Camping and change in course for Capitol Peak 50 mile and 55K

Answer to questions regarding camping... Yes there is camping available at Mima Campground at the new start/finish Saturday night (April 24th) before the race (as apart of our permit from the Washington Dept of Natural Resources -DNR). Camping won't be available on Sunday eve after the race. All other campsites in Capitol Forest are not open until May 1st.

Also, please keep checking for updates on our new course --currently adjusting course based on recent updates from the Washington Department of Natural Resources on timber sales. We will change the course to completely avoid logging operations! Please be patient, we will let you know by mid to late March.

See website for more details (however, website might not be as current as our facebook page):
http://www.capitolpeakultras.com/CP50mile.htm

NEW START FINISH FOR 50 mile and 55Km

To make it easier driving we changed the start/finish for Capitol Peak 50
mile and 55Km. I also modified the course map accordingly. However, stay
tuned for more updates on trail conditions or potential small changes
to the course.
See website for more details:

Capitol Peak Mega Fat Ass

Greetings!

The 9th Annual Mega Fat Ass was a great turnout. 110 total runners and several dogs started on this new out and back course from Mima Falls Campground to Capitol Peak 30 mile (or to Falls Ck for the 17 mile option). I've been thinking about putting this out-and-back course together for a while. As we proved last year, it is way easier to get to this starting point in the middle of winter. However, this year we didn't have to worry about ANY snow, just a "little" water and mud to mix things up! Great to see so many new and familiar faces out there!

Thanks to so many people for volunteering at this event...it truly could not have happened without all their support. Most importantly, thanks to the South Puget Sound Mobile Search and Rescue for coming out and working at all the checkpoints on the course. Also, HUGE thanks to Friends of Capitol Forest (FOCF) for coming with their ginormous tents and burn barrels to keep everyone happy at the finish. Also thanks to all the marvelous volunteers including: Kris Ryding (marked and swept entire course, huge kudos!!), Brent Warner (parking and timing!!), Darrell Roberts, Sean Sexton, Herb Reeves, David Snyder, Michael Scholl, Jamie Poelker, Bill and Helene Pearch (my parents), Jim Szumila, and many more!

Please check out more stories on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Capitol-Peak-Ultras/100000451825914

Preliminary result are posted on the website:
http://www.capitolpeakultras.com/cpmfaindex.htm
We'll post final results on the Ultra Signup site. Thanks to UltraSignup for all the support, made our registration go much smoother!

See you on April 25 at the Capitol Peak 50 mile and 55Km!

Thank you for all your generous contribution to FOCF and to the Olympia trail running community!

John Pearch
RD, Capitol Peak Ultras

2010 Race Updates

1) If you've tried to snail mail to the P.O. Box and got mail returned, please try again. It should go through now. The address is still the same at:
P.O. Box 845
Olympia, WA 98507
PLEASE EMAIL ME ASAP IF ANY MAIL IS RETURNED!

2)Sign up on FaceBook to find out most recent updates that might be posted more than this blog.

3) The Mega Fat Ass is scheduled for Saturday January 16, 2010. You can sign up online if you are 18 or older.
However minors must fill out both forms and sign along with parents or guardians and bring to the race (SIGN BOTH FORMS!!)
http://www.capitolpeakultras.com/fatasswaiver.htm

See updates on trail conditions on the facebook page. The climb up Capitol Peak depends on snow conditions.
See website for more details and new course map...it's a really easy format this year with Green Line #6 out and back, but maybe not necessarily an easy profile:^)
The half will be 17 miles from Mima Falls to Falls Creek and back. And the ultra will be about 30 miles from Mima Falls to Capitol Peak and back. Because of the layout of the course, drop bag will be available at Falls Creek. However, please make sure your bags all labeled with your last name. Duck tape works great!
http://www.capitolpeakultras.com/cpmfaindex.htm

4) The Capitol Peak 50 mile and 55Km is scheduled for SUNDAY April 25, 2010. The course is the same as last year. You can also sign up online or mailin from the
website: http://www.capitolpeakultras.com/CP50mile.htm
Come watch the infamous Olympia's Procession of the Species on Saturday after you pickup your packets and then race is on Sunday.

Website is now back online!

Greetings Folks! Sorry for the delay but the www.capitolpeakultras.com website is now back online. We've posted all the results and attached a few photos from the race. Also, see the poem on the accounts of Capitol Peak created by Jim Updegrove. Thanks Jim for all the great poetry!

Capitol Peak 50M/55KM

by Jim Updegrove

The gods of Olympia rained down their power

Washed out the trails with many a shower.

Volunteer workers, many hours they toiled

They refused to let this race be spoiled.

The rain, yes it stopped, for the start of the race

Ninety anxious runners set a fast pace.

The trail quickly rose, a thousand feet or more

And in just 4 miles, it seemed like a chore.

Three big climbs in all, the last being the worst

Quads felt like they were going to burst.

5o Mile:

Gutierrez won the 50

Ohlrich pushed him all day.

While Hewey succeeded

In keepingVarner at bay.

