Canyons

The Canyons Endurance Run 100k Race Report – Pavel Ivanov

Race: The Canyons Endurance Run 100K

Runner: Pavel Ivanov

Race Date: 04/23/2022

Location: Auburn, CA

Results: https://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=89063

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/7034313399

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

  • The course is amazing. Spectacular views of the canyons, the American River and other water features sometimes flowing somewhere far below and sometimes right near the trail (and sometimes on the trail, which of course is not that pleasant).
  • When I was running the weather was great too. When sun went out of the clouds, it felt rather hot, but not hot enough to require ice to continue running. But I’ve heard that this was not a common weather for this race, usually it’s hotter.
  • The fact that this race goes for about 48 miles on the same course as the Western States Endurance Run (but in the opposite direction) gives it a special charm. You can look around and imagine how the runners of Western States see and feel these parts of the course during their race.

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

The last 5 or so miles were on a high elevation. It was high enough to have lots of snow around, but since the temperatures in the day were warm, the snow was melting creating a lot of mud and puddles on the trail. So you have to get in peace with being wet and constantly stepping ankle-deep into puddles. If you don’t (like me unfortunately), then you will have a very miserably-feeling finish, being very frustrated constantly looking for the cleanest and the driest way around all those puddles. And the only way around the puddles might be through the snow, which is not that dry of a path either. Note also that if you are back-of-the-packer like me, then you’ll go through these last 5 miles in the dark and it will be very cold (again if the weather is the same as it was on my race day), which only adds to the feeling of misery unless you conquer this mental challenge properly. Another warning (that I didn’t realize at the race): the sounds from the finish line are heard for a long way away. So if you’ve just heard the finish line announcer and think “I must be almost at the finish”, that’s wrong. You still likely need to go 5-6 more miles, and you better to expect that to not be disappointed.

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

There are a lot of places (probably on the order of 15-20) where you need to cross some water stream, and there are no rocks or trees to hop on to stay dry. There’s even one pretty strong stream that you need to cross knee-deep (there is a rope that helps you to stay on your feet). This is somewhat unpleasant, so you need to be prepared for that. It’s especially unpleasant when it happens when it’s already dark and becoming cold.

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

Besides soaking in the many amazing views, I personally really enjoyed long downhill runs when I could turn on my inner Kilian Jornet and charge downhill as fast as possible jumping between rocks and roots. It was great to find a nice rhythm of going on a long uphill as well, and relentlessly move forward with that rhythm setting up pace for those going behind me, and then feel victorious when we finally reached the top. I didn’t feel like that on all uphills, but when I did get into that state, it felt like an awesome achievement.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Beware of the high elevation at the finish. High elevation means there’s a high probability of snow (and water) on the ground and much lower temperatures than what the forecast tells you for the starting point at Auburn. So if you have time, maybe try to get to the finish area in the evening of the day before the race (it’s about 40 minutes drive from the start) to get some feel of what is the situation with snow and temperatures there to understand what to expect on the race day.

Note also that the first aid station is located in some area where it is colder than at the start line, even though you come there after an hour or two of running. So you might want to have some sleeves and gloves for this initial part too to not get too cold.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

It is a very pretty course. You’d want to come and visit it again.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Many parts of the course are very tough with a very steep climb. It’s especially grueling in the beginning of the last climb out of El Dorado Canyon (9 or so miles before the finish).

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, I didn’t see any snags. Just as it should be since the race now carries the name of UTMB World Series.

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

Since I was running through the aid stations pretty close to the cut-off times, I’ve seen them running out of some types of food, but otherwise everything seemed rather standard.

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

Poles were a life-saver for me. I’ve seen a lot of runners doing all these climbs without poles, but I honestly don’t know how they did that, they definitely deserve an admiration.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

It’s a little bit weird that spectators/crew are allowed to be at 3 different aid stations throughout the first 40 miles of the course, but then you have to run through the hardest 20 miles of the course without seeing any spectators. And it’s a very long waiting time for the crew before they’ll see you at the finish line. But on the plus side two of those three aid stations (which are also the finish lines for 25K and 50K races) have shuttles that can get spectators to the parking near the start and back. So if they want, your crew can meet you two times without having a car or searching for parking (though my crew didn’t have any problems with parking either).

How’s the Swag?

You can buy a Canyons t-shirt with your name on it (among all of other participant names), which is pretty cool.

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

I definitely recommend others to run this race.

Looking to run your first ultra and want some help? We’ve got you covered.

canyons 100k race report

Canyons 100k Race Report – Jeff K

Race: Canyons 100K

Runner: Jeff K

Race Date: 04/27/2019

Location: Foresthill, CA

Results: 13:20

canyons 100k race report

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

  • I like this race because mostly because it is on the iconic Western States trail and it is also a Western States Qualifier. If I never get in the actual Western States, at least I’ve ran the trail!T
  • he bib pickup place was a running store called “The Aid Station” It has an actual bar in it that serves craft beer and wine decorated with vintage Western States 100 stuff. It was really fun hanging out with runners the day before. I’ve never seen a place like that.

