Baker Lake 50K
I’ve longed wanted to run the Baker Lake 50K, but every year on race weekend I was committed to being someplace else! But this year my calendar finally allowed me to sign up—and sign up I did! The race has been going on for more than 20 years. It’s put on by Northwest Endurance Events founded by my friend and local ultra-running legend Terry Sentinella. Being a local race for me also meant I would know lots of my fellow participants. And I knew the course too having trained on it. One of the major draws to this race is its appeal to new ultra-runners. But to those of us who have been running long for a long time, the race still presented a good challenge and an opportunity to perhaps run the distance a little faster.
The course consists of running across the dam that created Baker Lake on the Baker River and on to the Baker Lake Trail in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. You run the entire trail through old-growth and mature forest complete with views of glacier-capped volcano Mount Baker; and then head back and retrace your steps to the start. Many first time participants are fooled into thinking that since this is a lakeshore route, it must be fairly flat. It’s not! The trail rolls like a roller coaster and when it’s all over you’ll have climbed more than 4,000 vertical feet! So while this race appeals to many first timers, it’s not easy!
When I started ultra-running in my late 40s many of my fellow runners were in their 40s and 50s and beyond. Today the scene is quite different. Runners in their 20s and 30s have embraced the sport and they are out in full force. One of the advantages of being an older runner is having years to build up endurance. So I’m in awe to see so many younger ultra-runners—and there are some amazing tough and fast ones among them. I couldn’t even imagine running these distance when I was in my 20s.
As the field has grown younger, I have grown older! And now I’m one of the oldest participants out there. It’s definitely an interesting feeling to be the old guy on the course—but I’ve embraced it and it fuels me. For not only do I get to offer sage advice to younger runners -now—and I ran with several at times during this race including many first time ultra-runners—but I also thrive on competing against younger runners. They keep me inspired and motivated to continue to run the best I can. And that is exactly what I did in this race despite coming off a week long cold.
I ran hard from the start and made it to the turnaround in three hours. But the return proved more challenging as I cramped up at mile 19. It wasn’t hot, but humid and I sweated out too many minerals and electrolytes. Thankfully I had a good supply of S-caps (an electrolyte tablet) with me and plenty of water. After taking the caps and walking a bit I was able to get running again. I ran several miles with a couple of younger runners, one just 18 competing in his first 50K. This kept me engaged in good conversations allowing those miles to go by faster. I came over the finish line in 6 hours and 40 minutes winning the Grandmasters Division (over 60) and placing 36 overall in a field that exceeded 80. I was content! And wiped!
The most important thing to do after a race is start refueling your body with important nutrients and electrolytes. My Garmin told me I burned 4000 calories—and while I was hungry afterward I wasn’t ravenous. I however not surprisingly craved salt—and while I prefer my potatoes in more heathier forms—on race day I indulge a little with potato chips relishing the salt. Can’t get enough liquids either and I sipped plenty of chicken broth and chugged lots of electrolyte replacement drinks.
t’s good to walk around a little afterward too with all the lactic acid built up in your legs. For the next several days I donned compression socks to help impede any swelling. I also got the roller out and worked it on the leg muscles. I took a few days off of running too, but I still went for walks keeping the legs from tightening up.
I make sure to eat really healthy afterwards replenishing with lots of proteins and complex carbohydrates. Potatoes of course are a great source of complex carbs and important minerals and nutrients. Skagit County is a major grower of potatoes in Washington. The Skagit Valley’s soils are among some of the best for growing potatoes. Thanks to the Baker River (and other Skagit tributaries) and past eruptions of Mount Baker these soils are composed with alluvium and volcanic ash which is rich with minerals like magnesium and potassium. Potatoes favor these mineral rich soils and those minerals are eventually transferred to you upon consuming those spuds.
I usually bounce back pretty quickly but after this race I was wiped and immediately started having pain in both of my arms and neck. I feared that I was having a PMR flare-up, and I was. In 2020 I was diagnosed with Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), an auto-immune inflammatory disorder. And before I was put on prednisone I was in severe discomfort with a restricted range of motion. At 58 I felt like I was 90 and thought my life as I knew it was over. The prednisone gave me my active life back but I became fearful of the side effects from this Corticosteroid. I overhauled my diet to eliminate as much processed food as possible and I put my running into hyper drive. Inflammation is a killer and I worked hard to put my condition into remission. Motion is lotion to the body. This March after three and a half years I went off prednisone and put my condition into remission. I definitely attribute this to my eating and exercise regime as well as to a positive mental outlook.
So with the flare-up thankfully not anywhere near as severe as my initial condition, it still is a setback. I am maintaining a positive attitude and will do what I need to do to put my condition back into remission. Thankfully my legs feel fine and after running, much of the pain in my arms disappears. It’s in the mornings when I’m really aching and thus my sleep has been suffering a little. Thankfully I’m able to recharge with a nap. I’m staying positive as I get ready to run a 50 mile race next weekend. I’ve looked at the roster and I will be the old guy in the field once more—and the only Team Potato runner, too. Bring it on! Spud Power! And while I am getting up there in age—I’m getting up there in miles too—and will continue to do so for as long as my body will allow it!
Big Thanks to the Washington State Potato Commission for sponsoring me. I am proud to be a member of Team Potato and to showcase the nutritional value and performance enhancement of potatoes as I attempt to run a marathon or ultra-marathon in all 50 states—and train for my first 100 mile run! I’ve got many miles left to go—and lots of potatoes to consume to power me along the way.
