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The McCall Trailrunning Classic 40 Mile could be the best race I have ever done. It was tough and it was beautiful. I live a mile from the beach in Melbourne, Australia, so this high altitude and demanding race gave me many things to worry about beforehand.
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Sheep Mountain is truly a climber’s, hiker’s and trail runner’s best and worst friend. It offers you panoramic views but challenges you with every step up or down. Two years ago Sherpa John brought this race into existence, providing a unique opportunity for all the die-hard trail runners out there.
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Just below the summit of Diamond Peak the climber below me and I were locked into a pained synchronicity. We’d each take about three steps up the impossibly steep mountainside, deliberately placing our feet into the kicked-out steps. Then we’d lean on our poles and try to breathe through what felt like a clogged straw. It seemed very early in the race to be suffocating.
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Deep in the heart of the Catskill Mountains, a growing number of ultrarunners are making the trek from Windham to Phoenicia. Across 54 miles, ten mountain passes, and some of the most treacherous trails anywhere on the east coast, Manitou’s Revenge proved to be a true test of my limits.
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“Super Dave, do you want to run together?” asked Pablo, my longtime friend, at 3 Days at the Fair, a 72-hour race. Sitting in a chair with a mouth full of mac and cheese, I nodded. Together, we walked along the out-and-back section of the course when Pablo proclaimed, “200 miles. We’re gonna do it.
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For a select group of ultrarunners, December brings not only holiday cheer, but also notices of Barkley race entry acceptance. Their belated gift of more than 100 miles, over 60,000 feet of vertical gain, an unmarked course and inhospitable terrain won’t be theirs to unwrap until April.