Blue Canyon Ultra

 On Saturday, June 6^th, I had the pleasure of joining more than 50 runners from all over California at Rancho Oso in Santa Barbara’s backcountry for the inaugural Blue Canyon Ultra.  100k runners had already taken off at 5 AM, leaving the 10 or so 50-milers and 40 + 50K runners rearing to go.  The race started promptly at 7:00 AM, and an easy conversation pace pushed me, George Williams, and Gary Wang off through the meandering horse camp.  The first aid station came quickly, leading to some of the most beautiful, undulating, and very tight single track I have run in some time.  I’ve never seen such rich shades of poison oak.  At this time George had already sprinted off to catch Guillermo Medina, and I settled in for what would become a long day indeed.

The quick summary has me bombing down a 6-mile hill to the 50k turn around, only to find out that I have another 3 miles to the Gibralter Mine Aid Station.  The math just didn’t add up, but I proceeded.  Seeing the front runners Guillermo and George coming back about 15 minutes in front of me helped boost my confidence.  Upon returning to the previous aid station, I found out that many of had run too far, and the turn around was at mile 15 where I most of us had thought it was.  All in all, probably 10 runners, took the “long cut”.   I was out of my mental game, and about to drop, were it not for a local runner called Dean who talked me into continuing.  We  walked and talked for a good 45 minutes back up the hill.  Feeling rejuvenated and with spirits lifted, I ran the last few miles up and then bombed down the single track. 

At this point, I realized that I would be gone more than 7 hours-the absolute maximum time allotted me by my wife.  My solution was to short cut the end, and skip a final 3 up and down on Arroyo Burro trail.  I finished unofficially in 3^rd place in 7 hours, with Guillermo and George already safe inside (race results).  I immediately told them to put many *** next to my name as I didn’t really complete the course, even though I ran longer than the official distance..

5 minutes later I was driving down Paradise Road and my wife and family were happy I was coming home.