Dad Runs The Tahoe Rim Trail 100 Miler

Dad ran the Tahoe Rim Trail 100 Mile Endurance Run (TRT100) on Saturday. We all drove up to Lake Tahoe and met Danya, Maison, Scerinda, Sam, Catherine, and Tommy in Incline Village, NV. We all had pizza and pasta at a local restaurant there the night before. It was fun to all be together and have the kids play together.

Early Saturday morning, Mom drove Dad up to the start line at Spooner Lake on the east side of Lake Tahoe. He started at 5am when it was still dark. The TRT100 starts at Spooner Lake and goes north in a quasi three leaf clover of loops. It goes north along the shore of Marlette Lake, to the east on a loop to the "Red House" (6800ft), then north on a loop to Diamond Peak Ski Resort, and then returns back south to the start at Spooner Lake via Snow Valley Peak (9000ft) to the east of Marlette Lake. That series of loops is 50 miles, so the 100 miler is two times around the course. The total amount of climb and descent is +20,000ft and -20,000ft. It is a beautiful course along the Rim Trail, with vistas of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding area, conifer forests and quaking aspen.

The first place Mom and the kids could meet up with Dad was at Diamond Peak ski lodge at about 10am. Here he is coming across the parking lot.

 Running into the aid station at Diamond Peak.

Getting a drink. Danya who helped Mom "crew" is in the background.

 Getting hosed down with really cold water before the climb.

At the base of the 2000ft climb in 2 miles right after Diamond Peak lodge.

After climbing the hill, Dad took a picture on his phone from this spot below and texted it to Mom with the words from a hymn: "Then sings my soul." That helped Mom know that Dad was doing good and enjoying such a beautiful trail. It also helped Dad, because when he felt tired, if he focused on being grateful for the beauty of the mountains, trees, and lake around him, he had energy to keep going.

Mark and EJ also came to help "crew." They drove Dad's 2nd pacer from the finish line at Spooner Lake to mile 80 where he would meet Dad later. 

Sam, Lily and Alex played on the rocks at the 50 mile aid station at Spooner Lake.

Here is most of the rest of everyone who came to help and watch. Scerinda and Catherine are sitting. Danya, Sarah and Maison are on the right. Mark and EJ are on the left. It was really great to have so many family members show up to watch and help. Danya really enjoyed "crewing" and said she'll be there next time Dad runs 100. Maybe Wasatch 100 some day?

Here is Dad hiking into the 50 mile aid station.

Dad weighing in at the 50 mile aid station. The weigh ins help you know if you need to drink more water to avoid de-hydration. They also tell you if you are gaining too much weight from taking too much salt with your water.

 Here are a lot of the people who came to watch and help with the race at the 50 mile aid station. Dad's first pacer James Player is in the foreground.

 Dad getting another drink with his pacer James Player in the background.

Here is James with his wife Krista before meeting Dad at the 50 mile aid station.

Dad leaving with James out of the 50 mile aid station.

Running with James out of the 50 mile aid station.

Stopping by a port-a-potty before continuing out on the trail. 

Dad on the climb to Marlette Lake.

All smiles at mile 50 something.

 At the shore of Lake Marlette.

Entering Hobart Aid Station 

Hobart Aid Station 

Was there time for this?? 

View of Marlette Lake and the thunderstorm rolling through the Spooner Lake area.

Running around Marlette Peak. 

James is really energetic and cheerful, which helped time go by quickly on the run. Dad and James talked the whole time and had a lot of fun covering the trail. 

Tunnel Creek Aid Station 

Inspecting the GU selection. Nine-year-old Gabe is in a cowboy hat helping his mom who was the Aid Station Captain.

Down the big hill of the Red House loop (6800ft). 

 At little cross country at mile 60 something. The race director put out the stumps to help us stay out of the mud.

Up the hill out of the Red House loop. 

Stream crossing before the Red House Aid Station. James crossed this stream without getting his shoes wet somehow. (Hint: he crossed on the far right side.)

 Red House Aid Station

Red House 

Food selection at the Red House Aid Station.

 Wasn't this a running race?

Sunset.

 At Bull Wheel aid station

There was a great sunset Saturday night.

James really loved the sunset and hopped around taking a bunch of pictures.

Here's a great picture of the sunset that evening over the lake. "How great Thou Art!"

Head lamps came out as the sun went down.

Kind of blurry, but you get the idea of the sunset. Dad jokes that without blurry pictures no one would know about Big Foot.

Wild life on the trail after dark heading into Diamond Peak lodge.

At Diamond Peak aid station (mile 80) with pacers James and Jim Kepfer. 

Here is Dad leaving to climb the same Diamond Peak hill from earlier in the day with Jim Kepfer, his pacer for the last 20 miles. Dad met Jim through a mutual friend on Facebook, but didn't see him or talk in person with him until mile 80 of the TRT100. There aren't as many pictures at night of course. Jim was also a very good pacer -- he kept up a good conversation and had a timer to help Dad remember to keep eating every 30 minutes. He is a band teacher in Auburn, CA and loves to pace for ultra races. He has run a few ultras himself, but says he prefers pacing. 

Head lights coming into Spooner Lake finish! 101.5 miles. 

Mom and Dad at the finish line. Glad to be done! 22hours and 16 minutes later at 3:16am on Sunday morning.

At the finish! We are all clearly tired. 

Here is the belt buckle with a gold coin in the center for finishing in under 24 hours. You get a silver coin for under 30, and a bronze coin for under 35 hours.

What's next? Hopefully Western States 100 next year. That's closer to home, and has been Dad's goal race for three years, but he hasn't been selected in the lottery yet.