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

The timing of when the race is doesn’t give us PacWest runners any opportunities to train in hot weather

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

This race doesn’t have anything unusual or weird about it.

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

Finishing this race in daylight hours without any falls or other in-run issues, and no new injuries was the best about Canyons 2019.

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

*Canyons 100K is two 50k out and backs, that start in the middle of the Western States 100 route at Foresthill and goes both directions. It is one of those races like White River 50 where you come back to the fanfare of the start/finish line at the halfway point. There will be something in your head that makes you think you are done, and you are not. Try to block those feelings from entering your head.

*The first 50K loop has nice scenic trails that don’t have technical obstacles. This year’s course was the alt-course because there were snow closures farther up the primary trail (although I didn’t see any snow anywhere). Instead of going all the way to the Swinging Bridge, we turned and did a dog-leg out and back on a fire road near Michigan Bluff. With the changes, there was still considerable vert. The normal first loop has about 10K, the alt-course has about 8K. PacWest runners could compare this first loop to running something like Cougar Mountain 50K. Keep it dialed back. Think 100 mile pace and not 50 miler.

*The temperature will start rising about 5-6 hours into the race. This means you can likely get most of the first loop done in the cooler weather. Both the 2017 and this race went into the 90’s in the second half

*The first 4 miles going out on the second loop to the Cal1 aid station felt great. Runners who have managed the first loop well all seem to experience this – it’s a nice downhill and in the trees.

*Leaving Cal1 and continuing towards the turnaround at the Rucky Chucky, and then back the Cal2 aid station were the hardest miles of the race. I had no power to hike a hill. I was in a pretty bad place with the fatigue. What I do when this happens is mentally focus into “finishing mode” e.g. not caring about anything around me except doing what I need to do to make it to the next checkpoint.

*In that second loop there will be a big difference in your finish time if you are walking flats at a 25 minute mile vs. jogging at a 12 minute pace. If you’ve ran the majority of the first loop, its certainly possible to hike the majority of the second half and make the 18hr cutoff. Be sure to pick up a headlamp if you think that will happen.

*Some of the stuff on this race you can simulate in training. I figured out that my favorite pair of shoes would not hold my feet from banging into the toe running super steep downhills on Old Mt. Si trail, and that really hurt. I went with a better pair before this race. Had I not done a simulation on steep long very, I would have been totally F’d on this course.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

If I ever do this race again, and that’s a big *if*, I think I might try to line up a trip to the area to do some training in the actual environment.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

If you can run strong in the second half, you will be highly successful. That is the key to Canyons 100K.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Absolutely. There are some fantastic sites and views on both loops.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Yes. Its up there with 100 mile races.

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

Totally well run

Competition – Is there a strong field?

This year was a golden ticket race so it had a lot of elite runners trying to get the last entries into WS 2019. In years when it isn’t, it has a more club level field with a handful of elites.

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.

If you want to run it, be sure to sign up first thing, the day it goes live . It usually fills up in a matter of hours.

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

They are good. Friendly staff that will ice you down with a sponge. They have shot blocks and GU packs you can take with you.

Weather and typical race conditions

In 2017 and 2019 it got into the 90’s. I heard 2018 was nicer and lower temps. The heat is a wildcard, but I’d say you’d be lucky not to get it.

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

I carried a single bottle for the first loop and picked up a secondary soft flask for the second. I’d recommend two bottles for the second loop. If you run out, there is creek water but they don’t recommend drinking it. Runners are lying down in those creek pools to cool off all day long.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

It’s crazy fun at the midway point and the finish line

How’s the Swag?

This year was awesome. Great shirt from Rabbit that I will definitely keep and wear, and a real backpack from Hoka. Their shirt from 2017 went into Goodwill a couple months after the race.

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

Don’t think that since its a 100K, that it is one of the easier options to qualify for WS100.

canyons 100k race report

canyons 100k

Canyons 100k Race Report – Jeff K

Race: Canyons 100K

Runner: Jeff K

Date: 4/29/17

Location: Foresthill, CA

Strava Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/963772549

Results –

14th out of 326 starters with a time of 12:34 in the official results.     This was my second race at a 100K distance and got a PR (previously was Miwok with 13:01)

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

Matt and Julie and Paavo were there! Matt turned me on to the whole sponge down with ice water thing which was awesome.

Travelled with my buddy Mark Cliggett who is an ultra running Zen master.  Since he’d done Western States, he gave me a tour of the area.

Escaped the common runner ailments – GI distress, dehydration, cramping, blisters, falling, sunburn, shoe issues, chafing…  the race just kicked my ass.  

