In 2024 I decided to change things up in terms of getting my Western States qualifier. I wanted to run somewhere new. Experience a new trail. Have a new adventure. The minute I saw that DAYBREAK Racing’s George Waterfalls 100k (which has been on my bucket list of races) was now a Western States qualifying race, the minute registration opened, I signed up. I’d figure out the details later.
But as the saying goes, “The Devil is in the details.” The details being that this race is over 9 hours from my house and the likelihood of having a crew or support or (heck) just someone to share the driving hours was slim to none. No matter, I am always up for adventure whether it is solo or with friends.
So I packed my car and planned my route knowing that I’d have to stop along the way.
I left on a Wednesday and my first stop was Eugene! I’ve been to Eugene many times, but it is close to 7 hours away and that’s a long drive to do in one day solo.
The minute I landed in my motel in Eugene, I found the closest Laughing Planet which was only a half mile away. Perfect, I could use the walk to loosen up my legs and by then, I was starving so I got my favorite (the first of many times on this trip). 😉
The next morning, I woke up and worked and around noon took the time to go on a run to loosen up the legs and explore a little.
I found a sweet little trail not far from where I was staying that took me to the top of Skinner Butte which overlooks the University of Oregon.
After some more work, I hopped back in the car and headed towards Portland (2 ish hours away) with the intention of stopping at another Laughing Planet to grab some food to go for dinner that night as I feared my final destination of Cascade Locks would have slim pickens for a gluten free vegan. 🙂
By the time I reached my motel in Cascade Locks it was close to 3 pm. My motel was the cutest place ever and the owner greeted me when I arrived excited that I was a runner (she had a lot of runners staying there the next few days).
After settling in and working some more, I ventured over to Gorges Beer Co. for packet pick up and to see Free Trail’s Elite Athlete panel chat.
It was the coolest brewery and fun listening to the elites. It just really helped get me excited about the race and also see and hear from the race director too. They were hosting three difference races all weekend long. Friday would start with the 30k race. Saturday would be the 100k and Sunday would be the 50k.
With my race bib in hand, I headed back to my home away from home in the pouring rain.
Friday was pretty chilly but it was mostly dry. I walked from my motel over to where the race start would be (Cascade Locks Marine Park) and also where the 30k race was happening.
I wandered around the marine park and walked across the Columbia River to Thunder Island reading all the historical signs they had talking about how the Bridge of the Gods got its name and tons of other stuff.
You could camp on Thunder Island for free too and there were some tents set up there. It is also a popular wedding location.
After exploring I headed back to get ready for the 100k the next morning. I was getting excited to really see these trails.
Sleep did not go well for me that night. My brain was wired and it was half in Oregon and half back home in California. When my alarm finally went off at 2:45, I was surprisingly wide awake.
For weeks I had been studying the course since I knew I’d be running without a crew or any support. I knew the course was technical (not my strong suit ever since I broke my fibula in 2023). I was excited though because in comparison to races like Canyons or Quicksilver, the elevation wasn’t so bad. I knew we’d climb and descend about 11,000 feet and elevation wasn’t really a factor here but that doesn’t mean the course would be easy peasy.
We were allowed two drop bags that we’d be able to visit a total of 3 times, but the first time was so soon in the race it wasn’t even really necessary.
Unfortunately, I didn’t take many photos during the race for a variety of reasons. Mostly, I was desperately trying not to fall on my face!
The race started at 5:00 am and headlamps were necessary. They said there was about 400 to 440 runners I think? I settled myself into the pack and listened to the race announcements.
It was cold but I was happy with my gear choices. I wore a jacket over my pack because I knew I’d eventually get hot (I always do no matter the temperature) and then I could take it off while running and store it in the back of my pack.
What I didn’t anticipate was the cold making my nose run and my eyes water terribly! It was during this that I realized I had left my bandana in my car.
The eye watering was making it hard to see in the dark. The first three miles are on pavement though as you run through town. With everyone else’s headlamps too it was pretty easy to see. It is when we dipped onto the single track that it got a lot harder.
