Results
Two sets here: (1) the combined raw times of all finishers for all 3 years of Two Moon (we’re “distant” enough from each event that “real” vs “alias” names and (bonus/boner minute-influenced) times have lost some of their intended entertainment and obfuscation) and (2) the heretofore (who uses that word besides Henry Hobbs?) published 2010 Results and related commentary. The combined times presentation will find greater utility later when the next batch of suck-, er, excited registrants search for a reasonably realistic and arguably defensible finish time to help our (on) crack mathematical (read, “dullard”) wizards generate next year’s start groups. The 2nd set of results is the same presentation that sat on this page since shortly after 2010 became history. If you haven’t drifted through that material yet, enjoy your travels…
| 100M |
|
|
100K |
|
|
| Name |
Year |
Time |
Name |
Year |
Time |
| Meltzer, Karl |
2008 |
19:24 |
Goggins, David |
2008 |
12:50 |
| Meltzer, Karl |
2010 |
21:02 |
Sullivan, Kevin |
2009 |
13:10 |
| Campbell, Jared |
2010 |
23:13 |
Moore, Tracy |
2008 |
13:28 |
| Angle, Justin |
2008 |
23:48 |
Nielsen, Tom |
2008 |
13:28 |
| Jones-Wilkins, Andy |
2008 |
23:48 |
Krogman, Brian |
2009 |
14:08 |
| Carr, Derrick |
2008 |
24:50 |
Sproston, Amy |
2008 |
14:33 |
| Sanchez, Raymond |
2009 |
25:10 |
Teal, Brent |
2008 |
14:34 |
| Rambach, Whit |
2008 |
25:53 |
Waddle, Dan |
2009 |
15:10 |
| Koop, Jason |
2010 |
26:01 |
Toker, Jonathan |
2008 |
15:14 |
| Horton, Roch |
2009 |
26:16 |
Terranova, Meredith |
2009 |
15:47 |
| Conte, Francesca |
2009 |
26:23 |
Dart, Hank |
2009 |
15:47 |
| Ruiz, Horacio |
2009 |
26:54 |
Duncan, Randy |
2009 |
16:09 |
| WheelerJacobs, Wendy |
2009 |
27:27 |
Gerber, Carol |
2009 |
16:15 |
| Horn, Jochen |
2010 |
27:33 |
Hemmen, Jennifer |
2008 |
16:26 |
| Kumeda, Andy |
2008 |
28:26 |
Benna, Jennifer |
2009 |
16:43 |
| Spurlock, Damiel |
2008 |
28:49 |
Stewart, Jonathan |
2008 |
16:44 |
| Nye, Betsy |
2010 |
29:06 |
Stewart, Jonathan |
2009 |
16:59 |
| McCarthy, Micheal |
2009 |
29:14 |
Hughes, Ken |
2009 |
17:09 |
| Sundermeier, Ronda |
2009 |
29:14 |
Higgins, Kathy |
2009 |
17:09 |
| Cohen, H’ard |
2009 |
29:23 |
Terranova, Meredith |
2008 |
17:11 |
| Jensen, Karl |
2009 |
29:23 |
Chastain, Michael |
2010 |
17:14 |
| Timmermans, Lambert |
2009 |
29:25 |
Bardessono, Leslie |
2008 |
17:21 |
| Jegerlehner, Beat |
2010 |
29:25 |
Gascon-Amyx, Florencia |
2008 |
17:21 |
| Horton, Roch |
2008 |
29:32 |
Kreiss-Tomkins, Jonathan |
2010 |
17:27 |
| Nye, Betsy |
2008 |
29:32 |
Ogata, Tetsuro |
2008 |
17:29 |
| Burg, Jon |
2010 |
29:33 |
Robertson, Joy |
2008 |
17:42 |
| Owens, Kerry |
2008 |
29:46 |
Robertson, Joy |
2009 |
17:43 |
| Horton, Roch |
2010 |
30:00 |
Goodman, Mitchell |
2008 |
17:54 |
| Mason, Scott |
2008 |
30:16 |
Kohr, Aaron |
2009 |
17:57 |
| Moortgat, Erik |
2009 |
30:21 |
Mann, Rob |
2009 |
18:07 |
| Hyson, Chad |
2008 |
30:24 |
Klassen, Manley |
2009 |
18:09 |
| Jensen, Karl |
2008 |
30:24 |
Natraj, Nattu |
2009 |
18:14 |
| Hankins, Kean |
2009 |
30:28 |
Swanson, Mark |
2010 |
18:21 |
| Clifton, Eric |
2009 |
30:28 |
Autrey, Rick |
2010 |
18:39 |
| Parker, Mason |
2009 |
30:32 |
Jamison, Julian |
2009 |
18:54 |
| McMurtry, Patrick |
2010 |
30:47 |
Bloom, Jerry |
2008 |
18:55 |
| Ecks, Fred |
2009 |
30:59 |
Dudney, Gary |
2009 |
19:07 |
| Barbeau, Gilles |
2008 |
31:01 |
Myers, Larry |
2009 |
19:07 |
| Krause, Shawn |
2010 |
31:22 |
Morgan, Juliet |
2009 |
19:09 |
| Ham, Nick |
2008 |
31:32 |
Mann, Rob |
2008 |
19:13 |
| Puerto, Mauricio |
2008 |
31:32 |
Miller, Christine |
2008 |
19:28 |
| Kumeda, Andy |
2009 |
31:39 |
Quarles, Georganna |
2008 |
19:28 |
| Crissman, Charlie |
2009 |
31:47 |
Rhone, Drew |
2009 |
19:28 |
| Jegerlehner, Beat |
2009 |
31:54 |
Molmen, akabill |
2008 |
19:29 |
| Walther, Harald |
2009 |
31:54 |
Grapy, Charles |
2010 |
19:36 |
| Douglas, Steve |
2008 |
31:57 |
Dudney, Gary |
2008 |
19:37 |
| Ogata, Tetsuro |
2009 |
32:08 |
Watling, Michael |
2009 |
19:40 |
| Corbett, Catra |
2009 |
32:11 |
Chenault, Dave |
2008 |
19:48 |
| Roget, Vance |
2009 |
32:14 |
Miller, Christine |
2009 |
19:52 |
| Tollenaar, Drake |
2009 |
32:20 |
Askew, Deborah |
2008 |
20:00 |
| Barbeau, Gilles |
2009 |
32:30 |
Heinselmann-Craig, Lori |
2008 |
20:00 |
| Ecks, Fred |
2008 |
32:36 |
Smith, Lori Pratt |
2008 |
20:00 |
