Race: Never Summer 100K
Runner: Team RunRun Coach Dandelion Dilluvio-Scott
Race Date: 07/27/2024
Location: Walden, CO
Result: 19 hours, 59 minutes and 58 seconds; Overall: 98 DP: 24
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
- The alpine weather/conditions: I’m an athlete who specializes in gnarly environmental and weather conditions. Nothing fascinates me more than adapting to extremes. In late afternoon I was takings steps to avoid heat exhaustion, and then an hour later I was putting on all my layers as the sky turned deep grey, wind roared and hail pelted me. I love the unpredictability and sudden contrasts of high alpine running and this race delivered.
- The technical terrain: I have a background in alpinism so I am a bit bias toward technical terrain. I really enjoy the process of having to make a decision with every step: Never Summer 100K delivered here too! I loved the calculations required to navigate aggressive inclines on nearly trail-less high tundra efficiently without being over-taxing. I was also completely enamored by the downhills and running over copious “rolly rocks” that threatened to twist my ankles if I mis-stepped… yeah, I have unusual tastes! The last 15 miles of the course are known to be comparably runnable, but the driving rain turned the trail into a sloppy slip and slide. Another technical element, mud, was added to the mix and I was stoked to use all the skills I learned while running Bighorn 100 last year. In short, the course kept me completely engaged throughout and there was never a dull moment.
- The altitude: I enjoy the challenge of altitude. It not only makes aerobic activity more difficult, but it adds a layer of complexity to nutrition and hydration as well. Constant self-monitoring becomes imperative and I like needing that extra level of attentiveness.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Honestly nothing, this race was everything I could ask for in an event. Even the thunderstorm and hail added to the alpine ambience and made things more interesting.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
There was nothing that I would categorize as weird. That said, it was pretty unique to have a drummer welcome us to the summit of The Diamond though!
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
Looking back, I am very happy with both my performance throughout the race and my execution of strategy. I attribute this to my willingness to adapt and be flexible during both the event and throughout the training process. It would not be an exaggeration to say that “adapt” was my mantra for the Never Summer 100K race! In addition, I found myself often referring back to other outings. Using years of mental archives gained from adventures and races (sometimes in a totally different environment) helped in my decision-making process on more than one occasion during this event.
Adapting began well before race day. When I registered for the Never Summer 100K race I planned on running competitively. However, June and July offered copious weather windows for big projects that I couldn’t resist! I found that my focus was on big mountain adventures that featured traveling unsupported ultra distances, extensive vert, technical climbing and/or little sleep. In between these excursions I trained for Never Summer 100K. This schedule did not prioritize rest/recovery and I was acutely aware that I would toe the line with built up cumulative fatigue even with a proper taper. Unwilling to cut back on big mountain projects, I adjusted my expectations for the Never Summer 100K race accordingly. Instead of racing, I committed myself to using this event as an opportunity to perfect my mountain race strategy and focus on learning.
Problem solving ahead of race day
I pride myself on being supremely organized… sometimes to a fault. Therefore, I was shocked to discover when I arrived at the race start that in the mayhem of leaving the house, my beloved UltrAspire Zygos vest, which also contained a great deal of my kit, had not made it into the car. Naturally I panicked. How was I going to run a race without most of my kit (which included a lot of required gear)? After about five minutes of alarm, I forced myself to think clearly and looked at a map. There was an REI two hours away so my husband and I jumped into the car and arrived an hour before store closing.
Together we gathered the gear and nutrition that had been left back home. I was grateful that I was able to find the items I needed. However, I knew the new vest would chafe and was too small to fit my puffy. I was also unsure how waterproof my new jacket was and wasn’t too crazy about the loop straps on the poles (typically I use the Leki shark system). I adjusted my mindset as we drove back to camp knowing that I would spend the next day breaking the cardinal rule of “nothing new during the race” and adapting further. Though I had done something incredibly imprudent, I was very happy with my ability to calm down quickly and solve the problem.
