Orange County Register Oct 12th, 1989

See - I didn't just make this stuff up!

"Angeles Crest is the `dream' 100-mile run - Laguna Niguel man knows endurance

John Loeschhorn


The Angeles Crest 100-Mile Endurance Run, which has a motto of "If you can dream it, you can do it," will begin at 5 a.m. in Wrightwood on Saturday.
Laguna Niguel's Steve Harvey, who holds the distinction of being the only Orange County runner to have run all six of the America's 100-mile trail races, will be among the starters.

Harvey is a pretty good marathoner, having run 2:50:14 at the Long Beach Marathon in 1984, but he said he gains more satisfaction from the longer races.

"I ran my first ultramarathon back in 1982, the Santa Monica Lawyer's Club 54-miler, and I really enjoyed it," Harvey said. "But then in 1985 I ran the Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run and I've been hooked on 100s ever since.

"For me the appeal of trail 100s is the terrain, the exotic locations, and the fraternity of ultra runners. The number of people that run these races is very small, so you meet the same people year-in and year-out. I met a guy from the state of Washington while running my first 100 miler and I've met him at three other races since."

Harvey said the degree of difficulty is another attraction.

"The more difficult the race is, the longer and steeper the hills are and the more stream crossings there are, the better I like it," Harvey said. "Anyone can finish a marathon, but very few people can finish 100 miles."

He thought for a moment and added: "No one finishes a 100-mile trail race because of a bet in the bar."

Harvey, 45, ran his fastest time and enjoyed his highest 100-mile finish in running 21:44:51 for 15th place at the Old Dominion (Front Royal, Va.) race in 1987.

"The Wasatch Front 100 (East Layton, Utah) is easier than it seems, because it's impossible to run. In some places you need to go 20 miles without water, so you need to be conservative. You have to `crab' up Chin Scraper Hill and you have to go over Catherine Pass in the dark.

It's easy to get lost on the pass, so you have to walk to make certain you don't miss a turn.

"Leadville (Colo.) is the next toughest, but only because of the altitude (9,200 feet to 12,600 feet). Put Leadville 4,000 feet lower and it would be easy."

Harvey, a vice president of Synch Research in Tustin, said the the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run, from Squaw Valley to Auburn, has been harmed by too much publicity.

"It's overdone," he said.

Now he prefers the Angeles Crest race, which goes from Wrightwood to the Rose Bowl.

Angeles Crest "is the jewel of the 100s. The Angeles Crest is an honest 100 miler, and it's probably the toughest, because even with 19,100 feet of climb, it's all runnable, if you're tough enough," he said.

"It offers the most variable scenery. You run through evergreen forests, past canyon streams and then you have those great vistas from up on the ridges. At night you look down from Mount Wilson and see all the lights of Los Angeles.

"Most 100s have exceptional support and service for the runners, but at Angeles Crest the aid stations compete for awards, so the food and entertainment is unbelievable. There's no race like it; the first day I receive my entry form each year, I send it in that day."

Susan Gimbel of Orange, John Rosmus of Fullerton, Rich Bellante of Dana Point and Jerry Simons of San Clemente join Steve Harvey on the starting line. "

My current goal is to run the AC100 again... The last time was in 1993. I will be 65!