Bigfoot definitely lives in the Cascades

If Bigfoot Exists, He definitely lives out in the Cascades Somewhere

Bigfoot 200 | Ultramarathon #126

The Trek from Texas to Washington | Bigfoot Prerace Travel Log

AUG-05

11:00 cst, Sugar Land, TX | started traveling

14:45 cst, Hillsboro, TX | fuel ⛽️ & snacks

20:50 cst, Amarillo, TX | fuel ⛽️ & short run 🏃🏼‍♂️ (1.18 Mi)

22:26 mst, 23:26 cst, TX ➡️ NM 🌵

23:54 mst, 00:54 cst, Raton, NM | night run 🏃🏼‍♂️ (1.96 Mi)

AUG-06

00:27 mst, 01:27 cst, NM ➡️ CO 🏔️

02:43 mst, 03:43 cst, Colorado Springs, CO | fuel ⛽️

04:43 mst, 05:43 cst, Fort Collins, CO | nap 😴

06:25 mst, 07:25 cst, CO ➡️ WY 🤠

10:00 mst, 11:00 cst, Rock Springs, WY | breakfast 🍳 (McDonald’s) & fuel ⛽️

11:49 mst, 12:49 cst, WY ➡️ UT

13:20 mst, 14:20 cst, Perry, UT | trail run 🏃🏼‍♂️ (3.66 Mi)

14:56 mst, 15:56 cst, UT ➡️ ID 🥔

17:22 mst, 18:22 cst, Mountain Home, ID | fuel ⛽️ & drink stop🥤

18:27 mst, 19:27 cst, Boise, ID | run 🏃🏼‍♂️ (5.65 Mi)

19:45 mst, 20:45 cst, Boise, ID | eat 🌯 (Chipotle)

21:07 mst, 22:08 cst, ID ➡️ OR 🌲

21:20 pst, 23:20 cst, rest area I-84 MP285 Westbound, OR | sleep 😴

check in.

AUG-07

06:45 pst, 08:45 cst, Pendleton, OR | fuel ⛽️ & morning coffee ☕️

07:15 pst, 09:15 cst, Pendleton, OR | run 🏃🏼‍♂️ (1.33 Mi)

08:08 pst, 10:08 cst, OR ➡️ WA 🌲

09:17 pst, 11:17 cst, Zellah, WA | food 🍱 (McDonald’s)

13:13 pst, 15:13 cst, Randle, WA | arrived! bib check-in, medical & gear check

14:14 pst, 16:14 cst, Randle, WA | run exploring (5.14 Mi)

16:00 pst, 18:00 cst, Randle, WA | prerace meeting

17:15 pst, 19:15 cst, Packwood, WA | dinner 🍔 🍟 🍺 (Cruiser’s Pizza, Steak & Burgers)

18:07 pst, 20:07 cst, Packwood, WA | chat with kids & wife 📞

20:30 pst, 22:30 cst, Randle, WA | sleep 😴

AUG-08

07:00 pst, 09:00 cst, Randle, WA | load up on buses 🚌 and eat my to go breakfast

07:30 pst, 09:30 cst, Randle, WA | buses leave; traveling 🚌 to start area

bus loading.

10:30 pst, 12:30 cst, Marble Mountain, Cougar, WA | final check-in & tracker assignment 📍

12:00 pst, 14:00 cst, Marble Mountain, Cougar, WA | Bigfoot200 2025 edition starts & journey back to Randle, WA begins.

with the creator of original Triple Crown and Owner of Destination Trail Races, Candice Burt.

prerace vibes at Marble Mountain trailhead | Cougar, WA | 0.0 Mi

Hunting for Bigfoot

first full glance at Mount Saint Helens.

The run begins from the parking lot at Marble Mountain trailhead and is basically a long slow climb up to the base of Mount Saint Helens. Everyone was excited and anxious as the group of runners always is at the start of races. I had positioned myself somewhere in the mid-pack and so I was trapped into a consistent (but slow) pace through the trees. Soon the crowd thinned out a bit after an hour or so as we emerged above the treeline and into the volcanic boulder fields. What a cool visual and unique experience this was. I had never run on this type of terrain before and I was taking it all in and simply just enjoying the adventure. My eyes never strayed too far from the trail in front of me as I did not want to miss a step (it would be a bloody mistake!). Every once in a while, I'd take the opportunity to glance up at the glorious Mount Saint Helens looming just above us, knowing well that I'd be circling most of the way around the volcano throughout the afternoon heat.

The large volcanic rocks got larger the higher we went. But the boulder hopping was fun. Trail marking was interesting during this initial section, but they had warned us about this in the runner's manual and the prerace brief. You simply had to follow the planted trail posts which were in the boulder field and served as the only thing sticking up within the rocky landscape. These wooden poles had the small trail ribbons tried around them, but it was easier to pick out the poles once you got used to looking for them in the distance of the rock formations ahead. It was also early enough in the race there was a bunch of runners around me so I kept an eye on the few just in front of me, so I'd know about where to go, and followed my fellow Bigfooters.

crossing the volcanic boulder fields, Mount Rainer in background.
photo: Destination Trail Races, Jason Peters

crossing the volcanic boulder fields, Mount Saint Helens above.
photo: Destination Trail Races, Jason Peters

The first aid station of Blue Lake came up fairly quickly after about 2.5 hours of forward movement around the Mount Saint Helens and nearly a half marathon complete. My Garmin had it slightly less than the 12.2 Mi prescribed in the race manual, but either way it was a pleasant surprise to see the first group of volunteers out there assisting us. I did not take long at all in this aid even though the next section was the longest of the run (which I was aware of). I had all the nutrition I needed still stuffed away in my pack so I just ensured that I filled up all my bottles. Just over three minutes in the aid station and I was off again for my next marathon (...well 25.2 Mi) to Coldwater Lake. As we dipped in and out of the trees the sun penetration definitely felt hot, at least that was my gauge of it. Coming from the Texas heat the actual ambient temperature was not the issue, more of the constant sun exposure and dehydration that came come with that especially at higher elevations that I am currently accustomed to.

