We went all-in on the California Fall Classic 100K—remote aid, relentless climbing, and a day that turned into a masterclass in ultra mindset. Lewis ran ~50 miles (≈11,000 ft gain) before pulling the plug at Warm Springs, and this episode is the honest debrief: what went right, what tanked, and how to fix it next time.
What’s inside
Course reality check: almost no flat; it’s either up or down
Crew logistics: easy to crew, minimal cell service, simple station access
The hard middle: Lone Rock ↔︎ Falcon’s Nest is where times (and spirits) go to die
Nutrition lessons: when nausea hits, salt + broth first; stop sipping only water
Training gap: enough miles for distance, not enough quad conditioning for descents
Mindset tools: how to avoid talking yourself into quitting when you still have time
Would we go back? Yes—100% recommend (with eyes wide open)
Key takeaways for ultrarunners
Start electrolytes early; salt tabs + broth can flip the script
Be radically honest with your crew so they can problem-solve for you
Train the downs (controlled descents, weighted hill repeats)
When the “quit voice” gets loud, sit, reset, fuel, and reassess, not DNF
Finishing is a valid goal—protect it
Shout-outs
Healdsburg Running Company (great stop pre-race)
Aid station crews who wouldn’t let “quit” be easy
The legend Gordy sighting 👀
If you’re eyeing CFC, expect steep, exposed climbs, remote vibes, and beauty for days. We’ll cut a short race film from the crew cam footage soon.
👇 Tell us in the comments: What’s your go-to fix when the wheels come off—broth, salt, coke, or a sit-and-reset?
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