Baker Lake

Race: Baker Lake 50k

Runner: Candice C

Race Date: 10/05/2019

Location: Kulshan Campgrounds, Baker Lake, WA

Results: Time: 9:37:33, Rank: 46.60%

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/2766162482/overview

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

1) Beautiful course and scenery, exceeded my expectations! Virtually impossible to get lost in the race.
2) Very friendly and supportive community.
3) The food at the finishing line was delicious.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

You can’t have it all, and considering trade-offs must be made if I had any complaints they’d relate to:

1) For beginners like me, going out-and-back somewhat helps mentally on the way back, but I wondered if a loop would have been better (given the fast runners needing to pass you).
2) In exchange for the gorgeous location, you have to be ok with no cell coverage ever during the race.
3) Not a lot of supported aid stations, just one at the turnaround.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

This was my first ultra marathon, so I wouldn’t really know what is considered weird!

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I showed up and I finished! So happy, I don’t mind being at the back of the pack. I kept a positive attitude nearly the whole time. I finished strong, with no rolled ankle(s) or apparent major injuries.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

No pro-tips to share from me, except maybe learn from my errors!

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Rely a little more on real food instead of gels and chewies. Eat more in the first half because the second is tougher no matter what, and by then it might have been too late for me to catch up on calories. I needed to make myself move a little more (less walking and a little faster shuffling). Still trying to figure out what happened to me at mile 25. I definitely lost some momentum but fortunately my spirits stayed pretty high. My hands were swelled up and it totally freaked me out (I’m fine now). Really pleased that my physical therapy work helped avoid knee problems I was having earlier in training. The only discomfort I felt was in quads, hips, glutes. My feet were comfortable the whole time – I lucked out and realized pretty recently that my feet do better with Topo shoes. I only had one blister and didn’t notice it until after the race.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Be ok with the traffic when you are passing or being passed on the single-track.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

As mentioned above, the course is so beautiful. I almost felt sorry for the “real” runners out there who couldn’t afford to pause and look up at the surroundings.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

I can see why this course is billed as “nearly all runnable” and “not very technical.” For me, it was enough of a good challenge. Foot and suspension bridges, some places with tricky rocks, crossing streams, etc. Constant rolling hills, but fairly balanced and nothing so impossible that you are crushed.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Seemed very well organized to me! I think this was the first year they had time chips.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

It seemed like a pretty strong field. I was really humbled and impressed by everyone there who clearly knew what they were doing!

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.

A couple weeks in advance I secured a room with a local hotel in Concrete for my husband and me, but it was cutting it close. It’s pretty much a 2 hour drive from Seattle. If you read the fine print on the race memo and supplementary emails, you’ll have all the info you need. To get to the turnaround station you need a park pass ($5 and buyable online).

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

I learned what a “water drop” is – they were a couple of these posts where jugs of water were available to use. I liked knowing that my drop-bag would safely be at the turnaround station, where there are porta-potties and some snacks, and of course, water to refill your pack, etc.

Weather and typical race conditions

This year it had rained pretty hard the day before, so everything was really slippery. Fortunately it didn’t rain heavily during the event; the temperatures were cool. I didn’t get the classic full-on complete view of Mt. Baker and its reflection in the lake, but it didn’t matter because it was so beautiful anyway.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

Nothing special, just make sure you have all the food/fuel goodies you need for personal preference.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Spectators can only be at the start/finish line and the turnaround station. My husband (non-runner) really enjoyed the friendly people.

How’s the Swag?

The night before the race, I stumbled upon a photo of the finisher’s medal (I understand it’s the same every year) and when I saw the bear on it, I really fixated on it. Glad I respectably finished before the cut-off time and got the medal. 😉

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

Five out of five stars! Yes, highly recommended!

 

Race: Baker Lake 50K

Runner: Stephanie G

Race Date: 10/06/2018

Location: Baker Lake

Results: 4:58:07, 2nd female, 9th overall

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/1888824722/overview

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

1. The weather this year was just fantastic, which made the views great.
2. Maybe the friendliest finish line I’ve been to.
3. Nice trails

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

Everything was great!

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

Probably the self-serve water stations (which are great). This year they had gallon jugs of water out at two places on the trail.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I drank well this year. Last year I ran out of water twice on the way back and had to fill up at streams because I didn’t drink enough in the first half. This year I drank from the start and only had to refill at the turnaround aid station.

With about 3/4 of a mile to go I caught someone and for the first time ever, I was able to race to the finish and actually come out ahead. Whether mental or physical, that is not usually a strength, so I was pleased by that.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Be prepared to pass a lot of people no matter your speed since it’s an out and back course. There’s an actual bathroom near the start/finish line. There was a long line for the porta-potties, but barely a line for the bathroom each of the probably 4 times I went.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Drinking from the start really does work!

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

The first/last ~1.5 miles are on road. Other than that, mostly rolling trail, with a couple decent climbs.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

It is – mostly in the woods, with the occasional glimpses of the mountains and lake that are beautiful if the weather cooperates.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Very runnable with not a ton of elevation

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Very well run

Competition – Is there a strong field?

