Mt. Disappointment 50K

"May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.” ~ Edward Abbey




After three years of wanting to do the Mt. Disappointment Endurance Run I finally crossed the finish line this past Saturday. In years prior something always “came up”. In reality I wasn’t willing to put in the time training. I had lost some of my zest for training and running.

In November of 2008 I found myself in a self imposed rut.

In an instant I told myself that I was going to run a 50 mile endurance race and that I was going to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It was a very clear decision. In April I crossed the finish line of the Leona Divide 50 miler. They put a medal around my neck and I asked myself, “how did I just do that?”

My zest for running and training had returned and I set my eyes on the Mt. Disappointment 50 miler. There’s a 50K (31 miles) option, but I told myself I wanted to go for another 50 miler. The course at Mt. D would be tougher than Leona and I set forth on a plan to get in some good training in the heat and on the hills of the Mt. D course.

Sometimes (actually more often than not) obstacles fall onto ones path when they are training for an event. From 5Ks to 100 milers one is bound to have setbacks. This was the case with me as an ankle roll turned into a lingering injury that went to other parts of the lower leg. With that, I adjusted my sails and took my training into the pool and onto my bike. Knowing that the 50 mile course would be brutal I made the decision to switch to the 50K event. The 50K course would prove to be formidable too, but with less miles to cover. The decision was made with my overall training and desire to not destroy my body in mind. It turned out to be a good decision as you will later read.




8-8-09

Excited anticipation kept me up for most of the night before the race. With that, I lie in bed trying to relax. I think I got an hour of sleep in when I awoke two hours before I needed to be up. “Might as well eat” I thought. Tomato soup, tofu and toast.

4:30 AM – Got into my already packed car and made a quick trip to the store for a Red Bull. This Red Bull would taste mighty good before the steep climb up Mt. Wilson at mile 26. More on this later. I drove up Angeles Crest in the dark and made a right onto Mt. Wilson Road. At the end of the twisty road I was greeted by the race director. Gary Hilliard (an ultra running old timer and all around good guy) thanked me for coming and reminded me to drink a lot and stay hydrated. You could tell the guy was excited about the day that was about to unfold. I think it was pretty cool that the RD himself was there to greet runners so early in the morning.

5:15AM – 6:30AM – After parking I made my way to the Mt. Wilson Pavilion to pick up my bib and goodie bag. As often happens with a first name like mine, race officials mistook my name as a female name. “Is my shirt supposed to be pink,” I asked jokingly. With their apologies they made the correction. Apologies weren’t necessary. These volunteers work tirelessly to help the runners get through the day. The pre-race checklist was initiated. The time before the gun went off was spent using the facilities, nibbling, hydrating and saying hello to friends old and new.



About 15 minutes before the start the Race Director took the bullhorn and made announcements. It turns out a section of the course was changed due to a small landslide. This section included a brief climb, but was replaced with a 5 mile stretch of quad burning downhill along the Mt. Wilson Road.


(above- small slide at Mueller Tunnel)


6:30AM – Gary turned the start over to a group of military veterans running the race and we we're off!


(Race Director - Gary Hilliard "I'm talking, no one talks... I'm talking!)


The Start to Switzers – The first five miles of this years course was all downhill on the Mt. Wislon Road. Everyone at this point is in a good mood. I take in the sunrise and my surroundings. Down to my right in the canyon is West Fork Campground. Later in the day runners would be tested by the long three mile slog out of West fork and up the backside of Wilson to the finish. Running at this point seemed effortless and I chatted up a fellow runner. Lynn turns out is running her 5th ultra. I asked her why she got into running these things and she said that a few years ago she gave up drinking. This replaced her habit and made her happy. One thing I’ve found by stepping into the ultra arena is that the people who do these things tend to be down to earth and friendly. Lynn was good company, but she pulled off the road to use nature’s facilities. “see you on the trail!”

At the bottom of Mt. Wilson Road I came to the day’s first aid station. Not needing much aid I grabbed a few Pringles and topped off my fluids. Here I caught up with friends Jimmy and Kate Freeman. They were celebrating their 1 year wedding anniversary with a 50K run! Kate was using the Mt. D 50K as a training race for her first 100 miler (The Angeles Crest 100) next month.


