Jeff Jackson's Staging Area

This race in southern Colorado took my breath away – first figuratively, and near the end, literally. To see why, all you have to do is check out the elevation profile, either on the race website or my blog post. The race both begins and ends with a climb up to Music Pass at 11,450 ft. – 2,000 feet of gain in 4.3 miles – then back down, with 31 miles on the Rainbow Trail in between.

This was my first ultra that reached above 10,000 feet. I live in Michigan and did most of my training there, but I’ve never had a problem running or hiking in Colorado, so I was fairly optimistic I would be fine. And I was, until the final push. The first climb was fine, and the Rainbow Trail segment, with its gorgeous scenery and very runnable trail, was a real treat. The final climb up to Music Pass was a real struggle, and even my running partner, my niece who lives in Colorado, was really feeling it. But we made it! The photo is at the top of that final climb, showing off the wristbands that proved we got there.

Another distinctive feature of this race, being part of the Human Potential Racing Series, is the lack of top finisher awards. It’s part of their philosophy you can look up on their site. Everyone who finishes gets the same medal, and there is no pressure to run fast. Just make the generous cutoffs. This allowed us to really enjoy the experience at our own pace.

If you try this race, be aware that aid stations are eight miles apart, so bring plenty of water, salt, and snacks. It’s way too easy to get dehydrated out there and not know it. But the aid stations and finish line are well stocked, and the support is terrific. And the views alone are worth it. Definitely glad I did it!

For more details of my adventure, check out my blog post.
https://runbikethrow.net/2023/09/26/up-up-and-away-sangre-de-cristo-50-recap/

I’ll start off by confessing I underestimated this race, a bad idea for any ultra, but especially this one.
I chose the Lookout Mountain 50 because of its scenery and historical links (Civil War), and because the elevation profile intrigued me. It appeared that the toughest part would be the front 18-mile loop, where you basically go down the mountain and right back up. The back 32 looked tame by comparison. (Spoiler alert: it is definitely not.)
I’d just done an ultra in Colorado, at altitude, with the same elevation gain in just 55K, and done just fine. And the 13:38 cutoff time is tighter than most, but I didn’t anticipate any trouble with it. Well, folks, I scraped my sorry ass across the finish line with less than five minutes to spare. My feelings are somewhat assuaged by being the oldest finisher this year, and one of only six finishers over 60 in the last five years. Did I mention this is a tough race?
Here are some tactical and non-technical observations and ratings.
Course: Be prepared for a lot of steep drops and climbs, including a rope section, and several slippery creek crossings. And despite the race staff’s heroic efforts in blowing leaves off the trail, there are enough hidden rocks and roots to make Baryshnikov face-plant. And be forewarned: the map shows 48+ miles, but the course was changed to nearly 52. Many of us found out at the final aid station. 44 miles is a tough place to get bad news.
Marking: I’d call it adequate, with few “confidence” flags. A couple of times I had to guess direction (correctly, whew) and nearly missed a couple of turns. Luckily for me, another runner was nearby both times and showed me the correct route.
Views: Terrific, from sweeping vistas to waterfalls, interesting rock formations, and Civil War monuments. It’s a good thing my phone camera crapped out, because I didn’t have time for selfies anyway. But I did enjoy the sights in passing.
Race production: Good pre-race communication. Aid stations don’t have quite as much variety as other ultras I’ve run, but the keys – fruit, soda, salty stuff, broth – were all there. Plus campfires after dark. Not much at the finish line, though. And I have to take a point away for the course change without notice. A small thing in an otherwise very well run event.
Swag: in addition to a T-shirt I got a finisher’s sweatshirt (no medal, which is fine), and a “vintage” plastic race cup from 2014. Awards are limited to top three overall and first in age group. They’re custom-made and I haven’t got mine yet, but that’s okay. Finishing was reward enough.
Bottom line: I recommend the Lookout Mountain 50 for those looking for a new challenge. Train well, you’ll need everything you got.

The course is a 2.36 mile loop through a Boy Scout campground, with mixed paved path and wide groomed trail through some pretty woods. A couple of short, moderate climbs, but for the most part very easy running. You can drop your gear in the start/finish area, and there’s a full-service aid station at the halfway point of the loop. Crews can set up at several places along the path.

