By Ernest Joseph- August 2006
Search results on “races in California” resulted in an interesting hit, a race in Lake Tahoe during the time I was going to be in that area. So I signed up enthusiastically for North star at Tahoe, a 10 K race on a late July morning at North star ski resort. Base elevation 6,330 feet.
Hmmm .. have read so much about altitude training.. thin air… lack of Oxygen… Lungs burning, and now this is the opportunity to find out firsthand how does that feel like! I wonder if this is the classical symptom of a compulsive runner? Nah, it is only a runner’s instinct to push beyond the norm, or why else would we run up the Perkins drive (base elevation 1,100 feet), or do the hook?
North star is nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, just six miles from Lake Tahoe. The resort is noted for its destination appeal and was voted the West’s top third best family vacation spot by Family Fun magazine readers this year. I could see why, as we drove from San Francisco. The drive is simply majestic and of grand proportions (where else can you find pinecones the size of a football?) as you drive the Sierra Nevada mountains. Above 3000 feet elevation, the fir trees take over the Iandscape and with some peaks higher than 7000 feet, it is common to spot snow even in late July. It was for sure that the experience with nature here will be diverse and unique from the experiences of Appalachian Trails in the East.
Here is the course description:
Welcome to the North star Mountain Run. Join us for this classic 10.6K run starting at the Village At North star and finishing at the top of the Tahoe Zephyr Express.
The course start smack dab in the middle of the Village at North star and quickly turns off road ascending single track and double track, offering scenic views of Lake Tahoe, wildflowers and the Sierra.
While taking in the views, racers will be challenged with gradual climbs until they reach near the top of Mt. Pluto and then contour across to the top of the Tahoe Zephyr Express. The run starts at 6,350′, tops out at 8383′ and ends at 7894′. Bring your friends and family. They can meet you at the finish and have a fun adventure on the way taking the Gondola and Tahoe Zephyr Lift.
Temperature on race-day morning was chilling 45 degrees, a stark contrast from mid afternoon temperature when it reaches in mid 80s. While browsing through the North star village before the race, warning signs about bear sightings in the village caught my eye. Great, now as if the altitude and trail course was not challenging enough, I had to watch out for the bears!! What happens if I lose contact with the pack during the race and encounter a Bear? CouId happen. Or why else Hollywood makes film on this subject? At this point, my mind was trying to recall bear episodes from countless hours spent watching Discovery and National Geographic documentaries. I remember from one of the episodes that never try to outrun a bear. But then that was part of survival 101, and may not apply in a race situation. Now I was thinking about setting a PR, aided of course by an unintentional pacing from a bear!
About the course. Looking form the course map provided, this innocent looking outline did not tell the details like three quarters of course was rugged trail and will drop 500 feet before gradual climb of 2.5 Ion g miles to the finish line. Honestly, I did not care as I was determined to have a fun run. So much for the race strategy. Will I be able to stick to the strategy? The constant reminder of high altitude run without adjustment time and a sore left hamstring should keep me from trying anything that I would regret entering mile six in the race.
At the starting line, race director gave final instructions. Surprisingly, she did not mention bears. At this point, I was not going to ask her either. Although she did mention that “while on the trail, please do not kick dirt around, as the dust in the air will create discomfort for the runners behind you.” Interesting. Different environment, different pollutants. But if I must choose between exhaust and the dust, I wil I opt for the later. Participants in 5K run were much younger and in much greater number than the 10 K worriers. Another indication of the difficulty of 1 OK course? I could not tell.
So off we go at the modest “go” command, and within few minutes we disappear it the trail. So far Oxygen seemed plenty – although the race was only in the first mile and mostly downhill. First mile in 7: 10 minutes was according to the plan. Runner next to me at that point re marked that he needed to slow down in order to cope with the terrain that lies ahead. Pretty soon we started a gradual climb and all of a sudden the Oxygen seemed lacking. Or at least that’s what I wanted to think after all those hill workouts at home! This gradual climb never re ally ended, may be temporarily, but seemed endless until the finish. It always seems that the downhill along the course never seem to last in our memory! Well in to mile 6 and looking uphill at the finish line, I was just hanging in, trying to find ways to extract more Oxygen out of this otherwise pleasant atmosphere, Sue from Santa Clara pulls up next and declares “now you won’t let this final hill slow you down, will you?” Of course not sue. You know what? Not only will I tag along with you rest of the way, but will manage to smile at the finish line too.
Oh yes, and what about the finishing time? Let us just say I had a re ally good time.
Reflections on Running & Life 