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lbliss | profile | all galleries >> Plain 100 - Plain, WA 09.08.2007 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Plain 100 - Plain, WA 09.08.2007

The Plain 100 is a 100+ (106?, 109?) mile remote trail run in the Cascade Mountains of Central Washington. It has no aid or course markings, only Search & Rescue and one crew access point (Deep Creek) at about mile 55 (60?, 62?) between the 2 looped trails. The race has a
notoriously low finish rate. In its infancy from 1997 to 2000 (except for 1998),
there were no finishers. Last year, a course record was set by Tim Stroh
in 26:59:40. This year there were 29 starters & 14 finishers.
A new course record was set by Tim Englund in 25:43:44.
I had a great time crewing for Tim Englund, learned a lot about the race, and
realize now that if I ever want to run this race (like in 2008?), I will
have to spend lots of time training on the course n order to really get to
know it and stand a chance at surviving it.

Official results will be found on the race website: http://www.cascaderunningclub.com/

Special thanks to Race Directors Tom Ripley and Chris Ralph, and the Search & Rescue team.



RD Tom Ripley's course briefing at the pre-race meeting
RD Tom Ripley's course "briefing" at the pre-race meeting		 most runners were studying their maps
most runners were studying their maps		 g6/81/452681/3/85421491.QOwycXDc.jpg (from back to front) Tim Stroh, Ray Gruenewald, Tim Englund
(from back to front) Tim Stroh, Ray Gruenewald, Tim Englund
runners with a card for Dave Smith
runners with a card for Dave Smith		 pre-race meal
pre-race meal		 just Plain tough
just Plain tough		 host lodge
host lodge
runners in the morning before the 5am start
runners in the morning before the 5am start		 James Varner ran 27:53 in 2004
James Varner ran 27:53 in 2004		 Jim Updegrove & Tim Englund
Jim Updegrove & Tim Englund		 Jane & Jim
Jane & Jim
The two Tims: Englund & Stroh (previous course record holder in 26:59:40)
The two Tims: Englund & Stroh (previous course record holder in 26:59:40)		 Luis Escobar (will finish in 34:49:54)
Luis Escobar (will finish in 34:49:54)		 runners start on the front steps of the lodge
runners start on the front steps of the lodge		 ready...
ready...
set...
set...		 GO!
GO!		 crew access is at Deep Creek only (mile 55 or 60 depending on whose GPS you're using)
crew access is at Deep Creek only (mile 55 or 60 depending on whose GPS you're using)		 women waiting: me, Eliza Goggins, Alison Hanks
women waiting: me, Eliza Goggins, Alison Hanks
crew & RD Tom Ripley
crew & RD Tom Ripley		 a perfectly grilled cheese sandwich, if I may say so myself!
a perfectly grilled cheese sandwich, if I may say so myself!		 Tim Englund & David Goggins come into Deep Creek together in the lead
Tim Englund & David Goggins come into Deep Creek together in the lead		 Tim
Tim
crewing
crewing		 are we having fun yet?
are we having fun yet?		 g6/81/452681/3/85422010.V2I4GJZx.jpg hammer gel?
hammer gel?
shoe change
shoe change		 ahhh!
ahhh!		 clean socks - at least for a 1/4 mile or so....
clean socks - at least for a 1/4 mile or so....		 Tim Stroh comes into Deep Creek close behind Englund & Goggins
Tim Stroh comes into Deep Creek close behind Englund & Goggins
chicken soup and Zuzu
chicken soup and Zuzu		 Beverly & Alan Abbs leave Deep Creek just behind Englund, Goggins & Stroh. (That's Bruce the Vizsla)
Beverly & Alan Abbs leave Deep Creek just behind Englund, Goggins & Stroh. (That's Bruce the Vizsla)		 James Varner is next into Deep Creek
James Varner is next into Deep Creek		 James' crew & Jim Updegrove (who DNF'd on the first loop due to missed cut-offs)
James' crew & Jim Updegrove (who DNF'd on the first loop due to missed cut-offs)
Alison helps with foot care
Alison helps with foot care		 attentive crew
attentive crew		 James says he's not sure he wants to go on
James says he's not sure he wants to go on		 with warm clothes & a smile, he's going to get back on the trail
with warm clothes & a smile, he's going to get back on the trail
fuel up
fuel up		 top it off
top it off		 back on the trail & into the night (he DNF's further down the course)
back on the trail & into the night (he DNF's further down the course)		 sign to the lodge
sign to the lodge
a plain sign
a plain sign		 who will get these?
who will get these?		 Tim & Steve - search & rescue stayed up all day and night and day
Tim & Steve - search & rescue stayed up all day and night and day		 the course: 2 clockwise loops
the course: 2 clockwise loops
catching a few seconds of shut eye
catching a few seconds of shut eye		 Tim Englund is first on the road to the finish line in front of the lodge
Tim Englund is first on the road to the finish line in front of the lodge		 exciting finish
exciting finish		 1st place male in 25:43:44 and a new course record by an hour and 15 minutes
1st place male in 25:43:44 and a new course record by an hour and 15 minutes
finisher's awards
finisher's awards		 kisses from Missy
kisses from Missy		 more Tims: Tim Dehnhoff (search & rescue) congratulates Tim Englund
more Tims: Tim Dehnhoff (search & rescue) congratulates Tim Englund		 Tim & crew
Tim & crew
more crew
more crew		 John Pearch congratulates Tim
John Pearch congratulates Tim		 RD Tom Ripley
RD Tom Ripley		 David Goggins finished second in 27:25:48
David Goggins finished second in 27:25:48
David and his wife Eliza
David and his wife Eliza		 afterglow
afterglow		 those are called shadows, boys...
those are called shadows, boys...		 1st and 2nd place
1st and 2nd place
trail stories
trail stories		 g6/81/452681/3/85423456.4AztbyN6.jpg 1st place Plain male (that's what it SHOULD say!)
1st place Plain male (that's what it SHOULD say!)		 the Abbs finish together in 3rd place in 27:52:21
the Abbs finish together in 3rd place in 27:52:21
hugs
hugs		 tired
tired		 Tim Stroh (previous course record holder) congratulates the new course record holder
Tim Stroh (previous course record holder) congratulates the new course record holder		 lighten' up
lighten' up
smoking a cigar after smoking the course
smoking a cigar after smoking the course		 chillin'
chillin'		 a crew's excuse to join in on the celebration
a crew's excuse to join in on the celebration

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