Race PostMortem : 2nd attempt at UTMB/OCC and request for advice

In 2016 I attempted OCC for the first time and made a couple of newbie mistakes that probably lead to my first DNF on this course:

• I arrived the night before the race and didn’t account for jet lag and elevation difference
• I treated race as a fun run and took many amazing pictures and video on course whilst not paying attending to cut off times
• I didn’t make the cutoff at Trient and was (very nicely) pulled off the course by the Sweeper Sisters.  

Race Report : Baldy Marathons - 04/28/2018

Baldy Marathons Madness

It all started months ago when a fast ultra runner friend of mine heard I was planning to do Barkleys Fall Classic and/or UTMB/OCC this year.  Jake Dinardi said if you are really series about training for those then I know a race director that has put together a course with a fairly high ‘suffer index’. That conversation lead to friending the RD on FB, some messages exchanged and ultimately Aaron Sorensen added me to the ‘closed’ FB groups after I registered on ultra signup even tho technically the race was closed. Thanks Aaron … I thought at the time!  Thus began my training for my first ‘off trail, self supported mountain orienteering’ race.

Race Reflection : UTMB/OCC 2016

I'm in for UTMB/OCC 2018!  I'm both excited and terrified at the same time.  Two years ago I also got in, was all prepared, took many photos and videos before during and after the and and got cut.  You have no idea how it feels to be on top of the world - literally - then hear you are being cut because you didn't make the aid station cutoff time.  I'm going back much wiser from not only being cut but because I knew one of the factors was not giving myself enough time to recover from jetlag.  I'll be trained, have the cutoffs stamped on my arm and won't be taking any videos nor photos on course!

Here is my post from Aug 28, 2016 a day after I was cut from OCC because I wasn't paying attention to cutoffs.

Enjoy the photos at the end and can't wait to see everyone in Chamonix in a few months!!