Kodiak 50 Miler – Race Report (My First 50 Miler Finish)
On Saturday, August 17, 2019 I completed my first 50 miler race, Kodiak Ultra Marathons, in Big Bear Lake, California. Total race course distance 51.3 miles with elevation gain of 9,900 ft. and elevation loss of 10,100 ft. Race cut-off 16 hours. I finished in 15 hours 22 minutes and 46 seconds.
Source: Kodiak100.com
Since race started at 4am, I decided to car camp at Heart Bar Campground which was ~35 minutes away from the start line. I woke up at 1 am on race day. For breakfast I had a vegan vanilla bean protein shake with organic pure moringa vegetable powder (green superfood). My crew and I drove to the starting line.
This was my 4th ultra race and one thing I learned from the last 3 races is to start slow. First two races I had horrible race experience due to muscle fatigue (cramps) early on. So this time around I made sure I was all the way in the back. I power hiked the first 2.5 miles. At the first descent I started to run. I kept a good conservative pace. Once we got to the single track it was hard to pass people so I just followed the person in front of me. We were all going at a good steady pace. A little crowded but I think it was a good thing because it slowed me down.
At 5:30am I got to the first aid station, Cushenbury (mile 6.4). This was my chance to pass the crowds so I didn’t stop. I kept going and planned to refill on water at the next aid station, which was 4 miles away. The sun started to come out and boy was it breathtaking. All I could think was gratitude for that very moment. I was running on the Pacific Crest Trail with a beautiful view. It couldn’t get any better than this. “This is why I run”, with a smile on my face I said to myself.
A Section on Deadman’s Ridge
I got to Burns Canyon aid station (mile ~10.4) at 6:14am. I got water and kept going. At this point I noticed my right ankle was bothering me. It wasn’t pain just discomfort. I remembered the weekend before rolling my ankle on a training run, but didn’t think much of it. I pushed through the discomfort. Approaching our second steep climb of the day, Dead’s Man Ridge. I just kept telling myself to keep moving and reminded myself that it was less than a mile and it was all downhill from there. I used the climb as an opportunity to put more calories in me, which was applesauce and chia squeeze (see below for details on what I ate). I got to the top and tried to run but my ankle was really bothering me. I kept debating if I should stop and put my ankle brace or wait until I got to sugarloaf aid station. I kept going and I was able to pick up momentum on the downhills. When I was running I would forget about my ankle. I started running down and I started to feel my hamstrings getting tight. I had to stop a few times to stretch them out. Thankfully there was no pain.
I arrived at sugarloaf aid station one (mile ~17.8) at 8:15am. This was the first time I got to see my crew since the starting line. I was happy to see them. They helped me get ready for the next 15 mile section. I sat down on a chair. I ate (see fuel section below) and put on my ankle brace. I felt really good and calm. I knew what was ahead and was looking forward to it.
I was there for ~15 minutes. I walked the next three miles. I knew I had to be smart and just keep going. I kept telling myself, “every step I take, I get stronger and faster.” Two miles away from the summit is where I started to pick up my pace. Ankle wasn’t bothering me anymore.
On my climb to Sugarloaf mountain runners started to pass me. There were also runners running in the opposite direction. We were all cheering each other on. I got to the top and I knew this was going to be my chance to make-up some time. I started running down. As I ran down, I just kept telling myself, “every step I take, I get faster and stronger”. I really did feel like I was getting faster and stronger. I started passing runners. I really enjoyed the wide road. I was running with a smile on my face although my hamstrings were feeling tight again.
As I was running down, a runner caught up to me. We started talking and this was when I realized how awesome it is to connect with other runners on the trail. I enjoyed our conversation. As we approached the final mile to get to sugarloaf aid station, he took off and I just followed.
At sugarloaf aid station two. Andres (left) is filming and Dani (right) is rolling my hamstrings.
On top of sugarloaf mountain.
I arrived to sugarloaf aid station two (mile ~32) at 1:01pm. I was an hour ahead of cut-off so I was happy that I wasn’t chasing cut-offs because that was my biggest fear.