| Ansell, Steve |
2009 |
32:53 |
Heinselman, Craig |
2008 |
20:04 |
| Mulrooney, Garrett |
2010 |
32:58 |
Hobbs, Henry |
2009 |
20:16 |
| Cowan, Robert |
2008 |
33:03 |
Childers, Jill |
2009 |
20:16 |
| Roget, Vance |
2010 |
33:06 |
Savage, Charlie |
2009 |
20:32 |
| Foote, Andrew |
2009 |
33:12 |
Johnson, Melissa |
2009 |
20:32 |
| Quivey, Dave |
2008 |
33:14 |
Sanger, Sandee |
2010 |
20:33 |
| Ansell, Steve |
2008 |
33:32 |
Read, Bob |
2010 |
20:37 |
| Phillips, Bud |
2010 |
33:48 |
Mitchell, Joe |
2008 |
20:43 |
| Petersen, Steve |
2009 |
33:49 |
Muller, Chris |
2009 |
20:55 |
| Ogata, Tetsuro |
2010 |
33:52 |
Douglas, Deanna |
2008 |
20:57 |
| Baumgartner, Cecil |
2008 |
33:56 |
Singer, Laurie |
2009 |
21:06 |
| Kee, Bill |
2010 |
33:58 |
Hanke, Karen |
2008 |
21:10 |
| Warren, Nancy |
2009 |
34:00 |
Quarles, Georganna |
2009 |
21:10 |
| Stark, Philip |
2008 |
34:05 |
Matal Sol, Ernesto |
2008 |
21:35 |
| Fancett, Ken |
2009 |
34:16 |
BragaLevaggi, Samba Ana |
2008 |
21:37 |
| Fairbank, Chet |
2009 |
34:43 |
Muller, Chris |
2008 |
21:37 |
| Antonis, Leslie |
2009 |
34:44 |
Abundis, Kim |
2009 |
21:41 |
| Harman, Al |
2008 |
34:47 |
Cuminale, Carol |
2008 |
21:53 |
| Cook, Bill |
2010 |
34:49 |
Cuminale, Carol |
2009 |
22:18 |
| Ruiz, Squirrel |
2009 |
34:52 |
Kohr, Aaron |
2008 |
22:37 |
| Corbett, Catra |
2010 |
34:58 |
Bryant, Patty |
2009 |
22:39 |
| Marolf, Chris |
2008 |
35:10 |
Witlicki, Randy |
2009 |
22:54 |
| Dewees, Linda |
2009 |
35:18 |
Tokheim, Shirley |
2008 |
22:59 |
| Dickson, Rod |
2008 |
35:19 |
Morita, Mieko |
2009 |
23:04 |
| Willford, Shannon |
2008 |
35:22 |
Witlicki, Randy |
2008 |
23:10 |
| Phan, Van |
2008 |
35:22 |
Homelvig, Pat |
2010 |
23:33 |
| Machray, John |
2008 |
35:24 |
Ozaki, Donn |
2009 |
23:41 |
| Drey, Dennis |
2009 |
35:29 |
Schlenker, Anita |
2009 |
23:44 |
| Baird, Robert |
2009 |
35:31 |
Elia, Barbara |
2008 |
23:57 |
| Dobrowalski, Jay |
2008 |
35:32 |
Fierstadt, Jack |
2008 |
24:06 |
| Fairbank, Chet |
2008 |
35:34 |
Jebian, Wini |
2008 |
24:22 |
| Drey, Dennis |
2008 |
35:39 |
Jebian, Lee |
2008 |
24:22 |
| Ruiz, George |
2008 |
35:50 |
Boyd, Marie |
2009 |
24:48 |
| Antonis, Leslie |
2008 |
36:12 |
Boyd, Andy |
2009 |
24:48 |
| Slagel, Craig |
2008 |
36:12 |
Pate, Karen |
2008 |
28:18 |
| Rizk, Levi |
2010 |
36:48 |
|
|
|
| McFadden, Linda |
2008 |
37:03 |
|
|
|
| Warren, Nancy |
2010 |
37:08 |
|
|
|
| Davidson, Peggy |
2010 |
37:08 |
|
|
|
| Clark, Brian |
2008 |
37:34 |
|
|
|
| Hermann, Jakob |
2008 |
37:43 |
|
|
|
| Nguyen, Mylinh |
2008 |
37:53 |
|
|
|
| Idlibi, Mohammed |
2008 |
38:01 |
|
|
|
| Metcalfe, Mark |
2008 |
38:16 |
|
|
|
| Nguyen, Mylinh |
2009 |
38:16 |
|
|
|
| Pham, Chau (Joe) |
2009 |
38:16 |
|
|
|
| Patel, Rajeev |
2010 |
38:25 |
|
|
|
| Corbin, Leigh |
2009 |
38:29 |
|
|
|
| Swistun, Casey |
2009 |
38:35 |
|
|
|
| Amimoto, Diane |
2009 |
38:57 |
|
|
|
| Dyatt, Dean |
2009 |
38:57 |
|
|
|
| Wiggins, Karen |
2008 |
38:59 |
|
|
|
| Vlach, Diane |
2010 |
39:08 |
|
|
|
| Fortini, Kirk |
2009 |
39:18 |
|
|
|
| Boyd, Andy |
2010 |
39:42 |
|
|
|
| Dyatt, Dean |
2008 |
40:49 |
|
|
|
| Homelvig, Pat |
2008 |
42:18 |
|
|
|
And now, back to 2010’s story…
Below the blather of the next paragraph or two, you’ll find the official rankings of finishers in 2010. Below that are ruminations (visible below or links to same plus pics) from those who were out there. Quickly consume the numbers, then enjoy the true fiction stories that follow. And at the end of all that terrific entertainment, will be the Buffoon’s own executive summary in traditional blatherly fashion…
Because conditions were unique enough this year – Snow? Snow? – there’s value in also showing just how far many runners progressed even though Mom Nature blasted us with not just both barrels, but the full battery. Of note, of 61 100M starters, 23 finished, not quite 38% finisher rate; of 37 100K starters, only 8 finished (Sir Francis’ apparition was seen at enough on-ridge aid stations to confirm his finishing – add on his deep well of bonus minutes, and voila!! He wins!! Yay!!), just a smidge over 20% finish rate. Some might say that because many of the 100K’ers started with Mom Nature past her warm up miles – or conversely, the 100M’ers were too far into their own insane investment miles to stop that early – the difference in finisher percentages isn’t a big surprise.
