Find Adventure In Capitol Forest – Capitol Peak Ultra 50 Mile & 55K

capitol forest adventure
Jen Edwards advocates a slow pace. This strategy crowned her the winner of last year's Capitol Peak Ultra.
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By Anne Larsen

seven inlets spaCapitol State Forest is a vast and amazing wonderland of trails that is located right in our very own backyard! Yes, you can find streams, bridges, mossy trails, rocky cliffs, open clearings and cell towers all in Capitol Forest. The location is ideal to challenge, amaze and test the mental fortitude and physical limits of runners (and cyclists), and it takes about 20 minutes to get there from West Olympia.

capitol forest adventure
Runners gather at the starting line for the grueling Capitol Peak Ultra race in the Capitol Forest.

This year, on April 27, runners from far and near will gather in the Margaret McKinney parking lot EARLY in the morning to start off on another adventure in Capitol Forest — The Capitol Peak Ultra.  It’s early, it’s cold, and it’s April in the Pacific Northwest –anything can happen. Snow can happen (and often does), rain can happen, sun can happen, and wind can happen. Most likely all four will happen and that’s what makes this race an adventure!

Now before I scare you off let me tell you this. Distance is just that – distance. You can do anything with enough time and enough food and water. That is your first lesson in ultra-running! The Capitol Peak Ultra offers a 50 mile course and a 55k course (34 miles). The course changes year-to-year depending on logging operations, closed trails and trail washouts – but the distance remains the same.

So who comes up with crazy ideas like running 50 miles in Capitol Forest in April? Well that folks is our very own John Pearch. In June 2005, the Capitol Peak 50 miler was born. The event was created as a qualifying event for 100 mile runs and also to encourage new ultra-runners. In 2007, the 55k option was added to give runners the option to run a shorter distance and a drop down opportunity for 50 milers.

capitol forest adventure
Capitol Peak Ultra organizer, John Pearch creates a course that challenges and tests ultra marathon athletes.

I was first initiated into this madness with John’s other event, the Mega Fat Ass. In all honesty, I signed up for the race because I thought the name was funny and I liked telling people I was running the Mega Fat Ass. I probably said it a lot. But it was during the Mega Fat Ass that I connected with fellow runner Eric Barnes who expelled all of his worldly ultra-knowledge on me. What I lack in organization, forethought, and execution, well, Eric excels in those disciplines. My key to success in running (and in life) is to latch on to someone who knows what they are doing and hold on for dear life. During that first ultra Eric’s watch would go off every 30 minutes to remind him to eat – brilliant! I do believe he had to share food with me….so here is your first expert bit of trail running advice.

EAT! “The key to the Capitol Peak Ultra and all long running events is caring for your nutrition and hydration. I set up a routine of eating a small amount about every 30 minutes. My fuels of choice are Vanilla GU, Shot Blocks, and an occasional Luna Bar. I will forage at the aid stations for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, boiled red potatoes, and potato chips. I try to eat a bunch about 15 minutes before long climbs and then some more at the summits so I can digest while I’m running the downhills.”  Eric’s advice is spot on. It is hard to keep track of time when you are running for 6+ hours, so if you can set your watch to go off and remind you, it’s helpful (or run with someone who remembers).

Jen Edwards advocates a slow pace.  This strategy crowned her the winner of last year's Capitol Peak Ultra.
Jen Edwards advocates a slow pace. This strategy crowned her the winner of last year’s Capitol Peak Ultra.

GO SLOW! Now I know, I know….everyone says it’s a “run” but really, it’s an adventure. Walk the hills, eat, and take your time. Eric told me “it is said that wise ultra marathoners start the race slowly and then drop the pace down more as you go.”  If you don’t believe me, then listen to Jen Edwards. She won the race last year, and she even advocates slowing down. “As a first timer – or seasoned veterans alike – my advice is to take it very easy from the start to the peak. It’s a long climb and if you go out too hard it will ALWAYS come back to get you. Relax, strike up some conversation and have some fun while you climb. Eat early and often and your body will pay you back with a fast second half.”

HAVE FUN! There are certain things you can control when running in Mother Nature, and certain things that you cannot.  This year will be Eric’s sixth running of the Capitol Peak 50 Miler. “The first year I ran, it we ran through a section called Hells Canyon. It was Hell. The trail out of the canyon was a flowing stream. Did I say stream? I should clarify, it was a waterfall—an extremely steep, very rocky waterfall with dicey footing. I don’t even know if that section of trail is open anymore. The trails have improved a great deal over the years with less mud and most of the deep ruts have been filled in by the many volunteers that use the trails. The clay in the soils has a nasty way of accumulating on your running shoes as you run in some sections. It’s not much appreciated when you have 40 miles on tired legs and suddenly your feet weigh twice as much because of the mud. But, rain, snow, mud, wind, and maybe even some sunshine are all a part of the challenge.”

capitol forest adventure
Anne Larsen (left) travels with ultra runner Eric Barnes in the Capitol Forest.

Although rain, snow and mud may not sound fun, it really is. When you crest a ridge and see a group of volunteers cheering you on, refilling your hydration pack, offering you M&M’s, it’s fun. You really get the best out of people when you strip them down to compression socks, gloves, hats and hydration packs and shove them out into the forest. “Capitol Forest offers some beautiful well groomed trails. The views of Mt. Rainier on a sunny day are spectacular (only witnessed one sunny day). Best of all, the Olympia trail runners just know how to enjoy the trails and life in general. I always look forward to this event.”

EVERYONE IS SO FRIENDLY! Maybe because they are all a bit crazy, the race organizers, volunteers and participants at the Capitol Peak Ultra events are the nicest people ever. Seriously.

Jen ran this 50 miler as her first ultra in 2011. “I love the race, the people, and the distance… pretty much everything. John Pearch does a great job organizing the race, the volunteers and Search and Rescue are all amazing on the course as well. The aid stations are done right and I felt like a lot of people knew me although I was new in town. Everyone racing or working the event was ready to help – first timers should just ask. I’ve never met another ultrarunner who wasn’t happy to help someone in need.”

capitol forest adventureI can understand us locals jumping on the bandwagon, but runners from all over Washington come to Olympia just for this race – Eric drives from North of Seattle for the race. “John Pearch, his parents, and the many volunteers do an amazing job serving the needs of the runners. The Search and Rescue volunteers have always shown up very early and stay late to be at the ready should anything go wrong. Warm fires in burn barrels greet the runners in the morning and great soup and breads are there for you when you finish,” he says.

Really, races like these could not happen without the fabulous volunteers that show up year after year to help. If you’d like to participate without running a step, please volunteer! The start, finish and aid stations are really fun – I plan to help this year with my kids!

So the moral of the story is this. If you like to eat, run/walk slowly, have fun and be around friendly people, ultra marathons are for you! Who knew? Well, now you know. See you on the trails!

Please check out all the details on the Capitol Peak website.

Stay up to date by liking Capitol Peak Ultras on Facebook.

Photos graciously provided by Glenn Tachiyama.

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