Where's Waldo Ski Run with a view to Waldo Lake
Last year, Where's Waldo 100k was a disaster for me. This year it was one big party. While I would have liked to get my redemption on the course, it'll have to wait till next year, as the race conflicted with Angeles Crest this year. Instead, our family camped out at Charlton Lake and worked the Aid Station there (mile 32) on race day.
Early Morning at Charlton Lake
We camped right on the lake and woke to serene beauty. The quiet was especially appreciated since the campers next door were partying late into the night. The silence was quickly broken by my two kids who provided a little early morning payback noise for our hung-over noisy neighbors!
Not long after daybreak, we were setting up our surf station for the runners. Tim Olson came flying through just after 9:30. He dropped his bottles, grabbed two new ones from his wife, and was out of there in a flash, leaving all of us standing around idle with our jaws hanging open. But soon enough, we had a steady stream of runners looking for food and a fluid refill.
Surf's up at Charlton Lake!
The family cheers on the runners
Liam with very fashionable and eclectic accessories: A Cowbell, a Lei, and a Machine Gun
Our aid station had a cutoff at 1 pm, so we had time to clean up and get to the finish line. But why would the kids want to watch tired, dirty runners stumble across a line of chalk when there was a huge gondola sprouting from the finish line??
So we went for a ride up the mountain, hiked around, and rode back down. After enjoying the BBQ, we rode up for a second time, because who can get enough gondola? Ok, well maybe Mac and I had our fills, but the kids thought the second ride was just as exciting as the first.
The Charlton Lake Crew all camped out by the lake again Saturday night along with Corvallis Waldo finisher, Mikio, who was moving around remarkably well. We enjoyed a big bonfire but nothing to rival the debauchery of our fellow campers, who were at it again late into the night (and early morning!).
The next morning Mac got in a nice three hour run on the trails (with a Twins summit!) before we packed it up.
Yeah, that face is filthy. Don't judge; we are camping!
On the way home, stopped at the Willamette Fish Hatchery, which was the coolest fish hatchery ever, and I am qualified to say this because I have been to a lot of fish hatcheries for some unexplainable reason!
The breeder sturgeon and trout
Free food! Fish food, that is.
A round of "educational fish golf" to wrap up the weekend
It was a great race weekend with none of the pre-race jitters!
Full results here.
2 comments:
Your kids look totally like you! I missed Waldo...
Volunteering means good karma for the race next year. Allan Holtz had invited me to join him for Angeles Crest (and Leadville and a Grand Canyon rim-to-rim-to-rim all in 10 days!), but I had to pass, due to injuries. The photos coming out from Waldo have me thinking that that's one I ahve to do.
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