#43 - Peterson Ridge Rumble 60k 2008

DATE: April 13, 2008
LOCATION: Sisters, Oregon

In my desire to run most of the Oregon Trail Ultramarathon Series I had to do the Peterson Ridge Rumble. It's a 60k that runs in the trails around Sisters, Oregon.

I left on Saturday evening and drove to Sisters and found the middle school where the race started and ended. I decided to sleep in my car in parking lot of the middle school. I was waken up at about 6am, when the early starters arrived. At that time I got up and got my packet and got ready for the race.

At the start of the race it was about 36°, but when I finished it was about 80°. So it was a hot day for April. At 8am, we started off. I had no real goal in mind. A 60k is an odd distance, more than a 50k, but less then a 50 miler. And this year, they had to cut the run short, so it was only 34 miles. I went in thinking of it like a 50k.

I started out fast. I didn't plan it, but I was running with the flow of the group. I knew the mileage at each of the aid stations, so when I got to the first aid station, I realized I was running fast. I felt good and decided to keep going strong.

Leading to the next aid station, I slowed down. It began to feel warmer. There was a little more climbing in this section, but it really wasn't that bad.

The "Grunt Loop" was cut short due to some snow closure in part of the trail. So I don't know how hard this one is normally, but the shortened 2.4 mile loop was a challenge. There was vertical climb for about a quarter of a mile. You are hiking up a rocky climb. It was very different, but fun as well. But besides that climb the rest was easy with a few patches of snow, which felt great.

I ran slower as the heat was becoming a bit much. At each aid station, I was taking a GU, which gave me energy to keep going. Leading into the final aid station, I ran slower than I thought. My biggest problem was that I was getting tired, and was exposed to the sun.
The final strength went by very fast. It was 4.1 miles long and I was able to do it in under 40 minutes. At the end you do 3/4 lap around the track and are done. I finished in a time of 5:29:51.

I chatted a little with some friends, took a shower at the middle school and drove home. It was smooth ride home, and enjoyed having had taken the shower. It was a very fun time, and enjoyed every minute of it.