Just one of Ian's six bloops

Meta BUR Run Club

The King of Commutes, the Commute of Kings

2x2mi threshold with the Cubberley Track Club

We had tough weather conditions this year, making for a challenging but memorable event. Enduring through the night was the most difficult part, when the wind and rain were at their most intense. Getting pelted with driving rain and buffeted by wind gusts at 3am really makes you question your sanity.
Turnout was solid despite the downpour, and it was inspiring seeing so many indomitable folks grinding through the night, braving the elements. 
I was super happy to make it to 100 miles this year, and I couldn't have done it without the amazing support from all the friends who ran with me, keeping me encouraged and motivated and helping the miles zoom by.
It was wonderful to see Siargey⬜🟥⬜ Pisarchyk , who visited from Atlanta for BBU. We started out together and he presented me with a challenging puzzle that kept my mind occupied for at least two bloops, though the amount of glucose my brain required to solve it might have been better directed to my legs. Manu Chantra and Daniel Kroeger both ran with me in the early night hours, and after that I got to run a few bloops with the ultrarunning legend Ed "The Jester" Ettinghausen, who shared some of the wisdom he's accrued during his hundreds of 100-milers. This year he's attempting to reclaim his record for the most 100-milers in a calendar year, so immediately after Big Bloops Ultra he was planning on hopping on a plane to Las Vegas to run another 100-miler there. Legendary.
My morale was boosted in the morning when the sun rose and the rain started to let up, and it further increased when I was joined for two loops by Akshay Sarvesh. He's a true hero because after pacing me, he went on a mission to buy me a McDonald's breakfast. After subsisting on bars and gels all night, it was the best McGriddle ever.
Eric Hanson came by on his bicycle providing fig bars and cheer, and I was joined shortly thereafter by Ben Smith, who ran a whole bloop at my frustratingly slow ultra-shuffle pace without complaining once. Christoph S was a fantastic closer, pacing me on my last 3 bloops, with James McMillan and hayes raffle rounding out our jaunty crew on the final lap.
Thanks to everyone who came out to endure the storm and make this year's BBU special. It was awesome getting encouragement from so many people out on the course, from old friends to first-time bloopers: Jerry Chen, Michelle Wang, Stephan Kaiser, Orly Liba, Bill S, John Jenco, russell gong, Charlene Quach, Ian Saunders, Alex Emrie, Oleg Aravin, Raj K, Grant Rotskoff, Svilen Kanev, Mark Holmes, and probably plenty of others I'm forgetting because I could really use some sleep right now.

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Dan Aminzade

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Just one of Ian's six bloops

Meta BUR Run Club

The King of Commutes, the Commute of Kings

2x2mi threshold with the Cubberley Track Club

Meta BUR Run Club

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