I once again ran the Tioga Pass run, put on to benefit the Mammoth Cross-Country Team.  The race is held in memory of Ferdinand, the memorable greeter for many, many years at the Tioga Pass entrance to Yosemite.

At the start, I was a bit intimidated by the evidence of ultra runners, including Western States 100 license plate frames and several American River 50 jackets.   I joined the 40-50 runners at the start on a cool (38 degrees) morning in Lee Vining at 6700 feet of elevation.  The crowd took off up the steep hill that forms the first mile.  I was really glad when it leveled out past the USFS ranger station.  I didn't burn my lungs on the start as bad as last year, but it is still a tough start.

We began to string out almost immediately.  It was a gloriously clear, sunny, but cool day, with the sights of the valley on our left, towering mountain walls on both sides, and the road that we would be running on heading up well above us in the distance.  To entertain us as we ran, occasional streams came down from the left, and a few flowers (primrose and blazing stars) surprised us so late in the year.

The race was well organized with aid stations at 3, 6, and 10 miles.  The 10-mile station is by Ellery Lake.  It was amusing to be running along there in a T-shirt, sweating profusely, then greeting fishermen heading from their car to the lake in heavy jackets.

I arrived at the top in 1:59, first in my age group, but about 15 or so minutes behind the leader.  The first woman finisher was about 1:52.  It was a tough climb to the finish line at the entrance station (9945 feet), but the energetic cheering by the workers and finishers kept everybody's spirits up.  In fact, I could say that this race was a real "upper"!