The terrain and views kept fairly constant for a bit as we continued our circumference following the Toutle Trail around the volcano. Soon enough we got to a trail junction and hopped onto the Loowit Trail where there was a river crossing down and back up short but very steep nearly dried up river gully of the South Fork Toutle River. Descending down to the water there was a rope to assist yourself down if you choose, but it was not needed in my opinion. However, on the adjacent side of gully going back up the embankment was a slightly longer climb back out of the river gully and up towards the mountain which did require the assistance of the rope that had been fixed to assist the runners. It was only 75 feet or so of really steep climbing, but this portion was a neat experience. To cap it all off one of the race photographers was there at the top of the climb snapping pics to capture the moment and the beautiful scenes in the background. 

view from bottom of climb with the runner ahead of me.

view from the top. | photo: Destination Trail Races, Anastasia Wilde.

The trail then seemed to level off for a while as the trail took us from the West side of Mount Saint Helens now around to the back side of where we began all the way to the North side. The terrain changed from to more runnable meadow like smooth trails for a bit and then eventually we came to more of what is referred to as the blast zone. The Blast Zone of Mount St. Helens refers to the area devastated by the catastrophic lateral eruption (1980) and is a fan-shaped area north of the volcano, stretching roughly 17 miles outward from the summit. The smooth trails turned into silty fine dusty paths as the trail weaved through this blast zone area. The afternoon sun and lack of cloud cover did make this for a warm trek across the unique landscape, but how cool was this?! I was downing my water fairly quickly given the warmth and the amount I was sweating so I did op to filter water at the one stream we crossed with good flowing water: Step Creek around the ~22.4 Mi (36 km) mark. It was flowing good, but it was still very silty just because it was so fine and such small particles. I got my one filter bottle full and was going to use it if needed since I still had 20 km to go till the aid station (in the end I did end up drinking over half of it). A few fellow runners were dipping their hats in and splashing water over themselves to help cooldown. This little silty oasis-like creek turned out to be the only really viable water source in this near-marathon segment early on in the run.

running through some blast zone terrain. | photo: Destination Trail Races, Sarah Attar.

The trail then merged North, onto the Truman Trail, putting Mount Saint Helens at my back and I continued towards the large ridge in the distance. Truman Trail joined up with the Boundry Trail which was now following the ridgeline. The Johnston Ridge Observatory was not far. It’s perched dramatically within the blast zone, offering a direct line of sight into the crater itself looking Southward. As I passed the building I took a minute to take in the view, as I knew this was the last portion of the volcanic terrain we'd have to pass though. Secondly, glancing at my Garmin watch (and the awesome "Hill Climbing Pro" feature), I knew there was a long descent ahead of me all the way down towards the next aid station. My legs were starting to feel the pounding of the distance, but I did enjoy the faster pace of the downhill section. A very rare crossing of a road during this run as I crossed over the Spirit Lake Hwy and ran the last gentle downhill road into the campground area where the Coldwater Lake aid station (AS02) was located. Over 55km done at this point and now the impending first night was here. I took a nice 24 minute break here at this aid getting in some food, refilling all my fluids again, and getting my kogalla waistbelt situated and ready for the darkness. 

nearing the Johnston Ridge Observatory.

Leaving Coldwater aid the trail simply followed the outline of Coldwater Lake around to the very far end where the large climbing section began. It was a nice solid 7 miles gaining nearly 2,500 feet of elevation gain all the way up to the highest point in the race where Mt Margaret was (just shy of ~6,000 ft+ altitude). A very short out and back to tag the very summit of this peak and enjoy the nighttime view. It was over 12.5 hours of sustained running now and so officially it was now Saturday, not that this really matters. After all of this sustained climbing for miles now it was time to descend back down - sort of. I could see the faint trail of headtorches and moving lights ahead of me and the trail was following the ridge just below the peaks of the mountains slowing transversing downward as it weaved in and out for the next 4 to 5 miles. This section reminded so much of the Franklins Mountains and that terrain. I recall having déjà vu during these miles flashing back to my Franklins 200 night running.

Now about 55 miles had elapsed and it was nearing 02:30 after nearly 14.5 hours of sustained running. It was now Saturday, not that this mattered. Another 24 minutes break here at this Norway Pass aid station (AS03) and then I continued my journey onward through the night. It was a basic sustained climbing from Norway Pass all the way to Elk Pass (AS04) which was another milestone distance of just over 100 km. I arrived there after 19 hours and so it was just about first light again. The sleep monsters had taken ahold of me in those last few miles and so I opted for my first short nap here. I simply kicked back in one of the anti-gravity chairs and piled on the blankets and slept for 23 minutes. This was refreshing and needed before I continued. I pushed on with the daylight now on my side, or so I thought. The next 15 miles to the following aid station was me slowly progressing forward without any sustained pace progression. I was definitely a sleep-deprived ultrarunner at this point as my little 23-minute nap was not doing it for me anymore. Another shorter break at the RD-9327 aid station (AS05) and I pressed on, assuming the refueling and rehydration would sustain me. The heat of the day was back out again after the sun fully emerged from the cloud cover. The tree canopy did provide nice reprieve for most of the trail, but in the open sections it did certainly felt warm. Only a few miles down the trail and the need for a dirt nap hit me hard! I laid down in the moss on the side of trail and slept for 7 minutes. Ahhh - refreshed again - for now! 

The next section took me down the Spencer Butte Trail and ended at Forest Road 93 where the aid station (AS06) was set up in the middle of what seemed like nowhere. I think it was here where I first noticed David Goggins during the race. He was there with his pacer and getting aid as well along with a couple other runners sitting in the chairs refueling. This would be the first of many times I'd see these same people over the next 100 miles as I had no seem to align myself with the same paced runners which happens in these longer multiday runs. It was warm out, but at least we were nicely shaded under the tall Pacific North West forest canopy. Goggins and his pacer were setting off down the road which gave me the motivation to get going as well after nearly 20 minutes in this aid stop. Leaving from here we followed the forestry road for ~3 miles which was a narrow-paved road that was ever so gently going uphill. Soon I came across the Destination Trail arrow sign pointing me to the right and dive back into the forest. Glancing at my watch and aligning it with the landscape I could see in front of me through the trees this was going to be a very steep downhill section leading me down all the way to what was Lewis River (I did not know that at the time - although the next aid station name was...well...Lewis River). 

