Posts by: Matt

Cascade Crest Classic 2012

By On September 3, 2012

“This is old school ultrarunning,” said Charlie Crissman a year ago, when I was facing my first 100-miler. “Your family and friends don’t care if you finish this race,” he reiterated this year. “There are no awards for winning this.

He then called last year’s winner of the women’s race up to receive an award. […]

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Pigtails 150: The Middle Child

By On July 31, 2012

Somehow it hadn’t occurred to me that 150 was larger than 135. It seems absurd that a grown man of moderate intelligence would miss this point, but there’s something about running in loops that messes with the mind.

Last year I helped crew at the Badwater 135, which is billed as […]

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I’m a Lumberjack, and I’m okay

By On May 28, 2012

(Editor’s Note: This was actually written up post-Pigtails because the author is abysmally lazy.)

Despite being a staunch skeptic and realist, I was ready to admit the existence of karmic recompense at Lumberjack for Badger’s beat-down.

Things augured poorly at first.  Two long days on my feet right beforehand meant I wasn’t optimally rested for […]

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Where’s Badger?

By On April 19, 2012

Before being served with a cease-and-desist letter, the Waldo 100K used to be called “Where’s Waldo 100K” because runners would be looking for Waldo Lake – an elusive entity which can only be glimpsed from the highest peaks, eluding runners the entire race.

Badger felt similar.

Jockeying around a neighborhood to find the start line of […]

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Pac Rim 24-hour

By On March 15, 2012

It doesn’t count, Arthur!  It doesn’t count!  24-hour races don’t count!

Good luck,
Matt

 

(For those in the Peanut Gallery:  Arthur pointed out that there’s another possibility for a 100-miler in Washington, namely the Pac Rim 24-hour run in Longview, WA.  My fingers are in my ears and I’m saying “lalalalalala” loudly so […]

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Swamp Rodent Stomp (formerly Rocky Raccoon 100)

By On February 11, 2012

This was supposed to be my warmup lap.  Rocky is known as a fairly flat, fast loop course that’s well-supported and fun to run.

It is indeed well-supported.  In fact, this year it was just like running in a well.

Thunder and lightning greeted us at the start, and Huntsville State Park turned into a […]

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Plain

By On January 25, 2012

All this for a hunk of rock?

The final race in the GSW is also the hardest, featuring at least 100 miles (107, supoosedly) of trails, jeep track, fire roads and completely unmarked woods.  There is no support.  Water comes from streams.  No pacers are allowed, and asking for directions from the […]

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By On January 25, 2012

“Tall Trees.  Tough Trails.”  That pretty much sums up the Northwest’s signature 100-miler.

Last year our protagonist finished this race in 27:11:00.

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Badger Mountain Challenge

By On January 25, 2012

Badger is held on March 31 near the bustling metropolis of Kennewick, WA, and the winner is offered the opportunity to take home a live badger as a gift.
They usually decline.
Website

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Lumberjack

By On January 25, 2012

The Lumberjack Endurance run takes place near Port Gamble, WA and is put on by the aptly-named folks at Roots Rock Run.

It’s usually swampy and they lose four to five runners to the Sasquatch each year.

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