There are about a hundred of us lined up. I lined up not quite in the front. HC and her friend are beside me and BK is just a bit behind them. We’re given some brief instructions on the loops, how they are marked with different colored ribbons (pink, yellow, and orange for the perimeter, middle, and summit loops, respectively) for each loop and striped ribbons for turns. We’re told about how the summit trail has a 400m out and back section to the top before resuming around the island. The race director, Wendell, asks for whom this is their first visit to Angel Island and a few raise their hands. He then asks for whom this is their first ultra and I and a few others raise their hands. Very soon, the countdown begins and we’re off.
I’m running and towards the front of the pack and we get to the initial climb/stairs. I run on the initial climb and BK is right behind me. We hit the stairs and we’re walking. We get to the top and we’re following the pink ribbons on the perimeter road. BK starts falling behind and I keep looking back expecting him to catch up, but I don’t think he’s ready to go that pace or is recovering from the stairs. Some runners already shoot way ahead. I don’t really know how to pace myself for a race like this so I’m going to go purely by RPE.

We pass some of the historic buildings that I know I’ve visited on hikes here before. A few people pass me, but most are doing the 25K (as evidenced by their 2xx race number). There is and older guy in a day glo yellow shirt who’s ahead of me. There’s a blonde woman who passes me. There’s a guy in a red jersey who passes me. There’s a guy in blue also with a partial day glo yellow cap who passes me. Sheesh. I’m thinking there are a lot of hardened ultra/trail runners here.

The perimeter loop is the flattest of all the loops, but there’s a section about 1/3 the way in that has some stairs. So, I’m walking up them. Otherwise, I’m feeling pretty good. We have some beautiful views of the Bay Bridge and Treasure Island. It’s clear out and this is the sunny side so I can feel the warmth of the sun already.

It’s relatively flat so the distance moves along. There’s another section on the perimeter loop that climbs again and I’m walking again. We’re treated to some beautiful views of the city and the Golden Gate Bridge. There’s another steep section and I’m walking again and then a short steep downhill run followed by winding down the mostly shaded singletrack trails for a couple miles to get back down to the cove and the start/aid station/finish area. I grab some boiled potato pieces and dip them in some salt and eat that. I eat some potato chips. I eat some gorp. I slug down some sports drink, grab a cookie and some water and I’m walking to start the next loop.

I pass the bathrooms and duck in for a quick pit stop and I’m back on my way. I hit the climb/stairs again. I walk up them and once I get to the top, it’s time to follow the yellow ribbons. The yellow/middle loop and the orange/summit loop follow the same section for a bit. It’s up for a little while until we hit a turn onto a road where the orange/summit trail heads upward and the yellow/middle loop continues around. There are a few runners (presumably the 8K) coming down this way and I’m confused. I didn’t think the out and back section for the summit trail included this part (but I don’t know exactly since I haven’t run it yet), but since there are so few of them I’m guessing they screwed up and missed the real return trail after coming back down from the summit.

After all of this climbing, the middle loops is fairly level as it winds its way around the island. Most of this is on a road that is at times asphalt and at times covered in chucks of dirt. We’re treated to even better views since we’re a bit higher up and as we come around the island, we also get a nice view of Tiburon and Belvedere. Then it’s a couple miles back down again to get back to the cove.

I pretty much repeat my routine at the aid station and also refill my water bottle with some water. I also consume one of my vanilla bean gus and carry another cookie with me. I also stop off at the bathroom again (as I will on each loop) and then it’s back to the climb/stairs to start the third loop. Just walking these stairs pushes my heartrate up. At the top of the stairs, it’s follow this upward stretch that is shared with the middle loop until it branches upwards. All this uphill is still pretty mild to me so I’m able to run it all. I pass a few people on this stretch. Some of these trails seems so familiar to me from the 12K last year and from hikes. I reach the part of the trail where it has the out and back to the summit. Here’s a chance to see where some of the other racers are. On my way up, I see 3 of the guys who are doing the 50K coming down (in addition to all the 25K racers) – the day glo yellow shirt guy, a guy without a shirt, and the half day glow yellow cap guy. I greet each runner with a “good job” or something similar. I run to the top, run around the little sign with the Orange Return sign, and run back down without pausing to enjoy the view. On my way down, I see BK coming up and a little after him, I see Jessi coming up.

After coming back down the out and back, there’s clearly a sign that tells you which way to return. This loop takes me around and treats me to some amazing views. Soon enough, it’s back to the trails down. I hear someone coming up fast on me. It’s one of the women I passed on the up section who is just flying down the trail. She’s a 25Ker so she’s on her home stretch. I can’t believe how fast she is.

