Big Alta 50k — A Course That Exposes It All

Date: March 22nd 2025 | Location: Marin County, CA Distance: 50K | Elevation Gain: ~7,000ft | Conditions: Sea mist, warm sun, relentless pace

This race was never about medals or fanfare. Big Alta was about asking myself a hard question: where am I, really?

After a winter of focused training, the goal was to test the engine before the double Charlie Ramsay Round and Tor Des Geants. No better place than Marin’s rolling fire roads and sweeping coastal climbs, where the beauty doesn’t soften the blow. Big Alta is deceiving. There’s no rocky terrain to slow you down, no steep hiking gradients to excuse a breather. Just clean, runnable trail demanding consistent effort and pacing from start to finish. It’s a test of pure fitness and mental staying power.

The first half settled into a rhythm quickly. I kept things measured, holding back just enough on the early climbs to leave something in the tank. Runners shuffled positions around me, but I stayed locked into my own effort. On the descents, my IT band which has been complaining for several weeks flared up but I held my ground—fluid, focused, and fast. For someone who typically shines on technical mountain trails, I was pleased to find control and speed on this kind of terrain.

The middle section was a grind. The climbs started to bite, and the field began to spread. But I stayed patient. I knew my race wouldn’t be decided in the first 25k. Then came the final third. That’s where the day changed.

Something clicked. Fatigue was there, sure, but beneath it was another gear I didn’t know I had. I started pulling back places. The final 1500ft climb felt like an opportunity rather than an obstacle, 4 miles of runnable switchback mountain bike trail. I leaned into the effort, running strong on tired legs, breathing into the discomfort. And when the final descents came, I didn’t fade—I flew. No ground lost. No regrets, despite playing football with a rock.

I crossed the finish line spent but clear: this race did what I asked of it. It exposed my weaknesses—my pacing, my turnover on sustained runnable climbs—but it also confirmed my strengths. The engine’s coming online. The mind is sharpening. And the belief is building. 4 hours 10 minutes, a time I could improve on with a helathy IT band but also one i'm happy with.

Big Alta was never meant to be a peak—it was a checkpoint. And now, with the rounds looming next, I’ve got the lessons I need. A huge shout out and thank you to Morgen for supporting me on this one, and all winter.

Ajay

Face of pain!