White Mesa 50k Run
White Mesa Bike Trails – San Ysidro, NM
Saturday, 11/16/13 8:00 am
This is the first run of the ABQ Fat Ass Series. It’s an unsupported, unmarked, free, fat ass style ultramarathon trail fun run at the White Mesa bike trails near San Ysidro. It is about a 45 minute drive from ABQ.
White Mesa contains some of the most unusual and spectacular scenery in New Mexico. The course is absolutely crazy.
Course: 4 loops for the 50k. There’s no 64k this year. Every trail intersection has a detailed map and location marker so it is very easy to navigate. Loops 1 and 3 are clockwise, loops 2 and 4 are counter clockwise. The map below shows the sequence of markers (as we found out in 2010, the mileage is not correct on the map). Just follow the trail and you will be ok. Each loop, you will record your time on a clip board. You will have access to your car at the end of each loop. You can also do a shorter combination of loops for a marathon, half marathon, or other distance.
There may be a cheap and poorly constructed award for the fastest time.
You can register by leaving a comment below, or just show up and run. Just remember, you are completely responsible and liable for yourself.
sounds like a fun day. hope to be there.
It is meet, right, and proper that my first NM ultra is a FA. Looking forward to it.
Inbound from WDC,
Peter
Do not underestimate this course.It is brutal hell and the most extreme running I have done. It is either up or down, with little in the way of flat ground. I ran out today,clockwise,made it to where the trail splits from red to blue. I took the blue trail,and was just hoping to make it back with enough water.The part I did took me 2 hours.
Oh. Lovely. Exactly the sort of inspiring talk that makes all this fun. So I’ll be both O2-deprived AND slowly turning into beef jerky.
Hope to see you all there!
[...] White Mesa [...]
Sounds like fun!
Looks incredibly stupid. So count me in!
Looks awesome! Is there a course time limit?
no limit, if you think it is going to take a long time feel free to start early too so you’re not out there all night..
Sweet. Thanks!
I’ll be starting early and staying late….thinking of turning this into a 100k. I got talked into something even more stupid in the future and wanted to make sure I can block out the screaming in my head.
Wait, Perky, is this your own fatassed version of JJ100? If so, I may wander out as well and might even make up some fatassed buckles.
Yup! That’s the plan. Will this buckle be a piece of cactus covered in rhinestones? That would be just about perfect!! Support Staff has agreed to supply medical attention. But I’m on my own if I’m looking for sympathy.
I’m in.
I’m starting the 100k at 9pm on 11/12. Happy Birthday to me!!!
Hoping to make it out there!
Exactly my idea of a fun day. Will definitely be there.
I will have to see, I get in kind of late from Charlotte but may swing by for a half. Beth
Dear Jim, I test-ran this course and I’m convinced the devil calls this his summer home. OMG!!! I was going to do this as my first 100k but after the test run I changed my mind. I think I could easily die in the night by falling off a cliff or into a gaping hole filled with unpleasantness. I’ll run Antelope Island as my first 100k then White Mesa as a “recovery” 50k….in the light….using extreme caution.
That said, we did mark the course with bright yellow duct tape. It is stuck to sign posts (some of the number markers are missing), stuck on rocks, and stuck on dead branches. WOW.
Deb and I and a friend of ours are planning on coming for the fun…
Sounds awesome. I hope to be there for a couple laps.
I plan to do at least a marathon.
Dick Harris
Could you please provide an exact address. I am new in town and I have a terrible time with directions. I’ll try Mapquest. Thank you!
K-Ray
There is no address. From Albuquerque, take I-25 north to bernalillo, take 550 west almost to San Ysirdo, jut before san ysidro, there is a brown sign that says “White Mesa Bike Trails, Ojito wilderness” turn left onto that dirt road, go down the dirt road for about 5 miles and the trail head is on the left. There’s a map on the BLM site.
@Karen, get off I-25 at the Placitas/Bernalillo exit. Go through Bernalillo. Keep going (it seems like forever) through the construction zone (they were resurfacing the road when we went the other week). The turn for White Mesa/Ojito Wilderness is just after the natural gas refinery (looks like a whole bunch of grey tanks with vent stacks). The dirt road is just after that. Once you turn on the dirt road, stay to the left to Ojito Wilderness. If you go on the right fork you end up at the White Mesa Mines and someone will be there to let you know you’ve just trespassed. You’ll pass one minimal parking lot on your left. The one you want is a little bit farther and it LOOKS like a forest service-type parking lot. NOTE: no potties out there. Hit the McDonalds in Bernalillo on your way out for any substantial deposits.
Thank you so much! I’m looking forward to a fun run this weekend!
Jim,
Looks like I will be out there. See ya Sunday.
Neil
Neil and Judy Blake are in
What combination gets you to 26.2 miles or 42.2K? If 4 loops = 50K, then the “short out and back” must be 14K (64K – 50K — longer than each of the “full” 12.5K loops). And 3 loops would be 37.5 K, 4.7K short of the marathon. Might it be that the “short out and back” is actually 7K, so that 3 loops plus 1 sob gets you a bit more than a marathon and 64K requires 4 loops + 2 sob’s?
Dick Harris
The 4 loop 50k is more like 33-34 miles so three loops will get you close to a marathon.
Due to the likelihood of rain later in the day, I’m planning on getting to the race start sometime between 6:00 and 6:30, and to start running the course at 6:30.
I’m hoping to knock off a couple loops before the rain and wind kick in. I’ll also be bringing some rain gear, a Jet Boil and some food and beverages that I can heat up, to ward off any chill.
