Trail Runner is featured on the Meetup home!

Last night I received the below email from the HQ of Meetup: Trail Runner is currently featured on the Meetup home page! It couldn't have been timelier and I want to use this opportunity to thank you all for making Trail Runner "one of the most active Meetup Groups" within the Meetup network (with over 92,000 groups!).

Within only 5 month, Trail Runner grew 145 members strong which is all due to your support. Thank you for participating, organizing, volunteering, suggesting great ideas, posting pictures and helping to build a great community of trail runners and friends!

Please keep supporting Trail Runner and most of all - have fun and enjoy our runs! If you have an idea how to make Trail Runner even better, please let me know and we'll work on it! If you have an event which might be of interest to other members, let's post it! Or if you would like to become an organizer and host a new trail run, let's do it! ... All suggestions are appreciated!

Again, thank your for your ongoing support!

Happy holidays!

Bjorn

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Here is the original email from Meetup:

"Great news! Trail Runner is featured on the home page right now!

Every day, a handful of the most active Meetup Groups are chosen to appear on this page. Your Meetup will be appearing on the home page all day today.

Congrats!

The Team at Meetup HQ"

Saddleback Trail Marathon - Rated the toughest marathon in California!

Race report from Race Director Big Baz: 

"... My  Magic luck is still there after all these years. Having organized many hundreds of races over the last 27 years in California I can only say we are so bloody lucky to live in the State that has everything. ... After the heavy rains on Friday, my aid station crews were so happy to enjoy the dry 65 degree plus temps - especially up on the Main Divide. ...

Sorry if you were getting chilled at the start, but I have to say all those things while waiting for everyone to be at the starting line. Please don’t beat me up! ...

For those who came to their first race at Blue Jay, all I can say is I am sorry for the unruly behavior of some of the local bludgers who always try to intimidate the RD. Just something I have had to live with at all my races I am very sorry to say, but I am sure you quickly got into the swing of being part of a magic group of trail runners.  Must say congrats to all the first timers at the trail marathon distance, it is the toughest Marathon in California, but soo rewarding when you cross that finish line.

Hope you enjoyed the food and drink and the awards gathering, my long time mate Bob is always happy to help at the Raffle … All the support I get at my events is really appreciated even those who want to get under my delicate skin with their nastiness… joking of course! Where could a 70 year old bloke enjoy having fun with the best mates in the world, hopefully it shows with my quiet demeanor. Enjoy the festive season and we will gather again in Lower Blue next year."

Total Elevation Gain: 5,162 feet

Distance: 26.2 miles / 42 km

Time: 5:30:09 hrs. 

Place: 54 of 80 finishers

Franz - the praying mantis!

 

This praying mantis (Gottesanbeterin) has been with me now for over 10 days. It keeps moving around on my front porch - but always only a few feet. Every morning when I leave home it is there, and when I come home in the evening it is still sitting there waiting for me. Not sure if it is a male or a female, but I named him Franz. Little things like that make me happy! They keep reminding me of the important things in life and why I came to the U.S. in the first place ...

Chino Hills Trail Run Series 50K

Despite a lower back injury, I finished within the cut-off time of 10 hours. I walked most of it, but it was totally worth it. I saw many fellow trail runners and made some new friends. On the way back, I had a little "dance" with a baby rattle snake. It struck twice, but I was faster! Carmela and Asa who were right behind me and watched it happen, told me later that the "babies" are even more dangerous! Well, that's part of trail running and luckily nothing happened. Carmela, Asa and I continued and we crossed the finish line together.

Total Elevation Gain: 4,846 feet

Distance: 50 km / 31 miles

Time: 9:22:40 hrs. 

Place: 23 of 31 finishers

Fred and Yen (the Race Directors) presented me with a special surprise at the finish line.

Bulldog 50K

Once again, the Bulldog 50k (31 miles) lived up to its expectations. Over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) and 5,747 feet (1,751 meters) total elevation gain! Anyway ... 6 hours 45 minutes ... new PR :-) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Race Results: 
Time: 6:45:29 hrs.
Distance: 29.31 mi.
Pace: 13:49 min./mi.
Overall Place: 59
Men Place: 41

Today's 35 mile (56 km) training run for the 100 Mile Endurance Challenge in October

35 mile (56 km) training run for the 100 Mile Endurance Challenge in October in support of the 100 Mile Club: Brea - Fullerton - Anaheim - Orange - Santa Ana - Newport Beach - Huntington Beach - Long Beach. For more information and to donate, please visit http://tiny.cc/100ec

San Francisco Marathon

In the "zone" ...