My crew was waiting for me. They made sure I ate a lot. I was starting to feel early stages of a blister on my feet. Dani cleaned my feet, put a blister bandage on each foot, got new socks and my feet felt brand new! Jimena took care of my pack. Emptying my trash and ensuring I had enough food and liquids for the next section.
Andres was filming everything (video will be out soon).
At this point my hamstrings were really tight. Dani rolled them, which made them feel better. I stayed here until 1:30pm. I wasn’t going to see my crew until the finish line. They took great care of me!
Alright, 19 miles left. I haven’t had any low moments. So I knew to still run conservative. I intentionally didn’t carry my trekking pole until these last miles. I didn’t want my arms to get tired. I knew if my legs were done, my upper body was going to help me push through the last two big climbs. I casually made my way to Skyfern aid station (mile ~38.4). On my way I met a few other runners. I had a few conversations but eventually realized I had to keep running because although I had time, I didn’t know what was ahead. I ran all the downhills. I got to Skyfern at 3:12pm.
I was definitely starting to feel the heat. A volunteer at the the aid station gave me a “sponge bath”. That felt amazing! Very grateful for the volunteers, our trail angels! I left the aid station. Started power hiking the climb with two other runners. They truly made that climb go fast. We talked about David Goggins and Courtney Dauwalter. We were pretty much trying to be inspired to get through this climb. It helped!
Once we got to the top. I told them I was going to run down. At this point we are at mile 40 something. I’m feeling amazing! As I ran dow 2N06 Radford Road my eyes and mouth opened up. Wooooooow!!!!! I had to stop and record the view. It was my first time here and the views were incredible! So much joy and gratitude came rushing through my body. Not sure if it was the energy of the view or my gratitude, but I started flying down the road. As I got closer to the bottom I felt my left hamstring wanting to cramp up so I listened to my body and slowed down. I ate a few pickles, took an extra salt pill, and focused on my breathing. The cramping feeling went away. I got to the aid station right before the climb on Seven Oaks Trail feeling a little dehydrated. I filled my pack with water and the volunteers gave me an Ice Popsicle (Best thing ever!). I stretched my hamstrings and decided to just take the climb one step at a time.
View from 2N06 Radford Road.
As I started climbing my right foot was hurting because of the ankle brace so I took it off. Thankfully my ankle wasn’t hurting anymore. The climb reminded me of the first section when climbing San Gorgonio. It was steep, but I just kept saying how grateful I was for the trees that were providing shade. Every time I stopped to catch my breath, I would turn around and just enjoy the view. It was beautiful!
Half way up, I ran into one of the guys I was talking to earlier. We started climbing together. I’m not going to lie, this climb did feel forever, but I think all the climbing from my training runs helped me mentally push through this one. I just kept saying, “every step I take, I get faster and stronger.”
1/2 a mile away from the top, I could hear the volunteers cheering. That gave me a spark to push. The trail started to level out. Oh man! with a big smile on my face I knew this was it! I made it to the last aid station. I got to Grandview (mile ~46.7) at 6:20pm.
I said, “It’s all down hill from here, right?”. The volunteers broke my heart when they said kind of but not really. I put my trekking poles away. I knew I wasn’t going to make it before 7pm, but I wanted to challenge myself. ~4.6 miles left and mostly downhill. I told myself I was going to finish strong. I just started running. I kept telling myself, “every step I take I get stronger and faster.” I was yo-yoing with a few runners. I felt like we were helping each other push ourselves. I felt like I was flying. The descent felt forever but I just kept going. I felt great and was happy to be running. I was having fun doing what I love.
I got to the road and was not expecting a short hill, but I heard someone say the finish line was just around the corner. The second I heard the people at the finish line, something clicked inside of me. With a smile on my face I ran as fast as I could to the finish line. I crossed the finish line at 7:22:46PM. I was a happy runner.
What did I learn from this experience?
Run your own race and train hard so that you can enjoy race day! Oh! One more thing.. having a positive mindset and saying positive affirmations really does help! ;)
Below are notes on my fuel, gear, and training
What did I eat? (all is plant-based friendly)
Overall I made sure I was consuming 200-300 calories every hour from the very beginning.
