Woolley Runs 50K– Returning to Where this Team Potato Runner First Sprouted
I remember welcoming the new decade with excitement and a little bit of trepidation. Would the 2020s roar like the 1920s? News of a potential pandemic was giving me a little anxiety. But trying to remain optimistic, this was the year that I decided to return to ultra-running after a long hiatus (blame work and a new son). In February of 2020 I signed up for the Woolley Runs 50K, a local race in Skagit County. And since the director and many of the participants were friends, it would be a welcoming environment to return to this demanding sport. And this would be the very first race that I would be running as a member of Team Potato.
I was ecstatic when the Washington State Potato Commission reached out to my running club, Skagit Runners recruiting athletes to represent Team Potato. We would in essence be showcasing the benefits of potatoes for a healthy lifestyle. The Commission was looking for an array of athletes, and I was beyond happy to be a part of the team. And while it wasn’t a requirement, it was great too to be representing Team Potato as a resident of one of Washington’s top potato producing counties. While several Eastern Washington Counties are the state’s potato powerhouses (including Grant which has the highest potato yield in the country), two Western Washington counties are important potato producers, Whatcom and Skagit.
On a cool and overcast Valentine’s Day I joined 22 other intrepid 50K runners on Skagit County’s Cascade Trail. I knew this 23 mile trail well having trained on it many times. In 1999 this trail was established on a former trunk line of the Great Northern (later Burlington Northern) Railroad. Beginning in Sedro-Woolley it travels up the Skagit Valley to Concrete traversing farmlands and forest. It also travels along beautiful stretches of the Skagit River and through protected ecologically significant wetlands. And it’s flat, guaranteeing a fast (well as fast as you can run 31 miles) race. The race went out and back for 15.7 miles giving you a chance to high-five runners ahead and behind you. I ran the whole way with my friend Grady and we came in at just under 6 hours at 5.56.55. I was happy. Back in 2014 when I first ran this race (and my last ultra until this one) I clocked in at 5.42.10.
Upon finishing this race I was stoked—I was running ultras again and I was running for Team Potato. But a month afterward my dreams (along with everyone else’s) were shattered with the Covid19 Pandemic. Races were cancelled and it looked like no more Team Potato. Meanwhile during this dark and stressful period my health declined. My anxiety reached new heights and I was in pain with reduced mobility. I had acquired an auto-immune disorder, polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). It wasn’t until February 2021 that I was diagnosed and by this time my range of motion in my neck was severely curtailed while I ached in my shoulders, upper arms and thighs. I was put on prednisone and would be on it for nearly three years. But through the medication along with overhauling my diet and intensifying my exercise I was able to fight the inflammation and put my condition into remission. Never mind that I turned 60 along the way, I felt renewed and full of energy. And I was so grateful when I found out that Team Potato was back on—I had so many miles and races I wanted to do as a Team Potato runner.
In August of 2021 along with my friend Peter I ran Mount Hood’s 41 mile Timberline Trail with its 10,000 feet of elevation in a day. I was stoked and more confident than ever that despite my age, my ultra-running days are far from over. In October of 2021 I ran my first ultra-race as a Team Potato member since the shut downs—the brutally challenging Cougar Mountain 50K with its 7,300 feet of elevation gain. And in Feb of 2022 I was back running the Woolley Runs 50K, this time finishing at 5 hours 32 minutes, my fastest 50K ever.
I’ve run a lot of ultra-races since including four 50 milers, a 100K and a 100 miler. Last year was my biggest year ever—but by year’s end I was dealing with a nagging calf injury. It was time to take it easy and work on recovery. After nearly two months off from intensive running I entered this year’s Woolley Runs 50K. Two weeks prior I had successfully ran a hard marathon and felt it was time now to see if I could push it on a 50K course. The flat course allowed me to run harder than I had previously run for in a while.
I couldn’t get anyone to run the race with me, but as usually happens at these events I quickly gained a running partner. At about four miles I ran alongside Stefanie an experienced ultra-runner who overcame her own obstacles. We ran faster than I wanted to but it was great training for me. After 14 miles together I needed a short break from the pace. She continued on her brisk pace and I resumed on my own finishing at 5 hour 48 minutes—just 16 minutes shy of my best. I was happy
This year’s race had wonderful weather—high 40s and sunny. But earlier flood damage on the course forced the race director to change the route to a few out-and-backs-which meant crossing the notorious Wiseman Creek flooded section four times! There were great volunteers along the course with good food choices. I loaded up on fruit and potatoes became part of my post-race refueling.
What impressed me this year was that despite the small field, it was made up of primarily older runners. There were four of us over 60. I got to run with one of them, David for a short while. In 2022 I held the course record for senior masters on the course. David broke my record the following year. This year he broke his own record with an impressive finish of 5.03.31. An inspiration for me. And my next race coming up soon will be the Marin Ultra Challenge (The MUC) 50K in California. I will be lining up with 25 other runners over 60 including some incredible athletes with times to make a 30 year old envious. I look forward to the challenging race, the inspiring field and once again wearing the green as a proud member of Team Potato! It’s been a great six years. I look forward to many more!
Big Thanks to the Washington State Potato Commission for sponsoring me. I’m proud to be a member of Team Potato and to showcase the nutritional value and performance enhancement of potatoes as I train for my second 100 mile run—and continue to run a marathon or ultra-marathon in all 50 states! I’ve got many miles and places yet to go—and lots of potatoes to consume to power me along the way.