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

It was hot, and the climbing was relentless.  Before the race I joked about how hot it might be, and it totally was.  It took me a lot longer to finish then I had originally thought I could do.  

The finisher award was a belt – with no buckle.   It has Canyons 100K printed on it which is kind of cool.  The direction they were going was for you to eventually get the buckle from Western States.   The trucker hat in the general swag bag was cooler than the belt though.

 

Weird factor – what’s the weirdest thing about this race

Less beards compared to any Washington race I’ve seen, but more trucker hats.

 

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

The start of the race was exciting.   Mark and I got there before 5AM and had a good 45 minutes to hang out in Foresthill Elementary before the race.   Going out the gate was a fast pace, but slower starting out at Chuckanut.  It felt really good to run in the cool morning air, and the first mile or so was on a road.   After hitting the trail, the first creek crossing was deep and you had to use ropes.   I almost fell in.   Not too long after that I realized that this race was going to be more than I bargained for, so I started to drop back and was ok with it.

Coming up out of the first turnaround at the famous swinging bridge, I was running in a small group with the lead female runner (Cat Bradley who finished 1st) and some dude in a bright yellow shirt.   We were doing a good combo of run + hike and making good time.

I then fell into my nearly finishing placement, and it seemed to take an eternity to reach the second turnaround at Rucky Chuck (where I saw Matt, Julie and Paavo for the 3rd time).    Matt dumped ice on me again and it felt great.  This was the point where I felt the worst physically, but mentally kept staying positive and goal re-setting:  my mantra changed to “see a hill, walk a hill!”.  Another way I stayed motivated was to try not to let runners coming the other way see me walking back (as that would have surely demotivated them).   Because of the way the race spaced out, I hadn’t been running with anyone in my direction since mile 17.   

The day started to cool down after the Cal2 station with 9 miles left. I could actually restart running faster again including some inclines.  I passed a couple guys on the way back in the last 4 miles.   Crossing the finish line was of course the best part, I do wish I would have gotten that burst of energy sooner.

 

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

Stay positive and keep spirits high in the low points.  Smiling and making light of the situation helps me get through it. 

Do as much uphill running and hiking in your training as possible.   Having a stellar Canyons race is about being able to sustain the climbing and yet still run, or at least jog, the flats and downhills deeper in the second loop.  

Practice downhill running, and be comfortable on uneven trails and rocks.

Train with fully loaded pack and bottles.  When you come out of an aid station with two full bottles and ice in your pack, you feel really weighed down.

Use the creeks to cool off – pour some cool water on your back or dip your hat.

 

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

I learned that heat really has a big impact on my ability to run.  I had some experience from Ragnar Texas but apparently not enough to get used to it.

 

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

The second loop is not easy but does have longer runnable sections.  You definitely want to dial it back a bit on the first.  There were a quite a few DNFs at the end of the first loop, possibly because runners were just too tired out after the first, or didn’t realize how hard it is.

Aesthetics – is it a pretty course

Totally.  You can also envision yourself running Western States when doing it.

 

Difficulty – is it a tough course

30% of the starters DNF’d even with the 18hr cutoff.  That was just over 100 runners.

 

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

Yes.   The race had a 100K, 50K, and 25K which totaled over 400 runners and it was nicely put on.

 

Competition – is there a strong field?

Not as deep at the 2017 Chuckanut,  but there were a handful of really fast runners.

 

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.

There is no lottery, but the 100K sold out in a couple days.    If you are from out of town, you need to get a hotel room in Auburn.  I didn’t have any problem getting a room at the Holiday Inn and it was a nice place.

Aid Stations

They were great and anywhere from 3-7 miles spaced out.     Because it gets hot in the later part of the day,  you really need to carry two bottles in the second half.

Weather and typical race conditions –

I thought it was really hot (by Washington standards) from noon to 4PM.  I heard that Western States is much worse because its much later in the summer.

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

Wear a pack where you can put some ice in it if you need it.  

Spectators – is this a friendly course for your friends

I saw most spectators at Michigan Bluff or at Foresthill.  Foresthill at the finish line was great, there were a lot of people hanging out in lawn chairs.  It was like tailgating.   

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

I would give it 4 out of 5.  If you are trying to get into WS someday, this will help you training for it so would highly recommend.   As a bonus, it is one of the few 100K WS qualifier races.

canyons 100k

Canyons 100k – Josh B

Race: The Canyons 100k – http://www.runcanyons.com/

Runner: Josh B

Date: 5/7/2016

Location: Foresthill CA- Western States Trail

Results – Dropped at 75k.