(Above Jimmy, Kiley, Kate)


(Kate & Jimmy Crossing AC Hwy Near Red Box)

From the aid we hopped onto the dirt singletrack that led to Switzers. Jimmy was my coach my first season with Team in Training. Eventually we would coach the TEAM together before he decided to take a well deserved break. Just like old times as Jimmy offered humor and coaching as we made our way down to Switzers. “Don’t hurdle the obstacles and dodge them,” coached Jimmy. “Go through the rocks and roots and use them. You waste energy trying to avoid all that stuff.” With that he demonstrated what he was talking about and I would experiment with it all day. On the way down to Switzers a guy disappeared off the trail. He fell! Fortunately he was not hurt as at this point there wasn’t too much of a drop. This was a reminder to me to stay focused. Easy to do early in the race, a bit more difficult when you are hot and trail weary. It was on the way to Switzers that the familiar pain of my calf injury crept up. “Oh no,” I thought. “Is this going to end my day?” Fortunately it did not. The dull ache remained all day, but not enough to take me off the trail.

I arrived at Switzers Camp in good time. It was a beautiful morning! I looked at my watch and it was 8AM on the dot. My TNT team had just taken off on their own challenge miles away…. The Hills Are Alive 10K. I sent some cosmic mojo their way and hoped for some in return. Jimmy and Kate were ahead of me as I stopped up the trail to take my time ingesting a gel. From Switzers you climb up to Clear Creak Aid Station on the Angeles Crest Highway. This was the last I saw of Jimmy and Kate. They were running up that hill to Clear Creek. “How the hell do they do that,” I thought. My heart rate launches too high when I try for an extended running climb. More often than not I find myself power hiking the extended hills. At the finish hours later I picked Kate’s brain for hill running technique. “Just chip away at it,” she offered. “Mix in some running on the uphills and keep at it. You’ll improve”

Clear Creek Aid Station to Josephine Saddle Aid

The volunteers at these aid stations are awesome. They’ll fill up your bottles and make sure you are ok. It was here that I first saw the girl in pink. She was ahead of me and she would teach me a lesson. She did not look like your typical runner. There were no long legs and chiseled abs. She wore all pink and her shorts looked like standard gym shorts, not really running attire. “I can’t let her be ahead of me.” I guess my ego was taking hold. More on the girl in pink later.

From Clear Creek Aid runners go up Josephine fire road.



All up to the next aid. Along this route I chatted up a few more runners who were using this race as prep for AC100. The girl in pink was still ahead of me somewhere on the trail.

Josephine Aid (mile13.4) – Red Box Aid (mile 21.2) –

The entire course is beautiful, but this happens to be my favorite section. From Josephine runners run a rolling singletrack behind Strawberry Peak.


(Above - Looking North along the trail behind Strawberry)

Strawberry is named so because from afar it resembles a Strawberry standing on its stem. Here, behind Strawberry one is treated to expansive views of the Big Tujunga to the north. Eventually the trail drops behind Strawberry Peak to Strawberry Meadows. Here you can take in the massive granite backside of Strawberry and the granite strewn meadow floor. Awesome! At Strawberry Meadows I’m still feeling pretty good. A Chinese runner sees me taking a Hammer Nutrition supplement pill and asks me what it is. I explain and he says that I should take Viagra. He claims it help during these things. I don’t know if he was joking or what. I’ll pass on the Viagra.


(Above-Backside of Strawberry from Strawberry Meadows)


From Strawberry Meadows runners climb around Strawberry and make their way to Lawlor Saddle. Here’ it’s hot! One of the tougher sections of the course this day. A feeling of isolation took hold of me. That was short lived as I started talking to another runner. He’s a race director up in the Bay area. Sounds like an interesting occupation. He says he makes a decent side salary from it, but the days before a race leave little time for sleep. There’s the girl in pink again! She’s gutting up the hill and I feel as if I can catch her. I catch her and start chatting. She tells me to pass her as she says she is fading in the heat. Still she plugs along and eventually finishes running a strong race. You can’t judge a book by its cover and you can’t lump a runner into a certain look. They come in all shapes and sizes. It’s what is on the inside that counts. This runner was tough and determined and she taught me something about humility. Another’s “better” time or performance should not be used to reflect our time or performance. Everyone out there is running their own race and fighting their own battles and doubts.