So, I get back to start/aid station/finish area and DW is there to take a photo of me.



I’m at the food table and BK is right behind me (he says he somehow accidentally cut off part of the course) finishing his race. Half day glo yellow cap guy is here too. Okay, I slug down more food and drink and refill my bottle. I’m thinking, geez, I’m only halfway done and now I have to do it all again. I head out and head to the bathroom. I’m quick and I’m back out and half day glo yellow cap guy is just ahead of me on the climb/stairs. I run for a little longer and start talking to him and he waits up just a bit for me and we walk up together. His name is Martin. I ask him if he’s done the race before, what other races he’s done, etc. I tell him this is my first and he’s impressed with how fast I’m going. We’re both doing the SF One Day in 3 weeks so I’ll see him there. We run along together on this loop, the fourth loop (perimeter loop), for awhile. It’s nice chatting with someone. We talk about shirtless guy and how far ahead he was and we’re not sure who is else is ahead or behind us.

There is 16 miles of course and there are only about 15 of us doing the 50K so we’re pretty spread out.

The pace is feels fairly relaxed for me so after we pass the second section of walking, I decide to pick up the pace and leave Martin behind. I still feel pretty good. There’s a pack of bicyclists and they ask me what mile I’m on and I tell them 19. After awhile, I catch up to day glow yellow shirt guy too and pass him up. I take an espresso gu somewhere along the backside on this loop to give me a little kick. As I reach the third walking section, I can look back and see day glow yellow shirt guy and Martin is nowhere to be seen. It’s a short steep down and then a couple miles back down to the start/aid station/finish area again.

DW is there to take photos.



I do my same routine at the aid station and I’m off again. HC has finished her race and she’s offering my some twizzlers. I thank her, but since I’ve already passed her I pass. I go to the bathroom and then it’s on to the climb/stairs again. This loop is mostly a blur, but I do remember feeling a bit sluggish on this loop. The fatigue is starting to really set in. I do lap one guy who wishes me a good race. After that all I remember is getting back to the aid station once again.

BK is there and says he is going to run the last loop, the summit loop, with me. I eat, drink, refill my water bottle. I stop off at the bathroom and then it’s on to the climb/stairs. I slug down another espresso gu. Having BK there is nice. On to the orange/yellow trail. I don’t feel particularly fast, but I don’t feel quite as weary. BK gives me some encouragement and tells me I’m doing well. Now we’re on to the orange trail. We pass someone who is walking. We continue upward until we finally reach the out and back to the summit. As I near the summit, shirtless guy is just coming down. We tell each other good job. At one point close to the summit, I start walking. BK says he’s thankful that I did since he was ready to stop. We go up to the top, circle quickly around and then back down (BK later said he hoped we’d stop and enjoy the view).

Now we’re back on the level and I’m feeling good (that espresso gu has started to kick in). I can see that we’re slowly reeling in shirtless guy. He’s starting to look back to see where we are. We get close to him and he pulls aside and lets us pass. I wish him a good race and he says he’ll see me at the finish in a few. Now we’re on the downhill stretch and I kick it into high gear. I am flying down the trail. BK can barely keep up. It’s down, down. After about a mile, I can feel the accumulated fatigue setting in and I’m slowing just a bit. My quads and hamstrings are both tired. I’m starting to curse a bit. BK tells me to hang in there and that we’re almost there. Time seems to slow down and it seems to take longer to get back than I remember. Finally, finally, I see the signs of the last few turns. BK pulls beside me and eggs me on to a strong finish. I muster whatever I have and finish strongly.

DW is there and take my picture and congratulates me. I sit down, which feels great. DW brings me my drop bag and I take off my shoes, which also feels great, and put on my flip flops. I stretch. One of the race workers brings a t-shirt and two coasters over to me – one coaster is a ultra finisher coaster for the race and the other is a first time ultra finisher. Cool. I ask Bryan to check and see how I finished. He comes back and tells me number 3. Very cool.

Shirtless guy finishes a few minutes behind me and we chat it up. I find out his name is Dan. I eat some chicken soup. I stretch some more. I find out Dan is also going to do the SF One Day so I’ll see him there also. After awhile Jessi finishes (the second woman) and then a little after her Martin. We catch the ferry back and talk about the race. After we get back to Tiburon, Jessi decides to head back home and DW, BK, Dan, and I go back to the coffee shop to have lunch. I have a grilled turkey, gruyere Panini as does BK and DW has a Mediterranean salad. We just hang out (we’re seated outside on this beautiful day) and talk about races, training, and what a great day it’s been.