Last time I ran Quicksilver 100K and/or the 100K distance was 10 years ago, where I finished in 14:17 without a whole lot of focused training with vert/distance. Was hoping for a stronger run this year and the training definitely paid off! In addition to the training, I was trying out (for a change) a very regimented diet with a mix of Carbs Fuel high-carbs gel (200 calories and 50g of carbs) and GU Liquid Energy, making use of the two drop bag locations. Of course, my younger son Navin paced me the last eight miles, for which I’m super grateful and thankful!

The nutrition plan was fairly straight forward: one Carbs Fuel at the start, and then take a GU gel (or two) somewhere on the way to the next aid and then another Carbs Fuel right before arriving at the aid station – repeat and rinse for the entire course. Overall the tally was 12 Carbs Fuel gels, 12 GU Liquid Energy gels and 3 regular GU gels – about 4,000 calories averaging 300 calories/hour – never bonked, no GI stress, very little help from the aid stations and kept moving consistently! Here’s my Strava activity:

Quicksilver 100K: Part 1 – Sierra Azul

Met some familiar faces at the start – William Dai, Anil Rao, Mark Tanaka – and I would see a few more on the Kennedy out-and-back. Off we went at 4:30am, flashlights bobbing up on English Camp trail with a brief lollipop on Hidalgo cemetery (lots of historical mining artifacts all along the Quicksilver trails). Heading towards the Hicks aid, saw a spectacular morning sky and the crisp cool air felt amazing. No rush to get anywhere as it was just mile 5. We were soon entering Sierra Azul and everything felt familiar.

This is arguably the hardest part of Quicksilver 100K, with bulk of the elevation stacked up here in steep, exposed firetrails (one of them affectionately known as dogmeat). A few weeks preceding the race, I did two back-to-back 20-milers here, from two separate starting points hitting both Dogmeat and Kennedy sections. And one more time the week preceding the race. This really, really helped! The cloud inversion was sick, Mt. Umunhum lighting up in the morning sun, and I was hoping to greet a few Red Ribbons blooms – my first time encountering this Clarkia just a few weeks ago, at the top of El Sombroso.

Past the Woods aid, a lovely 6-mile descent to Lexington aid. I was making good time. Brief pit stop and while climbing on Dogmeat, got to meet and chat with Ben Barrett, also running Bay Area 100M in 5 weeks. Dogmeat definitely wasn’t as intimidating as the last time. Descending 4-miles to Kennedy aid, saw Jean Pommier heading uphill (must hold the record for the longest streak of someone finishing first in their AG in every Bay Area ultra). The Kennedy aid was full service, they got my drop bag, loaded up my ice bandana and it was a quick turnaround!

Quicksilver 100K: Part 2 – Hacienda Aid

Climbing up Kennedy, saw William Dai coming down (he was running with a knee injury, which was crazy!), then Anil Rao and a few other runners I’ve met recently. One thing I’m trying to work on (especially with regards to the upcoming 100 miler), is not to complain about any part of the course – no negativity or whining that some section is hard, steep, hot, etc – just take it as it comes, work through it and move along. Well, I definitely got lotsa training here with the Kennedy rollers. Could feel the sun now. Past the Woods aid, made good time on the long 6 mile descent back to Hicks – plenty of shade along this section too. When I was exiting Sierra Azul, caught myself touching the trail sign and saying loudly: F#@! you Sierra Azul, I love you too 🙂 And thank you for letting me pass through without a face plant!

I’ve volunteered at the Hicks Aid a few times now, and the captain Clare Abram puts on quite the themed party. This time it was the “high carbs aid station”, with donuts everywhere! Chugging along, hit the Deep Gulch trail filled with gnarly ankle biters and I really slowed down here watching my footing. Slow going and eventually made it to Hacienda aid, mile 42, right around 8:30! That was loads better than last time when I came through the start/finish line, saw the lead runners finish up, and I still had 20 miles to go!

Quicksilver 100K: Part 3 – McAbee Aid

The Mockingbird rollers are nasty, well ok, character builders. Steep, exposed rollers during the midday sun – those 3.1 miles to the next aid always feel a lot longer. I was starting to get excited about meeting my wife Kammy and Navin at McAbee, as I began the ascent up to Bull Run aid. Again, lots of shade here and plenty of walking – was focused on keeping cool, hydrating and staying consistent with the gels. Texted Kammy and Navin near the top and they were gonna leave home soon to get there.

As I was descending on Prospect, briefly noted that this would be my fastest 50-miler with this amount of elevation. The New Almaden single track was gorgeous, but I was being careful to not trip, having come this far and with tired legs. As we got closer, I was thrilled to see Kammy cheering me and we walked together to the aid station. Orly Liba was the captain here, also running Bay Area 100M. Quick pit stop again and the aid volunteers were just fantastic helping me get out of there quickly.

Quicksilver 100K: Part 4 – Home Stretch with Navin

We walked up the trail and Navin was cheering me on – I was grunting at times, shuffling up the low grade hills and running the downs. Last climb of the day! I was a little too focused on just moving, while he was doing the math – 11:45 elapsed leaving McAbee, and with the last 8 miles and a conservative 2 hours, we could have a sub-14:00 in the works.

As we approached Bull Run for the second time, right around 13:00 elapsed, Navin’s like: “Dad, it’s just a downhill 5K, wanna run it?“. Gulped down some coke and we started shuffling and as I felt the tug of gravity, started leaning into it. Navin was leading the way, checking on me periodically, rattling off stats, while pointing at obstacles on the course. I was booking now, 7:15 to 7:30 pace and just flying downhill – laser focused on the trail. No thoughts, no sounds, suspended time, just flow.

“Dad, I can hear the finish“. Then as we got closer to Hacienda, “Dad, we have 4 minutes to break 13:30” and in we came flying, finishing at 13:27, 5th in AG and a full 45 minute PR from 10 years ago. I gave him a huge hug, spent, but happy to finish strong with a PR too! I don’t think I could’ve pulled off such a strong finish without Navin being there by my side – very very thankful!

John Onate and Makiko Yamashita (she finished 3rd Female in the 50K) were there to quickly come up to us. Saw William Dai finish sometime later, paced by Brian Mulholland. I think I saw Jack Hsueh too (maybe when I went through Hacienda the first time?). Fun little reunion of sorts. This was a lot to process and writing this blog reminded me of what a village (family, supporting friends and volunteers) it takes to pull something like this off.

Onwards to Bay Area 100M

Speaking of a village, I’m super stoked that both my sons, Niles (we ran Chicago & Tokyo marathons together and Berlin later this year!) and Navin, will be crewing & pacing me during the last 30ish miles of the Bay Area 100M! And Kammy‘s gonna crew me too! That makes me one really lucky dad/husband! 🤩

Being in the mountains all day, just with your thoughts, feeding off sugar like a humming bird, through the ups and the downs, the highs and the lows, and willingly coming back for more is a gift, a really stupid gift, but a gift nonetheless – grateful for it. Onwards and happy trails.