“Good bye honey, please be careful out there.” It was minutes before the start of the inaugural Tahoe 200. Family and crew members were wishing racers well and offering last tidbits of advice and encouragement. Hugs, knuckles and “bro” pats on the back were exchanged and then the gun announced the start of the race.
The field of runners, clad in a myriad of backpacks, fanny packs, gaiters, hats, headlamps, and other accouterments, were now moving through the bright yellow starting arch. I was in complete awe. I am a runner, but this was far beyond the amount of running I have ever done. These athletes were now on course to run around the entire lake and only had 100 hours to do it.
Now one year later, it will happen again.
On the morning of September 11, 2015 a group of ultra-runners will take off from Homewood Mountain Resort to start a long, yet rewarding journey around Lake Tahoe. This is the 2nd year for the first, and only single-loop, 200 mile, mountain trail run in the USA known as the Tahoe 200 Endurance Run. Racers will circumnavigate Lake Tahoe, mainly following the TRT (Tahoe Rim Trail). The course will weave around crystal clear lakes, thick forests and over miles of stunning ridge lines offering incredible views.
The Tahoe 200 is not one for the weak-willed. The route ascends and descends 40,200 vertical feet; starting and finishing at Homewood Mountain Resort which has a base elevation of 6,200 feet above sea-level.
With a 100 hour overall cutoff time, runners will have to average a minimum of 50 miles per day. Takeishi Koichi did just that last year with a dramatic finish, just 4 seconds ahead of the 100 hour cutoff. Ewan Horsburgh, last year’s winner, averaged closer to 78 miles per day and finished in 61 hours and 32 minutes (i.e. 2.5 days).
Good luck and congratulations to all 2015 runners tackling this epic course, especially to our own Donner Party Mountain Runners: Diana Schlaff, JP Prince, and Betsy Nye.
Interested in volunteering at our super awesome aid station? Contact Aid Station Captain Mike Tebbutt for more details. Email: treasurer@donnerpartymountainrunners.com
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