Yes, sucking up and bribing the Buffoon and his more capable pack of Cohorts proved fruitful for the running Two Moon pack. Alas, tho bonus minutes were spread very liberally this year, unfortunately gobs of ‘em didn’t land on finishing times. Very frequent and entertaining goodies in the mail (edible and comical and both – Flash didn’t get that high in the ranking off just her speedy shoes) or handed out upon arrival (Aloha’woo’hoo’ooe!!), risky and laughable e-mails from newbies (Upchuckian in nature), enjoying pre-weekend frivolity opportunities, incredibly poor bowling grace and scores (Grovial and Grapyal manifestations), costumes (w/ and w/o moving parts, Saltlickites), treating aid station staff as cordially as they did you, buddying up cuz you wanted to (several of you), persevering through a barrage of inhospitable conditions (most of you), not carping when you might have done so at a different venue, loving the running… and so many other indicators of trail joy, each earned minutes in your favor. Of course, we found boner behavior, and those minutes may just migrate to next year just on principle: whining as if you were the only one having a rough day (and expecting sympathy? Bwa-ha-ha-ha!!), squirreling away a bottle of champagne just for yourself, exiting a station without courtesy of “thanks” (not expected, but noticed when not proffered), fortunately were the exceptional small population of experiences. Probably good that some of that occurs, else we wouldn’t have the mild thrill of later relating the story of… “remember THAT bozo?”…
I’m guessing the more Type A among readers of the Results will experience some instant frustration in not discovering information that has utility in comparing these performances – even if you do figure out which nickname relates to a real person – with times from other events. Gosh, we should care? Rather, we hope participants appreciate how Two Moon’s character distinguishes it from other venues, so that both for how we’re different and how we’re competently comparable to other sought out events, it’s an easy decision about where you’ll want to spend a two moon weekend in March of next year. For the insatiably curious, send the Buffoon an entertaining plea and perhaps you’ll get a hint of who’s whom below. They know who they are, and they can disclose under separate cover the reality you seek, with better stories than I could possibly fake. Enjoy the hunt ‘n peck on the web…
| 100M Rankings |
Time |
Miles |
| Icky Ocky |
19:43 |
100 |
| Speedgoat |
19:47 |
100 |
| Flash |
21:08 |
100 |
| MooMan |
21:48 |
100 |
| Wild Bill |
22:28 |
100 |
| Chicken Noodle |
25:16 |
100 |
| Boopstinater |
26:21 |
100 |
| Max |
26:48 |
100 |
| Patoplasm |
27:05 |
100 |
| Meat |
27:10 |
100 |
| Baltimoron |
28:52 |
100 |
| Sparkles |
28:53 |
100 |
| Jonnie come lately |
29:18 |
100 |
| Buford |
30:37 |
100 |
| Surge |
31:51 |
100 |
| BeachBum |
32:13 |
100 |
| Geezer Runner |
33:33 |
100 |
| Cocklebur |
33:34 |
100 |
| Outback |
34:07 |
100 |
| Sunshine |
34:08 |
100 |
| DirtDiva |
34:13 |
100 |
| Bus Rider |
36:13 |
100 |
| Rockus |
36:40 |
100 |
| RahRah |
|
81 |
| Chief |
|
81 |
| ChunkyButt |
|
81 |
| Doughboy |
|
81 |
| The Sox |
|
81 |
| Blisteroon |
|
81 |
| Slick |
|
81 |
| Maverick |
|
81 |
| Flywheel |
|
81 |
| Hamster |
|
81 |
| Badger |
|
81 |
| Bulldog |
|
81 |
| Moonshadow |
|
68 |
| Moondoggy |
|
68 |
| Mr. Persistence |
|
68 |
| Smoooooth |
|
68 |
| Dead Last |
|
68 |
| Mr. Grace |
|
68 |
| Lurch |
|
68 |
| Her Lordship |
|
68 |
| Reefer |
|
68 |
| Ducky |
|
68 |
| BoDiddles |
|
68 |
| Waldo |
|
68 |
| Jennzilla |
|
65 |
| ABRAcatABRA |
|
62 |
| Bubbles |
|
54 |
| ArcticLupus |
|
48 |
| Bull |
|
44 |
| The Slug |
|
44 |
| Confused |
|
44 |
| iJilly |
|
44 |
| Chocorunner |
|
44 |
| 4midable |
|
44 |
| Jitters |
|
44 |
| TrailDucky |
|
44 |
| gitterdun |
|
32 |
| Depends |
|
26 |
| PowerHouse |
|
23 |
| Cougar |
|
11 |
| 100K Rankings |
Time |
Miles |
| Sir Francis |
14:24 |
62.5 |
| Dangereux |
16:43 |
62.5 |
| Mossbite |
17:04 |
62.5 |
| QueekDrool |
17:09 |
62.5 |
| J.K. Tizzle |
17:17 |
62.5 |
| Runalong |
17:31 |
62.5 |
| BonHomme |
18:16 |
62.5 |
| BobbyJoBillyBob |
19:07 |
62.5 |
| Rosebud |
20:13 |
62.5 |
| TrailTrash |
|
56 |
| Doongleberry |
|
56 |
| Profiro |
|
43 |
| D’Artagnon |
|
43 |
| Scat |
|
43 |
| Ueberstaerke |
|
43 |
| Muffin |
|
43 |
| Virginia Slim |
|
43 |
| Chonita |
|
43 |
| Shmoopy |
|
43 |
| Grinner |
|
30 |
| Coyote Pooh |
|
30 |
| NeenerNeener |
|
30 |
| Pinkie |
|
30 |
| Digger |
|
30 |
| Victwa |
|
30 |
| Kimmy |
|
28.5 |
| Cactus FiFi Rose |
|
28.5 |
| Upchuck |
|
28.5 |
| Crash |
|
28.5 |
| Kimalicious |
|
28.5 |
| ToughCookie |
|
25 |
| Cringe |
|
18 |
| Sparky |
|
18 |
| ∑ߧ |
|
18 |
| Bullet |
|
18 |
Ruminations ‘n Such
Mike Chastain’s (K4) video of Start Group M1
http://img696.yfrog.com/i/vak.mp4/
A YouTube clip? …and then just search for others (e.g., Manley & Mara Klassen’s…)
Victoria Folks, K4 –
“So even though I decided that I was not wearing enough clothes to finish the race, I had a marvelous time for the 25 (yeah, it would have been 30 except for our skipping of the Howard Creek aid station) miles I ran until Cozy Dell. While I’m not sure I’ll be back for the 100M, I’ll definitely be back next year for the 100K again. Thanks for putting on a great race/series of events. And because we all know life is best experienced as a series of Facebook status updates, here’s what I had to say about the day (and yes, I know it’s supposed to be Nordhoff):
I learned several things tonight: 1) A chicken tamal, fresh out of the steamer, might be the best mid-race food EVER. 2) C2M= quality event with great aid stations and great people. 3) Canada’s reputation as a country with quality people was upheld in fine fashion. 4) Clothing for rainy Bay Area runs is woefully inappropriate for snow flurries atop Northoff Ridge.
