Saturday May 15, 2004
Bishop High Sierra 50 mile
(Miles & miles of sand & overlook to 9,385')
Page 1
On the BHS 50 Mile/50K/20 Mile (From the Runners' Report):
A cooling layer of clouds hovered over the course for most of the day to provide nearly perfect running weather last weekend at the Bishop High Sierra 50. The favorable conditions led to course record times by Jeff Kozak in the 50 mile race (7:29) and both male and female winners of the 20 miler.
You sure get value for your money at BHS. The pre-race all-you-can-eat pasta feed on the eve on the race includes all-you-can-drink draft beer! The well-stocked aid stations have about anything you'd want and more (chocolate-covered strawberries and blueberry pancakes!). And the post-race spread includes chicken and cheese quesadillas, two types of soup, pasta salad, fruit, bagels, etc. I'm happy to say that I finished the 50K and only gained 3 pounds!
But seriously folks, the course is difficult because of the altitude (the 50K starts at about 4,400 ft and peaks at 8,000) and often sandy terrain but the race is well organized and the scenery is fabulous. And with 3 distances to choose from and the ability to decide mid-race to run a shorter race, Bishop is one event to pencil in on your race calendar for next year.
The Runners' Report was well represented in all aspects of the race: Angela, Patty, Elena in the 20 Mile; JR, Mark, Ernie, Steve in the 50K; Bruce, John, Scott and Jeanne in the 50 Mile; and Mark Penn and Ken Berry who crewed and volunteered at the race.
There were many great performances at Bishop this year. but probably the most noteworthy was Patty Giebel completing the 20 miler just 5 weeks after her bike accident. The sight of Patty approaching an aid station with her "halo" must have made the volunteers think they were seeing a mirage. Patty says she didn't run but "scooted" along the course. She must have been moving pretty fast because she finished 3rd in the 50-59 age group! And Patty points out, she's 57 and the two women who "beat" her were just 50. Patty is great. ;-)
