize for the Traditional Form category, with the following
haiku:
My feet bloody stumps
But tape them blisters real good
and I can go on.
Mary Campilongo's verse was voted best In the Non-Traditional category, as it
captured the race's spirit:
Sixteen lizards
to the Notch
I peed on my leg
Fun aside, the race served as a benefit for two local organizations. All proceeds
from runners' entry fees go to the Mt. Baldy Volunteer Fire
Department (our first-responders in the event of a race day emergency) and the
Claremont High School Boys and Girls' Cross-Country teams. This year
the race raised over $3300 for these two worthy organizations. In addition to
runners' entry fees, the generous sponsorship of Montrail, Patagonia and
Clif made this donation possible. Thanks to our sponsors, our runners are well-fed
on the course and well-dressed after finishing.
Ultimately presenting the race would be impossible without the able assistance
and cheer of our volunteers. Each year we finish the day
amazed at the generosity of those who give up their Saturday in order to allow
the runners to do their thing.
**Geri K came from Phoenix.
** Alan and Debi Neumann not only got up at 0200 Saturday to drive 100+ miles
to help out, but Alan and Larry had not laid eyes on each other since 1968!
** Mark and Tanya Johnson had seen the website and decided to show up for the
helluvit, as if being an RN & Sports Physiologist 5 days a week weren't
enuff!
** Deb Clem decided that her Saturday would be far more interesting if she was
a combo RN and masseuse.
** Joe Magruder took a day off from his expansive deck and jacuzzi to sit in
a lawn-chair on Mt Thunder with the Mystery Turnaround Clue--the 12" LP
cover for STYX: Paradise Theatre.
Finally, Terry & Larry Grill as sweeps hoped to spend a quiet Saturday afternoon
out on Baldy shooting stragglers. They found themselves leading a merry assortment
of others who'd heard that Trail-Sweeping was fun.
This group of people also demonstrates how much fun volunteering at a race can
be!
We look forward to the sweet sixteenth presentation of the Baldy Peaks 50k next
July.
2003: Take a Walk on the Wild Side
In its fourteenth year,
Baldy Peaks seems to be developing a new tradition, one that does not implicate
Barney, barking ducks or sheep of any kind.
Instead, the emerging custom is to declare that one is "just out for a
training run," and then to win the race.
Krissy Moehl Sybrowsky did
just that, running 6:59:07 to join Sherry Mahieu as the only women who have
ever broken the seven-hour barrier on this extraordinary course.
kept his visions to himself before the race and tore the house down in
6:25:29, a performance that won him the bighorns' respect and a cash
prize of one billion Dinars. The Crabtree Award for the most improved runner
went to Claremont's own Bill Pappas, who ran tough on the second
ascent of Mt. Baldy to take two hours and forty minutes off his 2002 time.
A spicy mix of veterans
and first-timers comprised the field. Notable vets included SoCal Ultra Legend
Bill Dickey, 63 [10:42:49], who has finished
Baldy a dozen times; the camera-shy and reclusive Rob McNair, who made 7:38
look easy; Lorraine "Ms 100k National Team" Gersitz with her boon
companion
June Gessner; and the ever cheerful Betty Frankum, who led her posse of younger
ladies on a merry chase. Howie Stern decided to strap on Baldy after
having a less-than pleasant day at Badwater. He tapered at Magic Mountain and
kicked butt with 7:38:52. Asphalt bad, trails good.
First-timers included Sarah
Baik [10:15:02], who confounded her friends in a stylin' broad-brimmed hat that
left admirers in her wake; Kevin Norton
[7:43:33], a USMC Major who encountered Carl Maples [Wasatch, Badwater, Ridgecrest]
on the way to Baghdad this past spring; and Paul Piplani
[10:39:39] who ran his first ultra as a warm-up for the San Francisco Marathon
the next day. We'll bet that Baldy has permanently altered his marathon perceptions.
Paul was not the only entrant
to have an unusual plan for post-race recovery. Dean
Dobberteen [second overall in 6:39:12] reports having done
an additional twenty miles while pulling his rickshaw at Saturday night's Whitesnake/Slaughter
concert!