Can't beat this view.

Hilly course - 1,742 feet total elevation gain!

Race Results: 
Time: 3:47:43 hrs. (New PR!)
Distance: 26.2 mi.
Pace: 8:42 min./mi.
Overall Place: 1111 of 5920
Men Place: 923 of 3944
Men 35-39 Place: 152 of 599

Mt. Baldy Trail Run

Trail run from the end of the ski lift to the summit of Mt. Baldy (10,061 ft.) and all the way back down to the parking lot (6,171 ft). Distance: 10.1 miles; time: 2:20 hrs.; total elevation gain: 2,516 feet; total elevation loss: 4,025.

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and Cuyamaca Three Peaks 50K

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

 

Our cabin "Coulter". Really?

My first time on a horse ... I probably would have been faster running, but it was a lot of fun!

Cuyamaca Three Peaks 50K (32.78 mi) Trail Race. 

Elevation Gain: 5,367 feet/1.636 m. Time: 7:23:22 hrs.

 

San Diego Rock'n'Roll Marathon

Official Result: 
Time: 4:05:58 hrs.
Distance: 26.2 mi.
Pace: 9:23 min./mi.
Overall Place: 1935 of 8267
Men Place: 1322 of 4267
Men 35-39 Place: 228 of 709

"Real Result":
Time: 4:05:58 hrs.
Distance:27.6 mi.
Pace: 8:53 min./mi.

Why?
Ran an extra 1.4 miles due to the confusing course marking and event organization. The 32,000 Marathoners and Half-Marathoners got merged and split over and over again and I ended up running a loop which was only to be run by the Half-Marathoners ... Thanks RD! This could have been my first marathon with a time under 4 hours!

Less than 20 spots left for the 100EC Ultra-Marathon

Yes, that’s right, this year’s race will sell out soon! We opened registration only one week ago and now less than 20 spots are left. Register now, or you will miss the opportunity to be part of the 100-Mile Endurance Challenge (100EC).
The 100EC Ultra-Marathon offers an ideal course for all – the experienced 100-Mile Ultra-Runner who wants to set a new PR, as well as for the athlete who has done shorter races before and now wants to attempt to run 100 miles for the first time (and everybody in between). The event starts in Corona (CA) on October 22 at 8:30am and finishes the next day at the Santa Monica Pier. The route will take you through three counties and 20 cities. For more information, please visit www.100ec.org/learnmore.
Note: All proceeds of the 100EC benefit the 100 MileClub – a non profit organization with over 30,000 members whose focus is addressing childhood obesity one school at a time. All participants must raise at least $100 in tax-deductible contributions. Please make sure to check the box next to “Become a Fundraiser” during the registration process!

Registration for 100EC is now open

Registration is open for the 100-Mile Endurance Challenge (100EC). Register now, since the number of participants for this race is limited and it’ll probably sell out within days!

The 100EC Ultra-Marathon offers an ideal course for all – the experienced 100-Mile Ultra-Runner who wants to set a new PR, as well as for the athlete who has done shorter races before and now wants to attempt to run 100 miles for the first time (and everybody in between). The event starts in Corona (CA) on October 22 at 8:30am and finishes the next day at the Santa Monica Pier. The route will take you through three counties and 20 cities. For more information, please visit www.100ec.org/learnmore.

Note: All proceeds of the 100EC benefit the 100 MileClub – a non profit organization with over 30,000 members whose focus is addressing childhood obesity one school at a time. All participants must raise at least $100 in tax-deductible contributions. Please make sure to check the box next to “Become a Fundraiser” during the registration process!

Leona Divide 50 Mile Ultra-Marathon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Something I can now finally check off my list. I "officially" completed my first 50 Miler (80.46 km) in 12 hours and 9 minutes with a total elevation gain of 9,536 feet (2.906 m)! It was a beautiful day, but a tough race!

My race plan for next weekend's Leona Divide 50 Miler ... Did I miss anything? ;-)

Ragnar Relay SoCal 2011

200.9 miles/ 323.31 km - 12 people - from Huntington Beach to Coronado Island (San Diego) - 32:37 hrs.