Published September 11th, 2012
Waldo 100K: It’s all about the hat
When it became clear I’d be running my 100th race of marathon distance or further in 2012 I started thinking about the perfect race to commemorate said feet, er, feat. I wanted to challenge myself, so I considered the Cascade Crest 100. I liked the thought of running 100 for my 100th, plus the timing was right for hitting #100 without having to cram in a bunch of races. Problem was, the race scared the bejeezus out of me. While I had become much more confident on the trails, this was varsity-level stuff. Even with year-long preparation, I wasn’t sure I’d be up for it.
When a friend of mine suggested the Waldo 100K, I knew I found my race. I’d still be running 100 for my 100th, it too was perfect timing (it’s a week before Cascade Crest), plus it would provide the challenge I sought without chewing me up (at least I hoped). In order to earn the coveted Waldo hat, runners had to finish within 16 hours of the regular start, or 18 from the early start. I knew from the get-go I’d not only need the extra time, I was concerned about making the 18-hour cutoff.