Hamster Endurance Run
August 1, 2026
Hamster Silliness for the Seventh Time
104 miles, 2nd woman and 3rd overall,
93rd race of a 100 or more miles
Hamster Endurance Run is usually a reunion with a lot of the local runners and it was again this year. Lots of pics being taken with friends before the start. A whole bunch of pop up tents being set up with little camps set up to support the silly hamsters getting on the wheel that is the Lake Padden loop of 2.6 miles, over and over and over again 39 times for 101.4 miles and a buckle. It seemed the locals are getting used to this annual cray cray event as some commented, oooh a red number that’s a 32 hour runner. Lots of puppies on the trail this year, all well behaved. The local cross country teams do a training run on Sunday morning and they pass us silly wobbly hamsters quite fast, kind of unnerving but energetic to see them run swiftly. We had several locals who ran the opposite direction during the day and did several loops so it was fun to see the smiles and encourage them to sign up for the race next year.
Gretchen and her crew supported us well as usual during her last year of hosting the event. A bit before 4 pm as the last runners finish up we are all a little silly and the teasing is hilarious. I finish my final loop and she asked with a shocked face, are you going again? Another loop? I laugh and think she needs me to do another loop and then she realizes I am done, but gosh golly it was almost like she wanted me to go again, silly goyle.
I had a decent race. I wore the wrong shoes so my feet hurt something awful, just needed more cushioning. Also fueled myself well for 50 miles then just didn’t eat enough and got behind on calories so slowed quite a bit. Still making mistakes even after many of these hundos. Happy to see Wendy finish her first hundo and that extra loop for the win, well done my friend. So happy to see Chris crush this hamster for his first buckle on the course and the overall win. You were flying by me, very inspirational. It’s also so much fun to see friends along the course and meet new runners to encourage.
Quite a few first timers this year. Hamster is a difficult one for your first. The steepness and repetitive nature of the hills can really crush the spirit. Having an aid station every 2.6 miles can add lots of time to your run because of the temptation to stop. I worked to stop only every other or every third loop. I ran with Sarah during the day but she was kind of fast as she is such a youngster I had to let her go on her own. Sue ran several loops with me in the dark which is great as it kept me going, time flies with friends. I listened to two books which distracted me from my feet. Next of Kin had three twists at the end that made me say “Whoa”out loud in the woods. The Surgeon was quite the murder mystery so it kept my attention trying to discover what the evidence was leading to. I like books that distract me during the dark hours as the screech owls are kind of scary around Lake Padden.
My arthritis in my big toe joint was pretty bad during this event and now after it’s painful and swollen. I hope it can make it through the next seven hundos. It will be getting extra care for now. What’s next? Front Range Dayz in Colorado is next, the 100 miler and the 48 hour. Then Ultrafest. Biggest Little Ultra. Endless Mile. Across the Years 48 hour, Across the years 100 miler, hope to finish number 100 on January 1st.
Thanks to my lovely daughter, Aurora. She dropped Cecilia and I off at the start and picked us up, fed us, and drove the sleepy hamsters home. What a gal. She’s a gem.