Axel is victorious at the 2013 Barr Trail Mountain Race.
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| Axel showing some legs photo: PikesPeakSports.us |
The finish up Hydro Street.
Axel talks with Peter Maksimow about the race (and shares a beer)!
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Axel Nichols Wins the Barr Trail Mountain Race
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Randall, Nichols qualify for US Mountain Running Team
On July 21st the U.S. Mountain Running Championships was held at the Cranmore Mountain in North Conway, NH. The 26th Cranmore Hill Climb presented by Delta Dental race doubled as the NACAC (North American Central American Caribbean Championships), which explained why the there were a bunch of Canadians and Mexicans milling around before the race.
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Team Colorado had three representatives (four if you include cheerleader Peter Maksimow): Glenn Randall, Axel Nichols, and Tommy "One Man Wolf Pack" Manning. Of the three, Randall (4th) and Nichols (6th) went on to place in the top 6 and qualify for the U.S. Mountain Running Team that will compete at the29th World Mountain Running Championships on September 8 in Krynica-Zdrój, Poland.
Randall was holding on to 2nd position with one lap remaining, of the three lap, 12k course, however, was passed by newcomer to the mountain running scene and eventual 2nd place finisher, Zach Ornelas. Then there was that sneaking Max King that surged in there for the 3rd spot. That King is a punchy one, using his steeplechasing skills and silver mullet (literally) to get him to the line. Local Colorado Springs runner, Ryan "Afro" Hafer placed 5th just ahead of our golden boy, Axel Nichols (6th), who held off speedster Andy Wacker (that is not a nickname!) of Boulder, CO. Manning took a digger on a steep downhill section of the course which put him out of contention for a top 6 finish. Manning stayed in the race to place 20th in 1:04:42.
Unfortunately, Team Colorado was not able to field a full team so the National Mountain Running Champions title was awarded to the Central Mass Striders. Next year, CMS, next year!!!
On the women's side, Morgan Arritola and Stevie Kremer had a hard fought battle to finish 1-2, respectively, with Magdalena Lewy-Boulet finishing 3rd and Megan Kimmel 4th to make the U.S. Mountain Running Team. Since Morgan Arritola declined her spot on the U.S. Team, 5th place finisher, Christine Lundy, will round out the 4-woman team.
Men's Results (12k)
1. Joe Gray - 56:23
2. Zachary Ornelas - 56:28
3. Max King - 56:45
4. Glenn Randall - 57:58
5. Ryan Hafer - 58:11
6. Axel Nichols - 58:17
7. Andy Wacker - 58:44
8. Alex Varner - 58:56
9. David Laney - 59:30
10. Victor Manuel Mercado Mirands - 1:01:06
20. Tommy Manning - 1:04:42
Women's Results (8k)
1. Morgan Arritola - 42:31
2. Stevie Kremer - 42:50
3. Magdalena Lewy-Boulet - 44:52
4. Megan Kimmel - 45:01
5. Christine Lundy - 45:33
6. Megan Lizotte - 46:03
7. Juliane Masciana - 47:17
8. Rachel Viele - 47:32
9. Amber Reece-Young - 47:50
10. Laura Haefeli - 48:19
11. Michele Yates - 49:01
Level Renner article and videos
More to come...
Team Colorado had three representatives (four if you include cheerleader Peter Maksimow): Glenn Randall, Axel Nichols, and Tommy "One Man Wolf Pack" Manning. Of the three, Randall (4th) and Nichols (6th) went on to place in the top 6 and qualify for the U.S. Mountain Running Team that will compete at the29th World Mountain Running Championships on September 8 in Krynica-Zdrój, Poland.
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| Team Colorado poses for a pic photo: Joe Viger |
Randall was holding on to 2nd position with one lap remaining, of the three lap, 12k course, however, was passed by newcomer to the mountain running scene and eventual 2nd place finisher, Zach Ornelas. Then there was that sneaking Max King that surged in there for the 3rd spot. That King is a punchy one, using his steeplechasing skills and silver mullet (literally) to get him to the line. Local Colorado Springs runner, Ryan "Afro" Hafer placed 5th just ahead of our golden boy, Axel Nichols (6th), who held off speedster Andy Wacker (that is not a nickname!) of Boulder, CO. Manning took a digger on a steep downhill section of the course which put him out of contention for a top 6 finish. Manning stayed in the race to place 20th in 1:04:42.