Eventually I made it down the grueling steepness and arrived onto a gentle forest carpet of a trail that was by the river. The air was cooler and the terrain was gentle and rolling through the forest winding and following the contour of the river itself on my right side. There was a lot of people and hikers starting to be visible around, this was one of the few times that the public was near the Bigfoot route. I could see the road and the signs for the campground as I continued on, and soon I could see why everyone was here. I got a stunning view through the trees down to the Lower Lewis River Falls down below me. A large flowing section of the river cascading over rocks that dropped maybe 50 feet down into what appeared to be the perfect swimming pool hidden in this PNW oasis. I even stopped at one of the lookouts and took a few minutes to just enjoy the picturesque scene. I also knew I was close to the aid station at this point, so I continued on and found my way to the out and back that led me to the aid station setup. I passed a few familiar faces again who were just leaving the aid as I came in, and others were there sitting down too. I was feeling tired, but it was late afternoon so I did not want to sleep fully yet as I was trying to hold off until nightfall. I spent nearly 40 minutes here refueling and hydrating to get myself a nice reset before continuing my journey.

Lewis River Lower Falls | photo: AllTrails

Lewis River (AS07) marked the halfway mark on the Bigfoot route, so this was a nice little milestone to check off in my mind. Running back down from the aid I rejoined the Lewis River Trail and continued following the smooth river trail which took me now to the Upper Lewis River Falls. These were just as stunning as the lower ones and I even stopped and got my phone out of my pack for a picture here. The end of the day was coming and I was definitely tired, but my goal was to push this section and get to the next aid before assessing my sleep. That may have turned out to be a bad decision as this was 17 miles with over 7,300 feet of elevation gain. Essentially it was a long grind of a climb for this section back up and out of the river canyons I had just been following. A couple hours down the trail I was moving so slowing and inefficiently I opted for another dirt nap. I laid down for 8 minutes around mile 109. I got up and pushed on, only to have to repeat this again for 7 more minutes around mile 112. My mind was just focused on getting to that next aid station now. Darkness was here and so the coolness of the evening helped encourage me to keep moving as well. The second dirt nap helped more so and I was able to get myself up to Quartz Ridge aid station at mile 118. It was nearly 02:00 in the morning (now Sunday...I think?!). This section ended up being my slowest paced segment of Bigfoot, partially due to the 2 dirt naps, and mostly due to my zombie like pace that led to me needing those dirt naps. The vibe here was chill and they had some nice propane fire heaters going for the runners. After downing some food, I eyed up an empty cot just behind me and went for it. I did not even set an alarm, as an experienced 200-miler I knew my body would wake me up either in like 15-20 minutes or more likely an hour or so. This is exactly what happened. I ended up with 73 minutes of sleep time by my count (I always note my start/end times for reference). A good sleep of near full REM cycle for me during the actual night hours was just what I needed for a reset. 

I got up and continued on now with some renewed sense of purpose and drive. Only 80 miles to go! Another four hours of running through the wee morning hours and 16 miles later I arrived at Chain of Lakes aid station (AS09) around 09:00 Sunday morning. The same familiar runners I had been leap froggin' around for the few segments were there as well. I passed a couple of them on the out and back to the aid station itself, including Goggins and his same pacer. I slept for another half hour here at Cispus River (AS10).

the beauty of the PNW trails.

Cispus River all the way to Twin Sisters (AS11) was a big section that I knew would be tough at this point in the race. A near marathon distance and limited water sources as per our Gaia and the runner's manual. After hydrating like a camel, I took off knowing this would take me probably rest of the hot portion of the daylight hours. It was a mix of gentle rolling trails and forestry roads that followed the river itself. The known water source was the crossing itself so I was anticipating that. That finally came about halfway into this segment. I popped out of the trails and arrived at the road bridge crossing. I noticed a nice spot to climb down on the near side of the bridge and get to the river and so I choose that as my spot. I hopped the guard rail on the road and found my way underneath the bridge, where David Goggins and his pacer, Ben, were there as well refilling water and taking in the shade. We chatted for a bit by the side of the river as we all focused on getting cooled down and refilling our various hydration vessels. I filled up and took off before them. I knew the last half of this segment was now all uphill and going to be a grind. I crossed the pavement road over the Cispus River and then followed the trail back into the trees not too far on the other side of the water. The road itself curved not long after the bridge and the trail actually brought us back over to the road to cross over it one more time. Here there was "trail race magic" as the Destination Trail team had placed a table and water jugs here for the runners. (If I had known this I might have skipped the river and just filled up here instead of filtering). I downed a full bottle of what I had and then filled back up before continuing on. Another runner and his pacer caught me at the table, and they barely stopped and then I tried to run with them continuing on. 

My Garmin now informed me I was at the climb of nearly 8 miles of solid uphill. It appeared to be lower to medium grade, but sustained climbing none the less. I could not keep up with the other runners and they slowly put some gap on me during the initial portion of the uphill. Not long after Goggins and his pacer then caught back up to me and also passed me. Hike...hike...hike. Eventually I got those 8 miles done and my stupid Garmin let me know there was still another 3.5 miles of uphill. This was a brutal grind in retrospect just due to how long it took. I arrived at Twin Sisters (AS11) after 7 hours and 19 minutes to cover those 24.5 miles. It was now a little while after dark (...again). I took a long near hour break here trading stories with the other same familiar runners as we all contemplated our current life choices. I got in a lot of good actual food here which for sure helped.

view from Pompey Peak.

Another 16 nighttime miles lie ahead of me now as I made one final peak summit out and back to tag Pompey Peak (~5,150 ft | ~1,570 m). The night was very clear and the summit up there provided a nice view across the valley below. I took a night mode picture with my iPhone that captured Mt Ranier in the background as well. Now it was all downhill from here - literally. I tucked my phone away and ran nearly 10 miles all net downhill towards the final aid station at Owens Creek.

I arrived at Owens Creek (AS12) in very wee hours of the morning and now with only a measly half marathon that stood between me and a brand-new buckle. The climbing was done, the trail section only had 2 more miles left and then it was simply following actual real-world roads back into civilization of Randle, WA. (FYI: Randle has a population of approximately 2,555 residents. It's a small, unincorporated community nestled in Lewis County, known for its proximity to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and the scenic Mount St. Helens Windy Ridge viewpoint). Everything hurt, sure, but the body doesn't know much different after you convince yourself to just keep moving forward. Surprisingly I ran most of this half marathon and kept moving towards Randle. I knew sub-70 was well in the bag, so now I was just ensuring that no one was going to catch me from behind in the last few miles. I crossed the main Highway 12 in Randle around 07:00 which signaled I had less than 3 miles to go now to get to that track. The school was in sight, and I turned into the parking lot and down into the fenced area of the track itself. Race Director, Garrett Heath, was there to announce my name as I circled the 3/4 lap of the high school track and came in under the Destination Trail Races arch surrounded by all of country flags. I did it! My journey through the Pacific Northwest landscape from Marble Mountain to Randle was complete.

screengrab from the YouTube Bigfoot livestream of me crossing the finish.

with Race Director, Garrett Heath after picking out my buckle. 

