Headlands 50 Mile race report- Josh

Headlands 50 Mile: Living in the desert southwest can hinder one’s ability to incorporate runs longer than 20 miles into the summer training schedule. At times, it is necessary to seek out some longer races that don’t involve triple-digit temperatures and countless loops near a water source. This is how I came to run the Headlands 50 mile race.

In seven years of running ultras, this has been my first opportunity to run in the Marin Headlands area. I was not disappointed. The race billed itself as a “tough” 50, with 10,040 feet of elevation gain. I quickly perused the past results, made a mental note of the course record, and booked a flight that would leave on the night prior to the race and return only 10 hours after my “anticipated” finish.

I tried to approach the race as a concerted “effort” in preparation for Wasatch in September. I found the course somewhat challenging, but very runnable and extremely enjoyable as far as the weather was concerned. In the end, I managed to cut loose of the pack and come away with a solid win and needed confidence heading into what will undoubtedly be a tough 100.

I need to say some things about some of the gear I used. This was my first time using only EFS Gel Flasks from First Endurance and it did not disappoint. I had ample energy throughout the race and none of the typical high and low points that are so common in these races. I decided on the Pearl Izumi Streak after seeing that the course was well-groomed and it also held up beautifully for an eight ounce shoe. With an aid station approximately every 4-5 miles, one Nathan hand-held was more than sufficient.