Chasing the Cutoff at the Mammoth Trail Fest 50K 2022 Mammoth Lakes Trail Ultra Running

My "race" at the Mammoth Trail Fest in Mammoth Lakes California September 2022.
Mammoth Trail Fest 50K Trail running in Mammoth California!
#highcountryflyfisher #jimlowe #Mammothtrailfest #mammothtrailfest50K #mammothlakes #trailrunning #runmammoth

[@sassymess7111]

You're doing great 👍🏼

[@highcountrychronicles]

Thank you for the support!

[@peterbedford2610]

Good job

[@highcountrychronicles]

Thanks

[@tortoisewhisperer1580]

Great job finishing that tough challenge. I ran a few marathons (26.2 miles) in my early 20's, I just don't see how people today can run those ultra long distances like 50-100 miles, or how one prepares for them mentally and/or physically. Did you have a background from running when you were younger in school or did you take up running later in life ? Congrats again on finishing that run and thanks for sharing !

[@highcountrychronicles]

Hi! Thanks! You train by just running lots. I tend to listen to a lot of podcasts while training. 😂 Take it slow and easy and it makes a pleasant 4-5 hours on the trail. I ran sprints in high school but didn’t get into distance running until I was an adult and really didn’t tackle anything over 3 miles until I was in my mid 40’s. I took up distance trail running as a way to get into fishing destinations that would normally need an overnight trip. Running I can get in and out same day. 😁

[@hikesteepfishhigh]

lol... I'm still running/racing with my original ud scott jurak hydration pack. same color way as your pack. I had some friends run the same race this year and they said it was tough. I train/race in baja california mexico. it is too expensive for me to race in california. I had trouble running after I got COVID as well. took a while to recover from that. I didn't run July August and September but was backpacking pretty much every week. did a two week trip in Yosemite, two ten day trips in sequoia and a seven day trip to the mitre basin. about 250 miles not counting the miles I walked fishing. I'm a fisherman not really a backpacker, so my trips are planned for backcountry fishing. I pick routes that allow the most fishing as possible each day in remote locations. I wondered how taking off that much time from running would affect my running. I started again last month and it was not too bad. my normal routine when not in a training block is two six milers and a ten miler each week. the first week I did three six milers and the first two runs were tough.the third one was not too bad and after a couple of weeks now I'm back on my regular routine. this year I'm gonna do a couple of local half marathon trail races I've got a dnf at the ensenada trails 50k I'm gonna get my revenge on and try to better my time at the ultra marathon baja trail 50k.

[@highcountrychronicles]

Cool. Yeah, if you're backpacking at altitude I'd imagine that your running wouldn't suffer too much. This took a lot out of me. More than I realized and on the first day of my 4 day trip into SEKI I was dragging. Managed to feel pretty spry on the 27 miles out the last day though. At my age I really need to switch to more speed training because I'm really losing my top end. I pretty much planned to DFL but this was harder than I expected. Sounds like you'll have things dialed in though. Would love to hear more about your trips!

[@highcountrychronicles]

Oh yeah... my UD pack has seen better days. LOL.

[@hikesteepfishhigh]

@@highcountrychronicles 😅😂

[@outsidewithmike]

My brother does ultra marathons but I've never seen him or anyone actually do a race. Thanks for sharing your experiences! Gorgeous area.

[@highcountrychronicles]

Cool! Glad you were able to see what it’s all about… at least from the back end. 😂😅

[@JesseLuna805]

Great job! Chasing cutoffs is tough. I’m a back of the pack runner. I started the 25k and did the Dragon’s Back race. I think I saw you finish up your race, I was hanging out at the village. I also filmed the 50k race start and did a video of the weekend.

[@highcountrychronicles]

Thanks! It was fun. It was tough. Was Dragon’s back part of the 25K? Did you do it twice? :D I’d imagine that you probably saw me if you were in the village around 7:30pm. I was surprised that they thought there we still people on the course. I didn’t pass anyone after the Summit. There was a section around mile 28 -29 before the last aid station where the course passed through a section we had passed earlier. The markers got a little confusing there if you didn’t remember running though there earlier.

[@highcountrychronicles]

Enjoyed your video.

[@JesseLuna805]

@@highcountrychronicles I started the 26k but wasn't feeling it that day. Before the race I decided to toe the line but just head back after the first AS to the start/finish for a nice 10k run. The 26K did go to the summit but not sure which way it went. I had a blast doing the Dragon's Back Ascent. I do think I saw you finish but I was watching the panel and was turning around. I think a couple of people had trouble with the course markings in some sections but everyone looked happy to make it to the finish line.

[@JesseLuna805]

@@highcountrychronicles Thanks!

[@mmfruitveg]

Congrats Jim.......your out there doing it...thats all that matters

[@highcountrychronicles]

Thanks Mike! Yeah, beats watching a Marvel movie with a tub of chocolate chip cookies in my lap. LOL.

[@chrisdevine7122]

Nice job! That’s awesome and heck you were filming and looking for that next fishing opportunity.

[@highcountrychronicles]

Thanks! Yeah, gotta have priorities. Definitely going to hit Lake George sometime... :D

[@totum628]

Congratulations, nice work

[@highcountrychronicles]

Thanks!