The Numbers

• 67:31:36 | 195.86 Mi (315.21 km) | 36,604 ft+ (11,157 m+)
• 25th overall | M20
• Total Sleep Time: 2h 34m (3.80% of my total race time)
• 23m @ AS04 Elk Pass (67.2 Mi) - in a chair with some blankets
• 7m trail dirt nap (~85 Mi)
• 8m trail dirt nap (~109 Mi)
• 7m trail dirt nap (~112 Mi)
• 1h13m @ AS08 Quartz Ridge (118.2 Mi) - in a cot wrapped up with blankets
• 7m trail dirt nap (~124 Mi)
• 29m @ AS10 Cispus River (146.6 Mi)
• Total Aid Station "stopped time": 7h 39m (11.32% of my total race time)
• This was my 126th ultramarathon run and my 5th ultra of 2025.
• My 9th 200 Mi(+) and my 47th 100Mi(+) completed.
• STRAVA: Bigfoot 200 (25th overall), Marble Mountain, Cougar, WA | Strava
• UltraSignup Results: 2025 Bigfoot 200 Mile Endurance Run 200 Miler - Results

My splits by segments based on my STRAVA data.

My Gear Used*

rabbit High Country review

*check out my NEW rabbit trail shoe review as well: link
*covers the required gear list from the race as well

• Jackets - rabbit Treeline rain jacket (rabbitELITEtrail team kit)
• Gloves - BOCO
• Lighting setup - kogalla RA Adventure Light (waistlamp) & Nathan Sports Halo Fire (headlamp)
• LS Shirt(s) - rabbit LS (rabbitELITEtrail team kit)
• LS base layer - rabbit Layer One (rabbitELITEtrail team kit)
• SS Shirt(s) - rabbit (rabbitELITEtrail team kit)
• Shorts - rabbit 5" shredders 2-in-1 trail
• Pants- rabbit Runners (rabbitELITEtrail team kit)
• Headwear - rabbit/rnnr (rabbitELITEtrail team kit)
• Eyewear - goodr
• Shoes - rabbit High Country (rabbitELITEtrail edition)
• Socks - injinji (2 pairs)
• Hydration - NATHAN Trailmix 12L race pack with x2 20oz soft flasks, & Katadyn BeFree™ Water Filteration System™ (1.0L & 0.6L soft flask).
• Anti-Friction Lube - Squirrels Nut Butter
• SPOT tracker - provided by the event
• Watch (with GPX track of course) - Garmin fēnix® 6X - Pro Solar Edition
• Cell Phone - apple iPhone 16e (also with Gaia GPS app)
• Emergency Bivy - SOL emergency bivy

postrace portrait. | photo: Destination Trail Races, Anastasia Wilde 

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Thanks for reading my race recap and following my journey in the PNW.

Next up: Barkley Fall Classic (2025-Sep-20), Austin Rattler Run (2025-Nov-08)

Holy Shit That Is A Big Lake

Tahoe 200

Ultramarathon #105 | My 6th 200 Miler

Getting to Lake Tahoe

My journey to Tahoe was not like most. I signed up on July 3rd, a mere 18 days prior to the start of the run, probably being one of the last registered runners. This is not totally unusual for me as I am known to sign up last minute for many of my ultramarathons. This summer was different as I was originally slated to run Angeles Crest 100 (AC100) this year on the last weekend in July. Due to unfortunate weather/road circumstances the race was cancelled for 2023, and I have now been rolled over to 2024 AC100. With the last-minute cancellation, the Race Director was able to reach out and provide the AC100 runners a special discount code for a couple various other Hardrock Qualifying races, which included Tahoe. This is how the race came into my radar for this summer. Tahoe has always been on my bucket list. With the race dates shifting due to excess snow in the Tahoe area this winter combined with the cancellation of AC100 it left a few open sports open for the normally sold-out Tahoe 200 event, the hook was set to take the discounted price and no lottery to sign up and go for it! (NOTE: I had floated the idea of jumping into Tahoe to my wife before actually signing up for it, so she was not super surprised - this is my usual tactic).

Tahoe 200 was now leg 2 in my 12-in-12 personal project. If you are not familiar with that see my prior blog post, but it is a simple personal endurance project of running at least x1 100Mi (or more) event each month for an entire calander year. Ultimately, my love for the 100Mi+ distances continue to draw me to these grand adventures.

Packing for Tahoe 200 with My Victory Sportdesign bags.

Since this Tahoe 200 was the weekend before what AC100 was supposed to be, my family was unable to join me due to some other family obligations. However, my amazing wife as mentioned encouraged me to go take on this run. I got myself a rental car late Wednesday night after finishing up my work (remotely). Thursday morning was a super early wake up for me in Southern California (at my in-laws) from where I set off solo to head North to the Tahoe area. Armed with podcasts, snacks, and coffee I managed to get to Lake Tahoe prior to my slated packet pickup, medical check, and pre-race photos. Success for the first portion of my journey!

Pre-race check-in.

A nice parking spot only a few hundred feet from the start line at Heavenly Lodge in Stateline, NV was my sleeping spot for my pre-race rest. Having done this many times before I have been accustomed to sleeping in [my] car prior to races. The rest is not ideal and definitely not recommended as a first choice, but the price is about right for a budget conscious person. (NOTE: I need to get myself a van, still...).

Pre-race portrait. Photo: Anastasia Wilde (@_anastasiawilde).