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| Randall leading Joe Gray on a steep downhill section photo: Joe Viger |
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| Axel, with the wind in his hair photo: Joe Viger |
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| One Man Wolf Pack finishes wounded photo: Joe Viger |
Unfortunately, Team Colorado was not able to field a full team so the National Mountain Running Champions title was awarded to the Central Mass Striders. Next year, CMS, next year!!!
On the women's side, Morgan Arritola and Stevie Kremer had a hard fought battle to finish 1-2, respectively, with Magdalena Lewy-Boulet finishing 3rd and Megan Kimmel 4th to make the U.S. Mountain Running Team. Since Morgan Arritola declined her spot on the U.S. Team, 5th place finisher, Christine Lundy, will round out the 4-woman team.
Men's Results (12k)
1. Joe Gray - 56:23
2. Zachary Ornelas - 56:28
3. Max King - 56:45
4. Glenn Randall - 57:58
5. Ryan Hafer - 58:11
6. Axel Nichols - 58:17
7. Andy Wacker - 58:44
8. Alex Varner - 58:56
9. David Laney - 59:30
10. Victor Manuel Mercado Mirands - 1:01:06
20. Tommy Manning - 1:04:42
Women's Results (8k)
1. Morgan Arritola - 42:31
2. Stevie Kremer - 42:50
3. Magdalena Lewy-Boulet - 44:52
4. Megan Kimmel - 45:01
5. Christine Lundy - 45:33
6. Megan Lizotte - 46:03
7. Juliane Masciana - 47:17
8. Rachel Viele - 47:32
9. Amber Reece-Young - 47:50
10. Laura Haefeli - 48:19
11. Michele Yates - 49:01
Level Renner article and videos
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| Yep, that hurt photo: Joe Viger |
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Sage Canaday Marks Another Notch in his Ultra Running Credentials Belt
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| Sage just enjoying the view photo: Matt Trappe www.trappephoto.com |
Team Coloradan John Tribbia was also in the race, and was 7th at Hidden Peak (mile 8.4), but did not end up in the results. We hope you made it out alive, Trib!
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| Tribbia at Hidden Peak in 7th place photo: iRunFar.com |
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| 2013 Speedgoat 50K start, Krupicka looking very happy photo: iRunFar.com |
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| Canaday leading the charge atop Hidden Peak photo: iRunFar.com |
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| So, that's where the Wild Things Are! photo: The Prez |
Or, perhaps it was his silver mullet!
On the women's side, Stephanie Howe won in 6:17:02 with Jodee Adams-Moore (6:18:06) and Ruby Muir (6:25:54) rounding out the top three.
For complete results and a less sarcastic race review, check out www.iRunFar.com and Sage's website.
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| Unicorns intertwine horns photo: iRunFar.com |
Sage's mantra towards the end of the race was:
1. Don't break a bone
2. Don't get lost
3. Don't blow up or bonk
4.Where is the finish line?
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| The podium at Speedgoat 50K photo: Sage's website |
The Fonz says "Ehhhh" to Avery beer after the race!
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Cranmore Hill Climb/US Mountain Running Championships Race Review: Alex Nichols
Half way through the 2013 US Mountain Running Championships I was strongly considering dropping out. I wasn’t injured, so I didn’t really have a good reason to let this insidious thought take over my mind, yet I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Just a week earlier I won the Barr Trail Mountain race in my home state of Colorado. That half marathon trail race climbed from about 6,500 feet above sea level to 10,200 and back down again. You would think that type of race would make a 12k at low altitude a walk in the park, but it didn’t. I wanted to drop out so badly, simply because I was hurting--hurting like I rarely have. And that was only the halfway point!
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| photo: Joe Viger |
Just as I was going to take a nice long walk to the bottom of the mountain and climb into the darkest hole I could find, I realized something: I had experienced this before, just a few weeks prior at the Mont Blanc Skymarathon in Chamonix, France. I managed to push through some serious pain back then to place 7th in a super competitive euro field, so why couldn’t I do it again? If there is one thing I have learned from the few Skyrunning races I have run it’s that I can make myself hurt like crazy and keep going. It’s just a matter of being really, really motivated.