I felt amazing though. It’s been forever that I have felt this good at the start of a race. The first six miles it felt like I was cruising along both up and down hill. I was leading some runners and trying to point out the rocks and logs in the way so no one would trip.
That karma didn’t serve me very well as shortly before mile 6, I rolled my left ankle and yelped in pain but I didn’t go down.
I was completely annoyed though as the pain was searing through my leg. I just kept going knowing that first aid-station would be coming up soon and I could reassess. I also had been having some pack issues. My zipper broke on my pack and my hydration bladder was all of a sudden not working.
I stopped briefly to sort all that out and I took two Tylenol to help with the terrible pain in my ankle. Instead of getting down about it, I just kept running hoping the pain would vanish. While running I saw many other runners rolling their ankles too or worse, with gashes on their knees. This course was no joke.
One of the not-so-great things about this particular race is that it is an out and back course – twice. You run one way, do a loop and then run back the way you came. We’d run into the elite runners and have to jump to the side to let them pass occasionally on some very narrow sections. It also doesn’t help that everyone is looking down and not up at the runners headed their way. Whenever I was leading I’d try and yell out “runner up!” to alert those behind me. Someone behind me said thank you. 😉
The second aid station (Ainsworth) was a drop bag station but it was only 13 miles into the race and I had all that I needed so I just kept going. With my ankle slowing me down on any technical sections, I knew that I had to save time wherever I could.
I made a deal with myself that if the trail was smooth, like the above photo or paved, that I would run no matter if it was straight up hill. I had zero stability in my ankle when there were any rocks in the way and I was passed constantly on those sections so I took advantage whenever I could on the sections that I could run easily without pain.
One of the best parts about this race is that the fuel sponsor was Neversecond. I am a Neversecond ambassador, and I have been using their gels for over a year now. I was stoked that this race would have the gels I actually use, at each and every aid-station.
I pretty much stuck to my race plan and training plan. I ate a gel every 45 minutes and I don’t think I missed even one. I have never run an ultra this long and not had something else. I did at some point in the race try some random thing from one of my drop bags but I quickly decided it wasn’t worth it. I was having zero and I mean zero stomach issues (another first for me) and I was feeling pretty energized overall. Don’t mess with what’s working is my motto so back to my Berry Neversecond gels it was!
Every once in a while, it would start raining but only for a few minutes and then stop. It also would randomly get cold. So, whenever it rained or got chilly, I’d pull my jacket out of my pouch while running and put it on and then inevitably we’d hit a sunny spot and I would take it back off again.
These trails were open to the public too so in addition to having to dodge any cross traffic with runners, we had to dodge the hikers and tourists. Most were pretty good about letting us pass and cheering us on.
This race did allow poles (while I don’t think they were needed) but only on part of the course. The back half they were not supposed to be allowed but I don’t think they enforced this at all as I saw many runners running with poles the entire time.
I ran with some super nice people from time to time during the race. I was feeling good, despite my ankle and was chatty. Most of the women I ran with also were. The men, not so much.
I normally do not wear headphones when I race trails especially ones with beautiful waterfalls but I did throw my earbuds in my pocket just in case. There are two sections where you run about 3 to 4 miles on a paved road that lines the highway. When we were on our way back on this section, I threw in my earbuds just to drown out the car noise.
The smile never left my face the entire day, not even with the sound of the cars.
As I mentioned, the first half of the race (33 miles or so) you run out, around a loop and then back almost to the start but not quite. Then you run an out and back in a different direction. This is the section of the course I was a little nervous about.
On this section, you run to an aid-station (Cascade Locks) and then you run 10 miles to the next where your second drop back is located (Wyeth AS – mile 48.7). 10 miles is a long way to go without an aid-station so I had to make sure my pack was full of what I needed on this stretch.
While this section wasn’t as technical as the first half, it was not smooth running either. You also had to deal with a lot of cross traffic here first with the elite runners making their way to finish and then when you were on your way back with those who were running behind you. If had to pick a not favorite section, I would say this was it just for that reason. I was already running slow enough because of my ankle but to continuously stop for runners was slowing things down considerably for me.