I wouldn’t say it’s highly competitive, but just depends on who signs up!

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.

The hardest part is probably the drive there, unless you camp.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Only one aid station, with typical ultra food. Water caches on the trail that you pass by 4 times.

Weather and typical race conditions

Probably more gray and drizzly than this year was.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

Nope

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

No – they can only see you at the turnaround, and only if they want to drive all the way down the lake.

How’s the Swag?

Finisher medals

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

It’s a nice local, low-key race.

Race: Baker Lake 50k

Runner: Uli Steidl

Date: 10/7/17

Location: Concrete, WA

Results: 3:45:50, 2nd place

 3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

• The race organization – Terry is doing a great job.
  
• The friendly atmosphere at the race.
  
• The out-and-back layout lets you see and cheer for every runner in the field no matter how fast or slow you are.
  
• The race is all single track except the first and last 1.7 miles. There are some awesome views of the lake. Not sure about the mountains as it was all cloudy on race day.
  
• The post race food. Besides the typical ultra-aid-station-food there was 2 different soups, burgers, pulled pork, and a never-ending supply of beer. And unlike some other events that have beer at the finish line, this one was free.
  
• And did I mention the tents, propane heaters, camping chairs and blankets?

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

The trail was not very technical. In fact, it was quite smooth by Pacific Northwest trail standards. I wish there were more rocks and roots.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

On the way out I ran a pace I thought was honest, but not too fast. I managed a slight negative split (1:53:20 – 1:52:30) on the way back.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

The race is 100% runnable. There are constant ups and downs, but besides the first 1.7 miles there are no larger climbs. 200ft max, most are less than 100ft. Of course, those climbs start to add up, and especially if you went out a little aggressive even small uphills may slow you to a walk.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

I carried too much liquids with me. Of course if it’s warm, I’ll need those. But for the conditions I had too much, and it needlessly added weight.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

There is a water-only AS at mile 5.5 (and 25.5), and a full service AS at mile 15.5. I ran in road shoes and had no problem with traction, even though it had rained a lot the night before. The wooden bridges can be slippery, though.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Yes, highlights are crossing the Baker Lake Dam, and several viewpoints overlooking the lake. For the most part the trail is a typical single track forest trail with views of the lake between the trees.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

For a trail race I give it a 2 out of 5 on technical difficulty, and also a 2 out of 5 on hilliness. Overall I think this is one of the easier 50k courses out there and a great first 50k

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Definitely well run. You will have to pay a little more attention to where you’re going as the trail is only marked by a few ribbons. If you are used to Northwest Trail Run races with flagging, spray chalk, arrow signs …. not at this race. On the positive, all the side trails end shortly at either a camp site, the lake, or a backcountry toilet, so you can’t get lost. I only had to stop once for a few seconds, that’s it.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

There was this year. Both Keith and I were well under the old CR, me by 11 minutes, him by 12 minutes.

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.

Many runners camp at the Kulshan Campground – right by the start-finish area. Registration a few weeks in advance was no problem. There is no lottery and I don’t think the race ever sold out.

Weather and typical race conditions

It’s in October…. it was dry for the first 3:30 hours of the race, then rained for the remainder of the day. Expect typical October weather. Since the race is a low altitude it will never be snowed out.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

No, no special gear required.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Spectators can be at the start and finish, and at the 15.5 mile aid station. All other parts of the course are only reachable by foot. Or by boat.

Awards

Finisher’s medal, stuffed animal bears for the top finishers.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

4 out of 5.
I think my only complaint is that it is not technical enough. As few miles of really rocky trail, and a few steep climbs and descends, and I’d give it 5 stars.

Race: Baker Lake 50k

Runner: Stephanie

Date: 10/7/17

Location: Baker Lake, WA

Results: 4:54:47, 2nd female and 15th overall

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

• It was a fun change of pace to run a 50k that was actually runnable the whole way
• Like many trail races, the atmosphere. It even made it fun to stand around in the rain for hours after I was done.
• Out and back courses are always kind of fun because you get to see friends, which always gives me something to look forward to.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

I wish we could have seen the lake and Mt Baker that day, but the weather suddenly remembered it was supposed to be PNW-like.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

Compared to other trail ultras, probably the lack of aid (which we were fully warned about). There is only one manned aid station, and it’s at the turnaround. You also pass by gallon jugs of water set off to the side of the trail twice.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I thought I started out at a good moderate pace for the first 8 miles or so and didn’t waste energy. I also did much better eating than I have in the past, and took in calories at regular intervals.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

I’d say the aid set up is the biggest consideration. And be prepared to run the majority of the time!

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

• Drink more early. It was my first cooler weather race in a little while, and I wasn’t really thirsty on the way out. I filled up bottles at the turnaround, but got really thirsty on the way back and ended up filling up at streams twice. I was so glad to see them!
• Also, don’t take my eyes off the trail. You’d think I’d know this by now, but of course the second I looked up to say hi to someone, I tripped, fell, and the Paydays I was carrying got covered in dirt. Tragic!