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| Mont Blanc Marathon photo: Nadine Davies |
I found the motivation I needed in my fellow competitors. On the very first descent of the race I lost what seemed like 30 or 40 spots, despite running a mile PR. But as things progressed people starting drifting back to me. I had no idea what place I was in until the start of the final lap when I found out I was just one spot off making the US Team. I was pretty sure that was a mistake but I forged on; intent on catching Ryan Hafer’s bouncing 'fro. I was still hurting, and on the final descent I had a severely cramping right abductor, but knew only 20 more minutes of pain remained. 20 minutes was way better than knowing I had another 2 hours to go like I did at Mt Blanc. I caught Ryan at the start of the final climb and wondered if my heart would be able to beat any harder without exploding. Turns out it could! Ryan and I were pushing each other hard enough that we caught the 5th place runner, Andy Wacker, and snuck by him in the final meters of the climb. It was both the most horrible and most exciting thing I have ever felt.
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| photo: Joe Viger |
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| Top 10 male finishers photo: Joe Viger |
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We have so much news, there is not enough space to highlight it here
Evergreen 10K - CO State 10K Champs
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| That's a nice view...too bad they are facing the other direction photo: USATF CO |
Neil "Big McD" McDonagh places 3rd at the Evergreen Town Race 10K, which also served as the USATF CO State 10K Championships. Neil tried to "keep it real", as we say in the industry, by setting the pace while the others sat back, including a Kenyan, who he almost told off for doing so. "There will be no drafting in a downhill 10K, Abu!!!"
Demerit for the Kenyans!
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| Big McD had at least 40 lbs. on these guys -- lbs. + gravity = Advantage! photo: USATF CO |
Brandon Johnson of Denver took the win in 30:30, while Austin Richmond (a tale of two cities?) of Boulder was 2nd in 30:36.
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| "There you go...help me with the pacemaking duties!" photo: USATF CO |
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| ...and only 6 remained photo: USATF CO |
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| If you weren't sure what this was, they put up a large sign to remind you - McD came across in 30:48, a new Team Colorado record photo: USATF CO |
FYI - Karma got the best of Abu Kebede and he finished 5th in 31:36.
La Luz Trail Run - Albuquerque, NM
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Simon "Gute" Gutierrez places 2nd in 1:23:12 behind Kristopher Houghton, 1:22:15, at the 48th Annual La Luz Trail Run in Albuquerque, NM. Gute has run this race 9 times and won 8 of those times. He has 5 of the fastest top 10 times. He had to allow someone else to win at some point!
The La Luz Trail Run is a 9 mile trail race that starts in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque and finishes atop Sandia Crest at an elevation of 10,678 feet, gaining over 4,000 feet of elevation.
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| Gute's alter ego...he loves heavy petting photo: Rachael Cuellar |
Congratulations to friend of Team Colorado and newly-minted masters runner, Donna Garcia, for placing 4th overall in 2:03:31. Watch out Gute, she's going to catch you!!
Other News
Big McD is the new Pikes Peak Road Runners' the Long Run cover boy.
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| This is one of the few photos that Big McD is not pulling faces photo: Brandon Stapanowich |
This is just proof that Peter "The Prez" Maksimow used to be able to run.
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| Colorado Runner Magazine, Issue #60, July - September, he paid them to write all that good stuff about him |
Gute rides up Pikes Peak...WHAAAAT!? Yes, you read it correctly, Gute places 3rd on an ElliptiGo in 2:04:46 for the 12 mile ElliptiGo race up the Pikes Peak Auto Road.
Stranger things have happened.
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Team Colorado Announces our New Chef d'équipe: Amy Perez
We would like to formally welcome Amy Perez, who is the new Team Colorado Women's Manager, or "chef d'équipe", as they say in France. Just don't call her "Chef". There is still debate as to what her nickname should be, so stay tuned for a popularity contest to choose it! She is not just a pretty face...well she is, but she also is the brains behind the operation, the riveter behind the Rosie, the Colorado behind the Team... you get the idea.
This is what she looks like...always smiling!
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| Who is the Captain of this Pirate Ship?....This Lady!!! |
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Team Colorado’s movin’ on up…and down!
A preview to the 2013 Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon
First things first…
Team Colorado is thrilled to announce that we are about to get MUCH prettier! Now we know that with the good looks of The Fonz (a.k.a. Sage), the blonde flowing locks of Axel, the perfectly coiffed handlebar moustache donning the pretty face of The Prez and newest cover boy, Big McD (to name a few) that this may seem impossible. We thought so too. But thankfully, we have found a compliment of LADIES who share the love of mountain running with great friends and also happen to be quite good at it. The full team will be introduced in the coming weeks but we will highlight three lean, mean, mountain-running machines that have been focusing their sights on the 2013 Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon. Ok, they are all really quite nice but finding a word to rhyme with lean is harder than it sounds.
