Dec 15, 2022·edited Dec 15, 2022Liked by Sarah Lavender Smith
Great post. I did not get in to WS so I’ll be looking for 128 🤪 tickets somewhere. I’d love to do a mtn race but as a flat lander the altitude scares me. 100 in altitude as a qualifier just seems too risky at my age! (Not health wise just DNF wise!) Thought about Never Summer 100K but it doesn’t fit into my schedule so I’ll keep looking, I might just do Kettle 100 in WI since I had my head wrapped around a June 100 anyway and it gives me the fall for a backup qualifier if something goes wrong. I too love the annual planning! Thanks for giving me some food for thought!
I know a lot of mountain races here in southwest CO that are shorter distance but offer the beauty and ruggedness of the big races listed in this post. Don't be too intimidated by altitude. A friend from the Bay Area trained for the 40-mile Telluride Mountain Run last August and finished it, her longest distance ever and at very high altitude, in spite of sea-level training! It's sort of like entering a very hot race without heat training; you just have to relax into it, go slower, and not stress about it. There are some great half marathons around here too. The 17-mile Imogene Pass Run in September is a classic, running from Ouray to Telluride over a 13,000-foot pass. Thanks for reading!
I thought I’d gotten too old and slow for mountain 100s, but I guess I’m not quite ready to give them up just yet. I haven’t signed up yet, but I’ve got my eye on Oregon Cascades at the end of August. It’s a newer race (only two previous runnings) from Bend to Sisters. I love Oregon’s buttery single track, and this has it in abundance (although some technical too, apparently). I love the point to point format, and that it’s within driving distance, and at a good time of year. My main worry is the potential for wildfire smoke. And that I probably need a crew or someone to at least help shuttle my car and stuff for me. 😅
Run Rabbit Run is definitely on my list of future 100s. I signed up for the Bear 100 this year since I didn't have any States or Hardrock lottery luck. I prefer August and September races so I can take advantage of the dryer Summer months for training and adventuring. I have mixed feelings about being stuck choosing specific qualifiers, but most of the the races that inspire me are at least States qualifiers. One I'm really interested in though is the Crazy Mountain 100 in Montana. It's looks amazing. I'll be crewing and pacing a friend there, so I'm really excited to experience part of the course.
Did you read the post, linked at the bottom of this post, about Crazy Mountain? Sounds like a great destination. I've always wanted to do the Bear but logistically it's complicated...
Very timely read for me, I like your list of points to consider, spot on! I just moved my family to Colorado Springs in July, and we all love it here. I love this city, I feel like I know the course because I've run parts of it in the past 6 months, and that is why I'm considering Ring The Springs 100 for my "A" race. My family can come see me at crew points, and they can go back home to rest :) Perfect! I would love to try High Lonesome 100, but I feel like I'm still catching up getting acclimated from living at sea level for the 52 years of my life! Maybe next year... RRR100 is next up on my list, as I did DNF on 2017 due to badly rolled ankle at mile 15, then hobbled to drop at around mile 30. It's one of my biggest disappointments, and I know I have to get back there soon. Thanks for great read!
That sounds great! One thing to consider: HiLo's lottery is getting more competitive. You might consider putting in for entry this year since there's a good chance you won't get in, then you could have an extra ticket in the 2024 lottery. If you did get in, you could consider doing Ring the Springs 50 as a peak training run for HiLo one month later. Or, consider volunteering for HiLo this coming summer to have extra lottery ticket for 2024. Not sure how this would play into your RRR redemption however. So many choices, a nice problem to have :-)
I just signed up for my first ultra—the 52km Broken Goat in Rossland, BC, at the end of July. I live about 3 hours away and have similar terrain (at slightly higher altitude) to train in, which I hope is helpful. Mostly feeling 😬 right now but excited to build a plan!
that's great! I'd recommend a trail marathon about 6 - 8 weeks prior as a peak long training run in advance of it, leaving enough time to recover, then have a few more weeks of solid training, then taper. happy new year!
Ha! I'm just proud of myself for deciding to train for a half marathon for 2023! Forget 100 miles!
The best distance!
That’s great! Half marathons are challenging in their own way. And finding time to train when you have kids is an added challenge.
