Santa Barbara Tough Enough

Full moon over the Pacific, driving down to the ultra start. Four ultrarunners took off at 4:30, thirty-seven teams at 7:00.

A young man from Delano (Direct Relief) ran the first mile in around 4:45, looking very smooth, but the day belonged for the fourth time in a row to the formerly Delusional, now Living the Dream’s. Barely, though: the Superfriends we only a minute back, and victory wasn’t a sure thing until the last leg. 7:09 to 7:10. (Dreams: Dave Saunders, Leif Reynolds, Scott Ingraham, Eric Forte, Joe Nordin.)

The mixed team We’re the FUGAWI!?!? crushed their previous mixed team record in third (7:14). Great run, not diminished at all by the Superfriends breaking the same record four minutes earlier (Superfriends: Ricky Ho, Tim Strand, Chrystee Bradley, Mike Shaloob, Drea McLarty; Drea and Chrystee have the distinction of being on both the women’s and mixed-team record holders.) (FUGAWI’s: Scott Devore, Steve Harding, John Loftus, Dana Battalia, Chris Chisney.) New mixed record: 7:10.

In the ultra, Uvaldo Lopez stuck close to Scott Young, grateful to be able to have the benefit of Scott’s experience, but the end, he kicked (!!), finishing in 12:02, with Scott running the same time. (RD: “This is your first ultra?” Uvaldo: “This is my last ultra.”) (Two days later: “I don’t know, I might do it again next year!”) John Hoenigman (12:52) and Steve VenDenburgh (12:59) completed the ultra finishers.

Miscellaneous awards:
o Dominating last place. The Rats et al. Lucky Enough threw down a challenge, even getting lost (on a course with a total of eight turns), but first Worth the Wait unsurpassed them, then the Rats, a whopping 84 minutes after their closest competitors. (The Rats sweep the course annually, something much appreciated by those they’ve helped.)
o Loch and Load built on last year’s clothing victory by again running in kilts. Excellent for mountainous terrain.
o Elite Rehab again fielded three teams
o FUGAWI’s Steve Harding was again awes on getting the Horny Toad blankets.
o Steve Harding, who doesn’t work for anyone and was not claimed by any team, demonstrated the breadth of style options open to TE participants; Steve also gave inspiration to the possibility of instituting a dress code for future TEs
o Finally, dialog of the day award. A team stranded on W Camino Cielo with a flat tire and a flat spare, to a passing truck: “Excuse me, sir, but you wouldn’t happen to have a compressor, would you?” “Why, indeed, yes, I do!” (For future reference, you can pump up a car tire with a bike pump. It’s a pain, but ti can be done.)

Awes pictures by pro photographer Stephen Otero here.

1 7:09 Living the dream
2 7:10 Super friends
3 7:14 We’re the FUGAWI!?!?
4 7:53 Hows the knee? (Matt Skenazy)
5 8:02 Los Amigos de Goleta (Willy Rocket Rossow) √

6 8:18 Four and one-half men (Jim Johnson)
7 8:22 Cyclepaths (no cars, bikes all the way!) (Dylan Jones)
8 8:32 Direct Relief #1 (Sara Eyman)
9 8:34 Quick feet elite (Yvonne Castillo)
10 8:43 The honey badgers (Andrew Schoneberger)

11 8:45 Slash and burn (Micky Sederburg)
12 8:54 Beauty and the beasts (Dan Shimizu)
13 8:54 Free to play (Andrea Stouffer) (First all-women)
14 8:54 Play for free (David Groom)
15 9:01 Pumped up kicks (Cody King)

16 9:02 Care4paws (Megan Rheinschild) (Second all-women)
17 9:03 Not up to snuff (NUTS) enough (Stephen Otero)
18 9:13 The Argentineans (reinforced) (Gustavo Dabos)
19 9:16 Leo Heos (Amy Tracewell)
20 9:17 Team RAGE (Chrissy Faulding)

21 9:31 Loch and load (Michael Larkin)
22 9:46 Flock of seagulls (Kristin Brown)
23 9:49 DNR (Nichol des Jardins)
24 9:57 Knuckelheads (Gabe Wishingrad)
25 10:04 Phad chants (Bob Dutcher) √