Team Colorado - THE LADIES
Pikes Peak Ascent – August 17, 2013
Dubbed by Trail Runner Magazine as the “Queen of Uphill”, Kim Dobsonwill make her Team Colorado debut and fifth appearance at the Pikes Peak Ascent after her record-setting win last year in a time of 2:24:58. TC’s chef d'équipe, Amy Perez had the opportunity to chase (rather unsuccessfully) Kim around some 14ers this summer and spent some time talking (on the downhill) about why she loves this race so much as well as her expectations for this year. Kim says: “I keep coming back to the Ascent because it embodies everything I love about running – lots of uphill, high altitude and great people! It’s become a yearly tradition that my husband, Corey, and I cannot resist. This year, my training has been very untraditional as I worked through an injury. I had a great running base through May, but since then I have had to find alternative ways of staying fit while I let my leg heal. My goal is to run a smart, strong and mentally positive race. We’ll see where I land!”
Kim says her favorite part of the Ascent is the second half. She says “unlike most people, I really enjoy the steep and rocky trail between Barr Camp and A-Frame. The lack of oxygen makes the final three miles EXTRA FUN!” Well Kim, no doubt you are in the minority here. Her least favorite part of the race is the start line to the roundabout (that’s roughly 0.5 miles total…not bad for a 13.32 mile race)…”why must people run that section of the race like it’s a 10K road race?!” We don’t know, Kim….slow down Gute!
No stranger to the Ascent, Lisa Goldsmith will also make her debut with Team Colorado next Saturday for her 11th visit to the 14, 115 ft. summit of Pikes Peak. Amy chatted with Lisa a bit and asked her why, oh why she would want to put herself through that much suffering year after year, her answer, much like Kim’s, had more to do with the LOVE of the race than the miles or finishing times. Lisa says: “There seems to be an irrational magnetic attraction between me and Pikes, and besides I am ‘IN’** for life, so why not?! The fact that it is entirely uphill is my most favorite feature of this race. My favorite stretch of the course is the traverse between 2 and 1 to go; it is “practically flat” – I remember last year having a VERY difficult time above tree line, and during this stretch I thought I could hear the announcer saying the first woman was nearing the line…my watch was reading 2:20+, and I got a huge smile on my face knowing Kim had CRUSHED the record…and yep, it took me another 40 minutes after her to get there myself. Rough day for me. Again, with ½ mile to go I heard she ran 2:25 from Scott E. and started laughing with OHMYGOODNESS and managed another big smile! The final 200 meters are also a classic fun spot with everyone cheering and feeling the finish line.”
Lisa shares Kim’s dislike of the fast start, says she is NOT a fast starter.
Pikes Peak Marathon – August 18, 2013
Team Colorado is anxiously anticipating the return of Michele Yates to the Pikes Peak Marathon to take care of some “unfinished business”. Michele will begin her second round trip visit to the mountain in the attempt to shave a little time off of her smokin’ fast, 4th place finish at last year’s marathon with a time of 4:42:38. Amy caught up with Michele and asked her to share some thoughts about what she is looking forward to this year and how it differs from this time last year. She says: “Last year my hubby and I bought our first home and relocated. With that I decided 2 hour was too far to drive to see the chiropractor/sports medicine doctor so found another closer to our new home. Bad decision. I was suffering from nauseating back pain for several months last year (through the PPM) only to realize that the new doctor was actually causing the pain to get worse. With the help of a new, great doctor I’m happy to say the problem is solved. I wish I could say I am 100% healthy, but I can’t. I have been able to complete my workouts at 100% but there is still some lagging IT-Band problems that make me wish I had a few more weeks. I am still confident and know I can race well.” 2013 may not be the tip-top, pain-free year that Michele would like but she does feel she is capable of a course record*** in the marathon, go for it Michele…beers on us!
Michele says her favorite part of the course is the downhill. “It’s my strength. Because of the back issues last year, I literally had to walk most the uphill, so this year I will be looking forward to a strong uphill and EVEN STRONGER downhill…”
Good luck ladies and welcome to the team!