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

  1. Course- I chose this race because it was on the Western States Trail and was not disappointed with the trail. It allows you to see parts of the trail that you hear a lot about during the Western States 100.
  2. Volunteers- It really seemed like the volunteers were all trail runners and were all very familiar with the course. Most the volunteers were from the area and had run Western States and had intel on the upcoming sections.
  3. People Racing- It seemed like everyone was there to get a WS qualifier and were all extremely drawn to the area. Having a common goal with all the other runners was fun and gave us a lot to discuss while running. There were also several people that I ran with that had run states and had funny/interesting stories from their states experiences. It made the time fly by, at least for the first half.

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

I had high expectations of this course as I have been thinking of running on this trail since I started running 4-5 years ago. The race met and exceeded all my expectations.

One thing that was somewhat disappointing was the weather on race day. For most of the day it was in the low 50’s and lightly raining. Made for somewhat nice running weather but also made the views on course minimal. In the canyons it was extremely foggy so you couldn’t really see anything.

I can’t be too disappointed in the weather though because last year the highs were in the 90’s in Foresthill and even hotter/humid in the canyons.

Weird factor – what’s the weirdest thing about this race

One thing I thought was weird was that when you check in they give you your bib but make you get the race schwag after the race. When you finish, or drop in my case, the last thing I want to think about is grabbing my T-shirt and hat. Although both were very nice. Most races I have been to give all this stuff to you at the packet pickup.

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

The first 50k went exactly to plan.I was within 5 minutes of my goal time for this section and felt very comfortable. The gear and nutrition I used in training worked to perfection on race day. Going into the race I was worried about how I would feel after this section because it had almost 10k of vert and an equal amount of downhill.

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

For the first 40 miles I was right on my pre-race splits. In the early 40-mile range I had a low spell that I never mentally got out of. I mentally felt that at the pace I was going that I could not meet the finish cut-off. My legs felt crappy and mentally I checked out. I dropped at 75k thinking it was impossible to finish.

Looking back on my garmin data it does not appear that I slowed like I thought. I wasn’t moving fast but I was moving fast enough to potentially finish. Trying to calculate splits in a mentally low spot was not a good idea. Hindsight I should have kept moving forward. I would feel better today knowing that I at least tried to finish and then missed a cut-off. Dropping because I thought I couldn’t do something was not right. If you are given a certain amount of time, keep moving the entire time unless injured, and let fate happen as it will. Finish or not.

Aesthetics – is it a pretty course

I would say it is a pretty course especially this time of year because the grass is still green and the creeks still have water in them. I would guess come the end of June for Western States it feels a lot more like a desert. There is also some nice viewpoints if not foggy/cloudy.

Difficulty – is it a tough course

The first half is pretty tough with 10k of vertical and pretty long/steep climbs up devils thumb and michigan bluff. Devils Thumb was especially tough because it was all mud due to the rains. It felt like each step forward was two steps backward. I carried trekking poles for the first 50k which made a huge difference.

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

It was very well organized. All the volunteers were knowledgeable about the course and all seemed to be runners.

Competition – is there a strong field?

It is a very strong field. People use this race as a last tune up for Western States. The runners that win this race have proven to do very well at states. I could see this race becoming a Golden Ticket race in the near future with automatic entries to States which will only make the field even more competitive.

There is talk of also making the final cut-off shorter which will make the overall field more competitive.

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.

If you want to do this race you will want to sign up as soon as it opens in the fall. It will sell out quickly. Make sure you let me sign up first though. ???? I have revenge in mind.

Aid Stations-

The aid station volunteers were well stocked and had great volunteers. The race had most of the nutrition items that I trained with which allowed me to carry minimal stuff. Aid stations are close together so on a cold year there is no need to carry a bunch of water or food. On a hot year I could imagine the need for carrying at least 40 oz of water at a time to be able to cool off and stay hydrated.

Weather and typical race conditions –

The race is a couple years old. Last year it was hot and in the 90’s and this year it was rainy and in the low 50’s. Be prepared for anything. I would imagine it is typically going to be hot so heat training may be a good idea.

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

The weather will affect this drastically. Hot weather will require the ability to carry lots of water and keep your body cool with ice bandanas or some other method. The rain caused me to need a light rain jacket and I had a change of socks/shoes which I ended up not needing. For the first half I carried a UD Pack and trekking poles and in the second section I only carried a single handheld.

The first half and second half are very different in terms of difficulty which caused my gear to change. Depending on individual needs I would assess the gear needed for each section.

Spectators – is this a friendly course for your friends

There is only a couple spots spectators can get to on the course. The start/finish as Foresthill is a pretty fun atmosphere and has restaurants and coffee shops for spectators to hang out at while you run. During the 100k runners come through town at the halfway point and the crowd cheering is a pretty nice mental boost.

Awards –

They give out nice belts to all the male finishers and hand crafted necklaces to all the female finishers. The podium finishers got some pretty cool metal artwork.

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

4 out of 5. I would recommend this race for anyone who ever wants to run Western States or for anyone who wants to run on the historic course but does not want to fight with the lottery.