This climb is a short one, only 4.1 miles from the starting gun, but it's steep - over 2,000 ft in those 4 miles ; I've never been up Mt Umunum, only seen it for years off in the distance. I knew some day I'd get up there, and this was it. I tried to interest Ferrell in joining me, but - not long enough to get him intrigued. No matter. Only possible glitch, was that there had been two really interesting colloquia at UCSC the previous two days - one on Dark Matter experimental searches by Stefano Profumo, and another on post-impact atmosphere formation in Earth like exoplanets, so I'd done my usual "Colloquium Run" through the Pogonip to campus and Science Hill for both, and a bit more. That was a total of 17 pretty hilly miles of running in the past 36 hours, so my legs weren't exactly fresh. But I felt OK, just stiff. In the end, I'm happy with going for it. Including the pre/post riding, I got in 19 miles and 3,000 ft of climbing, so it was a good workout and I hope give my legs some conditioning for the Northface Challenge in a month.
They ran out of waiver forms, so I was invited to just do the race but would not be on the official list (Organizer's wife is a lawyer!). No problem - I didn't expect to set any records.
Sign-in was a church on Hicks Rd. The start point was at the base of Sierra Azul Open Space 4 miles further up the mountain. |
At the start point; I pause to hammer down a "5 Hour Energy", a chaser of Espresso Hammer Gel, and put on my game face! Grrrr! |
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Air intake fully extended, and the military gear on Umunum in plain sight in the background |
What's up there in that huge concrete box on top? Stacked to the ceiling with alien bodies? Hidden documents on how 9/11 was an inside job? JFK assassination? No one knows, and we weren't allowed to the very summit. |
Here's our destination for the finale, on Thanksgiving morning - Lick Observatory at the summit of Mt Hamilton. |
I finished in 53:45. After they post results, I'll see how that fits in my age group. |
A close race to the finish for the two top riders, just rounding the bend |
Winning time: 25 minutes. Very Impressive. |
Heading back to the post-race recovery, I stop for a shot of a racer with Mt. Hamilton in the background |
Mt. Potassium! Well worth enjoying |
...with foothills of chocolate chip cookies |
This guy smashed the 65+ age group old record of 44 minutes - did it in 38 minutes! |
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No explanation needed. It was time to coast down the mountain. I stopped a few times at the beautiful spots along Hicks Rd for some photos... |
Fall colors: maples, rendered in dry brush in Photoshop |
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Last piece of business was to get some protein ASAP, and I drove back to old town Los Gatos and La Boulangerie for an egg and sausage bagel breakfast. Perfect!
