This Week In Running (Week of 5/9 & 5/10)

After an unexpected week off last week, TWIR is back this week to take a sneak peak at just a few of the events/races that are scheduled for the weekend of May 9 and May 10, 2009. On this weekend in 1950 (May 9th to be exact), L. Ron Hubbard published “Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health“, introducing a branch of self-help psychology that caught rapid fire and, eventually morphed into a belief system now subscribed to by Scientology. Discredited by the medical and scientific establishment, Hubbard postured that “phenomena known as ‘engrams’ (i.e. memories) were the cause of all psychological pain, which in turn harmed mental and physical health” and that “people could become ‘clear,’ achieving an exquisite state of clarity and mental liberation, by exorcising their engrams to an ‘auditor,’ or a listener acting as therapist”. Or, if you are an ultrarunner, you can simply exorcise your engrams and achieve that exquisite state of clarity and mental liberation by running any one of the ultra events in this week’s edition of TWIR !

We begin, of course, with a PCTR event, the Redwood Park Trail Run (Sunday, May 10 at 8:30 AM in Redwood Regional Park, Oakland, California). This event features 10k, 20k, 30k and 50k options, on a course that travels through beautiful Redwood Regional Park. Runners are treated to spectacular views along the East Ridge and West Ridge trails and wind through tall redwoods on the popular Stream and French Trails. The 50k includes 4,500 feet of elevation gain. Fully stocked aid stations are located every 3 to 12 kilometers (with all the usual PCTR treats), but it is recommended that runners carry at least 20 oz. of water. Soup and chili to all at the post-run picnic !

The Pacific Crest Trail in Cleveland National Forest is home to the sold out PCT50 Trail Run (Sunday, May 10 at 6:00 AM in the mountains about 1 hour east of San Diego, California). This race starts “outside” of the Boulder Oaks Campground. Why ? Well, it is environmentally-sensitive arroyo toad mating season. Huh ? Yes, you can go out, run 50, and see some mating toads while you are at it. It isn’t just toads that you’ll see out on the course. TWIR loves races that come with a warning, and PCT50 doesn’t disappoint – “Serious warning: rattlesnakes have already been spotted on the course….if you see one, keep your distance….if you are bitten, proceed to the closest aid station for medical assistance….Do Not Stop – Keep Moving.” Wait a second….aren’t you supposed to “suck out the poison” (see the 1971 movie “Bananas“). Good luck with that !

Also taking place this weekend is the Quicksilver 50k and 50 Mile Run (Saturday, May 9 at 6:00 AM in Almaden Quicksilver County Park, San Jose, California). Both events are run on scenic, hilly trails and fire roads, with 5,440 feet of climbing in the 50k and 8,530 feet of climbing in the 50 mile. This very challenging course traverses through peaceful oak forests, wide open meadows, and long ridges with spectacular views of the Santa Clara Valley and the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Also make sure to check out the Long Island Greenbelt Trail 50k (Saturday, May 9 at 8:00 AM), the Capon Valley 50k Run (Saturday, May 9 at 7:00 AM), the Greenland Trail 50k (Saturday, May 9 at 8:00 AM) and the North Face Endurance Challenge at Bear Mountain (Saturday, May 9 at 5:00 AM).

There are several marathons taking place this weekend as well, including the following:

Saturday, May 9
Scheels Fargo Marathon (Fargo, ND)
Journey’s Marathon (Eagle River, WI)
Lake Geneva Marathon (Lake Geneva, WI)
Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon (St. Joseph, MN)
Mother’s Day Marathon (Elma, WA)

Sunday, May 10
Central States Marathon (Ames, IA)

You can, of course, click on any of the marathons listed above and peruse its website for more information.

That will wrap things up for this week. Be sure to stop by iRunFar.com next week for another edition of This Week In Running ! Oh, and Happy Mother’s Day !

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Anthony Portera a contributing author to iRunFar.com.
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