Race strategy and pacing
After about five hours of sleep and a hectic morning reorganizing all my new, untested gear, the race finally began. I placed myself in the front of the pack at the start, but when the group took off at an excited and speedy clip, I allowed myself to slide back especially when we reached the first big climb. Even though I wasn’t competing officially I still wanted to be deliberate and finish with a respectable time. I would gain nothing but fatigue by attempting to out climb those around me. Instead, I committed to being confident in my race plan and methodically climbed the rocky jeep road focusing on even breathing and efficiency instead of speed.
This sounds very simple, but in the heat of the moment, especially in the beginning miles of a race, it is often difficult to stick with personal strategy and ignore what the rest of the field was doing. In following my own plan and ignoring the field, a pattern developed over the first 50K of the race: I was passed on ascents by a group of about 10-15 runners and then on descents I would catch this same group. The lesson here is: trust yourself, know your strengths and capitalize.
I feel like a did well in this regard. Plus, not worrying about everyone else afforded me the opportunity to truly enjoy the spectacular beauty of the course as we passed glistening lakes and traversed high ridges with expansive views of the craggy peaks of the Never Summer Range. Sometimes I get so involved in the race process and wondering where I am in the field that I forget to look around me. I’m so grateful that didn’t happen this time!
Coping with the heat…
As I neared the Never Summer 100K race’s 50K aid station: Ruby Jewel, the air temperature began to rise. Here I took extra time at this aid station to consume additional electrolytes and calories, put ice in my shirt and liberally apply sunscreen. While running Cocodona 250, I learned that in certain circumstances an extra minute or two at an aid station can make you five minutes faster on the trail.
I backed off on my pace to account for the heat as I continued and noticed the rest of the pack was also making adjustments as the effects of the mid-afternoon sun took hold. The climb up to Clear Lake was especially arduous. At this high elevation it felt like the sun was parked about 3 feet from our heads. I diverged from the steady trudge of the pack and began to pause frequently at creeks to splash water on my face and dunk my forearms. This cost time, but it also kept heat exhaustion (which I am prone to) at bay. Another Cocodona 250 lesson applied.
And then storms and cold!
After descending from Clear Lake, the course took us down a jeep road overlooking the valley. From such a high vantage point incoming weather was extremely visible. Dark clouds were gathering and lightning darted out from the abyss. I could feel a gentle breeze cooling my skin as well and a sense of relief washing over me. We would indeed get the predicted evening thunderstorm! I’d been looking forward to it ever since the scorching sun began roasting me!
Running down the hill while watching the clouds gather with increasing intensity and listening to the wind move through the pines, it occurred to me that it was very likely that this electric storm would bring more than just rain. After getting caught in countless storms in the Rockies I knew hail was a very real possibility. I stopped in the trees sheltering from the blustery wind and put on my rain jacket. Literally as I was zipping it up thunder cracked overhead, any hint of blue sky vanished and the clouds released billions of pea sized ice missiles. I couldn’t help my smile. I was honestly getting a bit bored with the sunny weather and was excited for the new challenge. Plus, I finally no longer felt like I was in a convection oven!
I giddily skipped down the dirt road splashing through the mud. I’m pretty sure I was the only person with so much stoke for the storm. To be fair, most thunderstorms in the mountains are often short lived and I assumed this one would blow over in an hour or so. Then I’d dry off in the late day sun before nightfall.
However, this was not a fast and furious weather event. The rain along with the electricity continuously gathered in intensity. Trails turned into rivers and dust into sticky, sloppy mud. I didn’t mind the mud as I spent months training in every kind of mud in existence while preparing for Bighorn 100 so the techniques required were easy to fall back on. My biggest concern was hypothermia. The new jacket was not very waterproof and wetting about ridiculously fast.
