2014 Capitol Peak 50 mile and 55 Km a Huge Success and a Big 10 Years Celebration!

Photo by Glenn Tachiyama

Thank you everyone for participating and especially to all of our wonderful volunteers in the 10^th Anniversary of the Capitol Peak 50 mile and 8^th annual 55km on April 26, 2014 in Capitol State Forest near Olympia, WA. We couldn't do it without all of a volunteers, especially the Friends of Capitol Forest (FOCF) and the South Puget Sound Mobile Search and Rescue (SPSMSAR)!! We are once again proud to donate our proceeds to FOCF for all the generous support on the trails in Capitol Forest and for their continued support of the race at Falls "Tequila Bar" Creek.  And to SPSMSAR for their continued support in radio communication at the race and for acting as the leading SAR team throughout Capitol Forest. 

It is hard to believe that 10 years have gone by so fast! It feels like just yesterday when I was out with James Varner, running trails to figure out the first 50 mile course, back in June, 2005. Some who ran back then, remember this inaugural year as the "thorny carwash" where the devil’s club grew up faster than we realized on race day…down in Hells Creek...appropriately named.  DNR has since closed this trail!  And then came the 2006 year when we decided to move the race to the middle of April (out of the growing season), but the race was the first day of bear hunting season and about 3 inches of snow covered the upper sections of the course.  Also in 2006, the Friends of Capitol Forest were born and trail maintenance projects in Capitol Forest improved significantly. Then in 2007, we finally had decent weather and the course was free of that thorny devils club.  We also started up the 55k distance in 2007.   But snow was still a big factor in 2007 and 2008, when there were still 5 foot snow drifts along the Crestline trail and Capitol Peak.  Logging operations were a major factor in the substantial course changes in 2009 and 2010.  Through 2011-2013, the course remained the same and we managed to keep the "Grunt" over those years.

 

Photo by Glenn Tachiyama

Changes that occurred at the last minute this year were a common theme in the history of Capitol Peak, with the closure of the lower "Grunt" and restrictions to the towers on top of Capitol Peak.  Regardless of the changes, our love of the Forest does not change, nor does our desire to bring the trail/ultrarunning community together once again!  And we could still access the upper Grunt and the ATV Capitol Peak trail. This year’s trail also included gentler trails on a longer out and back on the Porter Trail (on the 50 miler). The 55k also got to go to Wedekind, and from what I’ve heard was a much more desirable course.  We hope to keep the new revised course again next year.  It was a fun year to celebrate the 50 miler 10th Anniversary, by providing the 10th Anniversary Bandanna and bring in the Pine Hearts for some great post-race bluegrass music. We would love to hear your experiences from this year’s race.

                                                                                                          

Here is a race recap.

The 50 mile course had very impressive finishes! 

·  74 finished the 50 mile

·  The 50 mile had 2 senior finishers including: John Zeier (61) and Rainer Schultz (71)

·  5 year finishers for the 50 mile include: Wendy Wheeler-Jacob, Andrew Barnes, Paul Heffernan, , Steve Loebner, Ryan McKnight, and Eric Purpose,

·  The women's 50 mile race was amazing! Britt Dick of Boulder Colorado won the women’s  with a time of 8:28:45.  Gwen Scott took second with a time of 9:17.   Allison Moore placed 3rd for women (9:41). 

·  The men's 50 mile race was also impressive. Seth Swanson of Missoula, MT set a new course record and won with a time of 6:31:49.  Jason Lemon placed 2nd (7:32) followed by Nicholas Kopp in 3rd (7:34).  

The 55k also had impressive finishes...

·  47 finished the 55Km.

·  The 55k had 3 senior finishers including: Beeone Baker, Greg Bargmann, and Wild Bill Voiland (our T-shirt guru!)

·  The 5 year finishers for the 55k include: Miles Yanick and Stuart Johnston   

·  Nicki Hugie-Terry won for the women with a time of (5:30:52);  2nd was Kristin Cooper (6:31); third Kristal Sager (7:07)

·  Max Ferguson won with a time of 4:40:03,  followed by Ryan Scott Blair for 2nd (4:42) and Corey Nunlist for 3rd (4:48)

We are indebted to many volunteers who also came forward to participate in this year’s 50 mile and 55km. 

