NEVER SUMMER ALL SUMMER

Ever since Black Canyon 100k I had Never Summer on my mind. This build up was quite different because I had over 20 weeks until race day and knew there were plenty of things to improve on. I had about an 8 week build up to the Rattler Trail Race 50K. This was all focused on speed. I knew I needed to become faster to be competitive with those I was running with.

This was the start of the build, and Never Summer was on the back burner in my mind. Rattler Trail Race was something I planned on training through so I could run on tired legs to see what I had.

The week after Rattler Trail Race, I took one day off and decided to go full force into training hitting my highest week of elevation ever (15,000 ft). My training was all based on my own knowledge, which was very little considering I had never run a true mountain race and never was something I looked into before. I took notes on others training for Never Summer, mainly Jon Rea’s 2020 Strava where he set a course record on a shortened course. The weekly training goals I came up with were 70-90 miles a week with a higher focus of 15,000 vert. Some other themes of my training were; with school and other time commitments I would likely have one (in my standards) huge day to help hit the vertical gain and wanted with less back to backs, I also wanted to do big routes to compare myself to others to give myself goals, and lastly I wanted to climb/ not have my quads give out 20 miles into a race. 

So here we go… My first big day/goal was the Skyline Traverse north to south, with the goal of sub 3:30 and hitting 3:25 my first time and nailing the nutrition at ~ 95 grams of carbs an hour. After a few more weeks of training and time on Mt Morrison I headed back to south Boulder to do a route I drew consisting of ~ 28 miles with 6,600 ft of vert taking 5.5 hours. I had no time goal, but a goal to fuel at 100 g/hour. Learning 5 hours in, I could not take down anything else. Moving to the month of June with grad school in full force, getting vert didn't come as easy. This meant 15% treadmill miles in between classes, Tennyson hill on repeat, and making Lookout Mountain my home. The next big goal came back to the Skyline Traverse but this time going back-to-back setting a goal that probably would not be met, the FKT of 7:15, meaning I would have to run nearly my fastest time one way back-to-back. This consisted of 35 miles and almost 12,000 ft of gain. This goal was not quite met coming in 30 min later at 7:43. I was proud, but also knew that there were gains to be made. 

The last big thing on the list before Never Summer was a 3 day “training camp” with some recon on the course.

• Day One was 41.64 miles and 8,735 ft about 8 hours on the Never Summer course, mainly the 60k. 

• Day Two was Chim-pex 2x consisting of 22.66 miles, 5,000 ft, and 4 hours. 

• Day three was time on North Table of 16.15 miles, 2,450 ft and 2.5 hours, 

3-day total of 80.46 miles, 16,183 ft, and 14 hours 39 minutes. Never Summer ready!!!!!!

RACE WEEKEND

The night before

Driving up to camp the night before and the previous 2 weeks there was a weird vibe compared to other races I have done, not nervous and not excited, just content. Maybe it was burn out, maybe I knew that the work was done and all I needed to do was race, or maybe now I realized how much of a niche sport this is. Either way it was comforting but worrisome.

4:30am Wake up

Getting my gear together, something I put a lot of emphasis on in my training, deciding on the right pack, right shoes, and something that I might regret no poles.

5:30 am Start to Diamond Aid (Mile 0 – 19.4)

Coming to the starting corral I saw a newly familiar face of Alex Procter. I found him a few rows deep, and we were off sharing the first few miles together. Probably one of the best parts of my race, sharing the stoke we both have for the sport. After a few miles, I decided to push ahead and find my place in the race. Coming into Michigan Ditch I had a split goal/estimation of 2:05. Coming in at 2:06 surprised me because of how much I let the race develop before I started to find my groove. From this point on I had the motto of “hunt on the climbs”. I knew I did a lot of climbing in training and was hesitant on down hills since my quads blew up at Black Canyon. Coming into American lakes there was a short lollipop and seeing runners coming back I timed myself how long it would take to get to where they were. At this point in the race I was coming down from American Lakes into Diamond for the first crewed aid station, consisting of my girlfriend, dad, and sister. This was an aid I wanted to take quickly but smoothly, because 19 miles in I would be grabbing what I expected. Rolling in at 3 hours and 27 minutes, a time I had in my head to hit as a split goal/estimation. Right on the money. When talking to my crew they mentioned that I was like 10th which to me was shocking, I thought I was like in 20th. I had no clue because of a conservative start and little sense of urgency on the downhills. 

Diamond Aid to Ruby Jewel (Mile 19.4-31.5)

Coming out of Diamond there was a big climb to the high point of the course, Diamond Peak (11,852 ft). It was quiet and lonely coming out of aid to where the climb started. After a few minutes of climbing, I broke tree line and BOOM. I looked up and there were 3-4 people making the climb, less than 6 minutes ahead. On the climb up I went quick, not stopping but not pushing too hard. I passed one person who was not doing well before hitting the top. From the peak we ran the ridge line for a few miles with a few more small climbs passing one another before Montgomery Aid. At Montgomery Aid I came in 30 seconds behind one guy in a red pack. I refilled my bottles quickly and left only 10-20 seconds behind him. It was downhill the next few miles, and I didn't quite feel this was a spot I wanted to push yet. So, I let the other guy go and within a quarter of a mile he was out of my sight. Once again, I was alone until a ½ mile before Ruby Jewel where I caught up with the guy in the red pack. He was walking the little hills not looking to be having the best time. I wanted to share a few miles so I stayed behind him for a sec... It didn't last long. I knew at this point my pace should be faster, so I passed wishing him the best. Just as I did, we made it out of the brush and jogged into Ruby Jewel, the next crewed aid station.