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Basically the whole trail (after the initial ~1.5 miles on the road) is single track, which is awesome, but makes it really hard to gracefully pass anywhere. I was also surprised to find just how long I was meeting people after the turnaround. Everyone was very kind and polite, even though I’m sure they were tired of stepping off the trail and having their rhythm interrupted.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

I could give a better opinion if I ever looked up, but the trail itself is in great shape, and you spend a lot of time surrounded by beautiful green forest.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Because I don’t typically run for a whole 50k – in a way, yes. No hiking breaks!

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Very well organized.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

It didn’t look super strong when I first looked at Ultrasignup, but then in the weeks leading up to the race more and more strong runners seemed to sign up. It ended up being a fairly competitive race this year.

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.

It’s far away! You can camp at the start. I wasn’t able to head out the night before which made for an early morning drive from Seattle. But definitely doable.

Aid Stations

Two water-only. One typical trail race aid station at the halfway point.

Weather and typical race conditions

From race reports it seemed pretty typical this year. Mid 40s at the start, raining by the end.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

Just water and probably some calories, unless you can make it 15.5 miles without. Since there aren’t any climbs, the temperature stays pretty consistent so I wouldn’t worry about getting cold and bringing layers necessarily.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

No – they can drive to the turnaround I suppose. There was also one spectator out running and cheering on the course, but I think those are the only two options.

Awards

Medals for everyone, Baker Lake Bears for overall men’s and women’s and master’s winners.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

I would definitely recommend it. It was a fun run after a summer of races with a lot more elevation.

Race: Baker Lake 50K

Date: 10/7/17

Runner: Jeff K

Location: Concrete, WA

Results:  4:47:22, 12th place out of 159

3 Bests – what aspects of the race did you like the most

• It’s a smaller race without a lot of hype
• The course does not have a lot of vertical so you don’t get killed by relentless climbing, but it still feels challenging, and rewarding to finish
• The organizers really do a nice job putting it on. They have a really nice post-race party.

Not so much – aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

• Kind of far from Seattle. if you live in Seattle, there is always bad traffic on I5 south and seems to take twice as long to get home.
• It is an out and back course on the same trail. I prefer loops where you don’t have to pass a bunch of runners going the other direction, but it doesn’t keep me from going back again.

Weird factor – what’s the weirdest thing about this race
You think you are having a great race on the out portion. Then you head back on the same trail and it feels a lot harder than the out.

Highlights of your race – what did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular

• This was my third year in a row running Baker Lake.
• My race kit consisted of: 1 20oz handheld bottle loaded with water and a tailwind pack, Salomon EXO running shorts, a basic running t shirt, a waist pack containing 3 shot block packs and a gel, trucker style running hat, Hoka Challenger shoes, and Feetures socks.
• There isn’t a lot of fanfare at the start. We lined up in the road and Terry does a countdown to ready set go.
• Running on the outbound trail went well and I didn’t feel like I was pushing it too hard. There is an unmanned water stop at mile 5.5 and I just ran past it without stopping.
• Since I brought food with me, I didn’t need to spend that much time at the big aid station at the turnaround. When I rolled In I simply said “just need a water refill and I’ll be on my way’ and “thank you” of course.
• Running back went about 12 minutes slower even though I tried my best to stay even. I did stop at the water station as my bottle was pretty close to empty.
• In previous Baker Lakes, I had a hard time with those last 5 miles on the trail, but this time It went better and I was still feeling strong from the water stop to the finish.
• Overall I was super happy that my hamstring injury from a couple weeks ago didn’t flare up, so it was a good sign that taking off nearly a week from running completely really helped, and I didn’t feel like taking off the time caused any setbacks.

Lessons for others – share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

• The aid station placement on this race can be challenging. If you run with a vest with two bottles or soft flasks, you should have enough water to get from the turnaround back to the water station which is a 10 mile distance. If you have a single hand held, you might run out, so plan for that.
• There is a risk of tripping and falling on this course because there are rocks and holes in the dirt. I would highly advise against being on autopilot like a road run.
• There are a lot of up and down and twist and turns in this race. I think that the longest section you could see off in the distance would only be about 40 or 50 yards. I would describe it as something like Skookum Flats, or the Ft. Ebey Kettles trails. If you are looking to really race this, I would practice on something similar.
• Weather will be cool starting off and usually be really nice for running, you don’t need to plan for heat like you would for something like White River.
• There are some small creek crossings but no mud, you could easily run this race in road shoes

Course Aesthetics

Its mostly a woodland course with old growth trees with constant views of Baker Lake. There are a couple places where the views of the lake are beautiful but you can’t notice it much unless you stop because I’d be worried about tripping on a rock or something.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
If you feel yourself really pushing it on the out leg, like trying to keep up with a group, or trying to prevent someone from catching you, its probably best to let them go and save it for the return.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Stay alert for trips and falls. But the trail itself is totally runnable.

Awards
You get Finisher medals (but they are the same ones every year ☺ )

The Overall Score – how many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it
Five out of Five. Definitely. I highly recommend running it.