Cliff,
Gene Bruckert and I will be starting early also..car camping at the start…see you then.
Jeff Vieyra
after 8 AM, there wll be a clip board with a sign in sheet to record you laps at the trail head. Just record your finishing time, or post it here after the run. I also have some packets and food that will be available from 7:30-8.
If I really get started at 6:30, I probably won’t get back to my truck by 8:00. So if I don’t see you and you don’t mind, just put my race packet in the bed of my pickup truck. W5CTM is the plate. Thanks!
BTW, last year my Garmin claimed I traveled (I can’t really say “ran”) 33.36 miles when I did 4 loops. That’s pretty funny that you have a 33 1/3 race to complement your 45.
OTOH, I got off the course a few times, so I’m sure others will get different distances.
Thanks. I’ll shoot for 3 loops + out-and-back to be sure I’ve covered at least a marathon.
I’ll be starting at 7am.
rms
Did two very enjoyable loops, and plan to attend the foothills run — hopefully in better shape!
Thanks Jim…and the aid station guy, I forget your name. Had a blast, my legs are killing me right now!
Thanks Jim! I had a blast.
Thanks much, Jim!
Loved the course and great people out there. Glad to see everyone out there–I had a blast!
Had a complete BLAST!!! It was fun to wave at everyone out there. Legs are screaming, feet are still on fire, mind is alive with great memories. Thanks! BTW, I have about 100 photos taken during the first loop (when I could still multi-task). Jim, can I give you a CD with the images to upload?
I’d like to publicly thank the amazing aid station person. I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to be married to him. (note, Jim didn’t know about the station — it was an impromptu thing)
THANKS JOAQUIN!!! You rock!!!
Thanks for organizing this Jim and Joaquin for giving us the 411 upon arrival. This was the first time I have been out to White Mesa and I loved the terrain. Probably would have never gone otherwise. Did 14 miles of easy running and that was plenty! Note to self…never assume the short loop (14k) means easier! Nice climb out of the canyon.
Thanks Jim..and Joaquin too of course..it took Gene and I a while to complete the 4 loops, but beautiful scenery. Very nice group of runners…hope to see everyone again..whereever.
Jeff Vieyra
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150385376801305.350720.535016304&type=1&l=cc8e80cda8
Here is a link to the pictures I took. They were only taken on the first loop. That was when optimism was at its prime!
Enjoy
Great pictures. Thanks for posting them
[...] the rugged and remote terrain in San Ysidro, New Mexico, 25 spunky trail runners ran in the White Mesa FA Trail Run. Runners ran on the White Mesa Bike trails that contain a variety of gnarly terrain and [...]
I’ll be here, too. It will be the first “recovery” run after JJ100. Joy! Sorry, but Prince Charming will not be manning the aid station. He said he’d open the back of the car and have goodies inside but no tent, no chairs, no foot massages, and no kisses (unless he knows you really well).
I will have to skip this year, I am going to be in OK for Rt 66 that weekend. Beth
I’m planning to be there!
Oh my. Jim’s changed the date from the 10th to the 17th. I had both WMFA50K and Rt66 on my calendar. What a dilemma.
I plan to be there, doing a marathon-length version.
Dick Harris
Me too, probably will start at 7am again
Hey all, we are a couple(or more) from Lake City, CO thinking about coming down for the fun. Just did the Mt Taylor 50k(which was great) and would like to see more of NM. Just how tough is this run and what do you think about some “out of staters” joining in?
Come on down, we had a couple folks from IL last year. It is an easier course than mount taylor and couldn’t be more different scenery.
I’m in for 26 miles.
Looking forward to it.
[...] http://newmexicofa50k.wordpress.com/race-info/ [...]
I’m moving to ABQ on the 12th and 13th of Nov and plan on doing this.
I decided this will be my first! It’s my year of firsts including an ironman. See you soon,
Pdiddy from CT
Notes on the Loop #5 out-and-back section:
Be sure you print out a large copy of the trail map above, and carry it with you — there are a lot of intersections.
Trail marker #23 is far to the left of the main double-track you start on — looks like they changed their mind on the route — so don’t run to the sign, but wave at it as you go by, then stay left at the very next double-track intersection.
The area around #21 has a confused assortment of trails. No need to climb the small peak here, but there’s a USGS marker at the top if you do (6061 ft).
After the descent off the Center Spine, and slow double-track climb to marker #12, don’t miss the small bubbling caldron just off the trail: very pretty. Re-ascending the Center Spine, you’ll see how perforated it is with holes and channels; the whole structure was probably a similar mineral spring built up over time, when the area was wetter (~20k yr?).
This section is mostly rutted double-track and sandy trail, quite uneven, and took me about an hour. So figure 1.5hr per main loop plus this for a mid-pack jogger.
We’re coming down from Broomfield, CO for the weekend and I’m hoping to get started at 7am. I can catch the sign in sheet after my first loop if that would be kosher? We’re looking forward to the weekend as the scenery looks awesome!
sure, start whenever you want
See you there.
carma harvey and i (mark jones) plan on being there! it’ll be our first fat ass; well you know what i mean
I’m planning to be there for my 1st 50k! Probably join the 7am start group if I can get out of bed in time.
Jim and Meagan are in for a couple loops
Hey Mark Jones & I did the FULL 50k run as well. My phone died so I didn’t get our results from ‘Map my Run’. Which I truly regret. But we were out there when the sun went down. Had lots of fun!!
Carma Harvey
50k
7-8 hours