Ruby Jewel to Canadian (Mile 31.5-51.2)

As I made my way into Ruby Jewel there was one other person running out the other side using pink poles. There was also another guy in front of me with a red pack. All in all, there was me and 2 others in the aid. The plan for this station was to take it slower and more controlled. I came in four minutes over my goal time of 6 hour 5 minutes but now it wasn't about time it was more about racing. I met my crew and swapped nutrition which was still going extremely well. Added some goldfish I planned on using as a palate cleanser between gels (which I never used) and Doubled the SKRATCH hydration. Before entering the aid, I did have a short time to chat with a fellow racer and was able to get some information that it was going to get hot and exposed. With this, I told my crew to load my arm sleeves and back of my pack with ice. Once the ice was in, I was out, exchanging a few words with my crew on the way. Looking back at Ruby Jewel Aid I had tunnel vision. I knew that the other racers were receiving aid to my left but after I left the aid station I didn't know if they left before me or were still in aid.

This is where my switch flipped, the long slow climb out of the aid station is where I stepped on the gas. I pushed on the uphill and after a few minutes I caught a glimpse of the guy with the pink poles. I caught up to him, he mentioned that he was hot, I asked a few questions, and he mentioned what place we were in and that he got 6th last year. This was also the point where I felt nutrition go downhill. We shared a few minutes together but as we reached the top of the climb and started downhill, I let him go ahead again and I focused on nutrition. I managed to get some down, but this is where I hit my low point. A few miles from Clear Lake.

I slowly jogged the downs and walked the flats until I arrived to Clear Lake 1 Aid. This was an uncrewable aid station so I just had my drop bag with nutrition. I grabbed a few things and went on my way up. It was about a 4.3 mile out and back. I walked every step up not seeing anyone till I saw 2nd and 3rd place on their way back. I was shocked they were not as far in front as I thought, but still far enough. A bit after that I saw the guy with the pink poles, he was 6 min ahead of me. I was still walking on the out portion but once I turned around, I was ready. My whole mindset switched once I saw other runners, I was now doing the hunting. Running back down and seeing lots of other runners coming up, I made it to Clear Lake Aid 2 with the pink poles runner right in front of me. I was in a much better position than he was after exchanging a few words. So I flew down the soft sandy downhill by myself. The next few miles I ran confidently at a good clip down to Canadian.

Canadian to Finish

I arrived at Canadian Aid and with a plan. I was going to take little nutrition because I hardly ate anything but was going to fill up all bottles. I talked to my crew and told them that I thought I made up a big chunk of time on the people behind me but as I headed out of aid a minute behind me there was someone hot on my heels. This 6-mile section to the last aid station I pushed without walking a single step. I came into the last aid station and made it a quick one. I refilled bottles, threw out everything I didn’t need from my pack, and used sponges to soak me in water. From here it was 8.4 miles to the finish with one climb. I ran this section in training, so I knew what was ahead. The climb came and I slowed but once I got to the top my legs were feeling well enough to give it on the downhill and flats. The last 2 miles a storm rolled in but I powered through to the finish.

4th place in 13:33

Takeaways if ran again:

1. I would have like to increase my pace a bit more in the beginning

2. Remember no one has a good section from Clear Lake 1 to Clear Lake 2

3. Don’t hold back on the down hills, let them flow

Reflection From Training and Racing

I am finishing writing this 3 weeks past race day and I have a few thoughts. My training is something that I am extremely proud of. I was able to balance a busy summer semester of grad school and spend time with those close to me, while putting up numbers in training I planned and was proud of. I am also self-coached, and this is something that I really enjoy. It allows me to learn from my mistakes from previous training blocks. It also allows me to adjust things easier on race day based on learning experiences in training and not relying on a coach to tell me the adjustments. 

On the other side I felt I was lacking leg speed and most likely resulted from me not keeping the high-end speed in the last month and going all in on climbing and long endurance.

Lastly, I think I found my jam, Mountain Races. In training I came to love the long slow mountain climbs, and I think I have a high potential for them considering this was my first one. I fell in love with the training and progression and became less obsessed with race day.

Overall, when asked what time I wanted to run on race day I responded, “13 hours” confidently but nervously for the first time voicing my goal that others would probably say is impossible for me. This would put me in contention for the podium, one of the goals of the day. I ultimately placed 4th just shy of the podium in 13:33, 10 minutes slower than I estimated, but behind 3 runners I really have no business competing with. I am proud of this but never felt excited about it. I think that I did what I expected of myself, something I often do but I never give myself enough confidence to go and achieve my highest potential, something I want to give myself the chance to do in future races. 

THE PLAN