Where’s Waldo 100 km: new women’s record!

Roughly one and a half weeks off the Colorado Trail I made my way out for the Where’s Waldo 100km Trail run held at the Willamette Ski Resort about 70 miles southeast of Eugene, OR. I had thought about running the race earlier in the year, and after running with race director Craig Thornley at Miwok I was convinced to work it into my fall schedule. It truly is a gem of a race, a beautiful single track course including sections on the Pacific Crest Trail. Three spectacular steady climbs to break up the windy trail route; it is a lollipop course that takes you by 6 alpine lakes. Craig and co-RD Curt Ringstad throw in some fun incentives to keep things interesting, the first person to the top of Fuji Mountain (mile 16) wins the ‘find Waldo’ award and the person to fully submerge in the most alpine lakes wins the wet Waldo award. The aid stations have the all the comforts and support a runner could ask for, with plenty of supplies and most importantly friendly, enthusiast faces.



Charlton Lake

Feeling a little out of tune (not having raced since Miwok on May 6) I toed the line with the field at 5am on Saturday morning (August 19) wondering how my recent trek on the CT would play into today’s run. Climbing out of the ski resort on steady smooth trail in the dark with a crescent moon amongst the runners’ chatter I couldn’t imagine anywhere I’d rather be. Fortunately that feeling continued for most of the day. The trail was fun and inspiring; there is nothing like running beautiful trail and getting to do it all day long. Matt crewed me at the 22.5 mile mark and paced me to the finish from Charlton Lake, roughly the half-way point. In his persistent, quiet but motivating demeanor we moved through the second half and passed the three men that had come through Charlton Lake ahead of me.

At the final aid station an angel took a baby wipe to my salty face and sent me on my way. It’s the little things that make a runners day. Seven rolling miles to the finish; I followed Matt’s lead and noticed that the only footprints ahead of me were his. My best route finding technique is to watch for familiar tread patterns on the trail; having only his ahead was something new to me.

We finally popped out on the long straight away with the finish line banner and a small crowd of people waiting at the end. I plopped down in the gravel just past the finish line smiling. I got to pick from a rainbow of Where’s Waldo embroidered hats as I took in the finish line scene. A huge bbq spread was in full swing and massage therapist Kelly offered me and my dirty legs a massage. They know how to treat runners at Waldo! So the end result, A overall girl winner, a new women’s course record at 11:18 and more importantly a GREAT day on the trails.


Krissy accepts her trophy