About an hour into the storm, I began to realize that running was the only thing keeping me warm. Athletes gathered in trees hiding from the weather and avoiding open meadows as the storm dragged on. Making risk assessments and remaining steadfast in the mountains is something I do regularly while mountaineering or on unsupported missions. I knew my chances of hypothermia were about 100% if I stopped and my chance of being struck by lightning was much less. Therefore, I chose to sprint across the meadows, recover in the trees and repeat.
Turning challenge into opportunity
By the time I reached Canadian aid station at mile 51, I was cold. I originally planned to grab some food from my drop bag and take off. However, after a moment of reflection I decided to deviate from my normal aid station routine of “get in and get out.” I wasn’t hypothermic, but having I could tell that it wouldn’t take much to drive me over that edge. I also calculated that I was well ahead of cut-offs. If my goal was to finish without putting myself at risk of dropping due to the cold I believed my best option was to linger at the aid station and dry my gear.
I was acutely aware that if I had my larger vest with enough room for my puffy along with my tested waterproof rain jacket, I likely would not have needed to stop at Canadian. However, I also knew that dwelling on this information wouldn’t change anything. Instead, I concentrated on what I could control. I positioned myself by the heat lamp, got a space blanket, drank cups of broth and ate hot perogies.
To DNF or not to DNF
As I sat focusing on getting back to equilibrium, I watched as haggard runners stumbled into the tent looking like they had gone to war. Many chose to drop and there was a near constant shuttle to take runners back to the warm community center at the start/finish. I pondered how nice it would be to not go back out there, but every time the aid station captain asked me what my plans were I told him I was going to continue. Simply being uncomfortable and tired does not fall under my personal criteria for dropping. After about forty-five minutes the rain stopped. I never got warm per say, but I did stop getting chills. Importantly, I felt confident that as long as I kept moving, I would retain enough heat to stay safe. I began to make departure preparations for the final 15 miles.
Camaraderie on the trails
Fortunately, I warmed up quickly as I trotted along under the cover of darkness splashing through the mud and creeks. I felt confident that spending extra time at Canadian was the right move. Besides, I was happy that I was willing to be flexible instead of stubbornly pressing on and getting hypothermia! As a bonus, the delay at Canadian meant I encountered another coach who turned out to be the most excellent running partner! We paced each other through the night and the miles clicked by as we swapped stories. Intentionally working together likely cut our time by 45-60 minutes. We crossed the Never Summer 100K race finish in just shy of 20 hours (by 2 seconds!).
I was reminded in this moment that ultras are set apart from other competitive sports due to the camaraderie out on the course, especially in the mid-back of the pack. If I had been racing the course instead of simply running, I likely would have missed out on that experience.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
I’m lucky to live and train at altitude. However, if you don’t live at altitude, it would be excellent to arrive two weeks prior to the event to acclimate. If this is not an option, arriving within 24 hours of the start might allow you to bypass the worst symptoms of the acclimation process. Also, if possible, I suggest traveling at least once to train at altitude in a camp format. Doing this will allow you to experience how your body responds to high elevation so it’s not such a surprise on race day. It will also afford you the opportunity to practice your nutrition and hydration technique for the race which often has variances from plans that work at lower elevations.
I’ve reviewed a lot of other points in depth in other sections of this report. In summary:
-Be prepared for a large variety of weather conditions
-The downhills can be as difficult as the ascents
-The course is technical in a very real and continuous way
-Prepare for steep grades
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
I will never, ever leave for an event or project without quadruple checking that 100% of my kit is in the car!