Jenny Capel ran with an easy stride

Veronica McIlvenna followed, she upheld her pride.

In third came Kris Ryding, a local volunteer

She helped clear the trails to get ready this year.

55KM

Michael Havrda set the pace for the day

And just like the wind, blew everyone away.

Jesse Stevick ran hard for second place

John Berta finished third which is no disgrace.

Alison Hanks led the gals right down to the line

Then came Shawna Wilskey thinking second was fine.

Becky Braun came in third, she left many behind

I know she can tell you, this trail’s one of a kind.

The gods of Olympia, awakened by feet

Sent out great clouds and torrents of sleet.

Snow hung on the treetops, it covered the trail

The hardy shivered on while volunteers turned pale.

John Bandur, still running, drinking beer for leaven

He’s Grand Slammer #2, of 1987.

John led the old geezers around on this run

He won the senior division and he’s just 71.

The Arkansas Travelers came the most miles

When Laura Earley finished, she dazzled in smiles.

Jamie Gifford received his fifth year award

A Capitol Peak print that he really adored.

Eighty six runners finished from this group

And on this cold day enjoyed Mom’s and Dad’s soup.

Capitol Peak 50 mile and 55K Results now posted!

Greetings to all!
The 5th annual Capitol Peak 50 mile and 55Km was a success once again regardless of spitting snow and blustery wind on the summit of Capitol Peak. 90 Runners toed the line and 86 runners finished both races. There were 41 official finishers in the 50 miler and 43 finishers in the 55Km. Jenny Capel from Reno, Nevada swept the womens field in the 50 miler with a smashing time of 8:32:21 followed by Veronica Mcilvenna in 2nd and Kris Ryding in 3rd. Ron Gutierrez from San Francisco, CA was first overall in the 50 miler with a time of 7:41:20, followed by Miles Ohlrich in 2nd and Adam Hewey in 3rd. Jamie Gifford also recieved the 5 Year Finisher Award for finishing all 5 years of Capitol Peak 50 miles, since the inception in 2005. Our Senior finishers in the 50 miler include Rainer Schultz and Tom Ripley.
The 55Km also showed stellar performances as well. Alison Hanks won the womens field in 5:45:40, followed by Shawna Whilskey in 2nd and Becky Brun in 3rd. Michael Havrda won overall the 55km in 4:28:40 followed by Jesse Stevick in 2nd and John Berta in 3rd. Michael was fortunate he trained on the course in advance since several other took a wrong turn due to mysterious false ribbons. Our Senior finishers in the 55K include John Bandur, Rick Haase and Jim Updegrove.

A huge contingent of volunteers were very greatful in coming out and battling cold and wet blustery conditions at various aid stations throughout Capitol State Forest. We couldn't survive without all these volunteers making it a great race to run. Also thanks also to Friends of Capitol Forest for all their support in trail maintenance that provided over 1000's of hours on the trail! Also thanks to the South Puget Sound Mobile Search and Rescue unit for giving radio and medical staffing support at all the aid stations.
Thank you's go out to a multitude of volunteer individuals which include (w/ respective aid station or work station):
Race Packet Pickup at South Sound Running: Kris Ryding
Registration: Roberta Woods, Jane Updegrove, Lewis Taylor, Allison Moore
Aid Station 1: Heidi Perry, Elena "Peanut" Perry and Dan Farmer
Aid Station 2: Friends of Capitol Forest, Herb Reeves, David Snyder and Gordon Carlisle
Aid Station 3: Roberta Woods, Jane Updegrove, Ashley Birmingham and Heidi Perry
Aid Station 4/5: Allison Moore, Jess Mullen, Max Welker
Aid Station 6/8: Harvey Hall, Laura Houston, Mike Adams
Aid Station 7: Kent Holder and Cooper Brown
Sweepers: Lewis Taylor, Ashley Birmingham, Jim Szumila, Max Welker, and Laura Houston
Supply Van Drivers: Herb Reeves and Mike Adams (who always never hesitates to pickup all the Talking Rain water:~)
Finish Line support: David Snyder, Heidi Perry and many others.
Finish line Timing: Genissa Sygitowicz, Jennifer Seward and Terry Pruit
And last but certaintly not least our soup preparer's extraordinaire's: Bill and Helene Pearch (aka Mom and Dad)
Also special thanks go out to all our sponsors, including: South Sound Running, Seattle Running Company, Brooks, The Balanced Athlete, Route 16 Running and Walking, nuun electrolyte drink, Gu sports gels, Talking Rain water company, The Olympia Food Coop, and San Francisco Street Bakery. Also thanks to Wild Bill Graphics for designing and printing all the great tshirts. And also to John Robinson (Timberline Design) for all the great awards. We also very much appreciate all the support the Washington State Department of Natural Resources has given us and permitted all our events without question.
And last but not least, thanks to Glenn Tachiyama for taking all the awesome photos, (see link at right).

Thanks to all who came out to support Capitol Peak! Hope to see you all next year.

John Pearch
RD-Capitol Peak Ultras

PS: Please comment on this blog or also give your address to your blog so we can add as a link to this blog!