26 10:13 WTF (Paula Waldman) √
27 10:17 Fish out of water (Tim Siciliano) √
28 10:20 Weekend warriors (Art Tracewell) √
29 10:23 Four sugars with a cup of Joe (Twila Douglas) √
30 10:23 Quick chicks (Maggie Bahnson) √

31 10:32 Happy trails III (Julianne Hastings) √
32 10:44 I want my Bloody Mary (Simone Kleinschmidt) √
33 10:53 Lucky enough (Barry Abshere) √
34 11:33 Worth the wait (Melissa Rodriguez) √
Last 12:57 We don’t give a rat’s ass… (Happy Snappe)
Also last 12:57 … Neither do we!

Yet again, everyone took care of and cheered for everyone else, the views were astonishing — how many places on the surface of the Earth can you look to the left to ocean and islands, and to the right to a wide valley and rugged, tall mountains? — we can give roughly $3 thousand to Direct Relief, and everyone had a good time. Thanks to all participants, and see you next year.

A cool, hot, cold, sunny, densely foggy day. (The race covers a lot of ground.) The Delusional 3-Peat triumphed, though in doubt until the last miles. Three in a row, while Los Amigos de Goleta established their utter domination of second place (four of the seven “modern” runnings), and the Fugawi!?! won, as usual, the mixed-team. CARE 4 PAWS was the first women-only team.

We had a number of new records:
o New mixed team record, set last year. The race director consulted a panel of distinguished and disinterested experts (CARE 4 PAWS); based on their recommendation, a mixed team needs at least two women, so last year’s Fugawi!?!? now holds the record, at 7:21. Congrats, persons!
o New record for late entry in the ultra, to Mauricio Puente, entering Thursday night. Ah, but Mr Puente only held his record for a day; it was broken by Garrett Headley, entering some time around nine Friday night.

Miscellaneous awards:
o Kilty Pleasures (Michael Larkin, Karen Boris, Katie Vining, Rob Simes, Brett Larson), for elegance. Last year’s hula skirts had… something, but the kilts had true panache.
o “We’re a team, junior,” to Mike Claytor and SB Fitness for getting all five employees to run; and “We’re a team, senior” for Elite Rehab, once again fielding three teams (you guys are amazing!)
o DNR nailed possibly-permanent “best vehicle,” by having their van break down. Kind of like the relationship with that person with the intense inner life, who was brilliant, then morose, then brilliant, and in either state was never all that reliable. But a van, instead of a person.
o Best unpublishable video award to the post-race women in black tights.

Many photos on Facebook, and many by professional photographer (and Not Up To Snuff Enough leader) Stephen Otero (http://www.stephenotero.com/Recent-Events).

Thanks to Steve Harding and Horny Toad for the blankets (which we hope everybody likes), to Kristen Brown for help with prep, to Team Re-Flash for taking care of ultra runners; and to Direct Relief International, for awesomeness.

Nice touch: as the last ultrarunner was coming in, five young deer appeared in the grassy field across from the park.

Thanks to everyone who had fun.

1   7:15   The Delusional 3 Peat (Leif Reynolds, Scott Ingraham, Dave Saunders, Joe Nordin, Kevin Walker)

2   7:22   Los Amigos de Goleta (Willy Rossow)
3   7:27   We’re the Fugawi?!?! (Scott DeVore, Steve Hading, Dana Battaglia, China Cisney, John Loftus)

4   8:15   Team Elite (Todd Tressler)
5   8:21   The Square Root of Awesome (Charity Dubberley)
6   8:36   Not Up to Snuff (NUTS) Enough (Stephan Otero)

7   8:37   Peregrinating Pedagogists (Ryan Gleason)
8   8:43   Have You Seen This? (James Heidlebaugh)
9   8:47   Super Heroes in Training (Direct Relief team – Kristin Brown)
10  8:50   Free to Play (Andrea Stouffer)
11  9:03   Rockappotomus (Mark Nowakowski)
12  9:04   Addicted to Run (Budd Jamieson)

