Help set my goal for a race out west ...

SportiGrl · Jul 9, 2010

I really want to see and run thru many of the gorgeous settings out in western USA ... and I'd like to set a goal and work towards making it happen rather than just keep thinking 'someday, maybe....'
 
for views and pure joy of running what would your pick be?
 
 
I have a couple 'foot in the door' opportunities right now with a friend willing to refer me for Ghost Town 38.5 in NM as it's become basically by invitation only ... and I also got guaranteed entry (not free entry) to the North Face Endurance Challenge in CA this winter if I want to try for that (it was part of the prize at Mohican 50 miler

)
 
 
I need to see if I can come up with funds for plane, lodging and transportation once in the area ... but would like to at least research my options and start working towards making something happen ...
 
 
give me your list of best destinations so I can choose wisely!!!
 
 
 
thanks!

runNYtrails · Jul 10, 2010

<img alt="" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/dontknow.gif" title=""> Tahoe Rim Trail !
 
 
<img alt="" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/love5.gif" title=""> get my vote Sporti !

SportiGrl · Jul 11, 2010

I just checked this one out ... looks sort of fabulous

next july? hmmmmmmmmm.... planning and scheming need to take place ... I may have to forego Beantown in '11

gumbee · Jul 11, 2010

Western States
 
Tahoe Triple

jenna · Jul 11, 2010

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by runNYtrails <a href="/forum/thread/68706/help-set-my-goal-for-a-race-out-west#post_1919989"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a> <img alt="" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/dontknow.gif" title=""> Tahoe Rim Trail !
 
 
<img alt="" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/love5.gif" title=""> get my vote Sporti !
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I have hiked part of this and it's beautiful! I have a book about the trail you could read if you'd like. I'd be glad to lend it to you.

runNYtrails · Jul 11, 2010

I've hiked and run several parts of it also. It is very cool !!
 
I think Just Jim did the TRT a couple weeks ago ( <img alt="" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/dontknow.gif" title=""> Jim ? ) Not sure we've had a report from him tho . . . 
 
<img alt="" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/love7.gif" title=""> It is one of my dreeme races . . . here is a shot of one of my favorite spots - Watson Lake
 
<a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/41310/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="TRT - Watson Lake.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="12257" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/12257/width/640/height/480" style="; width: 640px; height: 480px"></a>
 
 
 
Let's ALL go !!!
 
**** EDIT - i guess the run is next weekend so we'll have Jims report to look forward to

crunningman · Jul 11, 2010

I would definitely consider:
 
<a href="http://www.whiteriver50.com/" target="_blank">White River 50M</a>
near Mt. Rainier National Park
views of Mt. Rainier
unbelievable views of the Cascade Mountain Range
8700 feet elevation gain, 8700 feet elevation loss
pic of me running the race in 2005 on my way to Suntop with Mt. Rainer in the background
copyright - Glenn Tachiyama
<a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/41316/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="WR50M.bmp" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="12263" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/12263/width/375/height/500" style="; width: 375px; height: 500px"></a>
 
<a href="http://www.math.montana.edu/~thayes/Runs/Devil/DB50Info.html" target="_blank">Devil's Backbone 50M</a>
25M out/back
Gallatin Mountain Range - Montana
Unsupported (except for an aidstation at the turnaround)
Terrain similar to Hard Rock
Course unmarked - I found it easy enough to follow
One of my pics: Sleeping Giant
<a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/41314/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="Sleeping Giant.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="12261" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/12261/width/667/height/500" style="; width: 667px; height: 500px"></a>

Dove · Jul 11, 2010

Not a trail or ultra, but Big Sur Marathon is at the top of my list of fun and beautiful experiences.

SportiGrl · Jul 11, 2010

I really think I'm going to at least soft-set tahoe rim as my goal for next summer ... probably the 50 miler ... the 50k doesn't get you to all the cool places and I've not done a 100 yet and would rather save that for altitudes I am more used to!
 
jewna .. I may take you up on the borrowing of the book!
 
will look forward to JJ's report ... hope it has PICS!!!
 
 
looks like flying and rental car will be what need to happen as drive time is about 35 hours from here, lol ... 
 
what else is nearby (within 3-4 hours) of tahoe if I make it out there???

SportiGrl · Jul 11, 2010

dove ...big sur marathon is on my shortlist of dream road marathons ...

runNYtrails · Jul 11, 2010

" what else is nearby (within 3-4 hours) of tahoe if I make it out there??? "
 
 
<img alt="" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/icon_cheers.gif" title=""> VEGAS, BABY !! 
 
 
And lots of other great trail stuff ... i've done a bunch of them if yer interested. The Jones Creek / White Creek Trail was a really great hike/run also. As well as several trails i have done in the Mt Charleston area. I'd love to summit Mt Charleston some day. Check that one out. its only about 45 minits from vegas. There is also, of course, Red Rocks and Valley of Fire. LMK if you want specifics , i will send them on to ya. I still even have the trail guides and stuff too .... i save everything. ha.
 
