In the winter of 2021, while there was still snow on the ground, I decided I needed a new challenge. I stumbled on the Castle Peak 100K website while looking for spring/summer ultras in California. I thought it was an auspicious sign when I saw the event was being held on my birthday and I […]
Race Reports
Race Report: Western States 2021, by Steve Rowbury
June 27, 3:50am This is it. The culmination of more than 18 months of anticipation and preparation. I can’t quite believe it but I’m climbing out from Robie Point and feeling strong. 18 days earlier I had run this section, visualizing this moment with 3 main hopes: that it will still be dark, that I […]
My First Ultra – TRT 55K
One of my earliest memories is of my mom yelling at me “ Carol, don’t run in the house!!” At some point, I took it out to the streets, and eventually to the trails, and have been out there ever since. It’s almost religious although I prefer to refer to my time on the trails […]
My first 50 Miler: American River 2021
The Facts Location: Folsom to Auburn, CADistance: 50 miles (watch recorded 49), 4,700ft elevation gainDate: May 8th, 2021Weather: Sunny (low 60F, high 85F), windy (20mph).Course: 75% trail (mostly single track) 25% bike path. Short (sometimes steep and technical) ups and downs and 3 mile uphill finishSupport: Plenty of aid stations with single serve food, crew […]
2020 Halloween Hill Climb
Holy Hill Climb Batman- that’s a whole lot of vert! DPMR members racked up an amazing 150,000 collective vertical feet of climbing at the 2020 Halloween Hill Climb! Congratulations to the woman’s winner Dia Davis with an impressive gain of 9,193 feet and men’s winner Caleb Armstrong, the true monster of climb, with an amazing […]
Video: A conversation with Tahoe Rim Trail FKT superstars Adam and Helen
DPMR’s own Chris Cloyd hosted a virtual conversation with Helen Pelster and Adam Kimble, two club members who both set FKTs (Fastest Known Time) on the Tahoe Rim Trail in July 2020. Watch this wonderful and inspiring chat as we celebrate their accomplishments and hear them share their experiences, detail their planning and run execution, […]
Racing Gnome 2020: A test for the Unafraid
The Racing Gnome 5k & 10k snowshoe races, put on by the Donner Party Mountain Runners at Auburn Ski Club, took place on a very cold and blustery Sunday, February 9, 2020. The event was organized by Helen Pelster and Peter Fain as co-Race Directors, and Peter once again designed the course, with optimal suffering in […]
Tor des Glaciers 450km
One week. I think I just ran for one week. Face down in a pile of gelato, my body seemingly confirmed what my mind was having some difficulty understanding…
Castle Peak 100k Recap – By JoAnn Ellero
It’s 11 PM. When I look ahead to where the trail is marked, I can’t tell if the lights I see above are headlamps from other runners or stars in the California sky. I shine my light to the left and hear a voice: “grab the rope……welcome to the Palisades” Three hours earlier, I […]
Castle Peak 100K Recap by Dan Brounstein
It was a bit of a strange prep week before the race. I wasn’t that nervous and to be honest, I hadn’t really prepped mentally like I had in the past for other first-time race distances. I was in great running shape, but had no idea what I was going to do for nutrition, pace, […]
