Running 100 miles might seem daunting, difficult, even daring. But to Caroline Ly, the Cascade Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run just seemed like fun.
Two years ago, Ly, who lives in Queen Anne, picked up ultrarunning, which is long-distance running of up to 100 miles. Ly had completed several 50k and 50-mile ultraruns, so 100 miles "was just the next step." And the Cascade Crest trail run was ideal for Ly too, since the course combined two of Ly's favorite things - running and nature.
"I hate carrying a lot of stuff. What you see in four days of hiking, I can see in one," Ly said. "I really enjoy running and being out in nature. Every part of the trail you see something different, from rock meadows to forest, but it's all great."
But running 100 miles in 29 hours, 44 minutes and 26 seconds wasn't easy, especially the night portion of the course.
"Mentally it was a lot harder because you have to run through the night," Ly said. "But it was something I wanted to do so I pushed through it. Let's just say, I was happy once the sun came out."
The Cascade Crest 100 is purposefully timed so that runners spend most of the trail running through the night, meaning runners had to wear headlamps and carry glow sticks.
"My worst fear was getting lost," Ly said.
There were 16 aid stations where runners could stop for hot food and water throughout the course. There were clear trail markers, too. Ly said the Cascade Crest 100 is one of the best-supported races of its kind.
But not all of it was peaceful communing with nature.
As if the first 67 miles were not hard enough, Ly threw up the last 33 miles of the course.
"The last 26 miles was really hard," Ly said, "but I learned a lot about myself. I thought about my grandma a lot and her motto 'yes, yes, yes' and I just thought about everyone who supported me and I didn't want to let them down."
Ly described the course as an emotional journey, at times feeling elated and happy, and the next moment feeling the pain. Pain aside, Ly said she had fun "even though it was the hardest thing I've ever done."
Ly's Queen Anne Neighbor, Joel Searles, called Ly phenomenal for her ultra-running performance. But Searles has become a figure of phenomena in his neighborhood too. Searles, retired associate director of Sponsored Research at the University of Washington, has been named the "Orange Man" for habitually wearing all shades of orange during his daily 10-mile runs.
"Yes, I'm known as the Orange Man," 73-year-old Searles laughed. "People expect me at certain times, like clockwork and they get worried if they don't see me or if I take a different route."
Why orange?
"It's my favorite color," Searles said. "From bright to medium to burnt orange, I just love the color orange."
Apart from his love for the orange attire, Searles said he gets grumpy if he misses a day of running.
"At a certain level it becomes like a drug," Searles said. "For me it's mentally soothing. I think away all my problems when I'm running. It's very addictive."
Despite Searle's passion for the mental relief in running, he said he would never participate in ultra running. Ly plans to take a small break from the sport too, though she doesn't think she's pushed her body to its limit, yet.[[In-content Ad]]
