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Chuckanut Mountain Trail 50K 1999 Report: Dennis Halpin

This was my 11th ultra completed...but my first mountain ultra!  And wow,
what a race it was!  But to start at the beginning, this was the
Chuckanut 50K, held in Bellingham, Washington on March 27.  Now, how, you
might ask, did I end up doing a 50K in Washington State?

Well, my original plans were to do the Lone Star Relay this past weekend.
 When that race folded, knowing about this race, I signed up.  I arrived
in Seattle last Thursday, and my host, Cheri Gillis, picked me up at the
airport and got a wonderful tour of Seattle, a tour which included seeing
the IMAX film, "Everest".  That was part of psyching me for this race.
:-)  Little did I know how prophetic it would be.

Friday night, NOW dead Nancy Hautala joined Cheri, Cheri's family (Pete,
Cheri's husband, returned from a business trip to London on Friday too),
and me for our "carbo load dinner" and then it was up bright and early
Saturday morning for the drive to Bellingham.  Lynne Werner joined us and
the three of us made the drive getting there in time to meet Dennis
Williams, Ron Nichols and to get our packets.  It was a beautiful day for
a race, temperature around 40 and some sun!  Rare for that area.  :-)

Off we went.  Up the mountain.  Being a flatlander, I basically took my
cues from the runners around me, walking when they walked (my legs
generally concured with that
decision) and running when they ran.  I got to my first drop bag (aid
station number 2) around 1:44 (about 10 miles) and then to aid station 3
(at the "rim" around the summit) in 2:24 (about 13.5 miles into the
race).  That was where the tough part began.  BTW, yall should know that
this ultra involved a 2,000 foot climb.  The loop on top of the mountain
had beautiful views of the surrouding area.  Many times I would come to a
complete stop and just look around.  Towards the end of the 8 mile loop
on top of Mt Chuckanut, the scenes from "Everest" took on special
meaning.  The last climb was a killer.  I had run out of water, and was
very cold.  Not only was I walking this climb, but I had to frequently
take rest stops.  The worst part was that in spite of wearing gators, a
small rock had gotten into my right shoe (during one of the muddy spots,
you know, the kind of mud that almost sucks your shoe off) and every time
I would stop to try and take my shoe off, my leg would cramp and I would
have to jump back up.  I lived with that rock all the way to the finish
line.  Oh, one other BTW, my trail shoes, Nike Air Terra Humara, worked
out real well and provided excellent traction.  I kept climbing and going
up the trail because I knew if I just dropped I would have been left
there, so I kept trudging along.

I made it to the aid station at the start of the descent from the rim
(same aid station at the start of the rim loop) and learned I had 10
miles to go.  Filled up my water bottle with cytomax (I think that is
what they put in it), ate a bit, drank some coke, some water, and trudged
off down the road.  I was definitely dehydrated and was also suffering
from hypothermia.  Couldn't run, could only walk.  It was 4 miles to the
next aid station.  A runner passed me and asked how I was doing and I
said not good.  As I approached where we go from the road to the trail a
car backs up to me and asked if I was the runner in trouble and did I
want a ride.  I tell him, yes, I am the runner in trouble, but I am
pressing on, and I reject his kind offer.  I am sipping liquid and little
by little I am feeling better.  I continue down the trail.  Another
runner, number 54, I don't know his name, passed me and asked how I was
doing and I told him what I told the other runner.  He stopped and
offered me the shirt off his back (literally!) to help warm me, which I
turn down, but I do accept his gloves (which I put on over the
polypropaline gloves I have one) and his hat (I mistakenly had left my
ski cap at the first drop bag - at that point I was sweating like crazy).
 He takes off, and I continue walking, but it isn't long before I am able
to start running again.  My legs are coming back and I am not freezing
any more either!  I estimate I run the remaining 2 miles to the next (and
last) aid station.

I reach the last aid station, at a GOOD RUN, and find word of my
condition has proceeded me.  They have for me something worth its weight
in gold for me...a cup of hot tea!!!  With my body warmed by tea and my
water bottle once again filled I take off at a good run to cover the
remaining 6 miles.  I finish in a time of 6:34:38, not a PW!!!, and good
enough to be 57 (unofficial) results out of 100 starters and 83
finishers.  The first thing I did was to go to the cabin to get some hot
chocolate, a hot cup of noodle soup, and to look for number 54 to return
his cap and gloves and to thank him, which I do.  If any of you on the
list know his name, please let me know!

Lynne Werner came in a few minutes behind me, and Cheri Gillis a few
minutes after that.  After Cheri manages to herd us together (like
herding cats), the three of us drove to Dennis Williams' house to shower
and get dressed.  Thank you so much, Dennis, for letting us use your
shower!  Then it was back to the race to get our drop bags and then to
dinner with Ron Adams, Dennis Williams, Lynne Werner, Cheri Gillis, and
myself (what was the name of that restaurant, guys?).

Sunday was predictable...me walking like a cripple, but I don't care, I
finished the race!!!  They tease me as I do my "Walter Brennan"
imitation, and Cheri tells everyone I walk that way normally.  :-)
Thanks, Cheri.  :-)

Monday, Cheri and I climbed Tiger Mountain (West Tiger Trail 3), a 2000
foot climb (2.7 miles to the top) that had tremendous views from the top.
 It was very windy and
snowing and I even got to throw a snowball (hey, don't laugh guys, it has
been 20 years since I have had the opportunity to throw a snowball!!!).
Cheri also showed me a memorial to a local mountain climber on the top of
Tiger 3.  There were numerous coins around the plaque and I left a
Norwegian coin on the plaque that I had in my pocket.  I am sure the
email penpal who gave it to me won't mind me leaving it there.

Then it was back down the mountain, a descent that was a lot faster than
the climb!  Once again, the trail shoes and gators came in handy.  After
a visit to the Nike outlet store and lunch, it was back home.

All in all, a wonderful weekend!  Cheri, thank you and your family so
much for having me.

Next stop, Big Sur on April 25!!!!!

Hogs Hunt Trail Run - Apr 10 ?
Big Sur Marathon - Apr 25
Beach To Bay Marathon Relay - May 15 ?

Dennis "the menace" Halpin - aka Podzilla
runtexas@juno.com
Houston, Texas