----to be continued…up next: Gute’s got wings, Cricket the dog predicts big McD’s maiden voyage time and Pedro and Axel putting on their big boy pants for the marathon.
**Prior winners have lifetime invitations to run, Lisa has won twice.
*** Female course record for the Pikes Peak Marathon is 4:15:18 set in 1981 by Lnn Bjorklund
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The Pikes Peak High-Altitude Mile
The Pikes Peak Ascent/Marathon weekend craziness will start THIS TUESDAY at 9am, as Simon “Gute” Gutierrez, Alex “Axel” Nichols and Neil “Big McD” McDonagh toe the line of the inaugural Pikes Peak High-Altitude Mile with 16 of the fastest runners in the area (and Africa, for that matter). Athletes capable of a sub 4-minute mile face off with athletes known for winning high-altitude mountain races will run what might be the highest competitive mile ever contested on USA soil and, dare we say it, the WORLD, at an altitude of 14,115 feet. It will be a battle of oxygen and leg speed. And, like a Rocky movie, it will be a battle of two entirely different beasts...a battle between two Team Colorado teammates. |
| It was so tense that we were waiting for a "I will eat your children" quote |
We sought out Big McD to talk about his thoughts on the mile race and were a bit surprised by what he had to say…“I moved here in March to finish graduate school, but that was just out of convenience. More importantly, I moved here to beat Axel Nichols, at something, at anything. I've been training for only one race this year and it's the Pikes Peak High-Altitude Mile. I've been doing my patented gas mask 20x400's, all sub 60 seconds. I don't care if I come in second to last, as long as I'm ahead of Axel. Axel, I hope you bring a bag of air to the peak, because you are gonna need it. I submit video evidence of what Axel probably feels like knowing he is facing me at 14,115 ft.”
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| The Prez attempting to keep peace between the teammates, it was almost a rumble in the jungle |
Well, Team Colorado loves a good battle so of course we tracked down Axel doing some secret training at the top of Pikes Peak and asked him about his High-Altitude Mile competition…we are sensing there may be a bit of unrest within the team. “When I heard that Big McD was running the Peak Mile I thought ‘that's nice, he could have a shot at the money.’ But then I found out there are already 5 women running and the prize money only goes 4 deep.”
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| Carrot Top in his prime |
Since Big McD is somewhat new to town, we asked Axel to describe him for anyone who hasn't yet had a chance to meet him. "Big McD looks like an emaciated Carrot Top. He trains with a geriatric, overweight, lazy dog just so he can tell people he's faster than someone.” Since Neil is only capable of a 4:05 in the mile, Axel is convinced that “McD is running the Pikes Peak Mile to get a free ride to the donut stand and the only thing worse than McD’s running is McD.”
The battle will be settled on Tuesday, August 13th at 9am when the title of Drago is awarded to either Big McD or Axel.
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| The Pacifist Photo: PikesPeakSports.us |
Meanwhile, Gute is training and keeping to himself. He strays away from controversy.
Team Colorado will be well represented with Gute, three-time winner of the Pikes Peak Ascent with a recent 4:35 at the Bristol Mile. Axel, 2ndoverall at the 2012 Pikes Peak Marathon and six-time PPA/PPM top ten finisher, not to mention securing a much coveted spot on the 2013 US Mountain Running Team a week after winning the Barr Trail Mountain Race. Big McD checks in with a 4:05 Bristol mile, 30:48 Evergreen Town Race 10K (CO State 10K Championship) and a vendetta for Axel.
Things are definitely heating up, so break out the potato chips and bratwursts and follow the live coverage on twitter (@RunTeamColorado) as they struggle for air. Who will be the victor!?
Good luck in what could prove to be the hardest race any of these athletes have ever run.
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| The Clash of the Titans |
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Team Colorado's movin' on up...and down! Part Deux
A preview to the 2013 Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon - THE MEN
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Rickey attempting the "pull my finger" trick at the start of the 2012 PPA Team Colorado members L to R: Sage Canaday, The Prez, Gute, Rickey Gates, Kim Dobson, Tommy Manning |
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| Pikes Peak High-Altitude Mile Chumps |
With the Inaugural Pikes Peak High-Altitude Mile in the books and the title of Drago (or McDrago) awarded to Big McD for edging out Axel by only three seconds, we turn our attention this weekend and the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon.
Simon "Gute" Gutierrez and Neil “Big McD” McDonagh will toe the line of the 58th running of the Pikes Peak Ascent, a 13.32 mile jaunt up 7,815 feet to the top of Pikes Peak, 14,115 feet above the sea!