Our sponsors Montrail and
Patagonia -- ably represented by Krissy Sybrowski and Craig Holloway [8:14:59]
-- once again provided the Ice with epic swag,
race shirts, totally bitchin' hats and goodies galore. Clif fueled the ambitions
of all present with ClifShots and bars. Ultrafit and Succeed!
provided all the electrolytes one could need, short of Carmen herself. D&L
Holistic Industries and their offshore affiliates in the Bang Slap Prang
Archipelago handcrafted the distinctive awards.
A stellar cast of volunteers
made the day notable by their cheer and competence. After just three hours of
sleep and a hot date with the love of
his life, 2002 champion Micah White provided full-bore cheer and sage counsel
at Manker Flats. Joan Brooks, Tish Butcher, and Elaine Stumpus also
contributed to the runners' good fortune there. Volunteers like these three
filled the holes left by those who were seduced with tinsel promises of
enchanting runs elsewhere.
Assisted by Karen Norton
and Acacia Pappas, Randy "the Deputy" Gehrke (co-RD of the Cascade
Crest 100) headed up the triple-stop Notch aid-station. They
made sure that all runners had memorized the special phrase on top of Thunder
Mountain ["take a walk on the wild side"]. There was a special
raffle prize for the brain-dead runner who could recite the preceding lyric.
The curious can contact us off-line.
Liz Boyd fronted the Sierra
Hut crew with Ray Kopecky, Ian McHenry and Keith Lederhaus. Ian saved at least
one runner by sharing his Patty's burrito to
fuel a miraculous recovery. An elderly German hiker, amazed at how much material
the aid station crew had carried to the spot, suggested to the good
Doctor Boyd that they leave the drinks and simply let the runners "suck
on stones." Race management is taking this suggestion under advisement
for 2004.
In the special category
of Amazing Volunteers Terry and Larry Grill rank supreme. Terry helped carry
nine gallons (that is, 72 pounds) of water up
3000 feet to the Bear Flats aid station on Friday morning. She came back with
Larry on Saturday to work that aid station. When they finished there,
they proceeded to Manker Flats, where they helped until departing as trail sweeps.
By the day's end, they'd logged at least 30 miles themselves.
Led by the event's founder John Davis, HAM radio operators Dale Lewis, Ted and
Barbara Schultz, Don Obert (with his eagle-eyed grand-daughter Cory),
and Eileen Clark kept race management and interested spectators informed of
each runner's safe progress. Due to the remote trails and wilderness
character of the Baldy Peaks course, presenting the race would simply be unthinkable
without the support of our HAMs.
The Mt. Baldy Volunteer Fire Department and the Claremont High School Boys' and Girls' Cross-Country teams are the event's beneficiaries. This year the race raised $1000 in proceeds for them. The fifteenth presentation is scheduled for 24 July 2004.
Aug 10 02, 13th Presentation
The fabled Bighorn of Mt. Baldy were smoking Pall Mall straights in the cool of the morning, weighing the odds. How many of the Baldy Peaks starters would oblige them with 2 visitations over the top of Mt. Baldy? And how many could be lured into a life of wilderness vice in their remote dens, cracking nuts and gnawing on pine cones? Until the dulcet sounds of the Barking Ducks (Antidae ferzen) reached crescendo, several of the bighorn could be heard humming verses from an old Pat Boone chestnut, "It’s a long way to the top, if you wanta rock and roll."
At the start several thousand feet below, the runners gathered and temperatures rose. After Mr. Trail Safety delivered a sermon on Hellfire, Damnation, and the Spiritual Advantages of Minimal Course Markings, the race directors sent the fine field of 62 on their way.
Of course, you already know that Micah White was the first to the finish. Only the RDs knew that Micah was "just out for a training run" -- or so he’d claimed on his race entry. Dan Stumpus led the runners over the summit the first time and held on for first among the men’s Masters. The race for the men’s Veteran Seniors (60+) was a battle, with less than two minutes separating eventual winner Todd Leigh and William Lawrence. Marc Blake took a chain saw to his 2001 finish time, completing the course no less than three hours, 38 minutes faster than his previous best to garner the Crabtree Most Improved Trophy. The Bighorn stubbed out their smokes as bets were called and losers sent to ATMs to settle up.
