I live near here and use it as my favorite training grounds. Nearly brought to tears every time I get to see the views - such a privilege. I weighed 400lbs almost exactly 3 years ago and ran my first 50K a couple of months ago at 215 lbs. I am hoping to progress enough to make this race my first 100-miler within 2 years. Your videos and advice are helpful, humorous and inspirational. Thanks!
That’s as close to heaven as most mortals will ever get; you’re making this aging former adventure racer think he could get back out there again but medical problems have made me experience racing through your eyes; so awesome job and amazing time with your wonderful wife Nora too! Please keep an aspirin handy on your high altitude runs and thank you
I'm glad I can bring you along! I'm living to the fullest those adventure for the exact reason you stated. I know I can do it today, but that may not always be possible.
It's funny because I mostly just want to share the good times with her. It's most helpful for her to support me in the hard time - but what's most meaningful is to share these moments. My favorite trail moment with her remains when we finally reached the last mountain pass at Ouray 100 - with the sunrise coming up at that exact moment! We weren't done with the race, but we knew we'd make it, and it was perfect timing.
It is! My expectations were both high and low...if that makes sense. Now I'd love to see the rest of it (we were basically only north east). Maybe i'll come back for Tahoe 200 someday - when the course is back at doing the full loop.
You two are such a great team, and yes ... Nora is fantastic crew/pacer. Your videos are so raw and real. Ran the TRTER 50k course today as a training run. It was "only" 97f at the truck when I got to the bottom and I was dying from the heat on that last 6 miles. Don't know how you did it at 105f, but then ... Badwater. :) Kudos to ya'll and hope you've recovered enough for Angeles Crest. Best wishes: JB and Starr.
JB! Well badwater you get all the ice you want. Angeles was HOT at the end too. I heard 2 people were airlifted from the course, and last finisher evacuated immediately, all due to heat stroke. Towards the end, I was jogging just to be done with the heat as soon as possible...!
Congratulations on another gorgeous, challenging adventure!! Loved the only-Simon style video too! What a struggle... again, it was great to see that others feel it early in the race, but overcome it... to feel like crap again and overcome it... rinse, repeat! 😂 Nora was a wonder as always!
Way to finish strong! Great video documenting it all. I really felt the highs and lows with you. By the look of those aid stations, you definitely get your money's worth for the entry fee.
We always say 'volunteers were great, and aid station amazing' to the point where it's almost diluting the message. Like the boy who cried wolf. But this is a clear case where it was truly going above and beyond!
Thanks! Go for it! My understanding is that the 56 miles actually does all the coolest / scenic part of this course! You miss the southern loop but I think that's it (and don't repeat the northern loop)
That's very true! I always say I'm a hiker first - that's how I got into trail. I just want to be out there, enjoy nature, meet nice people, spend good time with my wife!
@@benstuckey4423 coming up so fast! Are you racing? We’re already heading out to Colorado after this weekend race! H hopefully this will help with altitude
@@runningwithsimon Yes, I am running the LT100 in less than two weeks! I am very excited. Well done this weekend on your awesome finish of the Angeles Crest 100! Rest up over the next few weeks. See you in Leadville!
I hadn't been in a while, and apparently there is a new permit system to even enter the park (back when I last went, you didn't need a permit to get into the park, but you had to have one for half dome). It's a cool place, and limiting the crowd, even if annoying when you DON'T get the permit, is probably the right move. Last time was just ...sooooo crowded
Love all your content, this route looks amazing (that star wars aid station too haha). Transgrancanaria on the books one year? :) Would be cool to see my homeland in your channel!
I'd love to! But unlikely - it's hard for me to justify time off for it at work, so I need to be fairly strategic. My boss is supportive-ish as long as I'm mindful of disruption for work. Like Fuji I barely took 1 day off (for the day of the race...). With Tor des Geants and Diagonal des Fous this fall, I need to slow down from big trip :(
@@runningwithsimon Ah that is a shame but is good to hear work is supportive! It does sounds a logistic nightmare to coordinate such big races and recovery with day to day work. Big kudos!!
on a ete a yosemite l,automne dernier. super place pour le trail running. difficile de se classer dans le top 10 la bas. tahoe etait eneige malheureusement
In a previous video I commented that my Fenix 65R-T had failed me. Turned out to be user error. I somehow locked the buttons while changing the battery. All it would have taken was holding both buttons for 3 sec (and knowing to do that).
