Pikes Peak Marathon

The Pikes Peak Marathon was run in fairly good conditions this mornings … “The weather was 10X better”, said George Zack, after completing an excellent Double.  Temp was 24d on top at the start, prompting an odd look as the runners headed up Ruxton Avenue, with some people wearing full Gore-Tex outfits, others carrying packs, and others in singlets and shorts.   

Matt won … duh … with an excellent time of 3:36.  ”I was pretty happy” he said later.  ”I was 3 minutes slower on the up, so even with the ice, I was able to make up some time on the descent”.  Matt put 7 hex head screws in his racing flats for the occasion, and finished looking very good, not passing out in the bathroom like last year (”Tell Matt I had the floor of the port-a-pottie cleaned this year, just in case”, joked Ron Ilgen, the RD.

Second again was Dave Mackey, who ran the race basically alone, for an excellent 3:51. He was less pleased however, noting, “I’m sick of finishing second!”  Dave is one of few people willing to challenge Matt, but doesn’t have the uphill to make it work.  He does however, dominant the “New Fathers” category, an overlooked but esteemed category of runners with children (Ava, born in January), less than a year old (Matt was in the same category 6 years ago).  Bryan Dayton is in the exact same category (Pierce, born in October), and was in 3rd place until the A-Frame, when Bernie Boettcher … when he wasn’t busy taking pictures with the camera he carried the whole way … was able to move ahead.  ”I didn’t feel comfortable the whole time.  But I made up time on Bernie on the way down.”  Bryan nabbed 4th, while “The Energizer Bernie” (Ron’s term) was an outstanding 3rd place, setting a PR of 4:02 at age 45.

Keri Nelson ruled the Women, with a 4:39 for 13th overall.  ”I’m finally learning”, she exclaimed at the finish.  ”I took it easy going up, then really took it out going down.”  Interestingly, the Barr Trail is firmer and faster in wet conditions, as the decomposed granite firms up; when it’s dry, the surface is loose and dusty.  Decomposed granite generally does not get muddy.

Bronwyn Morrissey was the 2nd Woman in 5:17, completing what has come to be a typically strong showing of Masters runners on this mountain.

Simon Booth, one of the top Euro runners, came out from the UK in celebration of his 40th birthday, and nabbed 9th in 4:24.  ”I’ve always wanted to do this race”, he said, “but it’s so gradual, such a smooth track … I’m much more used to straight up, and straight down.”

We may look forward to more world-class runners testing themselves on Pikes Peak, as next year the Marathon may be part of the SkyRunning Circuit, and for 2010, race management may bid for it to again be the World Mountain Running Long Distance Championship.  Interestingly, they are considering bidding for the Ascent rather than the Marathon, as the WMRA has expressed “reservations” about the pounding descent on “America’s Greatest Challenge”.

View a photo gallery of both races here (some pictures courtesy Bernie Boettcher, who carried a camera the whole way!)

Pikes Peak Ascent

One of America’s greatest races - of any kind - was held today under … “classic” conditions.  ”Epic” is actually what 8-time winner Scott Elliot called it.

A major winter cold front moved into Colorado the day before, and temperatures plummeted under a steady rain.  It was going to be cold up there … at 14,115′, MUCH colder up there!  But Matt Carpenter told me Race Management has a saying: “Snow, go; lightening no!”  In other words, there is no weather bad enough to cancel the race except lightening.  Ron Ilgen, RD told me, “It’s a mountain race.  People know what to expect.  If they don’t want to experience being on top of a mountain, they are in the wrong race.”

An excellent attitude in my opinion!

The local REI practically had a line out the door on Friday afternoon as people lined up to buy hats, jackets, anything.  This was probably a good idea, as a light but steady rain fell on the field as the 7 AM gun went off.

Veteran Simon Gutierrez (photo) prevailed once again, showing he is ready to lead the National Mountain Running Team to Switzerland next month, and go for 3-in-a-row World Masters titles. Tim Parr is back in form with a close 2nd and Payton Batliner also looked good close behind, indicating maybe some year soon a non-master can win this race!

Speaking of which, Brandy Erholtz, who is also going to Switzerland, ran a powerful 2:39 for the Women’s win (and 15th overall), with two-time winner and Masters CR holder Lisa Goldsmith 2nd in 2:51 followed by Conilee Walter and Anita Ortiz in 2:53.  Bob Evers, having a great year at 57 years young, was just 5 seconds behind Lisa.

Due to deteriorating conditions, Race Management moved the time cut-off at the A-Frame aid station to 10:15 AM; runners not arriving at that time had to turn around.  The effect is not the same as at last years Chicago Marathon; “turn around” on the mountain means they all had to run 10 miles back down!  The winning times are remarkable, as the conditions up high were quite “brisk”.  The snowplows were very active on the road, as 2-4 inches covered the upper reaches, with wind, snow, rain, and grapple making running a challenge.  Many people were treated for hypothermia.  The volunteers were absolutely incredible, Race Management did a fabulous job, and I think most people were very very impressed.  

If not for one reason, then another!

View a photo gallery of both races here.

Mt. Ashland Hillclimb Run - Results

First run in 1978, the 5600′ of vertical climb of the Mt. Ashland Hillclimb Run has always been challenge for race participants. After 30 years of erosion and weathering by wind, rain and snow, the summit didn’t feel any closer to runners of the 2008 race. 1 hour and 53 minutes after leaving the 1900′ start line, local favorite Eric Skaggs was the first runner to the finish circle at 7533′ above sea level. Eric was followed not so closely by Zach Violett (Bend, OR) - 1:57:23 and Richard Bolt (Portland, OR) - 2:00:30. On the women’s side, 2007 race winner Evelyn Dong (Bend, OR) repeated as champion in a time of 2:08:40, smashing the record set by Dolores Bergman of 2:13.39 in 2004. Evelyn’s time was fast enough to put her in 11th place overall and was nearly 10 minutes faster than her 2007 time of 2:17:24.