Race Day (Start)

I awoke to some of the early morning 100k runners getting ready in the parking lot, as more and more vehicles were now rolling into the lodge parking area. The 100k runners were setting off 2 hours early and so they were more in the "scurry mode" than the 200 Mi runners, who did not start till a casual 09:00 time. I tried to stay off my feet best I could but ended up wandering around the start area just hanging out with the other runners and chatting casually. I ate my breakfast, which consisted of a couple protein bars and some trail mix I had left over. I got my assigned SPOT tracker, and had it attached to my NATHAN hydration vest, so now I was ready to go. The runners gathered around the start chute as Candice Burt belted out the pre-race briefing and last-minute instructions. A recite of the runner's pledge and the 2-minute countdown was on. I glanced down to my Garmin to ensure it was on and ready to go on navigation mode....check! I tap my right should to ensure my SPOT tracker was there....check! Finally, I looked down to ensure my bid was on & that my shoes were tied up....check, check! It was go time.

Pre-race gathering. Sun was already out in force and warming up before the 09:00 start.

First Third of the Race - Out & Back#1 (S.W. from start/finish) 
[Heavenly > Armstrong Pass > Housewife Hill > Armstong Pass > Heavenly]

Heavenly > Armstong Pass (14.85 Mi, source: STRAVA)

The race kicked off with 199 runners starting out going straight into singletrack right off the parking lot and thus a narrowed conga line formed causing me to not go out to hard. This was probably a good thing with the adrenaline of wanting to get going, but many multiple hours ahead of me. The first 0.6 Mi was a climb straight out of the lodge and up a portion of the ski hill before joining up to the Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT), which a majority of the race course would eventually follow. The course slowly got wider once we were on the TRT and runners started to jostle for position as everyone tried to settle into their various paces. I stayed where I was at this point (behind Sally McRae initially) in the top 30 or so runners. I was not in a hurry just yet, besides the pace was pretty descent considering. After a very short while the Tahoe Rim Trail hugged the hillside and wound around the mountain providing a spectacular view to our left off into the distance of Nevada landscape below us. The trail pressed onward heading up, gaining elevation as we went towards Armstrong Pass. It was not long into this direction before we crossed the state line into California.

The trail was very scenic and rugged but certainly was well worth it. I kept a steady pace (my own) as I continued to move forward. By now the field of runners had spread out quite a bit. I managed to tag behind 2 fellow runners for about a 6 Mi section or so but after that I was running by myself. For the majority of all my hours out there at Tahoe I ran solo nearly the entire time. As the altitude slowly gained towards the high point on the course of nearly 9,600' the air felt thinner, but it was early enough in the race that it did not affect me too much. The initial 32 Mi out & back section contained a few patches of snow drifts that still existed in the shaded areas, especially up higher. The snow was hard crusted and yet soft on the very top layer from the beating sun. I heard afterwards a few people had issues traversing theses snow patches. Honestly, I just took my time and had no issues at all since the patches were sparse and not super big sections. It was still neat to see snow up high during the month of July. There was a race photographer up near top of Armstrong Pass that gave us some encouraging words as they snapped some photos as I went by. Arriving at Armstrong Pass aid station after just over 3 hours and covering 15 Mi of running I did a quick refill of my bottles grabbed a few snacks. The first day of adrenaline was still keeping me going and I kept going shortly after a quick 5-minute stop. 

Captured near Armstrong Pass at ~9,600'. Photo: Jason Peters (@jdpetersdotcom).

Armstrong Pass > Housewife Hill (17.10 Mi, source: STRAVA)

The next section all the way to Housewife Hill aid station was a 17 Mi segment, which we gradually got back down to 6,500' altitude. The sun was out in full force now with temps nearing 90f, and at altitude the rays felt very intense. The Tahoe Rim Trail curled back around closer to the aid station providing stunning views back North towards the entire Lake Tahoe (such a cool sight!). My stop at this aid station was slightly longer duration of about 15 minutes. The volunteers were great and cheering s runners on at this remote aid stop. There were a few film crews and many support crews there awaiting their various runners to come in. Seeing all the people here was another great boost after about 8 hours of moving through the California sections of the course. Since the last portion was mostly a net downhill I now turned around and headed back to Armstrong Pass this time as a net uphill.  I had seen a few runners at this point who were ahead of me and already on their journey back towards Armstong/Heavenly, most of them being the 100 km runners whom started 2 hours ahead of us and of course all the leaders of the 200 Mi race in front of me. After I had turned around at left the aid station, I started passing many runners now as everyone was making their own way to the turnaround. Always nice to greet other runners, especially in long ultras, even with a quick wave or smile. Traversing back up the mountains I was now using my extra Katadyn BeFree™ Water Filteration System™ (1.0L soft flask) I had gotten just prior to this race. Each time I'd come across a nice flowing stream I would take out this flask and fill it up. Firstly, it was so dang hot that any extra fluids was beneficial and important. Secondly, having the luxury of cold water (mid run) was nice since the stretches between aid stations were such long hauls. This was my first ever experience using a filter and found it to be very easy and great. I purchased this flask knowing that it would be useful for this race (as well as my upcoming 200 in September in the Canadian Rockies). The only downside is that I could only find a 1.0L version so I had to carry it, but that helped me drink it quicker reminding me to hydrate. I used this strategy for the first half of the race where most of the flowing streams were. I may look to get the 0.6L bottles as well since they can fit into the hydration vests.

Nearing sunset on day 1, Lake Tahoe in background. This was section from Housewife Hill back towards Armstong Pass aid.

I was chasing the sunlight as I went approaching Armstong Pass on the return trip. I had made a game of it trying not to turn on my headlamp until I got there. It was a silly little thing but this is how my mind works in longer ultras. I managed to get to the aid station right as the darkness was now fully engulfing the mountainous terrain. I took a good 2o minutes here at the aid station to take off my shoes and socks, shaking out any loose impediments that were in there. Ensuring my kogalla waistlamp was ready to go I headed back towards Heavenley climbing out of the aid station to rejoin the TRT; let the night running begin. I don't recall much about heading back to the start/finish of Heavenly Lodge, but the night running went real smooth that first night. Arriving into Heavenly it was the middle of the night just after 01:20. I dropped my hydration vest at the aid station and took off down the stairs for a quick bathroom stop, and then a quick trip to my car to retrieve my spar battery and socks (I intentionally left my bags in my car opposed to utilizing the drop bag area here since the parking lot was a mere few hundred feet away). I came back to the actual aid station and changed out my socks and took a few minutes off my feet as the volunteers got me some warm broth and quesadillas. The first "100 km" was done at this point which represented an arbitrary milestone of about a third way done. Refilling all my fluids and taking a few last swigs of Coca-Cola I was headed off from Heavenley again around 02:30 - this time North.

