Second San Jacinto 50k trail race is a success

Ultra endurance runners from across the country gathered in Idyllwild Saturday, Oct. 29, for the second-annual San Jacinto 50k trail race. The course covered 34 miles of rugged terrain including (with intervening descents) over 10,000 feet of elevation gain. The race was again organized by desert physician and running enthusiast Alex Charmoz and his wife Liliana, and the route was the same as last year, starting at Cowbell Alley at 7 a.m. and visiting Tahquitz Peak (twice), San Jacinto Peak and Suicide Rock.

This year the race required a qualifier: Each runner had to prove they had competed in a race of 50k or more with 8,000 feet of elevation. Thus, although last year’s race included many participants who did not finish before the 12-hour cutoff, this year out of 40 runners, only one did not finish.

The best time overall was claimed by George (Jorge) Torres with 6:44:01. Torres, a 2002 NCAA cross-country champion and a 2006 U.S. outdoor champion for the 10,000 meter, competed with the U.S. track and field team in the 2008 Olympics and has since transitioned to marathon running.

The Crier was unable to reach him for comment, but we did get a note from the woman with the fastest time, Jade Belzberg of Sedona, Arizona. Belzberg’s time, 7:57:10, was fifth overall.

Other top runners included second, Guy Love of Boulder, Colorado, at 7:10:08, and third, Eric Lee, (also from Boulder) at 7:22:05. Top females besides Belzberg were second place Kiana Newmann with 9:32:33 and third place Brooke Rose of Riverside with 9:56:26. Rose finished first among women last year, with a time of 9:35:09.

Last year’s first place, Rod Farvard, still holds the record at 6:01:14. Two Idyllwilders were included in the results, Kevin Cadeux (33rd, 11:10:14) and Christopher Kruse (36th, 11:45:13.)

Belzberg was also speedy enough with answering the Crier’s request for comment that we are able to let her describe the race for our readers: “The race was beautiful! I traveled out to the race from Sedona, Arizona, because I knew the course would be beautiful and, especially attractive to me, quite challenging.

“In the first half of the race, the course brought us up and over Tahquitz Peak, then toward the summit of San Jacinto. I found the altitude difficult but did my best to run as much of the trails as I could. I summited San Jacinto at just after 9 a.m. around mile 14 and stopped for a minute to take in the views. I had previously hiked Cactus to Clouds, and so had been to the top before, but having ran it in a race was even more exciting.

“I think we lucked out with the weather this year; while cold at the start, the day warmed up nicely and actually felt quite warm during the latter stages of the race and particularly while climbing up and over Tahquitz Peak the second time. I even saw a large black rattlesnake on the trail in the final few miles (I made a detour around him.)

“Race Director Alex and his wife, Lily, put on such a terrific event. I’m so thankful for them and the volunteers that made this possible. While I know this needs to stay a small event, I plan on encouraging my husband and friends to run this race next year.”

Liliana mentioned one difficulty of organizing a race like this: stocking the aid stations. “It’s really hard to organize a race like this because the aid stations are up in the trails so we are so thankful for the volunteers who helped us bring gallons of water up; it’s a hard job.”

Last year Alex, told us: “Each aid station was fully stocked with chips, candy, fruit, sports drinks and water to help the runners get to the finish line. It was a massive effort to get these supplies miles into the backcountry. Volunteers carried at least 5 gallons of water each along with personal hiking gear, tables, jugs for water and food to these aid stations.”

After the race, Alex reported, “We had a really smooth day out there logistically, partly due to having Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit (RMRU) on scene. You can give some credit to Caleb Milner for getting his team involved.”

Alex is an emergency room physician at Eisenhower Medical Center and Liliana is a yoga teacher. Alex added, “I’ve been running trails and competing in ultrarunning events for the past three years up here. These trails are close to my heart and I wanted to show them off to the running community.”

More information about the race, including a map, can be found at https://platinum-flower-86cg.squarespace.com/. Results are posted at ultrasignup.com. Belzberg will blog about her experience at www.jadebelzberg.com.