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Rob Flat to Michigan Bluff

September 1, 2017 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: 105F in Foresthill, 85-90F at Rob Flat. HOT

Comments:
Fascinating day.

Slept well, then got to the airport expediantly. The whole travel day was hitch-less:

- easy flight to SEA
- good breakfast at SEA
- fast flight to SMF
- quick shuttle and car pickup
- on the road and up the hill by like 1140!

It was going to be "a rush" to drop the car at Rob Flat and get to MB at a reasonable hour, but everything went super-fast. Stopped in FH to get supplies, loading a cooler with ice and beverages into the trunk. I then stashed my bag in some trees by Bath Rd (to save the time of driving to MB to do it), then hauled up to Rob Flat.

The heat at FH was incredible. 105F!! I'm fairly sure that the highest FH high on race day has been maybe 95F, if that.

Rob Flat was cooler, but still nearly 90. Wow. Geared up, sent some departure texts, then got on the road.

I felt double haggard early on:

- travel day
- yesterday's weights and workout

But after a mile of grinder up and steep downs on the road, the legs loosened up. In fact, I got several real quick miles on the road, which I took all the way down to the Dusty cutoff...which I was unsure about, and wound up over-shooting (adding nearly a mile).

The double track to Dusty Corners was...dusty. The theme of the day: thick, flour-like drown dirt, which evidently was from the Tevis ride, which was a couple weeks prior.

I had to deuce, so once I got to Dusty AS, I did that. On the way down, I saw a big "black-brown bear" which woke me up!

I thought about taking the road straight there, but damn it, Pucker Point is the best trail on that section, so I took it. Or so I thought...while it's a great view, the tread was in rough shape. It looked like it was excavated, but again, it turns out that was the Tevis ride, tearing it up! For the first time all day I split a mile >9 minutes. That's about when the fatigue, and real heat, started.

I shuffled along pretty well, though, keeping the effort easy, eventually popping out to Last Chance. I took another short stop there, to douse in the frigid spring and fill a 10oz bottle I'd picked up (Tevis litter).

After that, I left. It was hot. I was tired. I got a little scared.

This is a tough run, in some epic (if not almost historic) conditions. Alone, no damn ice, no calories (I brought NOTHING)...

...but I had to put that out of my mind. "You're OK. Just execute". And so I did.

Ran OK, albeit a little clunky, down to the Slab, then onto the trail. As a prelude to the High Country, I was shocked at the undergrowth -- even on that trail, it was tough to see tread because of the encroaching brush.

That descent was solid, but again, at time super-sandy because of the horses. But I opened up as best as I could.

But man...did it get hot! Really interesting. It's been FOUR years since I've felt that...that crazy build-up of heat as you descend. I kept up on my hydration, burying that little bottle then attacking the remains of my pack, knowing I'd drink from the spring at the base.

Near the bottom, it occurred to me that I needed to jump into the Fork. I'd never done so, but...it was SO damn hot. I needed to try it. So even though I felt "OK", once I hit the bridge, I shuffled down the rocks on the far side and found a legit jump-in spot. I dropped my pack and hat, then, without hesitation, "shallow dove" in!

WOW! "HOLY SHIT!" It was amazing. I couldn't stop yelling...and cursing, in joy! It felt SO GOOD. It was farily cold, but not frigid. But super-refreshing. PERFECT!

"WOOOO! AMAZING!" I dunked again again, but the whole excursion couldn't have been more than a few minutes, then I was out, pack and hat donned, and across the bridge.

Once at the spring, I filled the pack to the brim, then got to hiking.

It was hot, but not blazing. By then it was like 4:xx, so the sun wasn't on that side of the canyon. I hiked most of it, but I began to notice my breathing suffer: just tough to get in a quality breath, and my HR was racing, just hiking. So I limited the running, and instead swatted the swarming flies.

It seemed to go quickly, but I'm not sure of my split (due to the two stops) to the Thumb AS. It was probably ~32 minutes. I thought I was faster than that, but guess not.

From there, I was a little disappointed. I thought I was rolling, but it was more shuffle than I realized. The descent to El Dorado was the same deal: slow and progressively worse breathing. I realized then that these canyons were socked in with smoke, especially El D. I did my best to descend and, once again, took advantage of an amazing DEEP jump into the creek! SOOO GOOD.

From there, it was up to MB. The inability to breathe - and thus run - was shocking. I had nothing. I had to walk the vast majority of it. Sucked, but I reserved judgment.

Popped out to the "neighborhood' and triumphantly jogged to Carol's house, where she and (her BF) Dave were sitting, drinking beers with BGD!

"How's it going??"
"Better, now!" :-)

Sat there, a little cooked, then got a Firestone 805 Pilsner, which was fucking AMAZING.

REALLY GREAT RUN. Tough, but great.

Rest of the night:
- we hustled out of there (unfortunately), then decided we should NOT try to drive to Squaw that night, and instead stay in Rocklin. I was relieved, knowing I needed some good rest
- showered up at the Kelly house, then beers and burgers at the ol' Boneshaker

SPLITS:
RF to the road to Dusty: 41:xx (including extra almost-mile)
to Dusty AS: 23:40 (total: 63:xx)
Last Chance AS: 41:11
to the Slab: 10:21
Swinging Bridge: 13:30
to Devils Thumb AS: 32:xx
El Dorado AS: 44:44
Michigan Bluff AS: 46:06