13  9:04   Kilty Pleasures (Michael Larkin)
14  9:05   DNR (Nichol des Jardins)
15  9:07   C.A.R.E. 4 PAWS (Isabelle Gullo, therese Bjork, Megan Riker-Rheinschild, Nancy Reynolds, Marla Randall)
16  9:08   Conejo’s (Diane Patnod Mader)
17  9:22   ;SB Training (Mike Clayfor)
18  9:23   The Cube Root of Respectable (Mark Fennell)

19  9:25   Running Against Great Extremes (RAGE) (Chrissy Faulding)
20  9:34   The Dedicated (Steve Miley)

21  9:34   Ghosts of Goats (Elizabeth Werhane)
22  10:31  Team Eliter (Yvonne Castillo)
23  10:34  DSA (Ray Gamboa)

24  10:36  Team Reflash (Simone Kleinschmidt)
25  10:48  Happy Trails (Julianne Hastings)

26  11:45  Always B. Closing (Melissa Rodriguez)
 
 
 
1   11:10   Scott Young
2   11:38   John Hoenigman

3   12:14   Jen Paludi + Jerremy Ditlove (Team Go Carter!)
4   13:47   Maruicio Puerto
5   14:38   Garret Headley
49m          Jake Sanders

Whew.

Pork Chop and the Masters of Delusion won yesterday’s Tough Enough 65-mile relay in 7:02, setting, if the race director eventually decides there are Masters records, a men’s master’s record. Their time is the fastest of the past six runnings. Dave Saunders, Lief Reynolds, Scott Ingraham, Eric Forte, Tim Strand. Only four minutes later, Raise Your Hand If You Like To Run (7:06) set a new mixed-team record, 34 minutes ahead of the previous record: Kaleena & Nick Bruckbauer, Jimmy O’Dea, Matt Shaner, Taylor Hemming.)

Tri and Find Our Shortcut (7:13), former mixed-record holders The FUGAWII?!?! (7:21, well under their previous record), Nuff’s Enuff (7:32). And then (drum roll, but loose Jack DeJohnette kind of drum roll): TUFF LUV, in pink (with matching arm toasters), rewrote the previous women’s record by 35 minutes. They did try to find a shortcut, an early mistake costing an extra half-mile; more significant, they set the new event standard for last-minute team-member cancellation (5:15 am race day). So only four ran: Chrystee Bradley, Michelle McToldridge, Kary O’Brien, and team mayordoma Drea McLarty. Excellente.

Five ultrarunners: Scott Young ran a hot performance on a cold day (38F at La Cumbre Peak when he passed, and only “warmed” to 41 when the bulk of the teams went by); Scott ran 10:37. John Hoenigman, ever-cheerful, 12:05; Berti Levy and Carrie Brewer ran together, an hour faster than they expected, in 15:08 (and had Carrie’s cute daughter run them in); and Jennifer Paludi, tired but game (with her glowing-collared dog on leash) in 15:51. (Kudos to last-placers We Don’t Give a Rat’s Ass for waiting for Jen to come in, too.)

Random awards:
— Chains for Brains, five athletes, four bikes, and more than any other team, taking the phrase “put some skin in the game” to heart. (Or left hip. Plus rocks lodged in helmet, two riders for that.)
— Joe Battles Colonless Queen had the snappiest name
— DNR/DTR for most entertaining support vehicle
–FUGAWII as attitude leaders (Is the RD only saying that because they gave him a shirt [take no notice he’s suddenly talking in third person]? Possibly.)

Great party during the race, great party at the end when it had warmed up a little. A dozen teams in various stages of team outfit/uniform (“uniform” not being the first word to come to mind for some of the team choices.)

Once again, at the heart of it, the runners make the event: Thanks.

