“Lessons for others: Lights – My 150 Lumen Petzl, fine for the Burke Gilman, didn’t stand a chance against the fog and darkness of the wilderness. I lost a couple of places at night because I couldn’t see where I was going too well. Smile and enjoy the run. Things will go wrong, or unexpectedly. Work around them.”
Race: Mountain Lakes 100
Runner: Roey P
Race Date: 09/22/2018
Location: Ollie Lake, Oregon
Results: 22:52:29
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
- The Course – Beautiful PNW Forest that winds through mountains, and around lakes. The scenery is mesmerizing.
- The Aid Stations – Friendly, helpful, fun volunteers that were encouraging! My crew missed me (more than once, but more on that later) at the 55 mile mark, and one of the volunteers paced me for 15 miles!
- The Community – The Facebook group was a friendly, chatty place even before the race started. It spilled over onto race day, and the race itself. Great group of people all around this race!
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
- Could use a few more markers. I am always nervous that I missed a turn, or got off the trail. It was always a little longer than I am comfortable with between markers.
- Crew Location – With 16 aid stations, it was sometimes 25 or more miles between crew locations.
- My Crew – I had to wait 35 minutes for them at the Aid Station at mile 26. I would have just ran off, but I needed my warmer gear, as it would be nightfall before I saw them again.
- Then at Mile 55, they were late again. I took off with aforementioned volunteer runner.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
Nothing really too weird.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
I fueled early and often. I took in about 300-400 calories every hour. I made sure to drink water. I paced it out nicely. Hiked the uphills, ran the flats and downhills. Sub 24 hours for my first 100 was well beyond what I expected.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
- Lights – My 150 Lumen Petzl, fine for the Burke Gilman, didn’t stand a chance against the fog and darkness of the wilderness. I lost a couple of places at night because I couldn’t see where I was going too well.
- Smile and enjoy the run. Things will go wrong, or unexpectedly. Work around them.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
Smile. Smile. Smile. Roll with the punches. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. Be mindful, be grateful.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
It’s really runnable. However, the last 30 miles has some sustained ascents.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Absolutely gorgeous. Mountains, Lakes, Streams, Forests! What more could you ask for.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
I don’t believe so. Only ~11000 feet of elevation gain, and an incredibly cushy terrain.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Very well. Crew directions were a little weird, so if you get a chance, have them drive the course the day before.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
It’s a WS Qualifier, so probably.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
Registration fills up really quickly. Book your hotels early. We were lucky to get a great Airbnb about an hour away.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Fully Stocked. All the usual stuff and then some! Perogis at two Aid Stations were an amazing experience!
Weather and typical race conditions
Cold, Rainy. It has snowed a little in previous years. It was 54 when we started, and dropped to 27 through the night.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?
Bright headlamp. It gets DARK in the middle of the forest at night.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
There were 7 Stations were crew can be. However, it was recommended that they not try to find the Dam Station, as it was difficult to get to.
How’s the Swag?
Amazing! A pair of Nike Trail Shoes, Finisher Buckle, and a drinking glass!
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
5 out of 5. A must run for first timers!