Last Two Thirds of the Race - Out & Back#2 (N.E. from start/finish)

[Heavenly > Spooner Summit > Village Green > Brockway Summit > Tahoe City > turnaround > Tahoe City > Brockway Summit > Village Green > Spooner Summit > Heavenly]

Heavenly Lodge to Spooner Summit (18.80 Mi, source: STRAVA)

My next mini goal I was playing in my mind was try and get to Spooner Summit before the sun was fully up over head. I did not estimate how long of an uphill section this portion had, as we climbed more or less 2/3 thirds of the way it seemed. This was a longer segment of nearly 19 Mi before the Spooner Summit aid. The views were specular though as I was parallel to Lake Tahoe the entire time. Each time there was an opening or as I crested the various climbs it was amazing to soak in the views. Right around the actual sunrise there was a photographer a top one of the plateau who had just setup to grab some cool shots. It was the first time I had seen another person in a few hours, so it was nice to say hi and a quick thanks as I continued onward. Eventually I arrived at the Spooner Summit aid station around 07:30 (about 83.33 Mi & 22.75 hrs elapsed). I took my time here and got a bunch of calories in to help rejuvenate me for the day ahead as I had not decided to sleep yet after making through the early morning timeframe.

Taken early morning day2 on the way to Spooner Summit. Photo: Jason Peters (@jdpetersdotcom).

The next section was very cool as the TRT took us up high along the ridgeline with some more spectacular views of Lake Tahoe off to my left side the entire way. Glancing over the lake provided some great distractions through the heat of the day. I recall a light breeze as well so it did not feel quite as warm, but it was definitely still hot out there. I think this section might have provided some of the better views I can remember. We passed Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park where Marlette Lake was below us, and then continued on towards Twin Lakes which was tucked up further in the mountains but was a neat place that was clearly used by many offroad enthusiasts such as hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders, and even some ATVs (even with sign prohibiting them on certain trails). The heat of the day was creeping up as I noted and it was around this section I passed a campground that was supposed to have water access (a pump) I think but the sign had it taped over, indicating that it was not available currently. since it was slightly off course to go investigate, I continued on. To my luck only a little while down the trail there was a stream running off from the last snow melt above, providing a great opportunity to filter some more cold fresh water. It was a great surprise. I noted the spot of the stream for my return trip as this was the only spot on the entire 19 Mi to filter water it turned out. I dunked my hat and buff in before taking off back on the trail. With about ~6 Mi to go before the aid station the course route took us off the TRT and now followed the road down towards the Lake Tahoe itself and the Incline Village where the aid station was. A long descent of about 4 Mi down a jeep road, followed by ~2 Mi travelling through the town I arrived at Village Green aid station. It was 13:47 on day 2, about 29 hours cumulative time.

Tahoe Rim Trail above Marlette Lake (to my left not in picture), Lake Tahoe in background. Photo: Anastasia Wilde (@_anastasiawilde).

I used the bathrooms here since it presented the opportunity of full-service bathrooms, with running water to wash off my hands and face. Next, I ordered some hot food from the awesome volunteers: hot dogs and cold coke. My feet had started to bug me on the last descent particularly and so I took off my socks and shoes to inspect my feet. There was a nice hot spot on the pad of my left foot that I proactively had the medic help me tape it up. She was very nice and chatted with me as I got my food, as she began to clean and inspect my foot to help solve the issue. In no time I was ready to go. A quick change of my gear was also in order since this was 1 of my 2 spots I had elected to place a drop bag. I try to keep my stuff to a minimum but always have stuff "just in case". I used the opportunity to get into fresh clothing and of course fresh socks - which is probably the best feeling in the world during a long ultramarathon.

The Powerlines (STRAVA segment: "Tahoe 200 Hill").
Yes it is as long as it looks, including a false summit of course.

Leaving Incline Village there was a relieving flat section of road through the town. It was literally 3 Mi along the paved path on the main road, before turning up into the hills. A couple of turns at the top of the town and bam what starred me down now was a very intense climb underneath some powerlines. I had not studied the map/route intensely beforehand so this was truly a surprise that lie in front of me. I had left the Village Green aid not super far behind another runner out of town accompanied by his pacer, and I just caught him here at the base of powerlines. I saw them ascending up above me, so I knew this was time to climb as I looked up and saw nothing but endless spotty trail ahead. I started grinding my way upwards and passed the runner and his pacer not too far up as I kept my pace steady, yet slow, but steady. The segment proved to be a worthy adversary. Only 1.15 Mi but gaining over 1,356 ft worked out to an average 22% grade, which took me 0:47:39 to complete before reaching the top. A short dive down the trail on the other side of this powerline climb followed by another climb upwards on a jeep road for what seemed like forever, before rejoining the Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT) again. My next mini goal I decided to play with myself was to see if I could get to the next aid before nightfall. I arrived just before sunset after 34 hours elapsed race time. 

The volunteers here were top notch and excited to see runners apparently. It was here I was informed I was only the third runner ... (third!) ... but how I thought there was a bunch more than that in front of me. It was not crucial information but nice to know as there was still a very long way ahead of me, almost 100 Mi in fact still. I ordered some hot food - this time a nice big burger with the works while I took of my shoes and socks to give my feet a break. After getting in all the calories I could I resided over to one of the cots/tents for my first sleep break of the race. I set my alarm for 80 minutes and quickly lied down putting my buff over my eyes to help provide darkness. Sleep quickly came over me. It was a very dreamlike REM type sleep, not the deep sleep that is truly reinvigorating. I awoke before my phone timer after about 60 minutes. My intended strategy of sleeping as the sunset and waking up into nighttime was hopefully going to get me through the second night strong, with this short rest.