Ultra
10:37 Scott Young
12:05 John Hoenigman
15:08 Carrie Brewer and Berti Levy
15:51 Jen Paludi

Relay
7:02 Pork Chop and the Masters of Delusion (Dave S.)
7:06 Raise Your Hand If You Like to Run (Nick B.)
7:13 Tr1 and Find Our Shortcut (Zach Komon)
7:21 The FUGAWII?!?! (Scott DeVore)
7:32 Nuff’s Enuff (Willie Rossow)
7:36 TUFF LUV (Drea)
7:57 Team Elite (Todd Tressler)
8:08 Team DILF (Rob Ramirez; “That’s not what we meant” team name award)
8:18 Running Your Numbers (Dylan Jones)
8:24 Inigo Montoya and the Buttercups (Brian Dutter)
8:29 Chains for Brains (Jim Johnson, Rick Jones, Pete Feldman, Tom Hilzer, Tony Davis)
8:49 Thrash Hula (Michael Larkin)
8:50 Power Tuff Girls!!! (Liz Groom)
8:56 Forest Service
8:56 Joe Battles Colonless Queen
8:57 Direct Relief International #1 (Kristin Brown)
9:13 RAGE (Chrissy Faulding)
9:23 Ragnar Tuneup (Zach Owen) (event record for last-minute ‘drop-back-in’ [new category], 9:15 the night before)
9:25 FOG (Duane Gardner)
9:26 Beauty and the Beasts (Dan Shimuzu)
9:27 Oldies but Goodies (Dave Groom)
10:00 66er’s (Ed Wehan; if we have an over-65 mixed-team record, this is it)
10:04 Direct Relief International #2
10:07 The Missing Toenails (Evy Kemmerer
10:07 DNR/DTE (Nichol des Jardins)
10:16 Happy Trails (Julianne Hastings)
10:37 GKA! (Lisa Welch)
10:49 Not Volleyball (Casey Hare, who ran alternating legs with his teammates)
10:53 Cottage Handshakes (Skyler Lyon; honorable mention for team names)
12:02 K-5 (Amy Lebolt)
12:06 We Don’t Give a Rat’s Ass (Happe Snappe, aka Bob Peltcher)

Thanks to co-RD and shirt maven Cooper Atkinson; to the Rats for running sweep; and to Direct Relief International, who do extraordinary work world-wide and who will receive the net on the event to further that work.

THE RULES
Aid stations and drop bags

These are for individual ultra runners only, not teams. Teams are responsible for their own aid. Ultra runners are allowed one car and one mountain bike. It’s fine if the mountain bike acts as a ‘mule’–that will not be considered unfair advantage. (It’s encouraged, particularly on hot days.)

General rules

1. Each team member runs two legs. Back-to-back legs may be run. 

2. Only two cars per team are allowed on the course. Ultra runners are allowed one car and one mountain bike. Relays are also allowed a mountain bike, but be advised that W. Camino Cielo is a real ride–around 2500′ of climb, and technical both up to Broadcast Peak and down the other side. To date, no-one has asked about horses.

3. The course isn’t marked. Teamwork-time to keep on course.

4. Obey all traffic laws. The course is open to traffic.

5. Except for #4, don’t worry too much about needed variations to the rules–if someone needs to get home to take the kids and that requires a third car, or if someone wants to run three legs–not a problem. The general rule is, if it makes it more fun, it’s allowed. (Are You Tough Enough is not responsible for accidental pregnancies.)

Number 4 is the only non-negotiable rule. You may be in a hurry and/or you may be really tired. Please be careful! Let’s keep it safe. It just ruins it for everybody if you get run over. Please be thoughtful.

Shuttle rules

We do NOT provide a shuttle. Used to, no longer.

The W. Camino Cielo dirt is kind of technical. Not a big deal, but if you’re going to drive, lots of ground clearance a must. (If it’s raining, 4WD or a winch or both might be good). The RD wouldn’t do it in a passenger car. For shuttling to the handoff point: take 101 to Refugio Road. Allow about 20 minutes to get up Refugio from Highway 101. Figure another fifteen minutes to get to the handoff. We strongly encourage shuttle coordination among teams — more fun, easier.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Leg one – Starts at junction of Toro Canyon Park road and 192. Follow 192 (East Valley Road) to San Ysidro Road. Turn right (uphill). Turn left on Mountain Drive and run to the handoff at Cold Springs Trail, just past where the stream crosses the road. All uphill, mostly modest, a litle sharper at the end. (6.3 miles)