I finally made my way to Wyeth aid-station. I hit my drop bag, grabbed what I needed and then immediately (like I had been all day) turned around and hiked and ate as I left. I was feeling the pull to the finish.
From that aid-station I knew it was only 10 miles to the last and final aid-station and then a 3 mile section to the finish and I was done.
All day long I had been leap frogging with a guy. We chatted a little bit. He was such a strong runner and was very encouraging every time he caught me and then eventually passed me. I’d catch him at the aid-stations but this last stretch of the race it was like he totally disappeared.
This second half the race was through some pretty dense trees too and while it was still light out, it did not look light out when you were running deep in the forest.
Lucky for me, I had kept my headlamp in my pack the entire day. It is required if you leave one of the aid-stations at a certain time but I was struggling to see at dusk and my friend who I was leap frogging with, stopped to pull out his headlamp too.
When I finally made it back to the Cascade Locks 2 aid-station (mile 58.8) I could smell the finish. At certain points on the second half of the course you could hear the finish line announcing runners. I was ready to be done.
I asked the volunteer if it was “mostly road” for the 3 miles to the finish and she said it was. She was wrong. haha There was still quite a bit of up and down trail first before you hit the pavement and, in my head, I thought pavement came a lot sooner than it did. I also paused a few times not seeing any flags on this portion, but I knew there was nowhere else to go.
Finally I made the sharp right turn onto the pavement. And true to my original word, no matter if it was uphill or down, I ran the entire way to finish. I didn’t stop once.
I was thrilled because I had given myself a window of time to finish in and I knew no matter what, I’d make the cut off for Western States. I do think if I hadn’t rolled my ankle and had to slow so much because of that, I would have finished closer to what I wanted which was in the 14 hour range.
Instead, I crossed the finish line in 15 hours and 56 minutes. Considering what I had going with my foot/ankle, I was pleased.
At the finish we were given a mason jar instead of a medal (yay! thank you!). They had kombucha on tap too so I grabbed some of that, grabbed my race shirt that I did not get earlier and quickly went to my car to Facetime the family.
I was cold and I was sore almost immediately. Luckily, my motel was a half mile away so despite my legs feeling complete thrashed, I was able to make that drive pretty easily.
When I got back to the motel, I had these post race before bed beverages. Electrolyte water and N/A beer with a small amount of THC/CBD because I can never ever sleep post-ultra race. Both are from Go Brewing and both gluten free.
The next day I woke up early and drove 5.5 hours to Medford to yet another motel where I would crash for the night. Driving 5.5 hours after running 62 miles isn’t advised. It kind of hurts. I did stop for lunch in Eugene (yet again) for some Laughing Planet. 🙂
Monday morning in Medford I woke and visited with my friend Sally who lives there before getting on the road again and driving another 5.5 hours home.
Overall, it is a few days later and I am feeling great. My soreness has gone away (except for the calves – those darn rocks and stabilizer muscles). My ankle/foot was pretty bruised and swollen post race. Just a sprain though I think so nothing major but it will be back to the ankle strengthening exercises once again.
If you are still reading this, thank you! I write these for myself to look back on. Someday maybe my kids will read all these race reports. 😉
I do recommend this race as a destination race because the trails and views are so amazing. Also, Cascade Locks is just an adorable place to visit with a lot of history. If you are looking for a fast 100k, this could be it if you are an elite runner but it also might not be if you are not because of all the cross traffic and technical sections.
I would consider this race again someday. The driving and time away from home was a lot but my family survived. The kids are older now. I do think they would absolutely love to visit Cascade Locks. We loved Mt. Hood and that’s not too far from Cascade Locks (about 20 miles).
There is nothing about Oregon that ever disappoints. I love running there.
Happy Trails!
~Trailmomma
Race Details:
Shoes – Topo Athletic Mountain Racers (no blisters and no slippage!)
Fuel – Neversecond Berry gels (occasionally Fruit Punch flavor from the aid-stations).
Water & some Tailwind (mostly in the first half)
Socks – Injinji toe socks (no blisters!)
Watch – Garmin
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