Mt Baldy Run To The Top 2010

2010 was the fourth consecutive year that I've made the Labor Day scramble up the grey mass known as Old Baldy. You would think that having some experience with this race I would arrive at the starting line feeling at ease and confident. Knowing what the course holds in store has led to the opposite reaction with me. Besides the usual trepidation of the lung busting pain that was about to occur an unidentified, unsettled anxiety was hanging around in my head since my eyes popped open at 4AM. My conversation with a fellow runner prior to the race did nothing help: "Yeah, I've heard that people have died doing this race." I was 99% sure that his statement was a bunch of bull and I think he saw it on my face. "Well", he said, "I think something serious happens every year." It was at this point that I wished I brought my ipod.

Long story short I made it to the top despite the various options I gave myself to pull out. Moral of the story yet again is that sometimes one must simply go for it despite those pesky voices in the head. In the end I had a good time both literally and figuratively. The camaraderie of the race, friends, an ice cold beer at the lodge and view from the top made me glad that I rolled out of bed that morning.

2007 - 2hr38min
2008 - 2hr11min
2009 - 2hr09min
2010 - 2hr03min


(headin' back to the lift)

On the way down the trail to the chair lift a grizzled 73 year male participant slipped and nearly slid down the slope. He was more embarrassed than anything else. He said something about his dignity. He cursed his age and blamed his fall on that. I commented that it happens to everyone. He again blamed his age. I thought to myself, “I want to be able to be that active if I am fortunate enough to that age. Maybe not so crusty though”