Seriously, if you get a chance to pass on to Luis that those tamales made my night, I would really appreciate it. Coming in from the cold and being handed a steaming tamal was an experience I would run many miles for.”
Leslie Gerein’s (K4) blog chuckle
Leslie blog
Henry Hobbs’ (K3) pics
http://henry8.shutterfly.com/pictures
Luis Escobar, A/S Chief, Gridley Top –
“After two full days on the Nordoff Ridge / Coyote 2 Moon / Gridley Top Aid Station. I have composed a haiku. Enjoy.
cold dark wet dripping tents
shivering runners stagger in
giant chicken helps them out”
Glenn Tachiyama’s photos
http://www.pbase.com/gtach/c2m10
Bud Phillips, M2 –
“Now that my brain has recovered, I have a few thoughts about the opportunity for the emotional and physical pain and torture that you and your crew provided at C2M 2010. Because of:
1. The 54,000 feet of up and down, some very, very steep, and all on trails or rough roads,
2. The brilliant sunshine (about 15 minutes of it),
3. The cool rain (a lot of it a few times),
4. Some wind (a lot of it a few times),
5. Mud (a lot of it a few times),
6. Several very wet stream crossings,
7. Snow (a lot of it a few times, but especially the run on the fresh three inches along the ridge for miles at 3 AM with a calm wind and a half moon – WOW!),
8. The truly ULTRA volunteers and the RD who could not do enough for the runners – especially those who endured the rain, snow, wind, darkness, and mud at the aid stations on the ridge for hours. They don’t come any better. The runners owe them.
9. Great swag that is definitely distinctive and useful (except possibly the flyer for Sacred Vortex Tours with Elvis of Sedona…),
10. And finally, a fun celebration at the finish line on Sunday morning, complete with a catered breakfast and warm sunshine,
Great C2M run!! The weather always made it interesting – the best part was running the ridge at 3 AM alone with a half moon, some light snow falling, lottsa stars, no wind, and no one else around.
Once again, great volunteers make it happen, so please pass my thanks to all of them – especially the folks on the ridge in the blizzard. I think they were happy just to have a runner show up and help out. The “awards” and chow made Sunday morning fun also – that and the warm sun shining.
- I have determined that the C2M 2010 was one of the most fun ultras I have ever run in over the last 25 years. For me, it was definitely what trail ultrarunning is all about. Many thanks to you and your crew for the run, and see you next year – I wouldn’t miss it.”
Jochen Horn’s (M5) pics:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jochen.horn/CoyoteTwoMoonMarch52010
Mark Swanson, K4 –
“No one knows who won or how the results are computed but we do know this:
- Less than 1/3 of the starters finished.
- I was the best bowler on the second to worst team Thursday. The only worse team was partially populated by zombies. We lead the league in gutter balls.
- I was the first 100K-er across the finish line (6:20AM) but almost certainly not the winner.
- I lined up at noon next to Karl Meltzer. I finished the next morning about three hours ahead of him. You could look it up. Well maybe not online, but Dave Combs has it scribbled down somewhere.
- The 100K has over 19K feet of climbing, the 100M- 25K. It’s gnarly even without weather.
- The week before was sunny and nice, as the week after is predicted to be.
- The forecast was for a big storm to move in Saturday around noon (my starting time) and move out Sunday morning (presumably just as I crossed the finish line).
- How big? Forecasts were ambiguous. If the storm veered a little west, we would get a glancing blow and apart from some showers and very cold temps, no big deal. If the storm veered more to the east, it could be epic.
The first 100M’s started Friday evening, the rain started on schedule Saturday at 11. Our group left at noon. Until well after dark we experienced about 1/3 dry, 1/3 showers and 1/3 hard rains. Up high the rains turned to hail, then sleet, then snow. The sleet blew sideways and stung my face. The snow came down in big fluffy flakes and brought joy. The rain was cold, miserable and disheartening. No one ever knew what would come next but reports were it would get worse in the evening and then stay bad through Sunday morning. I was feeling whiney.
The trail to Cozy Dell (mile 30 for 100K-ers) included two steep miles of slick clay mud. If you know clay mud you know that it is the equivalent of a surface layer of vaseline over a base of stainless steel. Pretty much everyone was falling down. At Cozy Dell at 8, I put on warmer clothes for the trip back up to the arctic ridge. In the course of changing clothes I got chilled. The guy next to me dropped. The rain went from drizzle to downpour. I didn’t want to go back out into the cold rain, I didn’t want to go back up the muddy trail, I didn’t want to go back up on the frozen ridge. But I went. Some stupid voice in my head said, “How can you make plans to go to Barkley if you can’t handle this?” I left the warm tent, the rain stopped and never returned. Later I found out that lots of folks dropped out just about that time, not wanting to face a full night of this crud. On the ridge a blizzard was raging with white-out conditions. Trail markers were obliterated. The RD began worrying about the safety of runners on a 6000′ ridge, in the middle of the night, in freezing white-out conditions. [The guy’s an idiot of epic proportions.]
The rest of my night was lots of fun. From the ridge there are four down and up again spurs; plus the trail that we ascend initially and descend ultimately. We cover about nine miles of the ridge. As the night wore on and the clouds parted, guess what? The ridge got warmer. Go figure.
I began my nine mile trek along the ridge from Gridley Top to Ridge Junction around 3AM. Soon I was in 2, 3, 4 inches of snow. A winter wonderland. This wasn’t here a few hours ago. My flashlight went dead and I left it off. The moon was now out, the new snow shining bright; the city lights stretching as far as the eye could see 5000′ below, the shooting stars put on a show for free. It wasn’t very cold. I was feeling groovy.
It was great connecting with so many ultrarunning friends and acquaintances. Chris Scott and his pals put on a unique and wonderful event. But it isn’t usually this unique. Not quite epic, but with a small change in atmospheric pressure, it certainly could have been.”
Pics from Radio guy Steve James at Howard Creek
http://picasaweb.google.com/gravityhrocks/CoyoteTwoMoon2010?feat=directlink#
Elizabeth Comer, K2 –
“I’m not ready to use the word “fun” as a description for my race – but I now have a revenge plan to set into motion. That and a nasty case of poison oak to go along with my memories. I probably shouldn’t have lain on the trail for my cry.”