Leg two Continue on Mountain Drive, a rolling windy road, to Gibraltar. Take sharp right up Gibraltar for three miles to wide turn in road that has a line of six boulders and “No Shooting” signs on the right. (Junction with W. Cold Spring trail.) Handoff. Mostly mild uphill on Mountain, then sharp uphill on Gibraltar. (7 miles)

Leg three – Continue up Gibraltar to the intersection of Camino Cielo and Gibraltar. Bear left up Camino Cielo to La Cumbre Peak turnoff. Handoff at “Off Road Motor Vehicle Travel Prohibited” sign. Some uphill (about 1800′). (5.4 miles)

Leg four – Camino Cielo to 154. When you reach Highway 154, stop. Wave across the highway to your team member. Ultra runners cross with caution. A few modest uphills, but overall a long downhill–about 1800 feet of drop in this leg. (9 miles)

Leg five – You are standing on the frontage road in front of a yellow sign with a black arrow pointing left downhill to another sign that says “Kinevan Road.” Follow both arrows. Kinevan takes an abrupt right down on a very narrow (and pretty) road. After one mile you hit Camino Cielo again. Go sharp right and follow road to start of dirt road at the Gun Club. Handoff. Very pretty section, mixing sheltered downhill and exposed-stone uphill. (4.7 miles)

Leg six – Dirt road. Run past the second hill of towers to where road forks sharply right (~150 degrees). Fork goes back toward tower. It should be clear that this is the highest point, and there are a lot of towers. You’ll have started running slightly downhill and will be able to see a lot of downhill ahead. The runner shuttled in will be waiting there. Wait for shuttle out to pick-up area. If you’re not sure, or don’t see anybody, don’t stop! — keep going until you do. Your teammates probably haven’t fogotten you. Steep drop in first mile, then mild but relentless uphill. Total climb is around 2200′. (~9 miles)

Leg seven – Continue along dirt then paved road, down to the intersection of Refugio Road and Camino Cielo Road. Handoff. Long downhill, mostly dirt. Don’t do this one if you did Leg 4. (~7 miles)

Leg eight – Go right on Refugio down hill (watch your footing) on narrow road. Handoff is at bridge over Santa Ynez River. Sharp downhill (~4M?), then rolling. (10 kilometers)

Leg nine – Take Refugio over bridge to Highway 246. Go left and stay on left hand side of road, run against traffic. Turn left at Alisal Road (there’s stop light). Go though downtown Solvang area. Continue on Alisal over bridge past golf course and Alisal Ranch. Past Alisal ranch, not to it. It’s a ways out of town. Handoff directly acros from the entrance to Alisal Ranch–you should see lots of corrals, horses, etc. Mild downhill, and level. (6.9 miles)

Leg ten – Last leg. Alisal Road to Nojoqui Falls park entrance. Gentle uphill, then roughly a mile and half of not-as-gentle uphill, then finish on the more-or-less flat. (3.6 miles)

Distances are vague approximations.

Hi, all. Thanks to you all for a great day — the event is the people and the place and the day, and it was great. Here are the results from this year; Gary Wang will be posting previous years’ results on his ultra site, http://realendurance.com.

We had two new records this year. We’re the FUGAWII?!? smooshed the mixed record, finishing in 7:39; and the Tuff Muff-ins made the finest slicing of the women’s record imaginable, running 8:11:11, pulling 35 seconds from the previous record. (Amazing; that wasn’t a soft record, so terrific running.) The Fugawan’s comprise Scott Devore, Ingrid Pederson, Dana Battaglia, John Lofthus, and Steve Harding. The Tuffins: Drea McLarty, Michelle McToldridge, Chrystee Bradley, Tricia Middleton, and Christine Bjelland. Dominated by M’s and C’s.

