Sunday, October 20, 2019

Condor 25K

The Start

I think we are starting out slower than UTMB...seriously, people go out like crazy.  Nice to be back on my home trails with the usual crowd around.

Mile 1

This is fun just cruising along...but there's 4 guys in front of me...who are actually pulling away.  I guess I'd better get rolling...these things are so short there's no time to ease into it.

Mile 3

Up to second, I didn't have to work too hard to catch up to there, but where's the guy in first?  Maybe I'll catch sight of him on one of the straightaways with a longer sightline.  Hopefully I can make up some time going up Peavy Peak.
Just a few miles in

One step further
Mile 5

Ugh, that climb was tough.  I think I lost some ground.  I just don't have any uphill legs today.  That's okay, maybe I can catch up on the downhills.

Mile 6

"10 seconds back!"  Yeah...I wish.  I know its at least 20 or 30 because I can see that far ahead.  Still, that's encouraging because it could be a minute or more and I'd be none the wiser.  Dave's trail is a little easier grade, maybe I'll feel better on this climb.

Mile 7

51 seconds, I took that split so its spot on.  Hopefully I can make up some time by the time I can get another split.  Maybe on the switchbacks up ahead.  I should be able to see him up there.

Mile 7.5

There's Dad, why's he stopped, does he want to give me a split?  He's smart enough to know a split isn't worth squat if he's still running.  Seems silly to stop.

"Just keep going, it's okay, just keep going."  Who's down...that's...Eb!  That's not good.  That's not good at all.  Dad said its okay, keep going.  Still, laying down on the trail...but there was already a few people there, not much more I could add.

Mile 8

"Eb's down! Eb's down...about a half mile back on Dave's!"  Gaby's already on her phone, maybe she already heard.  Regardless, she's the RD so I'm sure she's got contact with CMRU (Corvallis Mountain Rescue Unit).  If no one is coming up from the saddle by the time I get there, I'll tell them they need to get up there.  Not sure what's up with Eb but I don't think it was good.

Mile 9

A motorcycle.  That's got to be CMRU...that's good.  They should be able to sort things out.  Oh, there's a car too, good.

Mile 10

Gotta keep pushing, this is the last real climb on the course, just a short climb up Vineyard.  I can't get rolling.  It's a pretty easy grade, but my legs just won't go.  Hang in there, maybe on the downhills.

Mile 12

Eb's still there, but there's a group there too.  Looks like some guys from CMRU.  Dad's still there too.  Not sure what happened.  Keep rolling, keep pushing hard.  There's no time to let off the gas, just give it all I got.

Mile 13

No sign of him.  I'm flying down Dave's so I'm sure I'm making up some time, but maybe he's just too far out.  If I could just catch sight of him.  Some idea how much time I need to make up.

Mile 14

Ugh, this last little pitch up Powderhouse felt so much better last year.  I feel like I'm crawling.  Maybe that last downhill, but I'm sure I'm losing ground here.  Go hard, there's nothing to save it for.

Finish

Phew....."any news on Eb?"  It feel good to stop, but I hope Eb's doing okay.  I wonder what happened.  1:50, a minute faster than last year....2nd place...I'm happy with that.


Hanging out at the finish
Eb:

So, what did happen to Eb and who is he?

Well, Eb is local legend.  He's 77 years old and still running trail races.  This spring Eb ran the Mac 50K at age 77.  If that's not impressive enough, Eb's 2019 finish meant that Eb has finished 21 Macs!  He also holds the 70+ course record at the Mac in 6:43.  Eb's done a few other ultras as well.  He's done 220 ultras and has 92 marathon finishes as well.  And most importantly, Eb's a great person.  Eb is a very positive presence out on the trails and is very supportive of other runners.  He truly embodies the spirit of trail running.

At the Condor, Eb suffered a heart attack out on the trail.  He was taken to the Corvallis hospital and kept there for a few days.  He is now making a speedy recovery.  Thank goodness!