Dawn Banka’s (K2) pics
http://dawnbanka.shutterfly.com/1397
Pat McMurtry, M4, comment plus his videos –
“Thanks for a great weekend. It is crazy that this wild experience renewed my interest in running ultras. A lot of great camaraderie out there to help get us all through. Even in the worst of the storm, everyone I met out there on the course managed a smile which helped pull me towards the finish. But hey, the weather was awesome and made up for any little upsets in my plans! Definitely a most memorable experience.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLiahUk3oCc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFkGa7-583g
George Velasco, M1 –
“No matter what, I had the time of my life… fun, misery, hopelessness, some pain. I am coming back again. The only real complaint I have is when I was coming up Howard Creek in the snowstorm Sat night somebody put the bride of Chucky evil ass leprechaun on the trail and he would not let me pass with those sharp teeth. I started to shake and get shivers up me spine. I got the courage to stab it with my treeking pole and realized it was a snow covered bush… thanks to all, just a great experience!!!”
Pics from Volunteer John Fisher at Howard Creek
http://picasaweb.google.com/gravityhrocks/C2MHowardCreekASJohnFisherSPics#
Upchuck Garcia, Crash Carroll & Cactus Rose Haney, K3 –
“We wanted to shoot you a quick email to extend our heartiest ”Mahalo” for showing us a good time at C2M!
The race and all the events leading up to the big enchilada was a hoot – better than a luau on the beach!
Who would have figured you would order up wind, rain, sleet, and snow to show us misplaced islanders a good time? I know we are winter deprived, but….
We absolutely loved every minute of the run (right up to the part where we got cut at Gridley Top).
Seriously, thank you for all your hard work and organization! The volunteers were superb - they go above and beyond what one would expect at an aid station!
Hope to come back and do this one again some day soon, but you can bet we will be beggin’ for the earliest start time available!”
Volunteer (Topa) Anstr Davidson’s pics
http://anstr.phanfare.com/4588145
Jared Campbell, M6 –
“It was so great to participate in one of the most beautiful, challenging, well marked, superbly supported, and comical events I’ve done to date. The conditions made the whole thing just that much more “memorable”.
It was fun trying to not let Karl catch me. I love the theory behind your staggered start and towards the end the beauty of it became very apparent. I had a very lonely race for about 65 miles and then I started catching and passing people. During the final hours of the race, up on the damn cold ridge running back to the Ridge Junction Aid Station it was great to see other people and feel the group energy pull everyone to the finish.”
Jai Ralls, M5 –
“Well, what a great event you guys put on- even if I had to drop cuz of hypothermia- out of my own stupidity (NO WARM CLOTHES) – I guess I learned something valuable. I had at least 30 mins on the rest of M5 until I got back on the Ridge & T-shirt and shorts wasn’t keeping me warm – numb hands & arms – with no warm clothes until Gridley – I wouldn’t have made it through the night, so I headed back down to the S/F to find my sleeping bag also wet! Also, I wanted to say – I loved this course, and had I been better at planning – would have loved to see the rest of it. So, I’ll be back next year (also, to bowl) and will pack my snow suit in drop bag. Thanks for all the effort. This was the coolest (coldest) ultra I have ever done!”
Radio Guy Dave Tersigni’s photos
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=9850&id=100000306320794&l=fb2d4baea8
Dave Dyatt, M1 –
“WOW!!! What a great weekend. I felt great (other than couldn’t keep my feet dry in the rain, I had California prunes for feet) and learned a bunch. The aid station crews were awesome and so helpful. Fun environment across the board. Great event, crews, participants and best of all, the fabulous prizes.
Thanks for a great time. Same time next year…..”
Monica Scholz, M4 –
“Wow, you put on a great race! Everything was super…volunteers, aid stations (to the extent that I got to visit them – har, har), pre-race festivities. It was all great.”
Marie Boyd’s (Andy Boyd M1 Super Mate) pics
http://picasaweb.google.com/marieboyd6/C2M2010?feat=directlink
Andy Boyd, M1 –
“C2M IN 2010 was a memorable time. We are so thankful you added a bit of weather to make the event kinda tough. Not sure what we would have done if we had had dry feet, warm bodies and traction. Please give our thanks to all your volunteers that made this past week possible; we have firsthand knowledge of the conditions they were in and still provided us with the necessary fluids, nutrition and encouragement to finish.”
Jakob Herrmann’s (M1) photos
http://jakob.smugmug.com/Sports/Ultra-Marathon-31-miles-to-100/2010-March-5-Coyote2Moon-100/11477419_b2B6C#807427091_zVqE4
Dean Dyatt, M1 –
“Arriving for frivolity and humor that, by all appearances, is the essence of Coyote Two Moon, it started for us Thursday night at Ventura Bowling where various characters and creatures descended. A Big Bunny http://www.pbase.com/gtach/image/122589199 and Cowyote http://www.pbase.com/gtach/image/122589206 that glowed in the dark,(and in the light for that matter), a Glittery Nye http://www.pbase.com/gtach/image/122589205, a Slumber Party Meltzer, pirates, bikers, Napoleon Dynamite and assorted others (some who took the evening’s events much too seriously http://www.pbase.com/gtach/image/122589201).
Starting in the 6 pm group with 14 others, the evening was tranquil except for the occasional staccato cry of coyotes at play on the trail. Night descended while we ascended but the temperatures were pleasant indeed. At Sisar AS, the St. Patty’s Day festivities were in full swing as we arrived and they catered to us with great efficiency. We performed our brief rendition of The Three Little Pigs and headed back out on the trails just as the Moon Loon arrived. Shortly before reaching the White Ledges trail head, we were met by the 8 pm runners on the their way to Sisar.
The Topa AS was, (and had erected) a Beacon of Light on the ridge and Manley & Mara blessed us with kind service as we prepared to top Topa Topa. The trail up Topa was much less snowy than the last 2 years and the Topa Topping Trip didn’t take long.
On the Lion Canyon trail, the streams were quite swollen and there was water in new places such that it was difficult to cross without some moistening of the feet. The Patagonia Poobah of Rose Valley AS helped us quickly and we were out on the trails in no time at all. Moonshadow and Sparkles continued up the trail while I took my time with another runner who was having stomach issues. Nearing the top of Lion Canyon, with assurances from my companion that he would be alright, I headed for Topa AS.
The sun was climbing in the sky as I climbed up to the Topa AS where a gust of wind had stripped away their protective covering but Mara was in good spirits, and showered me with Breakfast Burritos, shooing me down the trail toward Ridge Junction.
Shorting before arriving at Ridge Junction AS, the clouds began sprinkling their joy but weren’t trying to seriously dowse my spirits and the stop at RJAS was brief, pleasant and uneventful.
