Iron Mtn 2007 Recap
Great weather to star the 51 mile trek, in the low 50's but
nice. I had a great day out there
covering this mountainous route. It is
indeed a challenge with all the climbing and gravel road sections. Going into this my 6th Ultra and
furthest so far, I didn't hold much expectation given my usual low
mileage. Around mile 16, I stated
wondering where I could bail out. This
thought came and went throughout the next 16 miles. Miles 29-36 were by far the hardest for me,
a long downhill on gravel road followed by a 6 mile climb almost did me
in.
Squonk and I started out together
and stayed together for 37 miles, at which point we were tired of talking to
each other and opted for ipods to cover the last 14
miles. We had reached this point after
covering the marathon distance in about 5 hours, and surviving the climb from
hell from 29-36. As we pulled out of the
37 mile aid station at the 8 hour mark we were greeted by a camera yielding Taz who said that Weezyl was in
the front only later did we learn that he landed in the TOP 5!!!
From here I became a little possessed. I hit the uphill's
with fast walking , ran the flats and did my best to run the downs until my
calves locked up and I had to stop and work out the cramps. Then back for more. The RD says that the last quarter of the race
trends downward so I did my best to move as fast as I could. At this point, finishing under 12 hours was
a given unless a catastrophe happened. I
kept moving and stayed focued. Coming into the 43 aid station is a gnarly
downhill on loose rocks…I almost lost it in the last few yards to the station
and jammed my knee pretty good. It took
a few miles to work that one out. I
missed a turn after and lost 5-7 mins trying to get
back on track. Knowing the last 3 miles were downhill, I decided that once I
got there I was going all out, and did such until both claves locked and I
almost bit the dust hard. I stretched
them out and decided to be aggressive but not stupid. The last mile is on road back to the finish
so I had it in my head to hammer that section, and did what I could. I hit the pavement at 10:47 and finished at
10:56, then almost passed out!
Coming in was great, I turned the last corner and immediately
say a blue TH shirt (Echo) and was able to muster some energy and push it
home. There were a number of TH's there at the finish welcoming us in and it was AWESOME
to see (thanks).
As for the trail itself, the first 5 miles are pretty tame a
gradual climb on a bike path, then you turn into the woods and head up a steep
single track to the ridge and run from 6-16 there. This is a nice running section with gradual
climbs and descents. After the 16
station, you cross the road, and make a long climb up a fire / logging road up
to another ridge and over to the 22 station.
There you start on a 10 mile loop.
The first part is downhill on a fire road then over to a nice ridge
trail. After the ridge run, you drop
out onto a fire road again and drop down to the 28 aid station. From there another mile on the road where you
turn back onto single track and climb up past the falls and back up to 32. this is a long
steep climb! After the 32 station again
further up hill 3 miles on the fire road again, to about 36 where you drop into
single track heading down to the 37 aid station. After 37 on double track with a climb up to
the iron Mtn ridge where you go up and down for 4-5
miles. More down than up, but the climbs
can be steep. The last section drops
you steeply into the 43 aid station.
This decent is rugged with loose rocks and harsh footing right before
the aid station. Leaving this station,
with 6 miles to go, the first part is very steep uphill. Back up to a ridge and then some up and downs
to 45. At this point you are going to
drop hard down to
The crowd is very relaxed and casual, and the post race food
is great! Don't forget to climb over the hill and sit in the creek for a
while. It helps start the healing.