Trans Rockies 2007

Beaver Creek CO to Aspen CO

Day 1:

The 10 am start was not a wake up call, but starting at 6,000 feet and climbing immediately was!! After one loop around the ski area, we climbed rapidly to about 7,500 feet in about 2 miles---to the top of the ski slope, then, like a roller coaster, swooshed down rough single track to 6,000 feet again, before leveling off on pavement for about 8 miles…..but there was no catching your breath at 6,000 feet and running fast. Within 90 minutes, we hit steep, muddy single track again. The forest was beautiful, with a myriad of trees changing color and wisps of could and fog caught amongst the red, green, yellow and purple leaves, but we were too busy trying to breath than look at scenery. Up we went!!! 3,000 feet in less than 3 miles, sometimes coming to a slow walk as the incline and altitude caught up with us. Hellish beauty I would call it. Lungs screaming for oxygen, brain not focusing, but eyes feasting on peak after colorful peak in the distance. Finally, after 16 miles, the finish like, high above the city of Aspen. Our team was second place in our division.

No sooner did we get into the gondola to take us ‘down’ to 8,000 feet than it started raining and hailing…..this we had to sleep in thin skinned tents all night, wondering what Day 2 would be like.

Day 2: Weather report at the peak: Heavy wind, snow, hail, lightning and minimal visibility. A nightmare. Into the gondola we went to start where we left off yesterday. With the speakers blaring ACDC’s “Highway to Hell” the gun went off and up we went, starting at 10,000 feet and running right up into a nasty black cloud spewing snow and rain. The first 2 miles on a muddy road and then a right turn onto snowy, muddy single-track into a dark forest. The mud was unbelievable, 6 miles of downhill “Uck!” slipping, sliding and falling everywhere. The best trail shoes and poles in the world not withstanding this twisty, turny path to who knows where. But down the side of the mountain we went, from 10,000 feet to 6,000 feet in 7 or 8 few short miles. Then we came to another muddy road for the last 6 or 7 miles, still dropping steeply.

Us being from California and New York city, we lost a lot of places being not used to the mud and cold conditions. But oh well, this was fun right? We finished 4^th today.

Due to the horrid weather, race management cut off 10 miles of the run, so we only did 21 miles rather than 31. We’d still be out there if it were 31!!

The 9 miles of down hill gave our quads a pounding and we had 3 days to go!!

Day 3: The long haul. 31 miles to Leadville!! The night was freezing cold, about 24F, so well below freezing. The tents offered minimal warmth so we got up quite stiff, frozen, maybe not in the mood to run but the gun went off anyway. The course changed rapidly from road to twisty, turny single track, up a few hundred feet, then down a few hundred feet, through beautiful forests, thick with yellow and green aspen, to lush meadows, miles and miles wide. Then back into the mountains, over and through a few ice cold rivers. We really were running across the Rockies!!! ½ way to Leadville we crossed ‘Tennessee Pass’, which was our first trip to the Continental Divide of the United States. After a few more miles of rough single track, we hit 7 miles of merciless pavement!! Our legs, heads and trail shoes were not ready for this, especially at 10,000 feet and climbing. The teams using the tow ropes were passing us….we just couldn’t hang on to 3^rd place. At least it was sunny! But what a death march….perhaps the longest 7 miles I’ve ever done. The pavement just never ended!

That night, we were lucky to don a hotel room, so no camping in 15F weather!!!

Day 4: Legs are thoroughly trashed and do not want to run. Today is the big climb, 10 miles of running up, then 20 down. The entire 30 miles was on dirt road, so at least our ankles got a break, but this destroyed our legs. We started climbing at 10,000 feet and went to just over 12,000 feet and another crossing over the Continental Divide. The scenery at the peak was astounding. White peaks for as far as you could see, with a lake here and there and valleys full of greens, yellows and blues from the autumn leaves. What a masterpiece of art!! Then at 10 miles, 12,100 feet, we started down, down, down…..feeling like the front car of a roller coaster, we blasted down the switchbacks like mad men!!! Legs screaming, quads almost numb, but we wanted this 20 miles done. Running from treeless, snowcapped peaks into dense forest was a mind bender….a real treat…almost enough to take the pain out of the legs. We flew by aid stations almost too fast to grab anything, creating our own wind, hair blowing back. What an awesome feeling. We decided before T-R not to use tow ropes, which although gave a sense of freedom and true accomplishment, definitely was a detriment to our placing. 4^th again….but no tow rope!

Camp this night was in civilized weather and the food was great, plus we were 80% done so all in good spirits.

Day 5: an 18 mile high speed burn down a gravel bike path.

We were like a bullet out of a gun when the ‘gun’ went off in Basalt, rockin’ to Highway to Hell again. The path was straight as an arrow and the weather hot and sunny. Perfect. We should have worn track spikes. Due to no mud or single track, our leg turnover was as fast as we could make them go! We ‘only’ had to climb 2,000 feet over 18 miles as well! The scenery was spectacular as expected, with the usual magnificent Aspens showing their colors and several waterfalls cascading down glistening cliffs at the sides of the trail. It appeared as if the towing teams would have done better if they cut the rope. The weaker runners were becoming a drag on the tower. Our team started in 3^rd, then fought hard for 2^nd over 13 miles. Then like a scene out of ‘Fast n’ Furious’ we ‘hit the nitro’ at the second aid station, blew by the first place team and screamed the last 5 miles into Aspen, and the ultimate finish line, winning the stage for that day.

The finish arena was a euphoric blend of great music, happy people and sunny blue skies.

Over all Trans Rockies was a spectacular event, with spot on management from start to finish, from warm, clean showers to gourmet food. Course markings were perfect, volunteers friendly and the race had everything a crazy ultra runner could want.

Many were surprised and somewhat disappointed that towing was allowed, as this is usually reserved for multi sport events when each person shares the end of the rope.

Perhaps next year there will be a division for those who need to tow or it will be outlawed as the race matures.