Gute, without question, has the experience and speed to land himself a top spot this weekend. 2013 will mark his 8thstart with 7 finishes under the waistband of his running shorts, all top 10, THREE wins and a 2:13:29 PR, this guy’s has figured out how to defy gravity, or age, perhaps!
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| Gute likes it fast |
“I am going into the race with a smile and eager to run a strong up front "Gute" style race. (Translation: I’m going to run really, really fast, especially in the first mile...like a 5:25, don't tempt me!). Life is good, my heart is happy (no irregular heartbeats) and I am so excited to race with some of the best Ascent runners in the USA. My training has gone great. In July, I ran more miles than I have since 2008. I may even have some real racing flats from HOKA (so the Prez will stop calling them ‘fat shoes’), so that has got to help speed things up...it's time to fly! Once I reach the summit, I'm heading back down the trail to cheer on all the wonderful people I know coming up, up up....”
You had better bring some warm clothes, Gute…you are going to be up on that peak before some racers crack their first gel!
You had better bring some warm clothes, Gute…you are going to be up on that peak before some racers crack their first gel!
Big McD was making some “JAM! That’s Good” jam for the team (boy, are we anxiously awaiting the delivery), so we fed Cricket McDonagh treats until she spilled the dirt on McD’s training.
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| Cricket says "put me down you bastard, I'm not an insect!" |
CRICKET: I wake the brown haired man at 4:00 am every day and he feeds me breakfast. I expect to do that on Saturday.
TC: Any changes since Big McD’s been training for the Ascent?
CRICKET: I also bark at the brown haired man to feed me dinner at 5 pm every night. That has not changed.
TC: Cricket, what is your prediction for the Ascent?
CRICKET: The brown haired man better not be late with my dinner on Saturday.
Well, she was not helpful at all, not sure what we expected of a beagle.
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| "Expect this" cricket replys |
Big McD will be at the front of the starting line at 7am on Saturday with 2,000 of his newest best friends for his first attempt at the Ascent. Living on Ruxton Ave., McD is no stranger to Barr Trail, Manitou traffic and the early morning chatter of runners heading up to the trailhead. He says “the scene on Ruxton lately is busy with folks doing fitness-y things. Tourists on the street often ask me how far it is to the summit, so I alternate between ‘2 miles or 35 miles one way.’ People are obviously prepping for the Pikes Peak Marathon weekend judging by the increased amounts of loud shouts of the F-word I hear early every morning from my bedroom window.” Big McD predicts crossing the finish line in 2 hours and 30 minutes…we are suspect.
…where’s our jam?!
BIG BOY PANTS! The Pikes Peak Marathon
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| Axel giving Max King a slap on the ass and a "Way to go kid!" as he passes him in 2012 |
Alex “Axel” Nichols and Peter “The Prez” Maksimow believe what goes up, must come down. Or at least that is what they are trying to convince themselves this week. The 26.21 mile trek starts at 7am on Sunday and will head to the top of Pikes Peak and then back down… ~15,630 feet of elevation change.
This will be Axel’s second attempt at this distance (after five top 10 finishes in the Ascent) and the pressure is on. Taking second to Killian Jornet, the fearless and terrifically talented Spaniard last year, Axel is fit, healthy and looking faster than ever (we think the Inov-8 headband is the secret). We trapped Axel at Front Range BBQ, fed him a few of their fancy beers on tap and a full rack of ribs, and asked him about the upcoming weekend…
TC: Other than being in your backyard, why Pikes Peak?
AXEL: I keep coming back because Pikes is a big, bad mountain that can make or break you without a second thought. This year I expect a deep desire to stop running by the time I hit A-frame, just like every other year. My training has been a steady rotation of training really hard for a short period, resting for a few days, racing, and starting it all over again. In the past I've had a much more detailed training schedule for the summer but this year's tight race schedule seems to be working somehow. So, after Pikes I plan on getting in more training as soon as I can walk to get ready for the Mountain Running World Championships in Poland. Plus, Pikes has an amazing effect on my hair, it makes it look so beautiful!
TC: What is your most and least favorite part of the race?
AXEL: My least favorite part is definitely the section between Barr camp and tree line, it seems to last forever. But then my favorite part is finally getting out of the trees and hitting the flatter sections in the 3rd to last mile.