IMO a good product needs to be intuitive enough for this not to happen, right? Like I still love it, but you should be able to figure it out in the wild by yourself. I had another one that I just couldn't figure out how I had activated flashing haha. Like, I could turn it on/off but it was flashing when on. That was so annoying, and I couldn't figure it out until I had phone service again (it was long time ago, before trail running for me)
Great vid as always, Simon. It just occurred to me seeing you struggling with sleep in this video, have you ever tried keeping your Coke consumption for later when you are actually sleepy, as opposed to right from the get go? Because of the law of diminishing returns, that caffeine when you really need it probably doesn't help as much. Maybe drink non-caffeinated drinks in the beginning. Just a thought, but you are way more experienced than I.
If my stomach is OK, I try to not have coke at first. But that's more about digestion. But I also went trhough a phase of no caffeine even in my daily life, and taking some for the races at night. Didn't help. It's not sleep deprivation - I think it's just low energy and potentially dips in glycemia.
I finished all races I've started (44 / 44 for the 100 milers). The closest was twice I decided in the weeks leading up to a race that my body was not recovering fast enough, so I switched event (e.g., Cruel Jewel I signed up for 50 miles instead). I never had to do that during the race - it was pre-emptive in both cases to avoid aggravating injuries ahead of bigger challenges (Cruel Jewel was right before Badwater, and Bishop was right before the Grand Slam) ps: but I do miss on my goals here and there. Some times I have time goals as "secondary goal" and I fall short. E.g., I was hoping for sub30 this weekend at Angeles Crest, but I simply didn't have it in me
That race looks awesome, Simon! I just did my first ultra (53+mi, ~9000' of gain between 9600' and 12500' elevation in CO). I'm wanting to do a 100 miler next year. Do you have any recommendations for picking a first 100? There are a couple I have my eye on, but you have so much experience with that distance that I'd love to get your input!
Depends the type of race you want for scenery and challenge. It's good to look at distance between aid station too - usually if they are far apart, it tends to be a little more difficult and leaves less room for inexperience
@@runningwithsimon Thanks for your insight. Especially living in CO, scenery is important, and a pretty good challenge just seems par for the course lol. I hadn't thought about the aid station distances, so I'll definitely keep that in mind!
They were alright. I feel they are slightly more stiff than the 5. Fabric up top was a little nicer still lets dust through a bunch. So for a course like that, especially the black diamond climb (aka that steep BS climb), your feet get a bit dirty. But they are decently breathable which was good especially towards the end when it got super hot.
Don’t know if this has been asked Simon but how much do you eat between aid stations? On your vid’s at each aid station is totals, is this for that leg or at the aid station?
The list is both what I have at that aid station and everything up to that point (so it includes what was on the trail). Typically you can guess what was on the trail based on what it is (e.g., Ramen or Coca Cola was at the aid station, but the Gels or Gummies or Tail wind or bananas was on trail). It's not perfect, but it's the best I can do based on recording it while still racing. I try to eat on trail as much as possible, but the options we have for that are more limited to things like gels and such. Which gets heavy and gross at some point.
@@runningwithsimon thanks mate. I thought as much and enjoy this part of your vid’s. From my experience our aid stations in Australia don’t always supply the same range of foods that I see in yours. Still good though.
On flat average is probably ~16min miles. Depends a lot of trail too, and if I'm hurting or not (especially my achilles - when they are sore it's very difficult to keep pushing)
what an ordeal! surprised this is your first in Tahoe. Havent you lived in CA for some years? Some scenery, right (excluding your butt shots)? you're a beast simon, you isotope-loving mofo
We've been in California for a little over 3 years now. But Tahoe is a bit out of the way for us (we're San Diego-ish), and we've spent last 2 summers in Colorado. So it just never was on our list. We came close to pace Tahoe 200 last year, but due to changes of dates, we couldn't (I think it overlapped with Ouray)
Maybe an oddly specific question, but I see you tape your nipples rather than use squirrel’s nut butter for that. Would you say this is necessary for 100s or just for warmer races?
I almost never have issue even without tape. I think the vest help (I'm more likely to chafe in training up there). I prefer the tape because I don't need to reapply - I use leukotape and I can just forget about it. Even for a race like cocodona it was one less thing to worry about. I use squirrel nut butter for 'down there' however. Can't tape that. But you need to reapply and it's messy...Still is the best solution i cna think of
Yes! I love watching you run ultras while I lay on the couch and snack!
haha so you love seeing me eat snack but while running :P
23:26
THAT is the truth about ultras! That's what it really feels like! I love the honesty in your videos.
lol seriously
AND we were lucky that it got cloudy just before doing it. Lead were smack in the sun.... Poor fellas
I live near here and use it as my favorite training grounds. Nearly brought to tears every time I get to see the views - such a privilege. I weighed 400lbs almost exactly 3 years ago and ran my first 50K a couple of months ago at 215 lbs. I am hoping to progress enough to make this race my first 100-miler within 2 years. Your videos and advice are helpful, humorous and inspirational. Thanks!
