Something Different: Orcas Island Fat Ass 25K/50K February 7, 2009
When I ran my first (and only) Boston in 1982 I was lucky enough to have two close friends, Mike O’Connell and Roy Seliber (pictured above) jump in with me at Kenmore Square and run the last few tough miles by my side. Both had spent that morning at Fenway Park downing beers and watching the Red Sox play the Toronto Blue Jays, a 5-4 loss with DH Carl Yastrzemski (remember him? ) going 3-4 and scoring two runs. They were intrigued as to why someone would do something so bizarre as run a marathon, especially when it conflicted with a daytime Red Sox game. Mike understood a little more than Roy as to what was behind the madness, as he had run with me on the Lincoln-Sudbury cross country and track teams and we had also run a few road races over the previous summers. For Roy, as a non-runner who grew up in Mattapan and attended Boston Latin, the thought of actually running 26 miles, was, well ridiculous.
As the saying goes, things change. In the 80’s Roy moved to the Pacific Northwest and caught the running bug, big time. He has since run many marathons including Boston several times and last Fall clocked a 3:06:59 personal best at age 48 at the Silicon Valley Marathon. He is also an ultra-marathoner having competed in many 50ks and is now planning to run the Cascade Crest 100 miler in the mountains west of Seattle this summer. Go figure. He took a crack at the Vermont 100 miler a few years ago but was “only” was able to make it through 77 miles before reluctantly throwing in the towel after over-hydrating and experienced hyponatremia and then promptly fainting briefly before being placed on an IV in the medic tent. Mike had run the previous 10 miles with Roy and I was set to run with Roy throughout the night.
A few weekends ago Roy and his wife Maria (who has been running for 8 years) competed in the Orcas Island Fat Ass 25K/50K in Moran State Park in Eastsound, Washington. http://www.capitolpeakultras.com/orcas50k.htm This might just be one of the most beautiful running venues in the world. This was Maria’s 1st big trail running event and she had a great race, finishing the 25K in 4:35. http://www.pbase.com/gtach/image/109022209 Her course included 3500’ of climb, including some pretty spectacular views. Roy completed the 50K in 6:44, with 7000’ of climb. http://www.pbase.com/gtach/image/109026526 The photos are absolutely incredible and without question a race someday I'd love to run.
As the saying goes, things change. In the 80’s Roy moved to the Pacific Northwest and caught the running bug, big time. He has since run many marathons including Boston several times and last Fall clocked a 3:06:59 personal best at age 48 at the Silicon Valley Marathon. He is also an ultra-marathoner having competed in many 50ks and is now planning to run the Cascade Crest 100 miler in the mountains west of Seattle this summer. Go figure. He took a crack at the Vermont 100 miler a few years ago but was “only” was able to make it through 77 miles before reluctantly throwing in the towel after over-hydrating and experienced hyponatremia and then promptly fainting briefly before being placed on an IV in the medic tent. Mike had run the previous 10 miles with Roy and I was set to run with Roy throughout the night.
A few weekends ago Roy and his wife Maria (who has been running for 8 years) competed in the Orcas Island Fat Ass 25K/50K in Moran State Park in Eastsound, Washington. http://www.capitolpeakultras.com/orcas50k.htm This might just be one of the most beautiful running venues in the world. This was Maria’s 1st big trail running event and she had a great race, finishing the 25K in 4:35. http://www.pbase.com/gtach/image/109022209 Her course included 3500’ of climb, including some pretty spectacular views. Roy completed the 50K in 6:44, with 7000’ of climb. http://www.pbase.com/gtach/image/109026526 The photos are absolutely incredible and without question a race someday I'd love to run.
Posts
