First First Flatiron Time Trial
October 8, 2003
In the 1980’s two Flatiron legends were separately blasting up the Flatirons in ridiculously fast times. Bill Briggs concentrated on the Third Flatiron and his record from those days, 36m27s, still stands today. Unbeknownst to him, Buzz Burrell was making his mark on the First Flatiron, setting an equally remarkable time of 35m58s. Fast forward to the late 90’s and Bill and Buzz finally meet and team up for many adventures. I enter the scene mainly as a record keeper and organizer of events through the Satan’s Minions Scrambling Club. Through the Minions, an annual Third Flatiron Time Trial was staged. It grew to 16 racers this year, it’s biggest ever, but Brigg’s record has remained safe.
The First Flatiron was different. International speed-climbing superstar Timmy O’Neill moved to Boulder and set this sites on the record. He finally broke the long standing record with a time of 35m25s. Another international climber and youngster, Josh Warton, also went under the previous record with a time of 35m55s. Josh Schwartz, former California 14er record holder, and speed soloist tried his hand and whittled it down to 36m39s. All of these times were from the Gregory Canyon Trailhead, which is considered to be one or two minutes faster than starting from Chautauqua Park.
Almost all of the Flatiron records start and stop at Chautauqua Park and some of the pillars of the speed scrambling community, including Bill Briggs, pushed to have the record redefined from Chautauqua Park. When I organized the first ever First Flatiron Time Trial, I elected to change the starting location to Chautauqua Park. Buzz had set the standard and he had started at Gregory Canyon, so that is what all pursuers of the record had logically done as well. Buzz was on-board with the change, as well, but unless the Chautauqua record could be made faster than the Gregory time, no one would really forget the Gregory times.
The First Flatiron is a huge rock. Gerry Roach’s guidebook, Flatiron Classics, describes the Direct East Face as having 13 pitches of roped climbing, up to 5.6. The difficulty of the first pitch is what has deterred me from organizing a time trial on this rock, fearing a small turnout. The Third Flatiron is only 5.2 and we have rigged a fixed rappel line to descend and this opens it up to a large pool of scramblers. But the First is a classic and there was a lot of interest in racing on this rock as well.
I scheduled the event so that the “big shooters” would show up and they did. Record holder Timmy O’Neill and Buzz were both there. Bill Briggs was out with an injury, but other fast guys were present. Christian Griffith, one of Colorado’s most famous climbers and at one point one of the best climbers in the world, showed up. Christian is a fit runner, but, like Timmy O’Neill, these guys would be more competitive if the climbing difficult was 5.10 or 5.11, but that would rule out the rest of the field, at least as far as speed soloing goes. Stefan Griebel and Jon Sargeant showed up and both were fit runners and really strong climbers. Jon ran the Pearl Street Mile in 5:05, so he can fly. Stefan does nearly four minute miles on smooth descents. Newcomer David Steward, along with Tony Bubb, Martin Le Roux, Doug, and myself filled out the field.
We met at Chautauqua at 5:15 p.m. and Martin took off early so we’d have a rabbit to chase. A few of us took one lap around the park as a warm-up and then congregated at the start. Noticeably absent was 50K National Trail Running Champion and 5.12 climbers, Dave Mackey. If this guy ever turns his attentions to scrambling, he could re-write the record book. Buzz’s son Galen wasn’t there either. He’s not as fast on the rock, but is greased lightning on the trails.
Photo 1: Left to right, Stefan, Jon, Tony, Christian, Buzz, Timmy, me, Martin (in back), David, and Doug (squatting).
I gave the start command we began running up the steep trail. As expected, Jon went immediately off the front and quickly opened a hundred-foot lead. It grew some, but then stabilized. Buzz and I were next. I know Buzz likes to start slow, but it is a mistake to get in front of him. It’s best to see how long you can stay with him. I kept up for about five minutes before I started to lose contact. Behind me was Christian and then Stefan, Timmy, and Tony, I think.
Once we got into the woods and the really steep climbing, I switched to power hiking. I could see Buzz catch and overtake Jon. Behind me, Stefan had passed Christian and was closing on me. I knew if I was to beat Stefan, I had to have a big lead at the base of the rock and definitely summit and descend before him. Buzz was the first on the rock, at just over eleven minutes. I was second only because Jon was stopping to change into climbing shoes. David did this as well, while everyone else went in sticky rubber approach shoes and therefore didn’t need to carry anything or do any footwear changes.
I started up the rock at 11:55 and Stefan was right behind me and closing fast. I had been biking a lot lately and was reasonably fit from that, but that wasn’t good preparation for the intense calf pain I experienced once the scrambling started. Buzz looked down from above. He’s a good friend and companion and wanted me to do well. He says, “Come on, Bill! You can do it.” I couldn’t though. I was gassed. My calves were screaming, sweat was streaming down my face, and I sucked in huge gulps of air in an effort to avoid passing out and falling to my death. I did the first 200-foot pitch up to the tree, and the crux of the route, in 2m04s.
Stefan caught and passed me and Jon was bearing down on me as well. I could see Christian below and noticed Timmy off to my right. Climbers were spread out all over the face, each taking a slightly different route. Stefan had the route wired and was so fit, so fast, so strong, he pulled away from me with ease. I moved up to the route junction knob and then up the steep face above and finally hit the North Ridge. Here you can’t see that far before a pinnacle or false summit bars your view and now Stefan was out of sight. Moving as quickly as I could, I caught and passed Martin near the top. I should have said hi, but I could only manage a nod.