Continuing across the top of Nordhoff, the clouds became more serious about sharing their joy and the wind joined with its mirth. By the time I arrived at the chipseal road descending into Rose Valley, the rain had become a steady dance of delight. I crossed paths with Moonshadow and Sparkles as they were ascending to the ridge. Rose Valley had marvelous, warm, crispy quesadillas, friendly (and I suspect, amused) staff who provided good care and returned me to my journey.
After Rose Valley, the climb up the road generated a number of new, colorful adjectives regarding hills, gravity and physics in general. The ridge to Howard Creek was an exercise in persistence. The mirth of the wind had burst into full gales of laughter and the joy of the clouds had solidified into crunchy clumps of white which the wind gleefully sent sideways with enthusiastic delight. Fearing the fun of hypothermia, another layer clothes seemed prudent and a while after, the descent into Howard Creek began, where I again crossed paths with Moonshadow and Sparkles.
The Howard Creek Trail was an opportunity to practice my trail disco in preparation for the full blown Disco Party going on at the Howard Creek AS. The BeeGee’s crooning of Stayin’ Alive seemed was especially meaningful amid the laughter of the rain and the mirth of the breeze. Some hot soup, a few kind words, and a swift kick in the rear helped get my trail disco started again and I started back up to the Ridge.
Gridley Top Aid Station, better known as the High Kingdom of the Two Moon Buffoon, was a party looking for a place to break out. The laughter and mirth of the wind and the rain managed to keep things in check, otherwise who knows what might have happened. A visit with the Grand Loon of Chaos told me I better get moving along, lest the tyranny of time claim another victim. The environs around Nordhoff Peak were a walk in the clouds—-literally. The clouds wrapped the peak in their embrace and mercifully hid the more part of the climb from view.
After beginning the descent on the Cozy Dell Trail, I continued on for 15 minutes and didn’t see a single soul returning from its depths. During previous C2M’s, there were folks aplenty returning from the bottom as I tended to be among the slowest to ever attempt this insanity. The encroaching darkness, the silence, the clouds and the rain, all combined with my distance addled brains to convince me that I must have taken the wrong trail. So I turned around and began climbing to find where I had made my mistake. A short while later, a downhill runner convinced me that I hadn’t made a mistake and I began descending once again. As the darkness closed in, so did the hallucinations. Nothing serious, just a few runners who weren’t really there, plus a few that were.
Winding through the trees, there were runners returning to the ridge, but in numbers were far less than normal. No one bore tales of a beast or chasm that was devouring those foolish enough to venture into it’s realm. But I knew something was horribly wrong. And then I encountered a beast so foul that none who passed dared mention it’s name.
Clay Mud.
Purported by some to be imported from Albuquerque to torment coyotes, this last portion of the trail, and for most, this was indeed the, LAST PORTION OF THE TRAIL, was akin to trying to catch a greased pig on an ice rink wearing bowling shoes (you, not the pig). Even with trekking poles, I plastered my backside with mud at least once and came close to face planting several other times. The few hardy souls climbing back up the trail reported that it was easier going up but maybe I hallucinated that. In my head, Paul Simon kept singing, “The nearer your destination, the more you slip-sliding away…”
The NorCal Trio of Sparkles, Flash and Sunshine were gleefully heading back up shortly before I reached bottom and gave words of encouragement but the evil mud monster was going to claim another victim. What little determination was left in my weary soul had been completely decimated by the greased pig. With the unknowns of the Gridley Trail and possible hypothermia crossing the ridge still facing me, I decided I had enough.
Arriving at the Cozy Dell Aid Station I found Moonshadow having problems with prune feet and he decided to finish his travels here as well, which in my exhausted and delirious state, was just fine with me.
In spite of the trials and tribulations of the weekend, I still love Coyote Two Moons. The kind manner in which the Moon Loon watches over his kingdom is a blessing (and a curse) for all who care to be touched by it’s lunacy. The fun and achievement rolled into one crazy, giddy, serious, happy and challenging weekend is a gift for all who allow themselves to be touched by the Scepter of the Two Moon Buffoon.”
Rajeev Patel’s (M1) pics and his blog post
http://rajeevtherunner.smugmug.com/Other/2010-Coyote-Two-Moon/11478030_2nuqN#807468008_H7Er2
http://rajeevtherunner.blogspot.com/2010/03/howling-at-coyote-two-moon-100m.html
Carmela Layson, M2 –
“My decision to drop early on from the race has nothing to do with the weather but it turned out to be one of the smartest and mature decisions I’ve ever made in my life. As you also may know, I signed up for this race on the context of “impulse racing” – well, that backfired royally– one can’t get away with running a 100 miles (let alone C2M) without all your heart, mind, and body’s determination to finish. My heart and mind were never in the race – even when I was running it on Friday night. I fooled my friends, my family, and MYSELF!!! The passion was not there in the first place. I had all the Alpine and rain gear to last me a week because I knew the conditions would be bad – the body was ready to move on but without the mental tenacity and heart to go on – I was done.
I loved the course - the gorgeous mountainous terrain, steep climbing, rocky descents, and numerous stream crossings – as if it was made for me but the timing was just not right. It’s unfinished business so I’ll be back – not sure when but hopefully soon.
Thank you for the fun and entertainment, I had a blast even though I chose to end my party early on. I’ve already recruited other lunatics to join the 2011 parrrteeeee……OOOOowwoooooo!!!”
Nancy Warren, M2 –
“Waiting for the 8pm start on Friday was eternal. If there was a more powerful word, I would use it. A group of about 20 runners line up along the soccer field for the informal “Go!” We run along the grass before reaching the trail and immediate climb. Filtering single-file up the switchbacks, Peggy and I motor on. Within 20 minutes, more than half the runners pull ahead. The group has spread out and it is just Peggy and I. There is no pressure and the calm night is beautiful. The weather is stable but we are prepared. The climb continues…. up, up, and up for about 1:40. We top out and run along the ridge and down to Sisar, the first aid station at 11.5 miles. We pick through the goodies, turn around and head back up. The fire road is long, longer than it felt coming down. My watch is buried beneath my many layers and I have no idea of time. It is early in the race but we are steady and moving well. We power into Topa aid station and continue the one mile vertical climb up. It is up and I mean straight up. You must reach the top and select a playing card from the deck. You will also visit the “talking head.” It is a climb you will never forget. Weather is holding but the wind chill is FREEZING. White smoke pours through my face warmer.
