It was 6:30 in the morning. I had spent the past 24 1/2 hours running, walking, and hobbling my way from a trailhead in the middle of Southern Oregon towards Ashland, my hometown. It was my last attempt at completing the venerable Pine to Palm 100 Mile Ultramarathon (2025 was the final year of the race).

I was miserable.

While I had started out in great spirits, beating my estimated times at numerous aid stations, things started breaking down overnight. I was cold, my legs kept cramping, and just could not figure out how to consume enough energy to sustain my body. Then it started to rain. Ugh. The rain was coming down in buckets. When I reached the Grouse Gap aid station at mile 80, I was ready to throw in the towel.

When I was in my 20’s, running marathons was a really big deal to me, and rightly so. Why was I now running four times as far? I guess I’ll never know…

The Pine to Palm was a classic, point-to-point 100 mile ultra. With more than 24,000 feet of climbing, with required summits of some of Southern Oregon’s tallest peaks, the race was designed from the outset as one of the hardest races in the U.S. to complete. Race Director Hal Koener is no stranger to suffering and agony, having achieved back-to-back victories at the Western States 100 miler, along with a couple of Fastest Known Times (FKTs) on the John Muir Trail and the Colorado Trail.

Pine to Palm is my favorite race. It’s got the best swag, without the swagger. It’s a salt-of-the-earth race with irresistible topo lines.  P2P’s atmosphere is a throwback to the races from 22 years ago when I fell in love with the sport. Hearing that 2025 is the last year almost makes me want to get back into shape.  Almost! ~Jenn Shelton

This was my fourth attempt at finishing the P2P. I had finished it twice, back in my early 40’s. I tried again a few years ago, but dropped at mile 43 due to severe pain in my left knee.

This year, I was really focused on my training and preventing injury as much as possible. I did countless heat training runs, where I intentionally waited until the heat of the afternoon to start my runs. My biggest week of training included more than 60 miles of running, with most of that climbing thousands of feet up our local mountains at temperatures in the mid-nineties. I knew that I would have to contend with the climb from Seattle Bar to Stein Butte, which is exposed and hot.

This time, I felt more conditioned than I have ever been for race day. Fortunately, I really didn’t need to deal with hot temperatures, as race day was absolutely perfect, with a high temperature of 78.

At the Grouse Gap (mile 80) Aid Station, my crew was there and ready to lift my spirits to get me back on the trail and headed to the finish line. Thanks to their efforts, I started to come around. They gave me bacon (!), chicken broth, electrolytes, tea, more bacon (yes please!), and clothing. I was probably at the aid station for more than half an hour, but it was the boost I needed to get back on the trail. The nourishment helped me stave off the cramping and, best of all, my wife Kat would be joining me for the final 20 miles to the finish line.

I ended up finishing the race in just over 34 hours. I was in great spirits and in a celebratory mood! I’m so thankful for my race crew, all of the volunteers, and all of the other runners and pacers out on the course that day, keeping spirits up and encouraging each other endlessly. The Pine to Palm was a great race. I understand why Hal decided to call it quits, but for those years it was run, it was an inspiration to the Rogue Valley running community, as well as the rest of the west coast.