Chuckanut Recap + Open Fuel Update
Apparently I like my 50ks cold and wet
The importance of enjoying the process while training for an ultra cannot be understated. Willing yourself out the door every day to hit your weekly volume goals, especially during winter, can feel like a serious slog. Running as a means to reach a particular results-based outcome won’t amount to long term joy and fulfillment. As many racers experienced during this past weekend’s Chuckanut 50k, trail races are much too finicky.
Even so, it sure is nice to have a fun-ass race weekend at a classic American trail race with a positive result to boot.
The Course + Race Plan
Talking to my coach ahead of Chuckanut, my goals were: run smart, fuel well, have fun, and run the back-half strong. I’ve yet to really put up a 50k result that I am proud of, so my mindset was focused on giving myself the best possible chance to have that kind of race.
The Chuckanut course is naturally divided in three parts. Racers essentially follow a lollipop, with the first and last 10k covering the dreamy, gently-rolling, Interurban dirt path, and the middle 30k boasting beauty singletrack with three key climbs and a technical traverse. Chuckanut usually goes out HARD – last year the leaders were hitting 5:30 miles on the Interurban – and allows for fast running along the majority of the course. The major wildcard this year was the weather. Friday’s sun and moderate temps turned into a cold rain overnight. I chose to run in a singlet, half-tights, arm sleeves, and gloves.
Go (Nuts) Time
Given my conservative race strategy, I mentally preset a heart rate governor of 172 bpm and my coach suggested I run 6:30 for the first mile then move up from there if the systems felt good. Those first miles were enjoyable, my stride felt smooth and I was able to ham it up with a few folks while keeping a pulse on my effort. Coming through the first aid station at 6.5 miles, I had averaged ~6:15 pace and was around 20-25th.
The middle 30k delivered quintessential type 2 fun. The sloppy trails required extra attention for each foot placement and it was raining freezing slush leading up to and along Two Dollar Ridge, making that section particularly treacherous. There is a lot of hype around this segment in race previews so I was very curious to see it for myself. The ridge is technical yet runnable. I found the real challenge to be the mental demand of maintaining race pace over two miles of slick off-camber rocks and roots. It helped to run this segment with Mike Sidic as we laughed at the absurd conditions and shared encouragement with each other. Unbeknownst to us at the time, many runners would start dropping from the race around this point with borderline hypothermic symptoms. Luckily, the temperatures didn’t affect me too much and I managed to have a blast. Climbing and descending felt aerobically easy and my pace was really only kept in check by the conditions. Solid fitness from an unremarkable but consistent training block snuck up on me. By the final descent back to the Interurban path, I was up to 14th, with two runners (Jackson Brill and Ryan Smith, both crushers) in sight.
After a quick exchange of Open Fuel flasks from one of my oldest friends who made the trip up from Seattle to crew me, I was off to test if my controlled early miles would pay off. Within a few miles I had reeled in Jackson and Ryan, and had gotten a glimpse of 11th place. I was hitting 6:30-6:45 pace without it feeling like overstretching. I heard that a lot of runners make the mistake of not fueling that last segment, so I made sure to keep taking pulls of my drink mix. The passion mango flavor provided a nice mental boost too.
Unfortunately, I took a wrong turn with two miles to go that cost me ~30 seconds and put 11th out of reach. This spurred my first real negative headspace of the day, but also took off the pressure of having to redline. As is the case with a lot of trail races, the finish line began to feel like some abstract concept in the distance that I was crawling towards. Suddenly, the nearing sound of cheers brought me back to the present and I quickly emerged out of the woods and strode across the finish line at Fairhaven Park. Finishing 12th in 4:03:11. (strava file)
Chuckanut immediately became a core trail memory for me. Not only was the race a highlight, but Bellingham is a real gem and I was able to do my pre-race shakeout with Addie Bracy, Jazmine Lowther, Chris Balestrini, and Will Murray. Addie is the person who got me into trail-ultras in the first place, Jazmine and Chris are newer friends I met while racing last year, and Will is the first American athlete I signed to the Open Fuel Elite Team. It really re-emphasized the unique beauty and camaraderie of the trail community.
The Latest Scoop On Open Fuel
Outside of training, I have been pushing full steam on Open Fuel. Between working on the US supply chain, building out the athlete team, designing gear, optimizing our website, creating content, developing a marketing strategy, and working on new products…there is no shortage of items to accomplish. Harkening back to what I shared at the onset of this post, I’m just trying to enjoy the process and remind myself how fortunate I am to be in this position.
If you are curious to try Open Fuel, or having questions about nutrition for training or racing, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here or on Instagram. Right now we are fully leaning on organic growth, so any support or evangelism you can provide is massively appreciated. We also now have very dope branded Ciele hats in stock, go ahead and get one for yourself.
Up Next
For my next race, given how well Chuckanut went (and how much I had left in the tank afterwards), my coach and I have decided to keep Canyons 100k on the calendar. After a few easy days I will ramp up my volume again for the next few weeks, focusing on longer efforts with moderate intensity thrown in. The starting list for the race is as elite and deep as it comes, which brings equal parts excitement and anxiety. Hoping to channel the same pre-race feelings as Chuckanut, leaning into having fun and being grateful for getting to do this absurd sport. Plus, as positive as my trip to Bellingham was, I’m excited to have my numero uno crew/life partner with me again for Canyons.
Seriously, how are you so clean in that finish line photo? Also, I feel like this is borderline stalker territory, but first like and first comment while rocking my Open Fuel hat (in the same purple as you no less).