Pros: Pretty course. Fantastic support, with plenty of ice on a hot day, iced towels, and even sno-cones. Good vibes from staff, crews, and spectators. Trail was well-marked at night with glow sticks. Lots of motivational signs (see my race report for a couple examples).

Cons (minor): The swag is almost too much – shirt, hoodie, bottle, and finisher plaque. Would’ve preferred a lower entry fee with optional shirt, etc.

Hello! I’m Jeff, and I ran the Grandmaster Ultra 50-miler on February 8, 2020. As the name implies, this is an ultra exclusively for runners age 50 and older. I wrote about my race experience, and the thrilling “photo finish” in my personal blog (www.runbikethrow.net). The following is a review of the race itself and the support we received.

The event takes place in the northwest corner of Arizona, mainly on ATV trails in the open desert, with great views of mountains in the distance. You can choose 50K, 100K, 50 miles, 100 miles, or to get in as many miles as you can in 48 hours. (This year’s winner ran 132.)

The races begin at 8:00 Friday morning (100K, 100 mile, 48-hour) and Saturday morning (50K, 50-mile). I liked the civilized hour and that I didn’t need a headlamp at the start. It also allows for a 24-hour 100-mile runner to finish in daylight instead of in the cold and dark. (If you’re faster, well, that’s your problem, speedgoat.) The sun sets around 6:00 p.m., so bring a light.

Pros: The course is marked with orange flags every few hundred yards. A good thing, because getting lost in the desert with spotty cell reception would really suck. Your bib number is recorded and called into HQ at every aid station, so they know where you were last.

And as with every ultra I’ve run, the other runners are super cool, even those who were on their second 50-mile loop and pushing with every step. One bonus was meeting Gordy Ainsleigh, founding runner of the Western States 100, at the midway point. He was running the 100-miler to qualify for his own race!

The best word I have for the views you get during the race is stunning. At one point we ran through a field of green cacti and low bushes that appeared steel blue from the angle of the sunlight. And everywhere around us were the mountains in the distance. One aid station is at the top of a ridge, and as I descended into the plain below the view opened up so wide and colorful I just had to stop and take it all in for a few minutes. (This is why we run trail, right?)

The aid stations are usually visible a half mile or more away, very welcome sights in an otherwise stark landscape. The volunteers were all friendly and helpful, and food included pancakes, burgers, and burritos along with the standard pickles, cookies, and candy. I’d heard there were some hiccups on Friday regarding water but they got fixed, and on Saturday there was plenty, and ice, too.

Cons: No major problems, just a few annoyances. One was the ATVs that occasionally came down the trail. To be fair, these are their trails, and most of them slowed down as they approached. The staff made a point of asking the ATV drivers to be careful out there, and for the most part they were.

The other difficulty was dodging the stones spread along many of the trails. I’m guessing they are for ATV traction and dust and erosion reduction. They are large enough that stepping on them is painful (trust me), so you need to keep an eye out ahead.
Miscellaneous advice that you probably already know, but just in case…
• Be prepared for any weather. Temperatures got to around 65 during the day, but dropped to near freezing at night. I was cold at race start even with a jacket on, but I removed it only five miles in.
• I’d advise you to watch out for snakes, but the only wildlife I saw was a small lizard. Do keep an eye out for burrows. I nearly stepped in one that could have done serious ankle damage.
• Dust was not an issue for me, but it could have been. They are thoughtful enough to put a bandana in your swag bag. Bring it along. Other things not to forget: a hat and some sunscreen. It was sunny all weekend. And I recommend trekking poles. Just about every runner brought them.
• Stay hydrated. Like any run in dry conditions, you won’t always feel yourself sweating. My first “fluids check” around mile 12 told me I needed to drink more. Even after that, I developed stomach pain in the second half of the race. I chalked it up to not enough water to help with digestion, upped my water intake, and the pain faded away.
• Electrolyte choices are a Hammer drink along with salt and potatoes. Neither of them really work for me, so I used the salt tablets I always bring. The last thing you want to happen out there is to get woozy from hyponatremia. (Been there. Didn’t like it a bit.)

My recommendation: if you’re 50 or older, and you love trail running, put this race on your list. Well-marked course, stunning views, great support. It’s new, so it’s underappreciated at present. Let’s change that, okay?