Meanwhile, Anne Langstaff was en route to a repeat performance as Alpha Baldy Betty, leading the women's field and finishing ahead of everyone except Micah and Brian Polley. The Baldy Peaks ascents will make your eyes spin in different directions. However, those who know the course understand that the downhill segments can be its "silent assassins." Anne offered another textbook demonstration of downhill running prowess, moving up significantly each time down the mountain. Sherry Bartosik finished first among the women under 40, while Pat DeVita--on her way to a tenth Baldy Peaks finish--reigned as queen of the women’s Senior Veterans. We aren’t sure what made her happier, bringing home the distinctive Baldy Peaks trophy, or beating the UltraKraut, Jurgen Ankenbrand.
The heat cooked off a record number of the starters with a 75% finisher rate. The DNF rate would have been worse if not for the epic efforts of the volunteers. Volunteers headed by Craig McClurgh hiked in a total of 30 gallons of beverages to the backcountry aid stations above Bear Flats and at the summit and Sierra Club Hut. The Icy Hot Stuntaz of Bear Flats -- Jay Grobeson, Mike "The Serb" Dimkich, and Larry "Fagio" Mann – served warrants and water with a smile: "Don’t hate--there can only be three." On the summit, Craig McClurgh and company offered paleolithic cocktails to the thirsty runners. Liz Boyd and her posse threw down for runners at the Sierra Club Hut.
Runners at the other aid stations had most of their terrestial needs met while trying not to choke laughing. Unnamed volunteers whiled away the afternoon hours by "eating more food than the runners, and making replica doggie-doo with chocolate energy bars and baby wipes (very convincing say 9 of 10 ultrarunners)," as one volunteer reported to race management. The more fastidious amongst you might be offended by such foolery--but this is the essence of ultrarunning, and a necessary antidote to the blown styrofoam of various other pre-packaged, over-hyped sports events.
Our sponsors blew this party up, too. The folks at Clif supplied enough calories (87,000 to be exact) to sustain one person on a 2,000 calorie/day diet for six weeks! Thank you Grady O’Shaughnessy! Craig Holloway at Patagonia provided our raffle with enough swag to cloth a small orphanage, and made sure that all our entrants went home better dressed than they arrived. Not one to learn, Craig also ran again this year, this time pushing his Vons shopping cart up and down the mountain to a 54 minute personal best. Krissy Moehl at Montrail made the hats just right for our finishers. Ultrafit (Kevin Setnes) and Succeed! (Karl King) partnered to make sure the runners at least had a chance against the heat by providing the S! Caps and electrolyte beverage.
Thanks also to: Barbara & Ted Schultz, Eileen Clark, Dale Peterson, Don Obert, and John Davis, who provided HAM radio support; Marti Johnston at the U.S. Forsest Service, Ron Ellingson (Mt. Baldy Ski Lifts, Inc.). Dave Turner from D& L Holistic Industries made the awards a sight to behold and a prize to strive for.
Terry and Larry Grill swept the course, making certain that we didn’t need to call on Bill Stead, Graham Hendrickson, Bob Priest and the rest of the Mt. Baldy Volunteer Fire Department. We appreciate their support anyhow. Proceeds from this year’s race totalled $1000, and were donated to the Mt Baldy Village Vol Fire Department and the Dental Program of the Assistance League of Pomona Valley.
2001: Brandon Takes the Speed Pass.
Aug 25 01, 12th Presentation
With enough vertical to satisfy the most altitude-deprived, the Baldy Peaks course packs 32 miles with over 10,000 feet of climbing-not counting the bonus 50 feet of uphill at the new finish. One entrant described the course as "epic," and HAM volunteer Dale Lewis said, "It's an outing." Others used less understated, more profane language to characterize the terrain.
When runners complained to the RDs about the course's toughness, we took pleasure in telling them that the event's founder, John Davis, was responsible for the demonic route. This was the first year that the event has not been under John's able direction. As RDs, we had big shoes to fill. John continued to play a pivotal role, anchoring the finish line from his position behind a HAM radio. At Manker Flats, many of us missed the sparkling presence of Phyllis Davis, John's wife, who passed away last spring. The race shirt paid tribute to her.
