My dedicated crew and I drove up to Big Bear, CA the day before the race to acclimate to the altitude and complete the runner-check in. It was noticeably cooler than the Palm Springs temperatures we had been accustomed to but it was a nice change not to be cooking in the afternoon sun.

We awoke bright and early to catch the shuttles to the starting line. The temperatures were just above freezing so the runners, myself included, were all doing their best to stay warm and loose before the run.

The first 6 miles (10km) were almost all uphill so within the first few minutes we were well on our way to warming up. As we shed the layers and made the climb up into the mountains, we were greeted with glimpses of the pristine Big Beak Lake and the surrounding town.

Due to the nearby fires, the route had been changed to be running on fire roads instead of the forested trails of the usual route. This made it a little tougher on the feet but resulted in about 1500 ft (500m) less climbing than on the original route.

The temperatures warmed up into the mid-80’s Fahrenheit (25-28 celsius) but the heat training in the Palm Springs weather had paid off. I could feel a slightly elevated heart-rate due to the altitude, but my energy levels remained high after the mid-way Doble Camp First-Aid Station. As I came down the hill into Doble Camp, I saw a good friend Marc and we fistbumped knowing some relief and refreshment was in site. As I rouned the last corner, I was greeted by my dedicated crew (Mom and Dad)

After Doble Camp, I felt recharged and refreshed. The croissants, pickles, chocolate-covered coffee beans, bacon, quesadillas and electrolyte drinks were producing noticeable boosts in energy. Getting caught in the early shuffle of the mid-pack had resulted in a slower start than I had planned, but it paid off in the second half. The last 6 miles (10km) of downhill started to take a toll on my feet. I could tell that I was going to end up with black-toes after this one but I kept powering down the hill hoping to come in to the finish under 7 hours.

As I rounded the final bend, the finish line was in sight. Eyes focused on the prize, I didn’t even notice my crew cheering me on 100 yards before the finish line. I was greeted by a wonderful, young volunteer who graciously presented me with my finisher’s medal. Overall, I was quite pleased with my time despite not having trained as much as I’d have liked. The event was run very well and I hope to get the chance to run it again on the original route.