Inform. Inspire. Connect. 

Member Highlight: Kevin Sawchuck by Helen Pelster

“When do you work and sleep?” I finally asked Kevin. We recently shared an easy hike up his favorite backyard training hill (the 700 road at Northstar.)

As we climbed, Kevin stopped to check on various plants, hoping to find berries in-season and thinking about wildflower seeds to harvest. He explained that he and his wife enjoyed planting native seeds at home, but that it’s tricky with the squirrels.

We continued swapping stories of our past weeks’ adventures. His described so many recent excursions in the high sierras that I couldn’t keep them straight. Hence the question about work and sleep. It turns out that I hit that nail on the head.

Castle Peak Shakeout Run & Course Preview

DPMR is excited to partner with the Lake Sonoma Race Series and Tahoe Mountain Sports to bring you a day on the trails! Whether you are doing a final shakeout run before the Castle Peak 100K or just wanting to log a long Saturday run with new friends- join us for a your choice of 8 or 15 miles on the Donner Rim Trail and Warren Lake Trail starting from Johnson Canyon. Saturday, August 7, 2021

Volunteers needed for Castle Peak 100k

Please consider signing up to help out at our signature race- the Castle Peak 100K, August 13-15.
Come lend a hand at Donner Party Mountain Runners very own race- the Castle Peak 100K! We have a new loop-course for 2021 with many new locations and opportunities for volunteer help. Please consider giving some of your time to help our racers achieve their Castle Peak 100K goals; without volunteers, this entire event would not be possible!

My First Ultra: TRT55k by Carol Patterson

One of my earliest memories is of my mom yelling at me “ Carol, don’t run in the house!!”  At some point, I took it out to the streets, and eventually to the trails, and have been out there ever since.  It’s almost religious although I prefer to refer to my time on the trails as “spiritual”. Lots of thinking gets done – most of it of little consequence but the wheels are spinning, nonetheless. 

Race Report: Western States 2021 by Steve Rowbury

This is it. The culmination of more than 18 months of anticipation and preparation. I can’t quite believe it but I’m climbing out from Robie Point and feeling strong. 18 days earlier I had run this section, visualizing this moment with 3 main hopes: that it will still be dark, that I will not be vomiting, and that my body will still be (more or less) in one piece. Miraculously I’m doing great on all counts.

High Sierra FKT Trip Report by Renee Elsdon Jacobs

Summer fires throughout California have become a part of life. You never know whether you will be able to participate in that race you finally won an entry for, or do that hike you have been dreaming about for a lifetime, because of the fires that regularly rage throughout the state. But I used to think that fire season in the Sierra didn’t start until September. During this drought year, big fires started in June! Luckily, the trailhead opened just in time. Perhaps it was meant to be…

Race Report: TRT 104 2021: A big dose of Heaven, by Jenelle Potvin

Last weekend I completed my sixth Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance Run 100-miler. The race’s tagline is “A glimpse of Heaven, a taste of Hell.” The average elevation of the course was 7800′ and took place on mostly single-track decomposed granite trails. This was the first year the race started and finished in Carson City, and the course changes had amounted to a longer distance (about 104 miles) with more climbing (about 20k’ gain).

Book of the Month: Out and Back by Hillary Allen - Review by Aude Hofleitner

Continuing the book journey, I would like to share the (running related) book I most recently finished. This is an intense auto-biography of Hillary Allen (aka Hillygoat). She is a world-class sky racer who got into an accident while racing in Norway, causing her to tumble down a 150ft cliff.

Recipe of the Month: Homemade "Awesome Sauce", by Renee Elsdon Jacobs

Chances are you’ve tried (or at least heard of) Spring Energy Products. They offer real food-based products that many runners enjoy, including myself. Cannaberry has been my staple for some time, but I’m really excited about their relatively new Awesome Sauce flavor. The only thing I am not excited about is the price tag, especially because everything that is listed in the ingredients is something that I have in my pantry. 

Ask the Board: What food(s) are you most excited to pull out of your running pack?

Fuel for running – our best friend and the bane of our existence at the same time. Finding the food that works best for you in all circumstances is the holy grail. I’ve come to the conclusion that it doesn’t actually exist, it takes a lot of trial and error, and you’re lucky if you can get close… I’ve found that talking to others about what is working best for them can sometimes provide a shortcut to your next best thing.