Why I run LOCO – and you should too

I believe that Butte Creek Canyon in the Spring is the most beautiful place on earth. As much as I am looking forward to this event, my training is not what it should be. A couple days before the race I begin to feel stressed and anxious about it.

On Saturday morning I load up the tent trailer and head north. Feeling distracted I miss the turn from the 99 toward the I-5 interchange and head toward Reno… Turn around get on the right freeway. I head north again on the 5. This time I miss the turn toward Chico and drive to the Sacramento Airport before I can turn around and get back on the right road. Seriously! It’s not my first time! “Siri, navigate me to Chico, but first, find a Starbucks.”

After coffee in Yuba City and a couple hours of driving, I decompress and arrive at race camp and get my bib. The folks at Intrepid Adventures/ Loco Racing have arranged to camp in the lot of the Pitt’s Stop Cafe in Forest Ranch. We set up a campfire and they provide smore kits. The food at Pitt’s Stop is good and the beer is cold. The Bacon Bleu Cheese Burger, fries, and berry cobbler might not be a good idea at 9 pm before race day, but it is delicious.

I set up my tent trailer a block away in the RD’s front yard (thanks Karey) and it’s warm enough that I don’t need the heater. (The warm weather first became a concern on the drive up when my AC in my truck quit on me, but that’s another story.)

Race Day –  I wake to the sound of the RD and volunteers leaving the house to get set up. I get up and get ready to head to the cafe to catch a ride to the “secret” location of the start line. As luck would have it, a volunteer is leaving the RD’s house as I was ready so I got an easy ride to the start line without having to wait for the shuttle.

It’s a little cooler than I expected, but there is a heater and a tent and people gathered around to keep warm. The wait passes quickly and we are soon on our way. % registered for the first running of the Forest Ranch 4-50k and only 3 toed the line. Being the only one in my age group, I’ve assured an AG win by finishing and I have absolutely no pressure as I start on my way.
The race begins with a gentle downward slope and we run with the half marathoners, the 15 K runners, and the 4-mile runners with their dogs. I love running with dogs and usually run with mine, so this is fine with me. The down quickly turns up and most of the first 9 miles are fairly consistent climbing. My strategy of banking time has not worked well the last couple of races, so I decide this time I will bank energy by walking on the early climbs and hoping to have more left for the descent back to the finish.

I’m happy with the pace as I am keeping a sub 18-minute mile pace while still walking a good part of the time. On a couple of occasions, I am able to pass people who are running as I walk past them (I’ve been there and it sucks).

The up just goes on forever! There are plenty that are runnable, but I walk more than I normally would to save energy for later. As I approach Butte Meadows, the views are tremendous! The creek is gurgling on one side and the rocks and trees surround me and bring a peace to my soul that I can only find in the mountains. There is a little snow on the trail, but I manage to avoid it and it doesn’t feel cold.

At mile 11, I cross the road and I am met with the spectacular view of the upper canyon and Mt Lassen in the distance. I just stop for a moment and take it in. From there the logging/fire road turns into a less maintained wide trail and it is slightly downward so I pick up the pace a bit. I turn off the music (and speed up) when I come across the very fresh looking pile of bear excrement in the middle of the trail so I can hear any rustling in the woods. I am comfortably ahead of the sweeper, but she catches me at the Bambi Inn aid station. She hangs out there a while and I pick up the pace again down the road and back onto the return trail.

The course returns partially on the same trail with some nice turns out into the canyon. Aid stations are strategically placed and well stocked and I’m still feeling good at mile 20, but a little disappointed with my average pace. I pick it up a little and still feel strong. I’m about 2 hours behind the leaders now and just enjoying a nice, supported solo run in the woods.

Since I’m already “on my way back” and still 10 miles out, I’m wondering how Karey has ensured the full mileage on this run. I am quickly answered by two side loops that provide a change of scenery, as well as a change of pace.

The first is a soft, pine-covered trail with a steep, but runnable downgrade that takes me closer to the bottom of the canyon and then climbs back out. The second is a loop that diverges from the trail completely to weave through the manzanita on a game trail before returning to the aid station for a splash and go at mile 28. It’s downhill from here and I am running away from the sweeper, who has caught up but elected to skip the off-trail loop.

I run through the last aid station and sprint to the finish, joined by Karey and her daughter, with Dane right behind me, on his bike, with sweeper (Jacqui). I was hoping for a sub 8-hour finish, but I’m OK with the 8:14. I get the added bonus of being 3rd over-all, 1st in my age group, and DFL all at once.

Truth be told, I could have saved time by taking fewer pictures and I could have run more than I did in the beginning. It was a very pleasant run and may be the perfect 50k course.

So, why should you run Loco? Here’s my top 5.

5, the elevation: You are above the heat, but not too cold, and above the poison oak and rattlesnakes (of course, there are bears).

4, the trails: wide, well-maintained fire and logging roads make very runnable trails. Game trails are developed enough to supply some single-track as well.

3, the views: Maybe this is first. There is nothing like the smell and feel of the pines away from the city. The sky is bluer. The air is fresher. The trees are greener.

2, smaller races: I love the feel of smaller races. Less crowded is always a plus for me, and not just because I can win my age group.

1, Intrepid Adventures: No doubt, the top reason is Karey and her volunteers. I’ve never felt better cared for in a race. The volunteers are top notch and the courses are designed to be enjoyable and still challenging.

Check them out at Intrepid Adventures and use code KIRK10 for a discount on any of their races.