Photo from Herb Reeves

Those that came to help in trail work efforts on April 5th include:

Melissa Klungle, Dave Molenaar, David Mora, John Pearch, Herb Reeves, Jason Weekes, Rainer Schultz, Wes Foote, Joe Schrumm and the Friends of Capitol Forest.  All made a huge effort in getting the trails cleared or maintained this year in Capitol Forest! 

Several people made several "double dipping" efforts to help make Capitol Peak a great race!  Thanks go out to the all the volunteers for all their huge support (please forgive me if I don't have everyone):

·  Course Markers: Herb Reeves, Kris Ryding, David Mora, Dave Molenaar, Corey Nunlist, Christopher West, Jackie Frederick and Jen Edwards, Patrick Johnson, and other Olympia Trail Runners

·  Thursday Packet stuffing party: Heidi Perry, Herb Reeves, David Mora, Dave Molenaar, Kris Ryding, Rob Dengel, Ulrike Krotscheck, Jim Holbrooks, Jen Edwards, Mark Lahaei, Rick Bushnell, Harvey Hall and other Olympia Trail Runners

·  Packet Pickup at South Sound Running:  Heidi Perry, Kris Ryding, Jen Edwards

·  Thanks also to South Sound Running for letting us once again use their store as a packet pickup location!

·  David Snyder, Lee Peterson and FOCF for setting up their event tent on Friday

·  Race Day Registration: Rob Dengel, Kris Ryding and Heidi Perry 

·  Post race meal:  my parents wonderful parents Bill and Helene Pearch, Heidi Perry and Mike and Susan Pearch (my aunt and uncle visiting from Ohio)

·  Photographer: Glenn Tachiyama on Capitol Peak summit

·         Sweepers: Herb Reeves and Kris Ryding

·         Help at the start: Brent Warner and David Mora

·         Thanks to South Puget Sound Mobile Search and Rescue for being stationed at all the aid stations.

·         Post-race music: The Pinehearts

·         A1/A11  McKenny Ridge station: Patrick Johnson and SPSMSAR

·         A2/A10 Falls Creek: Mark Lahaie, Herb Reeves and Friends of Capitol Forest

·         A3/A4 Capitol Junction: Melissa and Matt Klungle (and Jasper!), Ulrike Krotscheck, Jim Holbrooks, Mark and Cappy Nunlist

·         A5/A9 Wedekind: Heidi Perry, Bill Herzog, Nona Snell and Bobbi Cussins

·         A7 Porter Turnaround: Harvey Hall and Gerry Hacker

·         Timers: David Mora and Yannick Mulholland

·  Thanks also to Route 16 for letting us borrow their clock and other gear for timing.

·  Thanks also to Ultra Signup and Mark Gilligan for providing their excellent timing system!

Thanks also to all of our sponsors who donated or provided merchandise and goods for either our awards or food/drinks:

·         MJR Development and Mark Lahaei (for donating $1000 towards FOCF)

·         Seven Hills Running Shop (donated $200 cash to winners of men and women 50 miler and many other gift cards)

·         Orange Mud (donated products)

·         Hammer Nutrition (donating HEED, Gel and discounts on other products),

·         Scott Sports (donated gift cards)

·         Patagonia (with a great deal on t-shirts)

·         South Sound Running (donated gift cards and allowed us to have Packet Pickup at their store)

·         Route 16 Running and Walking (let us borrow clock and finish line tower)

·         The Balanced Athlete

·         Ultra Signup

·         Ultrarunning Magazine

·         Trail Runner Magazine and the Trail Runner Trophy Series

·         San Francisco Street Bakery

·         Pat Ackley and Starbucks 

·         Olympia Food Coop

·         Wild Bill Graphics (for printing the t-shirts)

·         Mug Revolution (hand crafted age group mugs)

·         My Mom (Helene Pearch) for doing the beautiful artwork for the10th anniversary bandanna!

Thanks also to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources for continued support and permitting this event! 

And to USATF for sanctioning this event!

Results, Photos and stories about the race can be found here:

https://capitolpeakultras.com/cp50mile.html

Also, see the Capitol Peak 5 year Finisher Hall of Fame:
 https://www.capitolpeakultras.com/5-Year_Hall_of_Fame.html

Please send your any stories about your experience at Capitol Peak!

If you would like to purchase a high resolution photograph, please see Glenn Tachiyamas photos:

http://smu.gs/1kjrj28

Thanks for your support in making Capitol Peak another successful race! See you all next year!!

John Pearch

RD- Capitol Peak Ultras

capitolpeak@gmail.com