I touched the top anchor and started the downclimb. Christian and Tony would be doing this downclimb onsight. When Christian, a Boulder icon, told me this at the start, I launched into a description of the descent, but then stopped, sure he was pulling my leg, as if he’d asked me where, exactly, is the Naked Edge. But he was serious and hadn’t climbed the First Flatiron much.
I think the descent, which is very steep, is the most dangerous part of this event. It is only 5.2, but it is at least a hundred feet to the ground if you screw up and all your momentum is now going in the wrong direction: down. I once again saw Stefan below me. He was moving more cautiously, but the race between us was over. Once we hit the ground it was all over for me. I wouldn’t be looking ahead any longer, but over my shoulder for how many others would catch me. Stefan noticed me and yelled, “Way to go, Bill!” It’s mildly amazing that a goof like myself could even be remotely close to these guys, but everyone in this event is so positive and encouraging. We’re going at our limit and want to beat everyone else, but if you’re faster, you’re faster, and more power to you.
I hit the ground and ran scared down the upper, very rocky, portion of the trail. Our rules were strict: absolutely no switchback cutting. I was in my ultra-light, ultra-no-support SuperFlys and I didn’t want to twist or break my ankle. My limited agility and weak ankles go nicely with my timid running style. I tried not to look back often as that would just increase the chances of a dirt dive. Regardless, I was going as fast as I dared and there was nothing I could do about it. I saw Stefan well down the switchbacks one last time before he disappeared for good.
I passed the base of the First Flatiron without being caught. It had taken nearly 12 minutes to come up this far, but I’d run the reverse in under six minutes. I think Stefan did it in less than five minutes. Just passed here and still on very rocky, ankle-twisting terrain, Timmy O’Neill comes flying up behind me like he’s running on a track! It was absolutely amazing. It was as if the uneven terrain didn’t exist for him. He ran like it was smooth and didn’t fall or stumble. When he closed up right behind me I asked, “You want to go by, Timmy?” He said, “No, I’m about to hurl.”
Timmy asked how we were doing against the coveted sub-40 time. I told him we were at 36:30. He said, “We can still do it.” I said, “I don’t know. You should go by me if you want a real shot.” Just then we hit the smooth trail and Timmy went by. I opened things up here and was really flying, hardly losing any ground to Timmy. We smoked down the trail. I looked over my shoulder and saw Christian a ways back. I was running scared again, but now the terrain was smooth and I pushed hard. Timmy towed me to a 39:16 finish. He did 39:06. We finished 3rd and 4th behind Buzz and Stefan.
Buzz had blistered the course and blown away the field. Buzz is a good, agile, fast runner, but his greatest strength is his engine. He has huge lungs and can suck in tremendous amounts of oxygen with each breath. He made the top in just over 22 minutes – 1600 vertical feet of running and scrambling! Amazing. He finished in the fastest ever time for the First Flatiron, regardless of trailhead, breaking Timmy’s record by twenty seconds: 35:04! The King as returned! He has reclaimed what was once his, what has nearly always been his, and set a mark for all others to aspire.
Christian finished below forty minutes as well. Exactly half of the field broke forty minutes. That’s a hot group. Next came Jon Sargeant at under 41 minutes. He’d gain two minutes by getting some approach shoes and he will. Next down was Martin. He had a huge PR of 1h4m, remember he started fifteen minutes early. Tony and David finished right after each other in well under 55 minutes. David pulled a “Ken Leiden” on the descent. On the first ever Third Flatiron Time Trial, Ken had brought climbing shoes as well and changed at the face, but didn’t want to waste the time changing back into his running shoes. He ran out entirely in his climbing shoes and David did the same here. You’ve got to love the attitude that inspires this decision. I love the frantic, racing atmosphere and David was obviously fully into it as well, though I still think it would have been better to switch shoes. Doug rounded out the group, just missing the one-hour mark. It was clear that everyone had a great time and we took a group photo to commemorate the First First Flatiron Time Trial. Count on there being more of these…
|
Place |
Scrambler |
Base of First Flatiron |
Top of First Flatiron |
Back on the ground |
Chautauqua Park |
|
1 |
Buzz Burrell |
11:15 |
22:20 (11:05) |
24:05 (1:45) |
35:04[1] (10:59) |
|
2 |
Stefan Griebel |
12:16 |
24:06 (11:50) |
26:49 (2:43) |
37:39 (10:50) - PR! |
|
3 |
Timmy O’Neill |
? |
? |
? |
39:06 |
|
4 |
Bill Wright |
11:55 |
25:17 (13:22) |
27:21 (2:04) |
39:16 (11:55) - PR! |
|
5 |
Christian Griffith |
~12:35 |
? |
? |
39:39 |
|
6 |
Jon Sargeant |
11:25 |
? |
? |
40:47 (10:30) - PR! |
|
7 |
Tony Bubb |
? |
? |
? |
53:49 -PR! |
|
8 |
David Stewart |
? |
? |
? |
54:03 |
|
9 |
Doug Haller |
? |
? |
? |
1:00:52 |
|
10 |
Martin LeRoux |
15:03 |
33:20 (28:17) |
(8:06) |
1:04:45 (13:19) - PR! |
Figure 1: Elevation and my heart rate profile for the First Flatiron Time Trial.