I reached Lawlor Saddle ready for some downhill. I plugged in behind a Western States finisher and we made our way back down to Red Box. The downhill felt great and I was still feeling good. After the downhill we intersect Angeles Crest and The Red Box Aid Station (21.2). Whoops, hoops and hollers fill the air as runners pull in to replenish and rejuvenate.


(Approaching Angeles Crest from the Strawberry Trail)


(Crossing AC Hwy at the Red Box Aid Station)

It’s here at Red Box that runners can leave a drop bag. A drop bag is one’s own cache of goodies. Gels, pain sprays, eats, and drinks. Mine was simple on Saturday. Some gels, some bars, some pain rub, body glide and a mini cooler with ice cold Coconut Water and Red Bull. I’m now a fan of the coconut water. It’s natures very own endurance drink! At this aid I nibbled more Pringles, drank some coke (really good), ate a pb and j square, and devoured watermelon. I refilled my fluids and stuffed a Red Bull in my waist pack for later. Upon leaving I dunked my hat in a bucket of ice water. That felt good…. Back on the trail!

Red Box Aid to West fork Aid (mile 26.2)

Dunking my hat in that ice cold water was a mistake. The water washed trail grime and sunblock straight into my eyes. The contact lenses did not like that. I spent the remainder of the race with cloudy vision. More on this later and how I used it to my advantage.

The trail from Red Box to West Fork is fire road. I would say 70% of it is exposed with the remainder shaded. It’s also mostly downhill and I was able to put in some good spurts of solid running.



I burp up some half digested watermelon in my mouth. I did this at Leonna Divide 50…. Must be a good omen. All the while on the road to West fork Mt. Wilson looms to the south…. taunting the runners with the tough climb that will take them to the finish.

West Fork Aid to finish –

I pull into West Fork still feeling pretty good. This is at mile 26.2, the marathon distance. I’m happy with my time and effort considering the up and down nature of the course. My legs are beat, but I know that it’s not too much further to the finish. West Fork is shaded and cool. Here the 50Kers make the climb to the finish, while the 50 milers branch off into oblivion. …. A dusty brutal 20 mile loop, much on exposed trail. At West Fork I pull out my Redbull and grab a cup of ice in an attempt to give me a jolt up the trail. I don’t stay here too long as I want to get this thing done. The shade is inviting though.

From West Fork runners take the Gabrieleno Trail until it intersects the Kenyon DeVore Trail. The Gabrieleno section allows for some running, however the KD trail does not. Once runners get to the KD trail it’s a long 3 mile climb to the finish.


(Above- Gabrieleno Trail intersects KD Trail)

I turned my limited vision to my advantage. My distance vision was blurred. I was kind of forced into a smaller world a few feet around me. With this I just focused on my immediate environment not concerned with what was to come. It was all about the present step and not the numerous switchbacks. That focus really helped me with the climb. Along the climb I kept a steady pace and was able to pass a few other runners who stopped to take a rest. Eventually the Mount Wilson towers came into view and I was treated to some flats and I was able to get a little more running in despite the limited vision. Probably not the wisest thing. I glanced back on the trail and another runner was trying to catch me. “Not happening” I thought. “Nobody is passing me in this last section.” Nearing the finish I hear a familiar voice yell out “There’s Kiley!” It was Van Garner. Van and Virginia, TNT Teammates and fellow soldiers in the war on cancer, made the trip up the Crest to see me finish. With a final spurt I cross the finish line in seven hours and eighteen minutes.


(Above - Virginia, Kiley, Van)


Time, I guess, doesn’t need to be the end all with these things. What’s important is the journey. The training that I do helps me to be more disciplined. The training takes me to new trails and the outdoors. The training helps connect me with the teammates I coach with TNT. The training and the running of these races enables me to meet new people and from them I often learn or they give me something to think about. Like the girl in pink, Lynn or the many other runners and volunteers who came out to spend the day in the San Gabriels. Simply, it's just a lot of fun! The Mt. Disappointment runs were great! Not a disappointment ;)

I’d love to be back next year! Happy Trails!






Someone elses' video of the Mt D Endurance Race:

Mount Disappointment 50M Run from Jeff Jones on Vimeo.