This weekend was the inaugural Swan Crest 100, and it was basically a success. There were 44 starters and 20 finishers, and all runners agreed that it was a tough course. The aid stations, which were sort of my responsibility, were absolutely amazing, and my friends who manned (womanned) the aid stations really went above and beyond. I sort of feel like it's pushing the bounds of friendship to ask for this much help but my friends cheerfully helped and rocked. Iris hiked up several tons of gear and water with her husband with help from Rebecca and her husband to man the Six Mile mountain aid station. Deb and Callie and Allison hosted the most chillaxed and luxurious aid station I saw near Strawberry Lake trailhead. Jill came up from Missoula and was a huge help as she helped both me and Brad do random errands and kept us company as we drove all over the valley a million times over. My friends Kim, Krista and Angie, who aren't even into ultrarunning at all, manned the Broken Leg aid station -- and Kim really took charge and got no sleep at all. Everyone (runners and RDs) were extremely pleased with Kim. She's such an awesome friend and person. And, Ted manned the last aid station alone from 5 a.m. or so until late afternoon. That was some serious good husband-ness. The person originally planning to do this couldn't and Ted stepped right up to the plate and saved us. Thanks Ted!
Though there was one black bear sighting but no negative bear encounters.
I am completely wiped after sleeplessness and the stress of being (or at least feeling) responsible for others' safety and satisfaction. It's a lot of work to put on these things, and I was one of four RDs (and definitely not the person who bared the most weight on his/her shoulders). I'm excited to get the process going for next year. It was a little strange how Keith Hammer was lurking about taking pictures, videotaping runners and volunteers, watching through binoculars and scribbling on his clipboard. I am interested to see what his reaction is, though I can't help but assume that there's a zero percent chance that he will have anything positive to say. . . Anyhow, I thought it was awesome and am pleased with how it went. There were a couple small things that were less awesome but thankfully none of the less awesome stuff was fatal.
Stupidly, I didn't take pictures. That's how busy and tired I was!
8 comments:
Way to go on Swan's 1st year! I was following - heck, you guys even had updates! Greatly done, and hope it stays - and the "authorities" will leave you alone.
Congratulations! That is very exciting to hear it went so well. I would love to run it, but actually I just want to run out in Montana and am less sure about the 100 miles part. So maybe you guys would consider a fifty mile option for the wusses?
It is a great name for a race, btw. I imagine it to be as beautiful as its name. But wouldn't it be more aptly named "Bear Crest"?
I agree with SLG! A 50 miler for next year would be great. Seems to me it was a success. I'll send you am email with some info from our aid station later.
You guys there is a 57k (35 miles) in September every year, and it's awesome and great fun. Y'all are more than welcome to come for the fun. It may be a Fat Ass event again like last year but it's the prettiest part of the course. I'll also gladly run with any visitors anytime :-)
Danni,
Everything went swimmingly; thanks for inviting me up to be a part of it. I heard the 57K has a mountain bike category; hopefully I'll be around to come up and participate.
Congrats on the huge success!
Nice work Danni!
Congrats on a successful event! Glad the bears cooperated and everyone enjoyed it.
What's with the lurker? Is this the guy that tried to abort the event? Must be a nutcase.
Cynthia
Yeah Cynthia his current mission in life is to keep us out of the mountains.
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