Photobucket links to some trail stuff i've done in that area if yer interested ... the first one is the TRT the rest are from the Mt Charleston area
 
<a href="http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/dd282/runNYtrails/Tahoe%20Rim%20Trail%202006/" target="_blank">http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/dd282/runNYtrails/Tahoe%20Rim%20Trail%202006/</a>
 
<a href="http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/dd282/runNYtrails/Bonanza%20Trail%202007/" target="_blank">http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/dd282/runNYtrails/Bonanza%20Trail%202007/</a>
 
<a href="http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/dd282/runNYtrails/Bristlecone%20Trail%202007/" target="_blank">http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/dd282/runNYtrails/Bristlecone%20Trail%202007/</a>
 
<a href="http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/dd282/runNYtrails/Forest%20Challenge%202007/" target="_blank">http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/dd282/runNYtrails/Forest%20Challenge%202007/</a>

SportiGrl · Jul 11, 2010

very cool, runNytrails!!! I will definitely want to bend your ear about more details ... thinking maybe the 50k would be best so I'd have energy to do some other area hikes while there!!!!
 
or perhaps we should forego the race and just set up a runners retreat and have a big old KR meetup in Tahoe!!!!

cgerber · Jul 12, 2010

At the 50 mile distance, these are hard to beat for scenery:
- Moab Alpine to Slickrock 50, Moab, UT, Sept
- San Juan Solstice 50, Lake City, CO, June
 
Ghost Town is also very cool, though less because of the scenery (most of the course is dirt roads, w/ quite a bit of paved road) and more due to the entire scene. Susan (the RD) is just awesome... 
 
At the 100 miler distance, there are tons of great ones. These look most intriguing to me (the first two I've done):
- Hardrock 100 (amazing scenery, really freakin' hard)
- Bear 100 (fall colors, BEAUTIFUL course)
- Cascade Crest 100
- Wasatch 100
- Swan Crest 100 (it's the new one, up in northern Montana)
 
Leadville, while a classic, has a lot of roads. The long view scenery is great though (ie, the vistas from the roads).

SportiGrl · Jul 12, 2010

thanks! 
 
I really, really, really plan to make it to Moab in my lifetime ... hopefully in the next 5 years or so! whether it's a race or not!
 
the rest of your list looks equally intriguing and will be put on file! 
 
I hope I am up for my first 100 next year sometime ... then my options will be a bit more expansive! 

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by cgerber <a href="/forum/thread/68706/help-set-my-goal-for-a-race-out-west#post_1920827"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a> At the 50 mile distance, these are hard to beat for scenery:
- Moab Alpine to Slickrock 50, Moab, UT, Sept
- San Juan Solstice 50, Lake City, CO, June
 
Ghost Town is also very cool, though less because of the scenery (most of the course is dirt roads, w/ quite a bit of paved road) and more due to the entire scene. Susan (the RD) is just awesome... 
 
At the 100 miler distance, there are tons of great ones. These look most intriguing to me (the first two I've done):
- Hardrock 100 (amazing scenery, really freakin' hard)
- Bear 100 (fall colors, BEAUTIFUL course)
- Cascade Crest 100
- Wasatch 100
- Swan Crest 100 (it's the new one, up in northern Montana)
 
Leadville, while a classic, has a lot of roads. The long view scenery is great though (ie, the vistas from the roads). 
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mudrunner · Jul 12, 2010

Too many out there!
 
If it strictly for running enjoyment & scenery, then the Grand Canyon R2R2R is THE one to do. Granted it isn't a race, but it is a worthy goal.
 
My most scenic race choices:
 
100 Miles:
Wasatch
Cascade Crest
 
50 Miler:
White River
Tahoe Rim
 
50km:
Knee Knacker
Frosty Mountain

jenna · Jul 12, 2010

Within 3 to 4 hours of Tahoe is Yosemite.
 
I could be talked into going with you, Sprouti. You know how much I love it out there.

SportiGrl · Jul 12, 2010

hehe .. on our run today I daydreamed about our 'riverruns' and wondered if there were any way to run down into grand canyon and then go rafting on the river at the bottom! lol
 
 
thanks for all the suggestions ... I am leaning heavily toward trying to make it to San Francisco for the North Face Endurance Challenge in Dec ... and maybe putting my hat in the lottery for WS, thinking it's very doubtful I'd get picked first time, and if not making plans for Tahoe next july ...
 
I wish I had a money tree in my backyard!!! I wanna see 'em all ... and run some, race or not ...
 
 
<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by mudrunner <a href="/forum/thread/68706/help-set-my-goal-for-a-race-out-west#post_1920955"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a> Too many out there!
 
If it strictly for running enjoyment & scenery, then the Grand Canyon R2R2R is THE one to do. Granted it isn't a race, but it is a worthy goal.
 
My most scenic race choices:
 
100 Miles:
Wasatch
Cascade Crest
 
50 Miler:
White River
Tahoe Rim
 
50km:
Knee Knacker
Frosty Mountain
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1Topodope · Jul 13, 2010

I don't know if Wyoming is on your radar, but I would highly recommend the Teton Races. You have your choice of a marathon, 50M or 100M. Absolutely beautiful scenery and about 2 hours from Yellowstone.

cgerber · Jul 13, 2010

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by 1Topodope <a href="/forum/thread/68706/help-set-my-goal-for-a-race-out-west#post_1921112"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a> I don't know if Wyoming is on your radar, but I would highly recommend the Teton Races. You have your choice of a marathon, 50M or 100M. Absolutely beautiful scenery and about 2 hours from Yellowstone.
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Oh yeah... the Bighorn 100,50, and 50km races are also AMAZING. Northern Wyoming in mid-June. Wildflowers are off the handle.

fatozzig · Jul 13, 2010

I haven't run it (obviously), but crewed it for Kate MD: Headlands 100 through Pacific Coast Trail Runs. It's in the Marine Headlands with beautiful views of the San Fran Bay, Golden Gate Bridge. PCTR also does a 50-miler in the same setting. I ran a 50k there which is on portions of the 100 miler.

Help set my goal for a race out west ...

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