In case there isn’t already enough pressure on Axel, a new challenge was levied this weekend (I’m sure he’s terrified). Axel will try to beat TC’s Chef d’equipe, Amy Perez’s Ascent time in the marathon! We can only hope Amy makes this a true challenge. Axel’s predict is 3:38 for the round trip. Amy’s is 3:40 for the one way trek to the top! Ridonkulous!
Last but FAR from least (or close to it, depending on how you word it), Peter “The Prez” Maksimow, like most of Team Colorado competing this weekend, is no stranger to this mountain. With four top 10 finishes at the Ascent and a 2:26:39 PR, it’s safe to say The Prez is very comfortable with the uphill. Unlike year’s past, Peter will not be able to cross the finish line, find a cold beer and sit atop waiting on his friends to finish. Instead he will grab some water, head through the turn around and bound 13 miles back down to town, hopefully finishing in one piece.
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| "Yeahhh, I have a beer...and no pants!" |
TC: So, how do you feel about not stopping at the top like you have the previous 4 attempts?
PREZ: Well, you are wrong about one thing, it will not be water that I grab at the top, it will, in fact, be a cold beer--not that Ultra crap, either. I can’t stray from tradition. It should also make the run back down the mountain more bearable. I have never experienced the descent in a race situation and am not particularly looking forward to it, but it is part of the race and I must abide by the course. I wish I had a personal Killian Jornet. I would put a saddle on him (he would look so cute!) and I would ride him down the mountain!
PREZ: Well, you are wrong about one thing, it will not be water that I grab at the top, it will, in fact, be a cold beer--not that Ultra crap, either. I can’t stray from tradition. It should also make the run back down the mountain more bearable. I have never experienced the descent in a race situation and am not particularly looking forward to it, but it is part of the race and I must abide by the course. I wish I had a personal Killian Jornet. I would put a saddle on him (he would look so cute!) and I would ride him down the mountain!
TC: You gave run only the Ascent in the past, why did you decided to take a stab at the Marathon this year?
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| The Prez's face was being eaten by something in this photo |
TC: Any predictions?
PREZ: Yes. I can guarantee you that my legs will be the sorest they have ever been and I will be walking like a cowboy afterwards, there will be beer a’flowin’ this weekend and the LA Raiders will win the World Series!
Good luck to everyone racing on the Peak this weekend and our friends at the Leadville 100 and the TransRockies Run. Fingers crossed for some good weather too…if for no other reason than Manitou Springs residents deserve a break*!
*Due to recent flash flood damage in Manitou Springs, changes have been made to the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon, however, the show will go on...with some changes. Spend as much money as you can in Manitou Springs...Matt Carpenter thanks you!
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How to Hit the Wall: A Graduate Level Course
Over the past five months living and racing in Colorado, I've amassed a cornucopia of mid-race implosions (or assplosions). Don’t bother trying to inform me of how I should ‘do this or stop doing that’ because I bonk in every variety of fashion on the suffer spectrum.
Pikes Peak Ascent is a race up to the top of Pikes Peak. I live along the course and figured running around here daily would substitute race specific training. As a self-proclaimed ‘soul runner’, I start races according to my mood ring on race morning. When I feel good, I just go, scoffing at future consequences for real-time actions. I’ve been running for over 20 years, so I am fully aware of the risks that I take.
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| Good vibes at the bottom. Photo: Gary Gellin |
On a blow-up scale my Pikes Peak Ascent race was Haley’s Comet. I led the race up Ruxton Ave before the trailhead. Cruised through Barr Camp (technically the halfway point) in 2nd with fellow Team Colorado stud ‘Gute’. Roughly a mile and a half past Barr Camp I began to start cramping in my quads. Once at tree line my race faded faster than a Rick Perry/Herman Cain/Elliot Spitzer/Anthony Weiner campaign. The last three miles was NOT a mixture of walk/running. In layman’s terms, the front part of my legs did not work. Sorta essential to getting to the top of a 14er. I finished in 3rd……..woman that is. Losing over 20 spots in the last three miles as I peg-legged to the top of America’s Mountain was a blast. I crossed the line confident that there may be no better blow-up artist than I.
