The Buffalo Run – The Ultimate Trail Run Race Report by Steve Mackel

Medal Finshers
Podium Spots for Beach Runners L-R Sara, Steve, Gary, Mina, Christy, Duncan, Haley

WOW! What a race. This has got to be one of the most difficult Half Marathons in the US if not the world without going somewhere or doing something ridiculous.

The first 5 miles are up, tough up hill, followed by a screaming couple miles down hill, then back up and then back down. This race starts at sea level, climbs to the top of the mountain behind Avalon then turns around and brings you back to town. It is primarily on fire roads. You have nothing out of the ordinary to deal with except Mother Nature yet Mother Nature can always have the final say. Fantastic views are around every corner and we ran through some burn areas so we could see the hillsides starting to regenerate.

Here’s what I have to say about the race. The first hour is tough. You just figure how to get through without walking. Then the race gets steeper in both directions, up and down. I read somewhere that there is 4 times the amount of force exerted on the body going down hill. Whatever the number is we know it is more than running on flats and up hill. There are some steep down hills sections after miles 5.5 and the race finishes with 3 miles of steep down hills. You just get to the point where you can’t stop. These parts eat up your legs and my legs a feeling it today.

Beach Runners use ChiRunning® techniques. We train our athletes to run smart up hill and fly down hill. We use gravity. This is an area I have to continue to work on. I was passed by 7 people on the down hills. I was still running fast, sub 7 minute miles yet I was governed by some fear, fear of injury, protecting my back, fear of truly letting go. I watched these people motor past me on some very steep terrain. Maybe next year.

In the end it was Gary’s day. Catalina is like home court advantage for Gary. He has been training hard for this it paid off. I couldn’t keep up with him on the up hills and forget about it on the down hills. He finished 12th overall 1st in his age group. I still had a good day 30th overall and 2nd in my age group. I value this medal as much as any.

I want to congratulate everyone who made the trip over and participated in this great race. The Beach Runners had a fantastic showing bringing over 20+ athletes and finishing with 7 podium spots. We don’t train people to run fast, we train people to be successful and every Beach Runner finished, some quickly.

Now we are looking forward to the Catalina Marathon and Los Angeles Marathon. We have a couple more weeks before the big days. The Beach Runners are ready and we showed it yesterday. Our training programs work – “For your best marathon ever” join us.

A special congratulations goes out to Beach Runners Mentor Barb and Beach Runners Sissy, who never gave up.

Thank you to all the volunteers, race officials and the Catalina Conservancy for staging this wonderful race.

Steve Mackel, Head Coach – MarathonTraining.TV and Beach Runners

Beach Runners Buffalo Run
Many of the Beach Runners Pose for a Photo After the Race.

February 10, 2008 | Filed Under Steve's Posts, Trail Runs 

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