Brandon Sybrowsky finished first in 5:56:46, becoming just the sixth runner in the event's 12-year history to break six hours. Leading the field of 59, he was the only competitor seen running as he exited the Sierra Club Cabin (17.9 miles), partway into the 4000 foot climb up to Baldy...the second time. See Splits from hell for all the lurid details.
Dan Meyers had led at the halfway. Though some did not recognize him, those in the know remember that he ran 5:52 here in 1997. Scott Jurek fought hard for third place. Anne Langstaff, this year's Badwater winner, took the women's title in 7:55:41.
This year's awards were custom engraved silver goblets, which have been proven to make Cytomax taste better. Ask Joan Collins. The Crabtree Award, a Baldy Peaks tradition, honors the returning runner who improves the most on her/his previous. Laurel Kahn took one hour and 20 minutes off her previous best time to earn the award. Last year's Crabtree winner, Vicki DeVita, made a strong bid to retain the trophy, taking 48 minutes off her time. Pat DeVita was the gracious recipient of the oft-coveted DFL Award.
A big shout-out for the first-rate volunteer support, including especially the HAM operators. Every one of them gave up a life on Saturday to party with us. This race would be impossible without them. Following Stan Davis's insightful suggestion, we bestow the Daft Ozzie award on Geri K, for meritorious service at 10,064 feet.
Local support is invaluable to the event's success. Thanks especially to Ron Ellingson of the Mt. Baldy Ski Lifts, Bill Stead of the Mt. Baldy Volunteer Fire Department, and Marti Johnston of the U.S. Forest Service.
Our deep appreciation to our sponsors, Montrail, Patagonia, and Succeed! Products. Patagonia not only donated awesome swag, they sent down Craig Holloway to field-test. The course or the runner was never made clear.
Finally, many runners reported seeing bighorn sheep along the course; race management could not confirm that they were smoking Pall Malls and drinking highballs. Barking Ducks (Anatidae ferzan) were heard but not seen at the summit. However Barney and the Inflatable Ewe were both seen and heard at the Ice House Canyon finish. Never has an Adventure Pass bought so much unscripted fun.
Volunteer Kudos.
Another Baldy Peaks 50km is receding into the mists of our lone, remaining, misfiring brain cells. Sure, our names are at the top of the card. But none of it would have happened if we didn't have dedicated volunteers. You know, the kind that show up and do the do-with competence and a smile.
Some of our volunteers traveled from out of state to party with us on Saturday. Everybody dropped what they might otherwise have been doing and kicked butt. You may think it's tiresome to read a bunch of names, but these are the people who made your raceday efforts possible.
You even saw some of them twice. Not just because of the course, but because they were such total fun-hogs, that they worked TWO aid stations. God help Andy & myself when they come to collect.
SPONSORS: Patagonia: Craig Holloway & Stuart Bjornlie. Montrail: Boo Turner, Succeed!: Karl King
LOCAL SUPPORTERS: USFS: Marti Johnston & Steve Kimball. Mt. Baldy Ski Lifts: Ron Ellingson. Mt. Baldy Volunteer Fire Department: Bill Stead
ON THE COURSE
BEAR FLATS: Jana Gustman, Jay Grobeson, Renne Gardner
THE HOTTIE ON TOP: Geri Kilgariff
THE NOTCH: CAPTAIN: Stan Davis, CREW: Dave Turner, Matt Palocsay, Don Matthias. Dana Taylor, HAM: Ted Schulz
MANKER FLATS: CAPTAIN: Dana Taylor CREW: Jana Gustman, Jay Grobeson, Geri Kilgariff, Jeff Robbins, Bobbi Pollack, Eileen Clark, and members of the Assistance League of Pomona Valley. HAMs: Dale Lewis, John Lewis.
SIERRA CLUB CABIN: CAPTAIN: Liz Boyd CREW: John Douglass and Kirstin Poulin HAM: Barbara Schultz.
START/FINISH LINE: Mile 32.14 plus bonus uphill yardage. CAPTAINS: Chris Rios, Pride of Ridgecrest & John Davis, RD emeritus CREW: Lars Jorgensen, Geri K, Heath Elliot, and Susan Cohen of the Assistance League of Pomona Valley. HAMS: John Davis.
Thanks to all from us.
Co-RDs: Andy Roth & Larry Gassan
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