LAGUNA MAN PUSHES PURCELL AND D'ONOFRIO TO RECORDS

Running a strong race from behind the Laguna Man pushed Brian Purcell and Kathy D'Onofrio to new course records at the 1988 Western States Endurance Run.  Crossing the finish line exactly seven hours after the winner a jubilant Shufflebarger announced that he had executed his race plan perfectly. "My goal was to be a factor in the competitive outcome of this race," he said, "and as you can see I was.  Not only did the winners set new course records but there were more sub 24 hour buckle winners than in any recent year.  These fantastic accomplishments were due in no small part to the unrelenting pressure I applied to the back of the pack." 

Given the events leading up to this confrontation, and the statements issued to the press by the fabulous Shuffler, many of us were surprised by the style of his race and his subsequent finish line proclamation.

Those of you who read this periodical religiously will remember the Laguna Man's meteoric rise to prominence started when he won the Mule Run in 1986.  He followed that up with a strong fifth place showing in the prestigious San Juan Trail 50 in November of 1987.  In December his fans learned that he would be running in the Western States and their excitement mounted.  In February the Shuffler stunned them all by trouncing a strong field in the Pacific Crest Trail 50 and setting a new course record in the process.  Laguna Mania was at a fever pitch.   Amidst all this excitement the irrepressible Shuffler announced to the world, "I came, I ran and I kicked ass. And Glory Be, they haven't seen anything yet.  Wait till Western States, then I'll really make monkeys out of these pretenders." 

On hearing this statement Fast Fred Cowles moved quickly to start a Laguna Man Fan Club and establish himself as the first  president.  Financial page buffs among you will recognize Fast Fred as the Chairman of the Board and President of Headflow, Inc. of Costa Mesa, California.  Under Fred's expert leadership Headflow has cornered the U. S. market on high performance Volkswagen parts.   You might wonder why a man as busy as Mr. Cowles is would want to get involved in starting a fan club for an ultra runner.  Whenever rich and powerful men get involved in seemingly mundane pursuits, they have ulterior motives.  In this case, Fred was motivated by a strong desire to embarrass the Shuffler's principal rival from Orange County, John Loeschhorn.  Fred became bitter at Loeschhorn when John reported in this magazine that Fast Fred had failed to finish the Orange Spring Games 5K.  In the same article John intimated that it was now common practice in Orange County to refer to non-finishers as those runners who "Cowled Out." 

Fred Cowles has an ego equal to his wallet.  His pride was hurt and in an effort to vent his anger and to deflate that windbag Loeschhorn, he staked his entire Headflow stock holdings against any similar stake that the Laguna Man would beat Loeschhorn by five hours at Western States.  Given the fact that the Shuffler was obviously hot and Loeschhorn obviously was not, the bet was very tough to call.

Loeschhorn, who is no small player in the ego department, was insulted by the blatant disrespect inherent in the wager.  "Five hours," he boomed, "Five hours is ridiculous; all I would have to do is finish and I could win that bet," declared an inflamed Loeschhorn.

But that was the rub, finishing.  Everyone knew Loeschhorn has been injured since August 1987 and he has failed to finish his last two starts at 100 miles.  The bet was so sound that even Loeschhorn himself couldn't touch it. Oh he roared and bragged about his past glories, and he did his classic swagger, but in the end he kept his money in his pocket. 

This cost him dearly as thousands of his most loyal fans joined the Laguna Man Fan Club.  Only Dave Warady, a financial wizard from Huntington Beach and a superb ultra-runner himself, was willing to back his former idol.  He promptly slapped a crisp one hundred dollar bill on the table, and said, "When the chips are down, my man Loeschhorn will beat your two bit used car dealer." 

Like Fred Cowles, Dave had his own secret agenda.  Many of you are familiar with Dave as the famous Huntington Man who won the West Coast University 50 Miler so convincingly last fall.  Riding the crest of his victory he predicted great things at the San Juan Trail 50, but instead he was treated to a sound thrashing at the heals of the Laguna Man.  There is little doubt that his support for Loeschhorn was motivated by a desire to embarrass the flash from Laguna.

Buoyed by this foolish gesture, and three good days of training, Loeschhorn announced he would compete in the race.  When the chips were down only John's wife, Gail, perennial Loeschhorn critic, Dymphno Serna, and ice hockey star, John Rosmus, were willing to crew for him.   Thousands of Laguna Man well wishers were on hand in Squaw Valley for the 5 AM start.  Loeschhorn and Shufflebarger ran up most of the first hill together.   Loeschhorn began to pull away at Hodgson's Cabin and had a substantial lead by Robinson Flat.

"I ran very cautiously to Robinson Flat," said Fred. "By then I was so far behind, I guess I pushed too hard to catch up and then I crashed at Michigan Bluff.  I spent at least an hour there. If it hadn't been for the encouragement I received from throngs of my fan club members, I never would have gotten going again.  My many fans are just the greatest."  "Well I never thought I would catch Loeschhorn, I believed he had an unbeatable lead by now.  You can imagine my surprise when I saw him slumped in a chair on Forest Hill Road.  He was dressed in a goretex suit and wrapped in blankets.  He had the hood pulled over his head and was even wearing mittens.  He was a comical sight in all that heat.  Earl Towner, my pacer, and I stopped for a closer look.  I feigned disappointment that John was out of the race, but inside, I couldn't have been happier.  To see that over-stuffed windbag suffering and obviously out of the race, did my heart more good than I can tell."

 "With Loeschhorn out of the race, I settled on easing to the finish as I was having a lot of problems myself.  Was I surprised when Loeschhorn breezed into Rucky Chucky just after I had settled in a chair for some warm soup."

 Loeschhorn gave the credit for his miraculous recovery to  Santa Cruz chiropractor and his family.  "They worked on me for three hours," said Loeschhorn. "They refused to give up on me.  When I asked them for their names as I left, they said, 'Our names are not important, the only thing that is important is that you finish and beat that Laguna Man.'  How could I fail these  strangers after they had given so freely of themselves?  Once I was out on the trail, my pacer, John Rosmus inspired me with stories about the great hockey players like Gordie Howe.  Hockey players are famous for their fighting spirit, they never give up and I couldn't either."

"Even with the excellent support I received from my pacer, Andres Dominquez," said the Shuffler, "I was unable to maintain contact with Loeschhorn.  He was running like a madman.  I might have caught him after I left Auburn Lakes Trails, because I started feeling better. But I was distracted by the idea of catching a frog that was croaking noisily in a grotto just off the trail.  I couldn't understand why a frog would be making so much noise way out here in the woods.  I just had to get a look at this boisterous creature.  It was a tense time till I got my head back in the race."

Meanwhile, Loeschhorn staggered into the 93 mile check point mumbling something unintelligible about his walk up from the river.  His pacer, Dymphno Serna, was enthusiastic as he knew his boy had a lot left and he felt the Shuffler would not be able to outrun him to the finish.  Fred Cowles was there waiting to pace the Laguna Man to the finish.  When he saw Loeschhorn enter the aid station ahead of the Shuffler, he began to pace up and down frantically.  "Where is Fred, what's keeping him so long?" asked the Cowler impatiently.  He glared at Loeschhorn and said, "I knew you would beat him, I just knew it."  He retied his shoes and stormed off looking for the Shuffler.