Fort Ord 50K: Paula LM Owns the F60-69 Field

• Paula LM, 60, finished in 9:16:00 — the sole finisher in the F60-69 age group, completing 50K of Fort Ord trails at a 17:54/mi average pace.
• Steady in the women's field: Paula held 32nd among women from start to finish, never wavering from that position across every checkpoint.
• Sandstone split: She posted the 32nd-fastest women's split on the Sandstone 1→Sandstone 2 segment.

There's a particular kind of toughness required to toe the line at a 50K and see it through to the finish — and Paula LM, 60, from Half Moon Bay did exactly that on a cool, breezy February morning in Monterey. She crossed in 9:16:00, averaging 17:54 per mile across the full distance, and in doing so claimed the F60-69 age group outright.

Paula ran a remarkably composed race. Her position among the women's field — 32nd — never shifted at any checkpoint, from the opening miles to the final stretch. That kind of consistency over 50K of Fort Ord terrain, with 13 mph winds and 85% humidity in the air, speaks to a measured, deliberate effort that held together all the way to the finish line.

The F60-69 age group had one entrant and one finisher: Paula LM. That's the complete story, and it's a worthy one. Finishing a 50K at any age demands something real — doing it at 60, on trails, in just over nine hours, earns every bit of recognition that comes with it.