As usual, the race organizers did a fantastic job of providing cool temperatures and an overcast sky for most of the race only bringing in the sun when runners reached the summit. This was particularly helpful since the view from the summit of Mt. Ashland provides a panorama of northern California and southern Oregon. The race organizers kept the sun shinning for the post race festivities held in the parking lot of the Mt. Ashland Ski Area which included plenty of food, refreshments, raffle prizes and live music.

Official results are available at:

http://www.mtashlandrun.com/results.html

Tahoe Rim 50M - new Course Record

Thomas Reiss just set a new Course Record on July 19 while winning the esteemed Tahoe Rim Run 50 miler, in Tahoe, CA. It was near record setting heat, which presents huge problems for ultra runners. So how did Thomas set a Record in these conditions?

Here is his report - - -

“My training went well, so I thought I had a shot at the Course Record. But then the temperature was forecast for 90 degrees, which is very hard, so I changed my plan to be just going for a win.

“But then everything went great. I ate enough to keep moving, but not enough to get sick. I took in about 130 cal/hour, and 23 oz fluid/hour. This is on the low side, but I seem to do better when I finish a little depleted, instead of throwing up during the race!

Berry Picker Results

As expected, this was a highly competitive event!  Runners flew in from both coasts to contest for the final spots on the National Team (and to race with and see their friends).

Simon G made his 7th Team in a row with a solid win, while Megan Kimmel came out seemingly nowhere (Silverton to win a spot for the Women, followed by Laura Haefeli, who led the US Women to a Team Gold Medal at last year’s Trophy Race with an incredible Bronze medal herself.  Laura is an outstanding downhill runner (winning the USATF Trail Championships last month), and is strong enough to be back on the Team in this uphill year. The probably At-Large Selections for both Women and Men were also present at this race and might be guessed at from the Results below.

The Results are here:  2008-berrypicker  and a quick perusal shows FIVE previous Women’s Team members who were in this race but missed automatic selection!  Chris Lundy (recovering from Olympic Marathon Trials), Anita Ortiz (switched to Ultra’s), Rachel Cuellar (possible at-large), Lisa Goldsmith (focussing on Pikes Peak Ascent), and Julie Bryan (corporate sponsor of Team).  This was possibly the most competitive US Women’s mountain race in history.

A thorough write up by Nancy Hobbs is here:  berry-picker-selection-results and the photo below, showing the four people automatically Selected, is courtesy the same.

Berry Picker - Selection Race

The La Sportiva Berry Picker is the second and last Selection Race for the Teva US Mountain Running Team.  This means some top runners will be flying in to have a go at making the Team.  Should be an excellent race!

The top two Women and the winning Male will automatically qualify.  One other Male and Female would normally be selected At-Large, but Clint Wells of Boulder, who qualified at Mount Washington, declined his berth, and if Brandy Erholtz, who won at Mount Washington is one of the top two Women at Berry Picker, then rather than automatically qualify the third place Women, an additional At-Large selection will be made for the Women’s Team also.

Got that?  It’s all explained very well in Nancy Hobb’s USATF Press Release, which includes extensive bio’s of leading participants:  berrypickerpicks

The whole world of sanctioned trail racing is explained here.

The selection process will be wrapped on August 1, in preparation for the World Trophy Race on September 14 in Switzerland.  The At-Large selections will be approved by the 25 person USATF MUT (Mountain-Ultra-Trail) Committee, based on recommendations by the Staff, which is Nancy Hobbs (Chair), Dave Dunham (Jr Team Manager), Richard Bolt (Men’s Team Manager), and Ellen Miller (Women’s Team Manager).

Anyway, never mind all that … it’s a good race!  Good course, good people, and it’s open to everyone.  Hope to see you there!

Barr Trail Mountain Race

Manitou Springs, July 13 -

Barr Trail proved again it is one of the best trail races in North America: great course, impeccable organization, good competition, and it pays out prize money to runners while donating ALL their entry fees to charitable organizations!

But were Bernie’s predictions correct???

Mt Washington stats

After a couple of weeks of compiling data (and writing the 2008 chapter for my book), I’ve come up with the following info.  I’m planning on passing along all of the individual stats (state records, single age, etc…) for posting on the Mt W website.  If there is a spreadsheet you’d like to see or more facts on a particular item (Petey already asked me to calculate who has the most sub 1:20 finishes), feel free to email me.  I think the numbers prove that this was indeed the deepest field at Mt W.

 

Barr Trail Predictions

It was the eve of the Barr Trail Mountain Race,

And all was calm around the place,

As racers planned to run their best,

A little faster than all the rest,

Hardrock 100 - New Course Record!

Kyle Skaggs has just set a new course record for the clockwise direction of the Hardrock 100. He finished in 23:23:30, to break Karl Meltzer’s CR by over three hours! Will he go for Scott Jurak’s counter-clockwise course record next year?

2006 Leadville 100 winner Diana Finkel was two hours and thirty minutes ahead of Betsy Kalmeyer leaving the Sherman Aid Station at 72M.

Follow the race live at www.hardrock100.com/index.asp

DG