I'd wanted to do this race for several years, and finally in 2019, I was healthy enough to feel I could do it successfully. Lately I've had some good success in solving the mechanical issues in my running which have led to a nagging psoas irritation. I committed to this race as probably the best chance I still have of completing an Ironman quality race. Arguably the course is tougher than most Ironman races, but it's spread over 3 days and that makes a difference. I also was attracted because this is put on by a small town local group of triathletes who live along the ski-corridor of the Eastern Sierra. It's not got the high$$ mass corporate feel that more and more races unfortunately have these days. My first ever triathlons were put on my small towns and groups in Arizona back in the mid '80's. I really loved the atmosphere, the love of the sport and not the love of the money. Only about 40 people do this GraniteMan Challenge race. There's a larger group of a couple hundred who do the bike portion - the Mammoth Gran Fondo, but far fewer who brave June Lake in September for 2.4 miles, and then the Tioga Pass run from Lee Vining, all on the same weekend.
Packed and ready for the drive, on Thursday |
Monsoon season in September, made for some dramatic clouds in the Sierra |
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I drove first to Bridgeport - I'd left my daypack at a campspot when I did the June Lake Triathlon in July, and the county police had found it and kindly held it for me until I could come up and recover it. |
the nice thing about Bridgeport is the incredible Travertine Hot Springs just outside of town, with a grand panorama of the Sierra. I made friends with a mountain biker here in one of the hot soaks. |
The hot springs overlook Bridgeport, with a thunderstorm coming in |
I stopped for some late afternon photos at Mono Lake |
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...and, to fill my food box with fresh rose hips rich in vitamin C |
A good omen |
I've got a secret spot next to a creek that I like to camp at when I'm passing through this area |
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First light of dawn from inside my tent - Friday: swim day begins! |
The 2.4 Mile June Lake GraniteMan Swim. Started off with a spider bite in my tent as the rain came down. I photo'd the spider and the bite, and worried a bit it might get worse before morning and the race.... but it turned out just another insect bite that faded away, luckily. Weird that I've only had 3 spider bites that I can remember, and all 3 happened in the Eastern Sierra on different trips. Dawn arrived nearly cloud-free, and it looked like a great day for our swim. I got up at 6am sharp, cooked some oatmeal for breakfast, packed up my campsite, and drove to June Lake.
I ate my morning oatmeal while walking about with camera. My campsite. |
8 miles from camp, the east shore of June Lake and the swim venue |
Very cool artwork from a local metal artist, who also created our finisher medals. |
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June Lake |
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Our incredible race director and coach for the High Sierra Triathlon Club - Alana - orchestrating the group. |
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After the race, I posed, with "The Rock" in the background. |
bagels and cream cheese was the perfect post-race breakfast |
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After the swim, it was only late morning. Plenty of time for some relaxation. I drove over to Mammoth and scouted some possible campsites for tonight, along Mammoth Scenic Drive, which has legal dispersed camping amid the pine and aspen forests. I thought it might be fun to drive to Devil's Postpile and hike to Rainbow Falls, but the shuttle schedule didn't look like it would work, and I still had to pick up my Mammoth Gran Fondo packets and get squared away with any new stuff I might need to buy. I settled for a few photos at the Mammoth Mountain area and then headed down to Footlose Sports in town, for the expo and packet pick ups.
At the Mammoth Ski Area |
After packet pick up at "Footloose" in town, I drove 3 miles out of town to find a nice campspot. Here I'm setting up my bike for early tomorrow's Gran Fondo |
The Mammoth Mascot turned out, good for a unique picture |
Yikes. It's 42F. Nippy. Let's get this show on the road... |
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After a fast ride down the 5 miles to Hwy 395 |
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The first food stop, shortly before the June Lake Loop, on Hwy 395 |
On Benton Hot Springs Rd (Hwy 120), near Mono Lake |
A little too close for this selfie - I wanted to see the Sierra in the back, but instead I find myself focusing on my 2 day old stubble |
Mono Lake in the distance |
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2nd Food stop was at the top of Sage Hen Summit, after a long climb. |
Now, a steep downhill to the long rollers heading gradually towards Benton Hot Springs. That's our first look at the White Mountains and White Mtn itself in the distance. The cyclo-thermometer has now climbed to 80F |
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Long miles now in warm temps, with rollers north of Benton Hot Springs |
Heading south, into the wind, nearing the turn off Hwy 120 before Benton Hot Springs. |
3rd Food stop was lunch. I had 2 turkey sandwiches and lots of pretzels |
Below are some shots from the official photographers, ending with the finish line...
Nice shot before the ascent to Sage Hen Summit, with the Sierra in the background |
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...Back to my own Canon PowerShot pix...
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Why am I still fighting the wind (note the stiff desert grasses are feeling it big time!) going NORTH, now, when I was fighting up wind going south too? |
At last, the finish line in sight. I was spent.... SPENT! Other riders who'd done this before said the winds were the worst they'd seen. Because of the extra tough conditions, they extended the deadline another half hour. A good thing - I needed it |
Lots of great food at the finish |
Enjoying the post-race meal in The Village, sharing with my compadres |
Afterwards, I headed back to my campspot on Parker Creek, in time to see a beautiful alpenglow on clouds |
Two down, one to go! Now, to get some rest and ponder my crack o' dawn wake alarm for getting down to Lee Vining and doing the half marathon straight up the Sierra to 10,000 ft Tioga Pass. I just prayed my legs didn't go into Charlie Horse Hell. I warded that off by drinking lots and lots, which is the best avoidance of leg cramps. It worked. No leg cramps.... even if I did have to get up every other hour to pee in the bushes.
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Pal'ing with someone I'd met on an earlier Tioga Run - and who was at Stanford University back in the late '70's like I was. We shared some stories.
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The race starts outside the Mono Lake Committee museum in Lee Vining |
My legs were a little rubbery after the 102 mile Gran Fondo. My goal was to make to Tioga Pass under the deadline. No other heroics in mind. A slow jog and a few power-walks at tough spots |
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Tioga Road parallels Lee Vining Canyon for much of the 12.5 miles |
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The elevation markers were nice goals to have. 7,000, then 8,000, then 9,000, then the summit at 9,988 ft |
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The finisher's chute! Right at the entrance to Yosemite National Park and the ranger's hut. |
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Finishers earned a hand-made "G-Man" metal medal |
Thank you, Alana! For another great race adventure in some of the most beautiful country on Earth! |
