The Ray Miller 50/50

After spending most of my day up right on the trails it was rewarding to be relaxing next to the ocean at Malibu!

Words rarely fail me but the Ray Miller trail run was certainly not for the faint of heart and if you thought for one moment there would be an easy mile you were WRONG!

Suzy with good friends Ray and Diana at the beginning of the run.

 They named the race Ray Miller as he spent years taking care of the trail system through out Point Mugu State Park, after he passed the park system named the main trail head from the La Jolla Canyon parking lot ofter him. The race started and finished at this parking lot!

A rare fireroad! of course uphill

There was a lot of uphills rarely on fire roads I would say 99% of this trail race was run on single track which I rarely if ever train on, so was quite an adventure from the starting mile. As the order to begin echoed over the runners, we all set off into early morning darkness, single track all the way UP for the first 1.5 mile or so, we were strung out like a string of pearls a few of us with headlamps, you could not over take as the trail was just flooded with trail runners it was a cool sight indeed. I was nursing a calf injury so did not mind the relaxed pace up hill at all!

The course was well marked with ribbons and chalk. The views were spectacular.

The names of the trails were matched by the beauty,La Jolla Canyon to Mugu Peak, Guadalasca Trail, Wood Canyon, Hell Hill, Overlook, Backbone, Sycamore Canyon, Two Foxes, Coyote, Hidden pond, Sin Nombre, Blue Canyon, Chamberlain, Old Boney Trail, Serrano Canyon, Fireline, Overlook and finally Ray Miller trail!

Sage bushes were every where.

 We were told about the Coastal Sage Scrub Community, and you could definitely smell the aroma from the oils in the leaves which retain the moisture due to little rainfall, There were shaded canyons, small stream crossings minus some of the water due to lack of snow and rain this winter here in Southern California!

The single tracks were very well maintained

There was 6 aid stations and plenty of water, I was well fueled with Hammer gels, Hammer bar and endurolytes, anti fatigue caps and race caps supremes. If I do this race again I will take perpetuem too.

Views were spectacular

Some trails were very dry.

Caught up with some cool peeps, John was doing his first 50 miler and what a first 50 miler to do he was in great company with his friend Susy.

My friend Amy was out there volunteering at the Orange station was great to see her out there too.

My Green Cascadias looked after my feet as we negotiated the single track

The Ray Miller 50/50 was an amazing experience and the race director Keira Henninger knows how to plan a mentally challenging trail run, with great support cool views and did I say pain!!!I would recommend any of her races to any trail runner looking for affordable and well thought out trails.

Keep taking a peek at the vista

Suddenly out in to Green lands

The whole run was in low 60 degree weather, and the diversity of the trails amazing.

Then up again on dry single tracks

Oh my gosh, with 2 miles to go the Ocean came in sight was just amazing to smell the Ocean Breeze and be able to see the finish line..

does not look a long way!

                  A big smile for the OCEAN! Yup that is Malibu coast line below!!
I lost count after 20 runners passed me on the down hill, I was just so grateful to see the finish line and not have taken a tumble, my calf had held up with all the babying I had given it but wow I was nearly finished one of the most beautiful and demanding trail races I have ever done and I was finishing with a HUGE smile on my face but I did envy the other runners who looked like gazelles as they passed me I felt like a fairy elephant!

Keira Henninger with over all male winner 50 miler and ME!

At the finish of the Ray Miller 50km, with my ceramic medal!
I ran in compression socks and totally soaked my legs and feet with Kool n Fit spray!

Cool ultra runners at the finish.

Of course I found myself at the beach and found a heart shaped stone to add to my joy of finishing!! Thanks to my friends Ray and Diana for a great day out on the trails but also to Keira who knows how to put on a great trail race.

Performing a basic plank seemed easy after that wee run!!!

 Thanks to Hammer Nutrition, Rudy Project, Brooks USA, Polar Monitors, and my understanding husband AL! Check out the run on my Polar link below.
Running 25.02.2012 5:59 AM