Mt St Helens salutes Capitol Peaks
by Jim Updegrove
Capitol Peaks had come at last
John and James said it would be fast.
This was the first year for this 50k
The weather turned out with a radiant day.
Plans had been made down to the last sign
James and John worried that all would be fine.
Green streamers decorated the trail
Flour arrows, orange flags, how could anyone fail?
Early starters went out at 7
On trails like these, it was almost like heaven.
Down the trail the runners did stomp
Here come the big guys, watch them romp.
The first descent wasn’t making a hit
Hell’s Bottom seemed like a bottomless pit.
The Devil hated intruders into his trust
He’d scourge them all and make them rust.
By now the big boys were turning on the steam
Emerson led, Mora had a dream.
Mora and McCoubrey, letting Emerson lead
All of them hoping the other’d concede.
Emerson had won many a race
He couldn’t let Mora bring him disgrace.
Mora placed his marathon record on the line this day
This was his first ultra, could he win this fray?
The first aid stations were not set when the first runners went through
By mile 8 or 9 their tongues felt like glue.
Scott Jurek and John came to the rescue
They picked up supplies and ran down the fescue.
At the bottom of the pit Scott served water and gu
What a neat thing for a champion to do.
Emerson lead thru most of this chase
With short miles to go, Mora decided to race.
Mora took the lead to the top of the Peak
But on the way down he felt like a freak.
The stony road set a big one in his way
And an aching swollen tootsie was the way he would pay.
In a roar of excitement Mt St Helens did puff
And for Mora’s first ultra, it turned out to be tough.
Emerson took the advantage in these last 4.5 miles
And won by 7 minutes, which gave him the smiles.
And now for the girls, there were 9 beauties
I can affirm, they sure were cuties.
Through Devil’s Hole they were dabbing their feet
With all this mud, how did they stay so neat.
Olga ran in first through most of the race
While Van ran in second with joy and grace.
Olga led into the last aid station
Where Jurek poured a sweet libation.
An e-mail she hadn’t received back from Scott
She left him know it was a bunch of rot.
After cooling on her turn around the Peak
She apologized to Scott, sorta meek.
Scott Jurek has won so many races
And as a volunteer he remembers so many faces.
Scott is a winner, one who shares
He’s a great person, one who cares.
Olga finished first female, ninth overall
Van finished second while having a ball.
This was a day most people will tell
About Capitol Peaks 50, it surely was swell.
The runners, the food, volunteers, lots of prizes
A special day of rewards that came in all sizes.
Capitol Peaks is a race you’ll want to run
It’ll be bigger and better, come join the fun.