32 starters, 25 finishers, 100% singletrack

As the two leaders pulled into the copse of trees marking the turn-around of the Devil’s Backbone 50 miler they were told, “Not to put any pressure on you, but the winner gets their choice of running shoes, hydration system or sunglasses.” Christian and Erich eyed each other speculatively as they gulped food from the smorgasbord laid out on the logs including three flavors of gel, electrolytes, bananas, tortilla roll-ups and cool water hauled up two miles from the trailhead.

The food and logs were so tempting that seven runners chose to drop out in that little copse perhaps not realizing they still had to help carry goods down 1200 feet and two miles of rocky trail and catch a ride down 7 miles of rough forest service roads. But they knew going in that the race was tough and dropping out almost as hard as the return trip on the backbone. Mike Wolfe, 2006 50 mile national champion, set the record at 9 hours on this course so it clearly isn’t a place for PR’s.

Rain was falling lightly at 5:15 that morning and lightening strikes were visible on 10,300 foot Hyalite Peak, the runners’ first destination. They felt prepared for the unmarked, unsupported 25 miles to come after a briefing and pasta supper in the race directors’ backyard the night before. Early morning lightening was totally unplanned and luckily moved on before the start at 5:30, just as enough light filtered through the pines to avoid carrying a flashlight. Wildlife spotted on the trail ahead included a young bull moose and several mountain goats – no bears or mountain lions this year.

More at trailrunnermag.com

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