My fuel list:
GuGels - Kiwi Starberry (every 30-45 minutes)
GoGo Squeez Applesauce (1 every climb)
Mamma Chia Squeeze - Blackberry Bliss (1 every climb and when I was about to have a big descend)
Pickles – I started eating on every mile after 9am or whenever I felt my legs wanting to cramp
Vitamin Water – I carried 16 oz. from the start and refilled at both sugarloaf aid stations
Pedialyte – I carried 12 oz. after both sugarloaf aid stations
Electrolyte water
Saltstick caps – 1 every hour after 6am
In addition to the above, I had the below at the aid stations.
Sugarloaf Aid Station 1: watermelon, tortilla w/ peanut butter, pickle juice, banana, vitamin water
Sugarloaf Aid Station 2: ramen soup, pickle juice, vitamin water, watermelon
Skyfern Aid Station: Watermelon
Grandview Aid Station: Watermelon & ice popsicle
Training: (side note: my training started with the focus on completing the Baldy Marathons 50K in May. The reason why I focused a lot on elevation gain after May was to continue to train for the Baldy Marathons 50K in September. I really think the elevation gain and time on my feet helped me be physically ready for Kodiak).
December: 27 hours; 76 miles; 17,661 ft. gain; 14 runs
January: 15 hours; 41 miles; 4,393 ft. gain; 4 runs
February: 5 hours; 20 miles; 3,330 ft. gain; 2 runs
March: 9 hours; 26 miles; 3,219 ft. gain; 4 runs
April: 24 hours; 58 miles; 4,731 ft. gain; 7 runs
May: 21 hours; 33 miles; 14,058 ft. gain; 4 runs
June: 43 hours; 115 miles; 31,785 ft. gain; 10 runs
July: 63 hours; 171 miles; 40,631 ft. gain; 16 runs
August: 23 hours; 50 miles; 16,385 ft. gain; 6 runs
Training runs detail can be found on my Strava (Click Here).
**I did three solo training runs at Big Bear Lake, which included summiting Sugarloaf Mountain twice on one run. The trail is technical, practicing running down that mountain helped a lot. Most of my runs were 1-2 long runs during the weekend. I really think what helped me was time on my feet and practicing not being scare of running the downhills on technical terrain. My longest/toughest run was 13 days before race day. I did 31 miles with close to 13K of gain. I was on my feet for 17 hours. During these months I also did strength training at least 3 times a week and yoga.**
My Gear:
Watch - Garmin Fenix 5
Shoes – Hoka One One Speedgoats 3
Socks – Injinji Run Lightweight - No show socks
Pack – Ultimate Direction Adventure Vesta
Top – White long sleeve shirt
Bottom – Nike running shorts
Overall Thoughts:
I recommend this race for someone looking for a challenging, technical, runnable, scenic 50 miler at a high elevation. I personally would like to do it again, if scheduling permits, but I think next time I go back, I would like to do the 100 miler. It’s a beautiful course and well organized. The links and instructions from the organizers was excellent. Very easy to follow and straight forward. Big Bear is awesome! I came here a few times for some solo training runs. If you want to come to Big Bear Lake just to train, I recommend staying at Big Bear Hostel. It can be cheaper or the same price as a campsite and you have showers. I had a great first hostel experience there.
THANK YOU!
Jimena, Me, Andres, & Dani (from left to right).
Thank you for reading my report on this race. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at elementsofdaisy@gmail.com. If you are considering running this race, I don’t think you will regret it. It is a beautiful course! Just be ready to run on some technical rocky terrain and above 7K elevation high.
I want to thank the race director, staff, and all the volunteers who made this race possible. It really does take team work to make the dream work. The course was well marked and everyone was great cheering us on! I had such a positive experience, I can’t wait to be back. I think I left a part of my heart in Big Bear Lake. :)
Finally, I want to thank my crew Jimena, Dani, and Andres for being out there with me. They made my experience much more meaningful. They helped me have a great race. Thank you guys for waking up super early and keeping everything together while I was running. Thank you for taking great care of me. It really meant a lot you guys being there! I appreciate your friendship and support.
Thank you! <3
- @ElementsofDaisy