That's a great story - thanks for sharing! Wow you came a long way, that is amazing :)
Thanks for sharing another BEAUTIFUL race course, I love watching your videos.
Thanks Linda - I really enjoyed sharing this gorgeous race. And thanks for the support!
That’s as close to heaven as most mortals will ever get; you’re making this aging former adventure racer think he could get back out there again but medical problems have made me experience racing through your eyes; so awesome job and amazing time with your wonderful wife Nora too! Please keep an aspirin handy on your high altitude runs and thank you
I'm glad I can bring you along! I'm living to the fullest those adventure for the exact reason you stated. I know I can do it today, but that may not always be possible.
Nora stole the show again. :) congrats Simon, nice work!
She was really in the mood to film and comment - charming as always
Glad you enjoyed/tolerated my random thoughts and singing 😂
Behave Dave.
The was my headlamp brother. Thanks for picking it up. I got it back🙏
Sweet - I hope you had a good race!
Wow! I got goose bumps on "Nora's" sunrise ❤
That loked tough but beautiful, thanks you for sharing
It's funny because I mostly just want to share the good times with her. It's most helpful for her to support me in the hard time - but what's most meaningful is to share these moments. My favorite trail moment with her remains when we finally reached the last mountain pass at Ouray 100 - with the sunrise coming up at that exact moment! We weren't done with the race, but we knew we'd make it, and it was perfect timing.
Love it! Makes want to visit Tahoe to see all the beautiful trails!
Same - now I want to see the whole Tahoe Trail - that was a nice 'teaser' for me.
Tahoe is an amazing place. I’ve been lucky enough to spend some time in the area. Spectacular place for a race. Great recap as always Simon!
It is! My expectations were both high and low...if that makes sense. Now I'd love to see the rest of it (we were basically only north east). Maybe i'll come back for Tahoe 200 someday - when the course is back at doing the full loop.
What a beautiful race! Congratulations and thank you for sharing this experience!
Thanks! :)
Can't believe this race is already 3 races ago ha! It feels both like it was yesterday but also 10 years ago.
@@runningwithsimon I know, I'm so far behind! I can't keep up with your ultras!
You two are such a great team, and yes ... Nora is fantastic crew/pacer. Your videos are so raw and real.
Ran the TRTER 50k course today as a training run. It was "only" 97f at the truck when I got to the bottom and I was dying from the heat on that last 6 miles. Don't know how you did it at 105f, but then ... Badwater. :) Kudos to ya'll and hope you've recovered enough for Angeles Crest. Best wishes: JB and Starr.
JB!
Well badwater you get all the ice you want.
Angeles was HOT at the end too. I heard 2 people were airlifted from the course, and last finisher evacuated immediately, all due to heat stroke. Towards the end, I was jogging just to be done with the heat as soon as possible...!
Thank you for sharing with us. The scenery was stunning!
It was! I might add Tahoe as part of my regular or semi-regular...it was THAT good
Ok the ocarina of time music was next level awesome!
IMO one of the best soundtrack!
Congratulations on another gorgeous, challenging adventure!! Loved the only-Simon style video too! What a struggle... again, it was great to see that others feel it early in the race, but overcome it... to feel like crap again and overcome it... rinse, repeat! 😂 Nora was a wonder as always!
Thanks! Nora to the rescue :)
so sweet I love the way you always remember Nora........beautiful trail!
Thanks :)
Absolutely stunning - the scenery and your grit and determination. I love your videos.
Thanks!
It was great seeing you there! Great job on the finish (the buckle is pretty awesome too!).
Always nice to meet in person!
Yes that buckle is great - one of my favorite (I think Ouray remains my #1)
Wow, that’s stunningly beautiful maybe someday seems like I’m stuck on the East Coast
Could stuff on the east coast too of course, but I was glad to move out west couple of years ago. A big driver for us was easier access to mountains.
Strong work Simon! Congratulations
@@dannymoura4851 thanks :)
Way to finish strong! Great video documenting it all. I really felt the highs and lows with you. By the look of those aid stations, you definitely get your money's worth for the entry fee.
We always say 'volunteers were great, and aid station amazing' to the point where it's almost diluting the message. Like the boy who cried wolf. But this is a clear case where it was truly going above and beyond!
