Biggest Little Ultra
October 10, 2025
Sparks, Utah
29:32:18, 85th hundred
4th woman, 6th overall
When Terri and I arrived we checked in to the hotel and walked to packet pickup which was just steps from our hotel. The course looked beautiful. A loop around a lake with trees and homes along the course and we were excited for the race. I started running and my heart rate immediately got jacked up high in the 160s. Usually it is only this high when I’m running or walking in 100 degree heat. It wasn’t hot, only low 70s day one and low 60s day two with a lot of wind both days. So what was going on with my heart rate. Duh, after 16 miles I looked at another screen on my watch, 4400 feet elevation. Shoot I had forgotten or didn’t realize the Reno area was up at elevation. Now 4400 feet is not much but for this sea level gal it is something. I kinda slowed down a bit as I didn’t want to overtax myself. I also was just getting over a head cold from our three week vacation to Europe. So this was going to be a take er easy kind of hundred as I had 48 hours. Now I didn’t want to take 48 hours but that was the cut off.
Each trip around the lake brought new things to see, the sun was out and I was in my element, running and having fun. The venue is a big hit in the area so there were a lot of locals and some saw us on day two and you could see the recognition in their eyes, she was here yesterday, wearing the same clothes. I think they caught on fast to the event and enjoyed sharing the space.
Lots of dogs on the loop. I was surprised to see poop left on the path, obviously not a great dog owner. But then the next loop, the poop was gone so other dog owners or poop fairies had dealt with it. There are two real bathrooms on the 1.9 mile loop and porta huts. The aid station provided made to order food and had the usual snacks. I used gels and liquid calories during the heat of the day. I tried some pizza and it didn’t go down too well so I switched to mashed potatoes, and they were real mashed potatoes. I would have some mashies every two loops and that took me through the night. In the AM I had some scrambled eggs and later in the day pumpkin pie took me to the finish. I managed my salt well so no leg or hand cramps, success.
The people at the aid station/start/finish love their cowbells. Every time a runner came in they would ring those things and there were a lot of cowbells, they seemed to multiply throughout the race. After a while I got a headache from it, or maybe it was that I had to turn off my book when I hit the aid station. Anywho I told them no cow bell for me and after a few laps it was fun for them to come up with some way to show their excitement for me and cheering me on without the bell. Always good fun and learning on the loop.
Terri had a unique race and I will let her tell her story. She survived the fishing pole attack to win the 48 hour, congrats!
The logistics of this race works really well. The aid station was good. The flat loop was good, BR on course, weather was good, travel was easy, Uber or Lyft to hotel which is right next to course, no rental car. Flight was cheap and short to Reno. All in all I would recommend this race. My only negative is that of course the path is concrete. A hundred is enough on concrete. I would not do the 48 hour because concrete beats you up. My feet are a bit sorer than usual, but that will pass. Oh and we got a flannel shirt and buckle for finishing a hundo. So do check out the Biggest Little Ultra in Sparks, Nevada next year, you might have a big time on a little loop.