In and out of the aid station. We grab a bite as we exit. I feel concern as my hamstrings are starting to feel tight – not a good sign. I wonder if I am going out too fast… I tell Peggy I need to drop back. I’ve been on this course before and I know what’s ahead. We run towards Rose Valley, mile 26.7. It is an eerie section. The trail goes on and on with several water crossings. We wade across the ice cold, shin deep water, my body immediately chilled. It is theWee hours of the morning and NOT refreshing to me. We make it to Rose Valley where they are cooking up hot turkey & cheese quesadillas. I pull out a lactaid and inhale the food. Out we go for the long haul back up to Topa. The morning is cool but clear. We reach the A/S and top off our bottles. They are serving egg & potato burritos and I stash one for the road.
The sun is rising. We are onto the second day. We shuffle downhill on our way to the Ridge A/S. We turn onto the fire road. The climb is gradual but it goes on and on. It continues ON without an end. Mental, it is all mental. I am seriously having thoughts that we’ve missed a turn. It feels like we’ve been powerwalking for hours. I am starting to get hungry. Neither of us is eating between aid stations. The gap is too long and I can feel it. I start fantasizing about food – ALL food. Foods that I wish I could have right now. I am doubtful that we are heading in the right direction and I dread the thought of turning around. At every corner, I ponder turning back. I can see Martin up ahead and Diane and Dave behind us. It gives me hope but it doesn’t feel right. Another corner and alas, the chalk arrow directing us to the Ridge and food. Humongous, hot pancakes fresh off the griddle! I am in heaven. I spread grape jelly on top but before I can get a bite, I notice white flakes falling from the sky. Snow, yes it is snowing. I am dumbfounded. I see Dave pulling out his rain gear and I follow his lead. The volunteers tell me that it is REALLY cold on the other side. I don’t hesitate. Out come the rain pants and jacket. Fumbling around with baggies and balance, I shove the pancake down my throat and pull on my clothes. Diane has now joined us. She and Peggy head down the road as I get myself together.
It is now raining and continues to rain with short spurts of snow and more rain and then pouring rain. I am prepared with all my clothes. My REI pants are working. I am dry and comfortable but the very tight waist is crushing my stomach. It starts to annoy me. We run and walk, up and down the fire road heading into Rose Valley. It is the second visit at mile 48.8. I pass up the food and race to my drop bag. I dig around for my scissors and cut the waist strap. Instant relief. I am feeling good but my stomach now seems to be aggravated. It is express-processing and what I take in, must come out. I am layered with shorts and pants and it is inconvenient pulling everything off and on. I pick up a flour tortilla with turkey and a few chips. We all get what we need and head back out.
I am dreading this road. It is a long hill with some steep sections and I am struggling. I try not to let my “ego” take over. Diane has borrowed a trekking pole and she is moving well. Peggy is beside her and I have dropped back. I power on the gradual and crawl on the steep. It sucks for me to be slow but I remind myself that I am moving and that’s all that matters. Reaching the top is monumental. I am glad to be past that part and heading down to Howard Creek. My Run-legs have resurfaced and I take the lead into the next aid station at mile 55.2. Howard Creek Rocks! The volunteers are full of energy and the food….. it is AMAZING – Homemade bread, soup, chocolate chips cookies. They have everything and they are taking care of us like babies. Jose is there with Java Chip, cheeseburgers and a milkshake and hugs. Diane’s parents have come to cheer for us. We linger a little too long before stuffing our pockets and heading back up towards Gridley Top.
The homemade cookies are carrying me but it is obvious that none of us are taking in proper calories for the extended climbs. My stomach is still dysfunctional and I have to make another stop. I take care of business and get on with the hill. More climbing up to Gridley. Onto the fire road, turn after turn….. where the Hell is it? Chalk, more chalk, funny things written in chalk and the A/S. The three of us see Chris and give him a hug. We are SO happy to be here. We pick at the food. Nothing looks appealing. Tamales.. Did you say Tamales? Oh, I wish I could eat one but I pass. I go for the Pringles and M&M’s and a PB&J. Diane grazes but Peggy is barely eating.
The next section is the longest. It is the trail straight from Hell. We have warned Peggy. It is 7.7 miles downhill and what goes down must come up. The sky is growing dark, very dark. The rain starts in and continues and it is getting colder. I am so thankful for my pants. We carefully make our way to Cozy Dell. There is nothing COZY about this section hence, renamed Cozy HELL. The pouring rain has saturated a 2 mile section. It is packed with deep mud and is very slippery. It’s hard to maneuver around the rocks… We go very slow. Everyone is silent, concentrating. Up and over and around another corner.. where is that Damn aid station?! I need to change clothes. I cannot get cold. We reach the road and A/S. Seeing Jose is a dream come true. He gathers our drop bags and heads to the van. He blasts heater. It is a long break but much needed. We change clothes while trying to eat and do everything else. I pull on three fresh long sleeve shirts, two beanies, new gloves and tape heating pads all over my body. I eat soup, cookies and load up on Java Chip. Diane eats a rice and seaweed something. It looks good but her mom’s homemade cookies are what I want. I glance over at Peggy and see that she has faded into the “relaxed” zone. She needs to get out of the van. We have been inside too long. We pull on our hoods and plunge back out into the rain. I glance at the aid station and notice a number of runners taking the “chair.” I never look back.
Diane and I know this climb. It is daunting and mentally, it can suck you dry. We know we can do this. We are all having some personal struggles. None of us are eating enough to maintain. Diane and Peggy are feeling nauseous and the occasional dry heave has taken over. It is painfully SLOW traipsing through the mud. Runners are coming towards us headed down to Cozy. The trail is narrow and the mud is deep and slippery. Each step is another challenge. We just keep plugging. Lights below and above; runners are scattered along the trail. Each of us has a moment and we stop halfway to deal. We continue climbing nonstop. Hours later we reach the top. Chris is waiting. I give him a hug and tell him that it was eternal coming back up; we are slowing. He tells me that Peggy and I need to hustle. Internally, I freak out. Externally, I panic. It is obvious. I feel rushed as we TRY to reload and get out. Nothing looks good but we NEED to eat. We need to move.