Woo-hoo, can't wait! @runningwithsimon we are waiting to run tonight so we can watch then. 🏃♂️🏃♀️
Do you mean you'll watch on treadmill? Running on treadmill with Simon!
Lol yes
nicely done!
ur the man simon. very cool buckle for this one too
Thanks!
Yes, it's a seriously cool and classy one. You don't do it for the bling, but hey, nice addition to the shelf :)
Excited for you! 🙂
I'm excited for the premiere on this one. It was an absolutely gorgeous race and very special to share with Nora such a nice sunrise!
Beautiful trail! Makes me wanna sign up for the 56m next year if I can get in. Congrats on 20k subs on TH-cam too!
Thanks! Go for it! My understanding is that the 56 miles actually does all the coolest / scenic part of this course! You miss the southern loop but I think that's it (and don't repeat the northern loop)
I'm a little late. 55?! Wow, I thought 40's. I love your sense of humor and your authentic thoughts in your videos. Happy belated birthday 🎂!
Thanks - although I'm very confused here (sorry might be post-race speaking here..) What do you mean 55?
Thank you for your inspiration ❤
My pleasure!
Congratulations on a hard earned buckle! Great video!
I was in low for a long time - good thing nora was there! I wasn't so lucky this weekend at angeles....!
@@runningwithsimon it’s very endearing how you speak about her in your videos with such joy! and ✨ updates with Nora ✨ is always a highlight
@@ArcaneSpells I'm glad we found each other
I like you very much. You not only like sports, but also love life and nature.
That's very true! I always say I'm a hiker first - that's how I got into trail. I just want to be out there, enjoy nature, meet nice people, spend good time with my wife!
Well done, Simon. I look forward to meeting you at the LT100 in just two weeks!
@@benstuckey4423 coming up so fast! Are you racing? We’re already heading out to Colorado after this weekend race! H hopefully this will help with altitude
@@runningwithsimon Yes, I am running the LT100 in less than two weeks! I am very excited. Well done this weekend on your awesome finish of the Angeles Crest 100! Rest up over the next few weeks. See you in Leadville!
Wonderful place. I hope to go there yosemite
I hadn't been in a while, and apparently there is a new permit system to even enter the park (back when I last went, you didn't need a permit to get into the park, but you had to have one for half dome). It's a cool place, and limiting the crowd, even if annoying when you DON'T get the permit, is probably the right move. Last time was just ...sooooo crowded
@runningwithsimon thank you for good explanation
Congratulations and well done :)
Thanks! What a cool and pleasant race. Didn't go so smoothly, but great event :)
I love your videos, but mostly I love the constant metroid and megaman references lol
I miss my SNES!
Love all your content, this route looks amazing (that star wars aid station too haha). Transgrancanaria on the books one year? :) Would be cool to see my homeland in your channel!
I'd love to! But unlikely - it's hard for me to justify time off for it at work, so I need to be fairly strategic. My boss is supportive-ish as long as I'm mindful of disruption for work. Like Fuji I barely took 1 day off (for the day of the race...). With Tor des Geants and Diagonal des Fous this fall, I need to slow down from big trip :(
@@runningwithsimon Ah that is a shame but is good to hear work is supportive! It does sounds a logistic nightmare to coordinate such big races and recovery with day to day work. Big kudos!!
on a ete a yosemite l,automne dernier. super place pour le trail running. difficile de se classer dans le top 10 la bas. tahoe etait eneige malheureusement
Je serais curieux de voir Tahoe avec la neige mais oui, pas ideal pour le trail running si ce n'est pas l'ete!
In a previous video I commented that my Fenix 65R-T had failed me. Turned out to be user error. I somehow locked the buttons while changing the battery. All it would have taken was holding both buttons for 3 sec (and knowing to do that).
IMO a good product needs to be intuitive enough for this not to happen, right? Like I still love it, but you should be able to figure it out in the wild by yourself. I had another one that I just couldn't figure out how I had activated flashing haha. Like, I could turn it on/off but it was flashing when on. That was so annoying, and I couldn't figure it out until I had phone service again (it was long time ago, before trail running for me)
what a cool dog :)
Aren't they all? :P
@@runningwithsimon they are 😅
Great vid as always, Simon.
It just occurred to me seeing you struggling with sleep in this video, have you ever tried keeping your Coke consumption for later when you are actually sleepy, as opposed to right from the get go? Because of the law of diminishing returns, that caffeine when you really need it probably doesn't help as much. Maybe drink non-caffeinated drinks in the beginning. Just a thought, but you are way more experienced than I.