Scott Young ran about an hour-forty faster than last year (fitness, plus a much easier day for weather) to win the ultra in 11:11. Tight in front for the teams, with Reynolds, Rockets, and Speed edging We Know a Shortcut, 7:34 to 7:36, both with the FUGAWII?!? breathing down their necks. (The F’s Steve H. ran one of only fourteen “second-fastest ever” legs 4. Second fastest is a highly coveted title for leg 4.)

Running with Pride award, of course, to We Don’t Give a Rat’s Ass, hashers all, who nailed back-to-back last places. The Rat’s are getting a little cocky, but few teams can achieve a 72 minute difference with the next closest. The RD (me) would particularly like to thank the Rats for course sweep and general care-taking along the course. Of course, finishing in drag is always a distinctive style statement.

On behalf of Cooper Atkinson, shirt maven and co-dir, the RD says — thank you to all of you. You’re why we do it.

Results

11:11 Scott Young
12:15 Kenny Ardouin
14:46 Jennifer Paludi
15:47 Casey Hare
15:53 Robert Gilcrest & Sandra Sanger

Mark Warren, drop Gun Club
Matt Bertolet, drop Hwy 154
Dave Parker, drop Hwy 154

7:34 Reynolds, Rockets, and Speed, LLC
7:36 We Know a Shortcut
7:39 We’re the FUGAWI!?!?
7:48 Team Elite Rehab
7:57 The Ricky Ho Project
8:11:11 Tuff Muff-ins
8:24 Peregrinating Pedagogists
8:26 Thrash Polka
8:31 Substitution Solution
8:35 Trail Burning Babes
8:41 Will Run for Burritos
8:47 The Team Starring Brian and Four Other People
8:50 The Argentineans
8:53 Team Eliter
9:02 Beauty and the Beasts
9:12 Runs for Beer
9:15 LED Heads
9:16 Midnight Billy Goats
9:27 Spoke and Mirrors
9:40 NeoSoles
9:41 Rusty’s Snowblowers and Mike’s Swans
9:42 Beer Nuts
9:43 We’re Big but We’re Slow
9:44 The Old Farts
9:50 Direct Relief International
9:56 Tough Teaching Chargers
10:00 When the running gets tough, the tough get running
10:08 Cottage Handshakes
11:20 We Don’t Give A Frozen Rat’s Ass

Steve Harding & Scott Devore (FUGAWII?!):

Best race of the year…hands down.  We had a blast again, and luckily didn’t have to pick Steve off the pavement this year. Already looking forward to the 2010 addition. Bravo, and many thanks!

From Dan Shimizu (Beauty and the Beasts):

First time team Beauty and the Beasts had a great time running the RUTE 2009 relay race. We had a stretch goal of 9:53 hours, which we soundly trounced with a 9:04 hour finish time. Many thanks to RD Jim and all the other great teams on the course. In the end, our Beauty Kary turned out to be the real Beast, charging hard on leg 3 and picking off a bunch of folks running up Gibraltar (which she did back to back also running leg 2)! She still had enough in the tank to finish up leg 4a with 5:42 min/mile. Congrats to all the racers and the top finishers!

Like a few other newbies, we sat waiting for the shuttle, then realized that we were the shuttle and we helped zip some other racers to the Broadcast Peak hand off. We really enjoyed the camaraderie of the race, a few of our runners got much appreciated support from other teams in terms of water when it was sorely needed or a lift for one of our mountain bike support team members who could not keep pace with our runner!

Ed Whelan of the Old Farts:

Already, we are sitting around thinking how we can knock another 30 to 45 minutes off of our time for next year.  We need a four wheel drive for leg 6 as our runner ran out of water and slowed considerably.  However, all of your SB runners were kind, friendly and generous with their assistance.  Everyone’s attitude of support was fun and positive.  I’ve run a lot of these relays but I and the rest of our team really had a fun time today.

Dave Groom has posted some pics at Picassa: here

Two more things:

• This site will look cooler as I get time to tune it up. I got tired yesterday, too.
• Please leave comments. Over time, we’ll be able to use this as a place to post road conditions, team status (“Status” = “Boasting”), and miscellaneous thoughts to share with the rest of your fellow Persons of Toughness.