Great post. I did not get in to WS so I’ll be looking for 128 🤪 tickets somewhere. I’d love to do a mtn race but as a flat lander the altitude scares me. 100 in altitude as a qualifier just seems too risky at my age! (Not health wise just DNF wise!) Thought about Never Summer 100K but it doesn’t fit into my schedule so I’ll keep looking, I might just do Kettle 100 in WI since I had my head wrapped around a June 100 anyway and it gives me the fall for a backup qualifier if something goes wrong. I too love the annual planning! Thanks for giving me some food for thought!
I know a lot of mountain races here in southwest CO that are shorter distance but offer the beauty and ruggedness of the big races listed in this post. Don't be too intimidated by altitude. A friend from the Bay Area trained for the 40-mile Telluride Mountain Run last August and finished it, her longest distance ever and at very high altitude, in spite of sea-level training! It's sort of like entering a very hot race without heat training; you just have to relax into it, go slower, and not stress about it. There are some great half marathons around here too. The 17-mile Imogene Pass Run in September is a classic, running from Ouray to Telluride over a 13,000-foot pass. Thanks for reading!
Yeah that’s a good idea to go for a shorter race in altitude to get over my fear! Fall might be perfect.
I thought I’d gotten too old and slow for mountain 100s, but I guess I’m not quite ready to give them up just yet. I haven’t signed up yet, but I’ve got my eye on Oregon Cascades at the end of August. It’s a newer race (only two previous runnings) from Bend to Sisters. I love Oregon’s buttery single track, and this has it in abundance (although some technical too, apparently). I love the point to point format, and that it’s within driving distance, and at a good time of year. My main worry is the potential for wildfire smoke. And that I probably need a crew or someone to at least help shuttle my car and stuff for me. 😅
I wish I could crew/pace you! August is tough. Too bad they are not holding it in June with a lesser chance of fires. 
I’m glad it’s not June because I couldn’t do it then (the endless trial of Western States volunteering).
Run Rabbit Run is definitely on my list of future 100s. I signed up for the Bear 100 this year since I didn't have any States or Hardrock lottery luck. I prefer August and September races so I can take advantage of the dryer Summer months for training and adventuring. I have mixed feelings about being stuck choosing specific qualifiers, but most of the the races that inspire me are at least States qualifiers. One I'm really interested in though is the Crazy Mountain 100 in Montana. It's looks amazing. I'll be crewing and pacing a friend there, so I'm really excited to experience part of the course.
Did you read the post, linked at the bottom of this post, about Crazy Mountain? Sounds like a great destination. I've always wanted to do the Bear but logistically it's complicated...
I did now! Great information. That might change when I pace since it sounds like the overnight stretch is the most treacherous.
Very timely read for me, I like your list of points to consider, spot on! I just moved my family to Colorado Springs in July, and we all love it here. I love this city, I feel like I know the course because I've run parts of it in the past 6 months, and that is why I'm considering Ring The Springs 100 for my "A" race. My family can come see me at crew points, and they can go back home to rest :) Perfect! I would love to try High Lonesome 100, but I feel like I'm still catching up getting acclimated from living at sea level for the 52 years of my life! Maybe next year... RRR100 is next up on my list, as I did DNF on 2017 due to badly rolled ankle at mile 15, then hobbled to drop at around mile 30. It's one of my biggest disappointments, and I know I have to get back there soon. Thanks for great read!
That sounds great! One thing to consider: HiLo's lottery is getting more competitive. You might consider putting in for entry this year since there's a good chance you won't get in, then you could have an extra ticket in the 2024 lottery. If you did get in, you could consider doing Ring the Springs 50 as a peak training run for HiLo one month later. Or, consider volunteering for HiLo this coming summer to have extra lottery ticket for 2024. Not sure how this would play into your RRR redemption however. So many choices, a nice problem to have :-)
that's a great suggestion, I'll get in the lottery!
I just signed up for my first ultra—the 52km Broken Goat in Rossland, BC, at the end of July. I live about 3 hours away and have similar terrain (at slightly higher altitude) to train in, which I hope is helpful. Mostly feeling 😬 right now but excited to build a plan!
that's great! I'd recommend a trail marathon about 6 - 8 weeks prior as a peak long training run in advance of it, leaving enough time to recover, then have a few more weeks of solid training, then taper. happy new year!