As we head out, a different “Nancy” appears. The word “Hustle” is stuck inside my head and relates to cut-off and DNF…. We need to run and I do. We shuffle down the switchbacks maneuvering around the many rocks. It’s more than difficult and slow….shuffle, shuffle, walk, step over rocks, repeat, feet rolling everywhere, shuffle, step, walk. We are on our way down the 5.8 miles to Gridley Bottom, the LAST hill. Hallucinations have set in for everyone. Mine are extreme – old people in chairs, monkeys, dogs….. I feel alert but the things I see are unreal….. I am leading down the hill. My run legs are working. It is all mental…..hustle, hustle, hustle…. Peggy asks if I am Ok. I stand still in the middle of the trail. I have dozed off. We have to keep moving. Down, down, rocks, walk, rocks….We finally make it to Gridley Bottom A/S, 80.5 miles. We all want to see Jose. He gathers our drop bags and waits on us like Queens. I pull off my rain jacket and shirt. I overlap with another long sleeve and Marmot jacket, balaclava, new beanie and vest. I am ready for the cold. The volunteers are at our beck and call. We barely pick at the food. Nothing looks appealing. Someone offers me a burrito. Beans, cheese, salsa… Barf…. but I take it and eat half. A few sucks of java chip and out we go. The rain has stopped with the exception of a light mist. We start the final ascent. We see lights coming from the ridge. People are headed down to Gridley. My mind plays tricks and visions are flying. The weaving begins. I am all over the trail and totally aware but I cannot control it. Another pit stop. I am really getting tired of this. I glance at the time but don’t remember what I’ve seen. I try to move as fast as I can. Push, push, push.. We need more calories…. Climbing, climbing, people running down.. people passing UPhill and they are running! How can they be running Uphill ? They MUST be the 100k? We continue pushing…. Switchback after switchback.. I see the ridge. Where are the lights, the aid station, anything? Round and round and round every corner. Where is the ridge? Turn, turn, turn… Oh, a straight-away, this must be it!…….. more climbing, pushing harder, harder….. I see it, a house, a Cow? Gridley Top, mile 86.3. No one wants anything. Peggy and Diane sit for a minute while I browse the table. Time is on my mind.. I need food. We need to hurry. I wonder if we can run the ridge?
I grab some Pringles, gingerale and handful of peanut M&M’s. What can it hurt? We are now on the home stretch. Not more than 5 minutes pass and we are all going through the gag, gag, poop. Whatever…. We have about 12 miles left. We don’t run the ridge. We walk fast.. as fast as we can. We round the corner and see snow, miles and miles of snow. It is spectacular but is it SNOW. There are lights far behind us and they are catching up. We continue walking fast. In the distance the clouds are thick and black; I don’t want to go there. A couple of people pass us. They look strong and they are running. We turn each corner hoping for that LAST aid station but it’s not there. More runners pass and in the far distance, I can see them. We have a very long way to go. Our feet are covered with snow but no one complains. Our fingers are like sausages trapped inside our gloves. They are swollen. I am afraid to look. We keep moving swiftly. We are running out of gas. It’s been hours since we’ve eaten anything substantial. Peggy pulls a bar from her pack. We split it into thirds and it saves us for the time being. I am sensing the time and feel like we are running out. We walk as fast as we can but the “worry” feeling lingers. We walk and walk, pushing. We reach the final A/S. We know we are close. We head down the snowy fire road onto the rocky single track and downhill to the finish. I keep looking at my watch but I cannot make any calculations. We shuffle, walk, repeat. Peggy assures me that we have time. We reach the flat. We are almost there. We keep shuffling. I can see the gate. People are yelling RUNNERS, RUNNERS! We hold hands and make our way around the field to complete the 100. The three of us have finished Coyote 2 Moon!!!!
Thanks for the BEST Race! Wow, challenging this year but SO worth it. Also, HUGE thanks to all the incredible volunteers who really took the time to take care of us out there.”
Jon Burg’s (M4) pics
http://picasaweb.google.com/burgjon/CoyoteTwoMoonMar2010?feat=directlink
Roch Horton, M4 –
“In hindsight, the event was nothing short of…er.. quintessential Coyote.. Even some ugly weather could not totally dampen the spirit for those wanting to persevere. The customized goody bag, the fornicating pigs at 3 in the morning, the talking head on Topa at sunrise, 3 gutter balls in a row , Ray doing his magic, redlining my heart rate trying to keep up with….the Cat in the Hat. – some handsome black man in a fur coat sporting a BD ski hat standing in the rain… no detail left unattended. My bonus minutes should rain down equally on all those others who finished or tried so hard to finish, but mostly to those hearty souls working the aid stations. I have never needed them as I needed them Saturday night. Those tamales were God in a wrapper and Luis, Har’d and Mark et al were Moses parting the waters to allow me to continue. I could go on and on. I did.
The finest moment of the entire day/night however could unfortunately only be witnessed by a chosen few willing to make it back to that island of grass. Windless dawn, dead quiet, drop bags emptied miles back, moon drowsy in the eastern sky, islands floating off shore, surfers suiting up while a cadre of exhausted athletes shuffled their way through 6 inches of snow across that now infamous ridge. Not even the buffoon could write a better script. But he did.
Thanks again for the equal parts of euphoria and suffering. Dave Terry would be proud…..
It’s my log book and it’s slowly drying out.”
Two Moon Buffoon’s superfluous words –
“C2M’s menu is a bit different, some by design (e.g., staggered start, ur-serious?), some by necessity (e.g., tending to on-ridge constraints weeks before runners even think of coming to Ojai). The recipe gained new ingredients this year with Nature tossing in more than a pinch of salt – white stuff across the ridge, down to within feet of Gridley Top starting mid-day Saturday, ending with a look of cake’s powdery icing to slog through in the final hours of Sunday morning, for that small percentage who endured through the thickest batter. Edging very close to opting for extracting ridge-top vehicles from the increasing powder, Nature fortunately halted her barrage and we continued full-scale support as the night sky cleared to reveal the waning moon. Still, while runners and most volunteers were enjoying Sunday’s brunch under a warm sun at Thacher, issues of vehicle extraction from the ridge invaded, yet remained hidden, amid the post-run tranquility. That “side dish” is but one of countless stories that suggest a bountiful menu of experiences spreading across the banquet table of C2M ’10.
While C2M does pervade our lifestyle throughout the year – those nifty brochures in runner bags don’t just magically appear – the suggestion that the event looks organized speaks volumes more about the willingness and motivation of our volunteers (station and radio people alike) to offer high class support without the need for “by the book” receipe instructions. The Coyote presentations, over the last dozen years, splendidly prove that playful attitude and focused competence blend well for us and our runners. Synergy?
Much as I try to find adequate words about the Coyote experience, I persistently fail, and with help from many, just let each year’s recipe gather its own ingredients. Not for want of motivation, but more from recognition that there’s less script to its presentation than there is personal discovery of one’s own experience out there. Stories shared aren’t about elaborating or clarifying common conditions as much as learning of each other’s unique moments somewhere on those trails. For example, each visitor, on each pass, through Gridley Top A/S seemed to have something new to throw into the pot of stories. And that was but one location among several others. Best to finish by suggesting you re-read some of the accounts above, or write your own if you had the thrill of doing Coyote, or find others’ words elsewhere on the ‘net. Each comes out of the oven with its own delicate and rich flavor. Think I’ll grab a bite to eat and grab a beer, too…
Care to come to C2M 2011 and mix up a different recipe yet again?”
