Big Basin 50K good first timer?

[jessicap]

Trail runner and marathoner for years, excited to try my first ultra. Considering Big Basin 50K in April 2008. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!

[miki]

Ummmmm......I think I'll let other folks chime in on this one. What it is without doubt is one of the most beautiful places in the bay area.

[trailmomma]

Its seriously beautiful. you won't be disappointed by the scenery, but you will be in for a lot of climbing, my friend. Make sure you're ready for hills.

[hippietrainer]

I'd put Big Basin as one of the tougher of the 50k's. My finishing time, although slightly injured when I ran it, was almost an hour and a half slower than Woodside or Pirates Cove. With that said, it is gorgeous and the bees shouldn't be an issue this year due to the new date. As long as you go out with no hard expectations as to your finishing time and plan on walking the hills(as if you'll have an option by the last killer 10k loop) then you should be fine. As previously mentioned, be sure to train for hills and more specifically power walking hills on your long runs to mimic what you're in for. Also be sure to have a sound eating and drinking strategy since you'll most likely be out there at least 5 hours.
Hope to see you out there.

Online Coach Brian

[sdunlap]

Big Basin is one of the tougher ones, but you will definitely feel like you earned it. I think it is one of the more beautiful runs in NoCal. Since you've done some marathons, I think you can take it. But as Brian mentioned, be sure to throw in some hills and speed-walking steep stuff into your training mix. You will certainly be out on the course for 5+ hours no matter how fast you are.

The Santa Cruz 50k is also a great run, similar redwood scenery, not quite as much vertical, and a beach at the end. You may want to look at that one too.

[jessicap]

Thanks to all for your thoughts! I have registered.

[thr3ee]

One other thing to not about the Big Basin course is that some portions of the course are a little more technical than many other courses around here. I wouldn't characterize it as outrageously technical, but on the 17K loop there are quite a few rocks, roots and some nice slippery stairs near the waterfall. If you are not used to running this type of course it would do to take some extra caution, especially since the surroundings are SO beautiful and may distract you from what is right underfoot. If you can get over that way for some training runs it would really help.

[kr]

Just read this thread and now I really can't wait! Have done some pretty technical trails here as well as some groomed wide trails in the area...can't wait to see how these compare.