If my stomach is OK, I try to not have coke at first. But that's more about digestion. But I also went trhough a phase of no caffeine even in my daily life, and taking some for the races at night. Didn't help. It's not sleep deprivation - I think it's just low energy and potentially dips in glycemia.
Yay!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉
Thanks!
Are there any races you did not finish? You seem invincible 😮
I finished all races I've started (44 / 44 for the 100 milers). The closest was twice I decided in the weeks leading up to a race that my body was not recovering fast enough, so I switched event (e.g., Cruel Jewel I signed up for 50 miles instead). I never had to do that during the race - it was pre-emptive in both cases to avoid aggravating injuries ahead of bigger challenges (Cruel Jewel was right before Badwater, and Bishop was right before the Grand Slam)
ps: but I do miss on my goals here and there. Some times I have time goals as "secondary goal" and I fall short. E.g., I was hoping for sub30 this weekend at Angeles Crest, but I simply didn't have it in me
Yeaahhhh buddy…
It's was a beautifully scenic race - it makes putting a movie together nice as I look back at all the footage!
That race looks awesome, Simon! I just did my first ultra (53+mi, ~9000' of gain between 9600' and 12500' elevation in CO). I'm wanting to do a 100 miler next year. Do you have any recommendations for picking a first 100? There are a couple I have my eye on, but you have so much experience with that distance that I'd love to get your input!
Depends the type of race you want for scenery and challenge. It's good to look at distance between aid station too - usually if they are far apart, it tends to be a little more difficult and leaves less room for inexperience
@@runningwithsimon Thanks for your insight. Especially living in CO, scenery is important, and a pretty good challenge just seems par for the course lol. I hadn't thought about the aid station distances, so I'll definitely keep that in mind!
How were the speedgoats?
They were alright. I feel they are slightly more stiff than the 5. Fabric up top was a little nicer still lets dust through a bunch. So for a course like that, especially the black diamond climb (aka that steep BS climb), your feet get a bit dirty. But they are decently breathable which was good especially towards the end when it got super hot.
8/10 - great views, nice people, clearly you love your wiiife❤, BUT I’m here for the fart jokes and there truly weren’t enough
Never gets old my love
Don’t know if this has been asked Simon but how much do you eat between aid stations? On your vid’s at each aid station is totals, is this for that leg or at the aid station?
The list is both what I have at that aid station and everything up to that point (so it includes what was on the trail). Typically you can guess what was on the trail based on what it is (e.g., Ramen or Coca Cola was at the aid station, but the Gels or Gummies or Tail wind or bananas was on trail). It's not perfect, but it's the best I can do based on recording it while still racing. I try to eat on trail as much as possible, but the options we have for that are more limited to things like gels and such. Which gets heavy and gross at some point.
@@runningwithsimon thanks mate. I thought as much and enjoy this part of your vid’s. From my experience our aid stations in Australia don’t always supply the same range of foods that I see in yours. Still good though.
What pace (ish) are you going when you’re power hiking?
On flat average is probably ~16min miles. Depends a lot of trail too, and if I'm hurting or not (especially my achilles - when they are sore it's very difficult to keep pushing)
what an ordeal! surprised this is your first in Tahoe. Havent you lived in CA for some years? Some scenery, right (excluding your butt shots)? you're a beast simon, you isotope-loving mofo
We've been in California for a little over 3 years now. But Tahoe is a bit out of the way for us (we're San Diego-ish), and we've spent last 2 summers in Colorado. So it just never was on our list. We came close to pace Tahoe 200 last year, but due to changes of dates, we couldn't (I think it overlapped with Ouray)
I look forward to watching this, 🎉🦾
Can’t wait to share. Gorgeous course!
Pardon his French.
Y'all will be fluent when I'm done with you!
Maybe an oddly specific question, but I see you tape your nipples rather than use squirrel’s nut butter for that. Would you say this is necessary for 100s or just for warmer races?
I almost never have issue even without tape. I think the vest help (I'm more likely to chafe in training up there). I prefer the tape because I don't need to reapply - I use leukotape and I can just forget about it. Even for a race like cocodona it was one less thing to worry about.
I use squirrel nut butter for 'down there' however. Can't tape that. But you need to reapply and it's messy...Still is the best solution i cna think of
The truth is he thinks the tape looks cooler - be honest, Simon
Well, does anyone love the look of nut butter seeping though one’s shirt
@@Noraeeecan you get him kids band aids? Like Hello Kitty heads or something? 😂😂
Maybe some teenage mutant ninja turtles bandaids…