Shadow  2012 - Race Report Story

2012 Shadow of the Giants 50K…. maybe 29.1 miles to be correct! 

I have just got back from making sure no one left a gold watch at Green Meadows… have to make sure the property is clean and tidy.  All is well to the point that all the ribbons have been moved from the magic course. Oh yes I have some good mates who really, really help this old bloke.

OK, where does one begin, maybe it all started back 23 years ago when I lived in Fish Camp, single handedly operating a B&B.  Back then I was a runner, 100 mile a week runner, obviously within a month or so I had plotted many trail courses around Fish Camp, including a magic 50K course.  Over the last 23 years the course was changed, either weather conditions etc., etc., but the course you ran on Saturday was close to the original first edition.  From your reaction it was really magic; shade under 31 miles, but no one complained.  Hopefully we can keep it for next year.

The 96 starters were under our usual amount of runners, but it is always nice to see some regulars including my mate Rob McNair who has run all 23 Shadows and won overall several times.  A good mate even remembers when I could keep up with him in races, back when!  Myself, my mate Frank and his wife Jan did all the marking and it worked well for the 50K, but I made a boo-boo for the 20K runners on Jackson Road… I was minutes late getting to an intersection and about 4, 20K runners had made the left turn and visited an aid station they didn’t expect to meet.  Hey shit happens!  Again no one really complained; a few extra miles works when you are having fun.  Oswaldo Lopez knows the course having run and won the race over the last 6 years, so he, Lon Freeman and Randy Vander Tuig were together, but then Ozzy decided Enough!  A few guys were waiting back on Jackson Road to see who would be leading, Mr. Lopez flew round the corner and was gone, heading towards GM and the finish line.  He was sun bathing when I got back to GM …then he went for a mini run with a mate back up to Jackson Road.  Lon Freeman took second place 13 minutes back and a nice surprise for the massive crowd was to see lovely Maria Rivera cross the line in third place.  Randy Vander Tuig was real happy to take third man overall! Second women was 34 years old Justin Owen, who was  followed by Orange County's favorite champ, Michelle Barton.  We had only a few dropped, real sorry for my mate Rick Herr, he has been running real well, but a knee problem has re surfaced. His lovely wife Julia was having second thoughts about cutting her race short, but we managed to get her bum into gear and she finished with a smile.  Me old mate Richard Velez, now 70, said it was his last Shadow, only missed a few of the 23 years.  The oldest finisher at 73 was Mr. Doug Malewicki, he did start early with a few who didn’t know the course, what a nice man!  29 women finished and as usual I got treated to some sweaty hugs, I must say we had the best looking women I have ever hugged in this year’s race.

Overall all the runners did good, everyone was happy to do the river crossing again at Big Sandy and get to see the big 3000 year-old Giant Sequoias at the loop.  Sorry - no bear sightings.  But I have seen the magic photos Mark took, wow did he catch some beauties crossing the river and at the finish line, check um out. Must thank all the volunteers we just wouldn’t be able to pull it off without them.  My new local Ham Operating team, who had never done it before worked out splendidly, actually want to come back next year.  It really helps to have a good team out there over the 29.1 miles that are dedicated.  Lovely Karen G and her helper from Reno, Jan did another magic job at the finish line all day.  Me mate Dave drove over from Merced to help and he as he always is, willing to help and do anything.  My new mate Big Jack enjoyed his first aid station job with McDoogal.  Tropical John Medinger was helping at every occasion and keeping an eye on his wife Lisa’s progress, her last long run before WS100.  Must mention me long time mate Frank Bozanich and his wife for coming to stay a few nights at my home in Oakhurst before the event.  I am missing some silver knives and forks, plus my sugar bowl, please return!  We always take Wednesday and Thursday to mark the trail and the evenings are spent drinking red wine and listening to my YES music. Of course, I sing and play with my air guitar on my deck, much to the dismay of my good neighbors next to my little property.

OK we all know all good things must come to an end, but the memories can always remain and from all the magic kind words after the race it seems we can all do it again next year in Fish Camp.  Sorry, no results on the Fun Run. My Summer Trail Run Series starts June 23^rd above Oakhurst in the Sierras, 3 race series, starting with the Bass Lake Vista 14k.  Check out my web site for more details.  I am sorry I am not a computer Geek, no Face Book for big BAZ, but I think my mate Doug M does a good job, please send any stories or photos you take of the race, to him or me.  Enjoy your races over the remainder of the year, we all wish Ozzy the best of luck with his next ultra-challenge at Badwater in a few weeks. All ribbons have been removed from the trails, so my Forest Service mates will be happy when I pay my bills today in North Fork. Again thanks for coming, hope to see you again soon. 

Much Love Big BAZ XXXX   bazhawley@sti.net                         www.bigbaztrailraces.com

My photographer mate Mark Haymond was seen in many places on the course.   Please check out his magic photos on www.markhaymond.smugmug.com  Thanks Mark, and happy 68th birthday on June 4th!

2012 SHADOW OF THE GIANTS 50K RESULTS

Share your favorite Shadow photos with us for Baz's website. 
We also will be happy to link to any online photo albums created for Shadow.
Please email them or album links to webmaster DMalewicki@cox.net
Shadow 50K photos below provided by Doug Malewicki.
(Click on an photo to see it in larger size.)