Tahoe City > turnaround out & back
(8.41 Mi, source: STRAVA)

Brockway > Tahoe City (19.48 Mi, source: STRAVA)

It worked! I awoke and got ready right away invigorated by my rest. The volunteers greeted me once more as I emerged from the tent - they were so great making sure I had more snacks and fruit with me to go. After adjusting my lights and ensuring everything was set I took off with a final thank you to the wonderful volunteers there at Brockway aid, towards Tahoe City I went. The next section was a long windy twisty segment that was actual a net downhill towards Tahoe City which resided right on the Lake itself. The draw of the lights slowly drew me as a trudged closer. Since this was my second full night of running the pace has slowed, but I still was moving quite well considering. A near 6 hours later I arrived at Tahoe City and followed the flagging into the aid station there. I did not doddle to long as the very remainder out and back was the very shortest segment on the whole course. After some warm soup I took off from Tahoe City aiming to get to the turnaround and then ultimately make my way all the way back around Lake Tahoe. The trip to the turnaround went by fairly quickly and I returned back to Tahoe City after about 2.5 hours. Another quick fill of soup and potatoes and I was back off again headed back South. My journey to the far end of the course was now complete, and the task ahead of me was to get back to Heavenly Lodge where it all began. As I headed back towards Tahoe City, I had passed a few other runners headed out so I knew that I had people chasing me. This kept my motivation up to simply keep moving. Another long trek back towards Brockway took me just over 6 hours in this direction under the morning sun.

Village Green > Brockway Summit (13.75 Mi, source: STRAVA)

Back at Brockway aid station again I ordered myself a loaded burger to fuel up....so good! The volunteer cooked it up and puts some chips and fruit on the plate along with the burger without asking and brought it all over, what service. I spent longer than I should here, but it was a function of how long it took me to eat, as I could not chew and swallow as efficiently, but I was able to eat and get the calories in, therefore I took my time and ate the entire plate of food. Additionally, the "lunch" break provided a little relief from the mid-day sun that was now pounding us for the third straight day. I chatted with Jason Peters (race photographer) there for a while as well as I ate. Once I was finally ready to go it dawned on me that I only had two more checkpoints (aid stations) to get through before the ultimate finish. This thought spurred on my drive forward. I was still moving descent given the sun was still beating down. I took the daytime miles slow but maintained my steady momentum. After about 6 Mi back towards Incline Village, I decided to take a quick break and get some sleep for only the second time. On the Tahoe Rim Trail just before I had to turn down towards the Incline Village with multiple miles of downhill ahead, I found a nice shady spot at the junction. I laid down with my feet uphill, thus above me to help relieve the pain slightly, placed my hydration pack under my head to serve as a pillow. About 11 minutes later I awoke to a couple of mountain bikers passing by me on the TRT. I arose refreshed and ready to tackle the downhill section, including powerlines, all the way down to Lake Tahoe. 

Spooner Summit > Village Green (18.88 Mi, source: STRAVA)

At the top of the Powerlines I was moving a lot more gingerly now that I had ~173 MI on my legs. I did not want to fall and was not sure the proper way to tackle this super steep downhill so I improvised and grabbed a large broken stick. Using my buff I had with me I fashioned a knob type handle on top of this stick and made myself a single pole to assist me down the steepest sections (NOTE: I did not use poles. I do not even own any poles, never have). Safely down I transversed the flat few miles of the bike path in town all the way to Village Green aid station. The volunteers cheered me in as I came into this small park area and promptly sat down. The same medic who helped taped my feet on the outbound journey was still there. She came over and we decided to redo the taping job of my feet to get me through the rest of the race. I ate a bunch of food, drank what seemed like a gallon of coke, and then washed off my feet in the nearby stream before getting them tended to. More food was to be had, and then a quick 15-minute power nap in the shade beside the stream where the aid station cots were setup. In total I spent 1 hour 15 minutes here at Village Green, but it seemed worth it since the next portion of the route was a long climb back out of town. Taking my rest and time here in the aid station provided a relief from the midafternoon sun which was a conscious choice. I set off making my way back out of Incline Village as the sun started to slowly set for a third time in my race. We took a road called Tunnel Creek that went perpendicular to Lake Tahoe at the edge of town and up into the mountains above for literally about 4 Mi or maybe slightly more of relentless climbing (it seemed so much less come down on the way through). Finally reaching to top of the climb I felt exhausted but kept pushing on. Another mile or so down the trail I came to the one running stream that was present in this section. I recall that it was my only opportunity to filter water and so I took a couple minutes here to use my spare filter flask and drink, fill up, and get my fill of cold water before continuing on. About half way though this segment my mind started to wander and my feet felt heavy, I knew I probably needed a bit more rest, so I attempted another nap (my forth sleep). I spent just over 16 minutes resting on the edge of the trail before the wind and chill of the night air stirred me. With this extra little rest I pushed onwards all the way back to Spooner Summit enjoying the ridge running even in the dark as the clear sky provided great views over Lake Tahoe presiding to my right side this time. Sleep deprivation was chasing me trying to close in, but I was eager to get this run done.

Spooner Summit aid station was only about 15-minute stop as I got some warm calories in and decided that with just under 19 Mi to go I should be able to push on through the night. Seeing the volunteers there was a nice boost as well. I believe I was in 4th overall at this point not too far behind 3rd, so that also gave me some motivation to keep pressing. This confidence in my ability to get through a third night of running with minimal sleep proved to be incorrect. I made it only like 2 Mi out of the aid station before my visual hallucinations started and I knew I needed a reset. I took a 20-minute dirt nap on the trail on this attempt. I got up and pushed on through the night hours hoping the finish line would draw me in. My mind kept playing tricks on me as I was seeing "tree people" (tree shaped like people), many animals - that were actually rocks as I got closer, and even some statues of my family off in the distance. My mind was "seeing" all of these, but I was lucid enough I knew it was not real. It was like I was dreaming on my feet. I kept moving forward best I could but eventually laid down again after a couple more hours. I pulled out my phone and set my timer for 15-minutes. After only 8 minutes I got up, gathered my things (minus my phone - more on that later) and took off towards Heavenly. I had less than 10 Mi to go now, most of it being downhill, except a very final short climb at the end. The sun started to creep up over the horizon and pear through the forest trees which meant my personal low period of 03::00-05:00 had now surpassed. This was my chance to get the race done without any more sleep. My mind was still wandering and not fully there. I tripped and fell running downhill at one point super Maning forward landing on my forearms before rolling to a stop. You think this would of fully woken me up, but it took a second fall like this not too much further down the trail before I finally felt awake and alive again. Luckily, I only had a couple scraps on my arm and some dirt rubbed all over, nothing major as I managed to fall where no rocks were awaiting me (could have been much worse). I ca't remember exactly where, but I was passed by a few people in this final segment and was in 7th position overall. With the very short final 1.2 Mi climb ahead of me I glanced back to see 2 more runners chasing me down. I had a decent lead on them since I was already part way up. This gave me the last bit of adrenaline I needed and actually ran most of that uphill where I could keep my position as my completive mindset took over. I did not want to give up another spot so close to the finish line. As the trail junction appeared in front of me I followed the marked signs down into Heavenly Lodge. A quickened pace for the last 0.5 MI downhill chasing the sounds of cowbells, and the sight of the finish arch drew me in. I crossed the finish line in 71 hours 20 minutes.