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Many athletes come into this race thinking that even though there is a ton of vert with steep grades they will be able to make up time on the downhill. This is only the case if the athlete is skilled at descending in terrain that is either extremely steep and/or extremely rocky. I heard many folks grumbling as they carefully picked their way downhill. You don’t necessarily need to be a highly accomplished technical downhill specialist to finish this course, but it is important to brace yourself mentally for possibly some slow descents. It’s easier to handle these sections if you anticipate the tedious downhills.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Yes! The course takes runners alongside multiple pristine lakes and traverses high alpine ridges with expansive vistas. Of course, you need to put in the work to get to these stunning locations! Nothing comes easy in these mountains.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
YES! I’ve run a lot of courses that were labeled technical and tough, but this really is! Maybe it’s my alpinist background, but none ever lived up to the hype…. until the Never Summer 100K race. This was the first course I’ve experienced that was technical to my standards. Steep and continuous inclines up to 40 degrees. No break on the downhills. Instead, there were plunging declines where feet threatened to slip out and /or lots of “rolly rocks” to twist ankles. Of course, the race is also at an average attitude of about 10,000ft and highlights extreme alpine weather. The last 15 or so miles are gentler, unless it rains like it did in my case. Then it’s a mud-fest to 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 organized! I was very impressed that Never Summer had required gear too. This is very unusual for a 100k in the USA. The aid station volunteers were well trained and tremendously attentive to the athletes on course. They knew how to take care of runners in the harsh alpine environment and went above and beyond to take extra time with those who were struggling.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Competitive for sure! Impressive times were put up and some elite athletes were present.
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 Never Summer 100K race did fill up, but not on the same day registration opened. You can choose to purchase dispersed camping at the race start when registering which is what I did. There are also established campsites in State Forest Park and the National Forest that can be reserved with some advanced planning. The closest motel is in Walden, CO, which is about 25 miles away. I would book early since there aren’t many rooms.
Weather and typical race conditions
This is a high alpine race in the Never Summer Mountains of Colorado, so anything and everything is possible weather wise. During this year’s event, the day began pleasantly sunny and transformed into blazing hot afternoon where heat illness was a very real possibility. Then, very abruptly, during early evening the sky went dark, wind picked up, temperature dropped and lightning lit up the sky. Pea sized hail followed by heavy rain bombarded us for hours and suddenly we were fighting hypothermic conditions. Experiencing all or some of these circumstances in a single day is standard in the region.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
As I mentioned previously, all the aid stations volunteers were exceedingly supportive and knowledgeable. Gnarly hydration drink mix and plain water was offered at the aid stations along with hammer gels, fruit, chips and other standard aid station fare. Later in the day and into the night aid stations offered hot options including pierogis, quesadillas, grilled cheese and broth.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
There is a required gear list for this race. In 2024 it consisted of a jacket, warm head covering, gloves, whistle, reusable cup, water capacity of at least 1 liter and illumination. I highly recommend that the jacket be a raincoat that has proven itself truly waterproof in the field. I would also suggest shoes that perform well in rocky terrain along with gaiters to keep out debris. Pack essentials that you will need for hot weather (sunscreen, brimmed hat, sun sleeves, sunglasses). Weather can swing abruptly, so it’s wise to also have cold gear either onboard or stowed in a drop bag (midlayer, handwarmers, foil bivvy, puffy). In short, be prepared for a variety of weather situations and note that high alpine forecasting is not always correct. It can still rain (or snow!) even if the prediction is sunny all day.
Finally, I encourage athletes to bring poles on this course. I never even stowed mine! Of course, practice using poles prior to the race on a variety of grades both up and downhill. It is equally important to learn to run holding the poles safely when not in use. Practice how to stow/deploy them while in motion and sort out how to access nutrition with the poles in hand.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Less so, except for the start/finish line which is family and friend friendly. Unfortunately, the rest of the course is more challenging to access along the dirt roads.
How’s the Swag?
Finishers of the Never Summer 100K race receive a really unique award of a log circle with the logo engraved into the wood. Runners also received a standard race shirt and had the option to purchase other swag like hats, hoodies and stickers.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
10/10. Never Summer 100K was a true technical mountain course in every way and I would love to journey through these mountains again!
Dandelion Dilluvio-Scott is a multisport outdoor athlete, ultra-runner and certified coach. She is passionate about collaborating with driven athletes who love to explore, train and play outside.
