EC100 – The Californian Urban Ultra
The third week of October I had the opportunity to take part in an
adventure like no other, one that I remember for the rest of my life. The 100EC Urban Ultra Marathon is not
your typical 100 mile race, there are no dirt trails, no single track and
definitely no wildlife beyond the elusive bikini clad beach bunny and the shy
but ever smiling and happy local nightlife. This is a race of hard surfaces,
from concrete sidewalks and the Los Angles floodway system, to the asphalt
roads and bike paths, to the paver stone beach boardwalks and wooden trestle
bridges along the route. The hard
surfaces test your body and soul like no other, the constant jarring of your
joints as you make your way along the route is a testament of your resolve for
pain, there is no relief it just carries on and on until the finish line at the
foot of the famous Santa Monica pier and ferris wheel. Such is the life of the
urban ultra, you push forward with your only thought being that big wheel that
goes round and round spinning in your head as the ultimate sign that you have
done it.
Now sure I have done some crazy races that most people look at me and
shake their head in disbelief that I run them barefoot (or at least start
barefoot prior to methodically upgrading my footwear), but this one is an
experience like no other. The run is put on to support an amazing organization
in the United States called the 100 Mile Club. The 100 Mile Club is a national,
school-based program with the goal to run or walk 100 miles during a school
year. The program also teaches kids life skills, goal setting, and self-esteem
while making physical activity a healthier habit for life (sound familiar – it
should it is similar to another great cause that is dear to my heart,
Start2Finish through Ted’s Run For Literacy). The founder of the 100 mile club,
Kara Lubin, is an amazing lady who tirelessly helps out from well before the
start of the race to well after along with the race directors Darren and Sandy
Van Soye and the balance of the volunteers who help to put on a first class
event. I have nothing but praise for this event and the organizers, it is an
event that must be experienced in my books.
The race itself starts at the 100 Mile Club headquarters in Norco,
California which is one of the many cities that surround Los Angeles County and
a good 40 miles inland from the ocean that you are determined to reach. The run
goes through 20 cities proper including Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana,
Orange County, Long Beach and Santa Monica to name a few. The sights are
amazing in places and just eye opening in others. You run through the richest
areas in Los Angeles like Palos Verdes which runs along the bluffs and among
the largest and most amazing houses you will ever see (makes Beverley Hills
look like the Weston Area), and also through some of the poorest areas
including San Pedro. You get to see areas of Los Angeles that you will never
experience with a tour guide. Running down the Los Angeles floodway or the
Santa Ana River was an experience that I will never forget, it makes our
floodway look minuscule in comparison. Seeing all the homeless (young and old)
really brought perspective to the amount of people that need help in this
world, it was an eye-opener for sure.
Once you hit the coast at Huntington Beach the journey along the beach
begins, I was lucky enough to watch the sun set as I was running along the
boardwalk from one city to the next. The
route consists of one continuous beach all the way to Long Beach with some
slight deviations when required. It was
breathtaking watching the sun slowly disappear beneath the waves. The sights
and sounds as you run the boardwalk was one of the most memorable experiences,
to see the surfers plying their tricks on the waves, the volleyball players
rocking the sand, the skate boarders, the roller bladers showing their skills
up and down the boardwalk was a sight to see, never a dull moment that’s for
sure. After Long Beach you run in land a bit through some of the more let me
say interesting parts of town. Including an area considered to be a bit sketchy
due to the high homeless population, an area considered to be populated by
numerous gangs, a club district (thankfully we passed through here before the
bars let out) and the oil refinery district. It was definitely areas that are
not listed on your most popular tourist destinations. After this you are up
into the hills to view the mansions along the bluffs then finally back down to
the beach for the final leg of the journey. Once again watching the sun come up
as you run along the beach is an unbelievable experience for sure. As I noted
above the run finishes up at the Santa Monica pier after running through Muscle
Beach, Venice Beach, Manhattan Beach, etc. It was amazing to say the least, and
an experience that I will never forget.
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| After 28 hours plus and 103 miles and change I was still standing and able to balance my new shiny buckle. |
I finished this epic adventure in 28 hours and 17 minutes which was good
for 18th place overall. This would be an event that I would love to
support every year if it was at all possible, but at least I know I had the
privilege to run it once and that can never be taken away from me.
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| A good shot of what I was determined to get my 100 mile buckle and of course my running companion from start to finish. Unicorn power. |
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| Yes the barefoot guy is also a supporter of Hoka One One. I love my shoes. |
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| My pacers extraordinaire, my lovely wife Nicole and my good friends Scott and Bridget Herrin. Unfortunately another awesome cog in the pacer team Kelly Leigh was not available. Oh yes that is my son's thumb that you see in the picture. |