Crossing the finish line 7th overall (M6) in 71:20:03. Photo: taken from Destination Trail Races YouTube livestream.

I crossed this line and was come over with the sense of accomplishment and relief of completing such a large journey. I walked over thanked Candice Burt and her team who were there as I choose my custom buckle out from the various choices. Next, I got my traditional post-race portrait done and then headed over to the chairs they had set up. 

Post-race fuel on my travels back.

Upon finishing I searched my bag for my phone in order to send my family a message -- "shit! "-- my phone was not there. I started panicking a little, but then had a moment of clarity once i emptied out my entire vest. I had taken out my phone on my dirt naps and placed it beside my head as a timer so I would not oversleep. However, in the haste of trying to finish the run I must have left my phone at the last point I slept, about 9.5 Mi back on the side of the TRT where I had laid down. I informed the race team just in case someone turned it in, but I was really bummed. I borrow a volunteer's phone just to send a message to my wife letting her know i was done and ok. Hours later a pacer of one of the runners did in fact return my phone in the baggie it was in with my charging cables. Booya! It was my lucky day. I spent the day eating homemade pizza from the volunteers, cheering in other finishers, and getting in long naps in order to gear up for my 9 hours trek back to Southern California. This trip to Tahoe was well worth it and I was soaking in the post-ultra pain and simply appreciating that feeling of being alive and being able to choose to do this crazy sport. I can't wait to do this again.

Results

Tahoe 200 was 105th ultramarathon, my 33rd finish of 100 Mi (or more), & my 6th race/finish in a event of 300 km or more.

My Tahoe 200 stats - 215.78 Mi (347.26 km) | 37,333 ft+ (11,379 m+) | 71:20:03 | 7th overall (M6)

My STRAVA - https://www.strava.com/activities/9514737623/overview

SPOT tracker history - https://trackleaders.com/tahoe200-23i.php?name=Trevor_Meding

UltraSignUp results - https://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=95494

Data Analysis, Sleep, & Course Details

Mileage split: Nevada = 96.28 Mi (44.62%) | California = 119.50 Mi (55.38%)

Sleep details: 2h 12m total (approximate)

• 1h - at Brockway Summit aid station (116.2 Mi)
• 11m - dirt nap on side of TRT, Brockway Summit > Village Green (169.5 Mi)
• 15m - at Village Green aid station (177.5 Mi)
• 16m - dirt nap on side of TRT, Village Green > Spooner Summit (185.6 Mi)
• 20m - dirt nap on side of TRT, Spooner Summit > Heavenley Lodge (198.0 M)
• 8m - dirt nap on side of TRT, Spooner Summit > Heavenley Lodge (206.3 Mi)

Tahoe 200 Route

Tahoe 200 (2023 edition). double out & back from Heavenly Lodge in Stateline, NV

Tahoe 200 Elevation profile. The race is mid-high altitude taking place between 6,500 - 9,600 ft+.

My Gear Used

There was a requirement for some mandatory gear along with the usual recommended gear as might be expected for mountain races.

Mandatory gear (to be carried at all times):

• Jacket with a hood - rabbit Treeline rain jacket
• Gloves - rabbit (BOCO)
• Hat (can be replaced by a buff) - rabbit (BOCO)
• Pants (has to cover your legs) - rabbit Low Light Pocket Tightz
• Insulating layer long sleeve shirt - rabbit LS rabbitELITEtrail team kit
• SPOT tracker - provided by Destination Trail Races
• Device with GPX track of course - Garmin fēnix® 6X - Pro Solar Edition
• Cell Phone - apple iPhone 8+ (also with Gaia GPS app)
• Emergency Bivy - SOL emergency bivy
• Headlamp or waist light and extra batteries - kogalla RA Adventure Light (waistlamp) & Nathan Sports Halo Fire (headlamp)
• Whistle - built into my hydration vest

The Remainder of the gear I used:

• Shirts - rabbit SS rabbitELITEtrail team kit, rabbit UPF Deflector 2.0
• Shorts - rabbit 5" shredders 2-in-1 trail
• Headwear - rabbit (rnnr) rabbitELITEtrail team kit
• Arm Sleeves - rabbit 
• Eyewear - goodr (Athletic Brewing Co. Run Wild edition)
• Shoes - Altra Olympus 4.0 (paired with Altra/Trail Racing Over Texas gaiters)
• Socks - rnnr (x2), Drymax (x1)
• Hydration - NATHAN Pinnacle 12L race vest with x2 20oz soft flasks and 1.6L bladder, & Katadyn BeFree™ Water Filteration System™ (1.0L soft flask)
• Anti-Friction Lube - Trail Toes
• Gear/Drop Bags - Victory Sportdesign (utilized x2 drop bags: Coyote II)

----- ----- ----- ----- -----

This was next day post-race. All was well once I got some movement in (#ActiveRecovery).

I did a podcast episode with Texas Outlaw Running Talk Show just recently which focused on Tahoe 200. check it out:

Podcast download: Texas Outlaw Running Talk Show: EP #34 | Tahoe 200 Mile Finisher - Trevor Meding on Apple Podcasts

YouTube video version: Tahoe 200 Mile Finisher - Trevor Meding - YouTube

Thank you for following along!

12-in-12 Update

This was the 2nd leg of my #12in12 personal challenge. I am only just beginning this yearlong journey but excited to knock this one out. Probably the next race in August might be my hardest. Upcoming is Habanero Hundred - the torture fest of heat, humidity, and sand in the middle of Texas summer heat.

I also very excited for September when I get to run my 3rd 200 for the year up in the Canadian Rockies. This will be my own make-shift triple crown for the year (with HK4TUC, Tahoe 200, & The Divide 200). I will get a good visit in with my parents and enjoy the adventure of the inaugural year of The Divide. Stay tuned for that one...

I am still finalizing the rest of my schedule for this #12in12 but have some good ideas. More to come as I get closer to the fall.