No Name 5030

      Cheeseboro 5030! Yeah, an awesome looking 50K around the trails I train on regularly during my lunch hours! Two weeks later: No Name 5030, wait, what? Am I looking at the right race? Am I on the right website? An ultra race with no name? Yes, its right, same race; no matter what its called this race is going to be good. Although I was still unsure if I was going to run this race, I just got off of a 3:01 marathon effort with tons of speed work, my legs were dead and I also told Desirae I would not race anymore this year. Damn ultra races, its like someone dangling a carrot in front of my face, "sign up Kenny, you know you want to." The fact it was an inaugural race on familiar trails with a RD that I like (Erica Gratton), combined with several people including Desirae, Randy and Brett egging me on finally got me to hit the register button. No turning back now.
      This race was located in the Cheeseboro park area of Augora and Simi Valley hills upon mostly fire road. The map of the race is very confusing as it loops around several different trails, I had to study the map numerous times before I got the gist of it.

        There is a two lane road and a smaller parking lot at the Cheeseboro trail head, so the runner and spectators had to park 3 miles away at a park and be shuttled to the starting line. So I headed to the park early morning by myself with coffee, GUs and a handheld water bottle in tow, the parking and shuttle went smoothly. I had a soar throat for two days leading up to event, between the soar throat, lack of training leading up to the race and tired legs I set my expectations for my finishing times low. I just wanted to go out there and enjoy running on some of my favorite trails and let things fall as they will. Once again I got there way too early and had plenty of time to stand around in the cold and mingle with the other runners as we waited for the race to start. I saw Randy there making his ultra return so I chatted with him a bit and met a few other nervous runners.
       They 30K and 50K runners started the same time so we lined up together to get ready to run up a tight single track right from the start. I didn't want to get caught up in a conga line up the first hill so I lined up in the front to go out hard and hopefully run with the lead pack. Bingo, my plan works as a dart up the first hill (Modelo) in fourth place, the race stays this way for the first 6 miles or so. The first 7 -8 miles of the race is mostly climbing with a few relieving downhills along the way through Cheeseboro Canyon, Shepard's flat and Palo Commando trails, it helped to have run these trails numerous times and I knew what expect. At mile 5 coming into the second aid station it was nice to see Brett and Mark volunteering there and shouting encouraging/taunting words of advice, they never cease to make me smile, a great pick me up. I really enjoyed the section miles 7-9 as I pushed through the rolling trails of China Flats and Simi Peak, you could almost feel the history through there, I could imagine the farming, herding and mining that must of went on years ago.

         Boom! back down Palo Commando we go for the next several miles, as I roll into the mile 10 aid station (same as mile 5) more taunting words of encouragement as I'm told I am in 5 place overall. 10 Miles in 5th place, I'm okay with that and I start to think about how many of those in front of me are 30K runners? Another mile up the Dead Cow trail and its back down hill again to Shepard's Flat, I do my best to run a good clip in this section because I know a lot of climbing along the Cheeseboro Ridge trail is coming up. As I start climbing up Cheeseboro Ridge I come up to one of the runners ahead of me that told me he was a 30K runner and that I was first place 50K, first place? No way, awesome! But just as he told me that here comes another runner passing us up the hill, just like that I'm now second place 50K, well that excitement was short lived, time to do work.
         The other runner (Joseph from Santa Barbara) and I exchange places back and forth all way through Cheeseboro Ridge, he would pass me on the ascents and I would pass him back on the descents, this would end up being the theme throughout mile 28 of the race. At mile 18 aid station, I came in first but took some time replenishing my water reserves and munching on some banana slices at the buffet, Joseph left the aid station before me. Small amount of relief as we ran 1.5 miles along Cheeseboro Canyon trail, we ran together for a while and made small talk, as soon as we hit Cheeseboro Ridge trail again Joseph pulled ahead. At this point doubt of winning took hold in my head, it was only mile 20 and I was hurting, 11 more miles of this was going to be tough. After a mix of running with a occasional power hike up some of the ascents my legs started coming back to me, but I now had some time to make up as Joseph pulled a good lead on me. Just in time as we hit a nice descent down the back side of Cheeseboro Ridge into Shepards Flat and down through Cheeseboro Canyon, I was flying as I caught back up to Joseph at the mile 24 aid station.
      

         Argggh, up again! Over Ranch Center connector trail, then down the other side, Joseph and I back and forth. Pushing each other was a race of will power and drive, we were both determined and running hard, I love racing like this; a good challenge to push me way past my comfort zone, I wouldn't have finished nearly as fast if he wasn't racing me that hard. Up Doubletree, down Smoketree into mile 27, I could tell Joseph was hurting at this point and starting to fade, now its time to make my move. We head up Palo Cammando, the last big ascent and I actually pull ahead of Joseph, "Kenny, you can do this, push hard, embrace the hurt" I tell myself over and over again, apparently its working because Im running faster, I'm pulling ahead! Looking over my shoulder and I could see Joseph slipping further behind, down into Cheeseboro Canyon we go, I only stop for a second at mile 30 aid station to top off my water bottle. I'm running scared at this point, looking over my shoulder whenever I get a chance, its up the Modelo connector and a quick sprint down the Modelo trail to the finish line.
        

         I see Desirae, Connor and CJ as I cross the finish line, medal around my neck, high fives and hugs all around! I love that my family is so supportive and is always there to watch me cross the finish line, it really does mean a lot to me that they support my crazy ultra running addiction. First place overall in the 50K with a time of 4:17:16, my first ever win at an ultra event! I'm so used to coming in second and third at races my nickname became quicksilver, it was nice being quickgold for once.. Thanks to Erica Gratton for putting together such a great race, Brett and Mark Goldsmith for making me laugh, to all the volunteers for spoiling the runners and Joseph for pushing me to race hard. Special thanks to Desirae, Connor and CJ for being the best crew, fans and support team that I could ever ask for, love you guys! Till then a beer to celebrate and a trail to run...