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| Fooling everyone by running the last 10 yards. Photo: Pikes Peaks Sports |
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| Hangin' with the Team Colorado ladies is a surefire way to cheer up. Photo: Amy Perez |
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Pikes Peak Mile, Ascent and Marathon Week
Whew! It was a busy week on Pikes Peak with Team Colorado first taking on the High-Altitude Mile atop the 14,115 foot peak, next running up the mountain on Saturday, and finally up and down on Sunday.
Now you see why we are so exhausted!
The Inaugural Pikes Peak High-Altitude Mile
On Tuesday, August 13th, an exclusive 1 mile race at the top of Pikes Peak was held and Simon "Gute" Gutierrez, Neil "Big McD" McDonagh and Axel Nichols were part of the exclusivity. It's like that exclusive lounge at the airport that you always wonder who they allow in. These guys got to use that lounge!
In the competitive field that included the likes of 3:53 Bristol Mile winner, Daddy Long Legs and Lost Boy of Sudan, Dey Dey, Kenyans Sammy Kiplagat (winner of the 2012 & 2013 Dallas Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Half Marathon) and Leonard Korir (2013 Garden of the Gods 10 Mile champion), Boulder Running Company's Scott Dahlberg, among others, Team Colorado held their own with some impressive performances. Big McD and Axel battled it out on the final lap to place 5th (4:55) and 6th (4:58) respectively and Gute felt "flat" (not to be confused with "fat", as in fat shoes because he was wearing a slimmed down version of Hokas, the Kailua) but was able to pull out a 5:27.
Two feuding team members bury the hatchet on the mountain and made up in the same fashion that Rocky and Apollo did...with an embrace. We are all one happy team again!
Big McD and Axel Make Up ...in slow mo'.
Pikes Peak Ascent
On Saturday August 17th, Gute and Big McD take out the Ascent in true "Gute" fashion...by gapping the rest of the field from the gun. Don't believe us, here is video evidence.
Gute ran a strong race and finished 3rd in 2:27:27 while Big McD, after working with Gute through Barr Camp, acquired some Big McCramps in his quads and finished in 23rd in 2:49:36.
McD was quoted (1,000 meters into the race, in fact) that it would be a "race to tree line", and it was for him, as his quads seized up and he lost 20 places in the last 3 miles of the race. He teaches a graduate level course on how to hit the wall. He is currently working on his doctorate.
Big McD still secured 2nd place overall in the Triple Crown of Running Series (Garden of the Gods 10 Mile that included "no bodily emissions", Summer Trail Round Up, PPA).
Friend of Team Colorado Eric "Quadazilla" Blake of West Hartford, CT went on to win the Ascent in 2:13:45 (he had a flight that same night so he wasn't able to buy beer for everyone with his prize winnings like he did at Mt. Washington. We'll take a rain check, Eric!). Greg Ruckman of Breckenridge, CO placed 2nd in his first attempt that the Peak.
Kim Dobson, Lisa Goldsmith and Amy Perez represented Team Colorado for the first time and we can't be more proud of our ladies.
Kim "Boo" Dobson frightened the shit out of our camera man before she went on to claim a Hat Trick for the Pikes Peak Ascent in 2:41:43 (see "video evidence" above). Lisa Goldsmith has been battling an unidentified injury recently but still placed 2nd in the 45-49 age group and 21st woman in 3:24:42. And our very own Chef d'équipe Amy "Half As Fast" Perez officially earned her nickname after her 3:45:44 finish.
The challenge was Amy's Ascent time vs. Axel's Marathon time. The verdict: Axel is victorious as he ran a 3:43:46 in the Marathon.
Pikes Peak Marathon
On Sunday August 18th, three Team Colorado members made the trek up AND back down the mountain in the Marathon.
Being no stranger to the mountain (but just looking like a stranger with his new haircut) Axel Nichols comes back from 3rd place and a 6 minute deficit at the summit of the mountain to catch and pass the Jason Delaney and pull up side-by-side with race leader Touro Miyahara in the last mile of the race. It came down to a kick and the Japanese runner used his speed as a road runner and his experience as a Mt. Fuji record holder to take the victory in 3:43:23. Axel finished 2nd in a close 3:43:46. Jason Delaney, 2012 Pikes Peak Ascent Champion, of Polson, MT finished 3rd in 3:53:45, after being the first to reach the summit in a time of 2:16:21.
Axel was crowned USATF National Trail Marathon Champion, although he placed 2nd, because, well, the winner was Japanese.
Also in her first appearance as a Team Colorado member, Michele "Bomb 'chele" Yates did just that and bombed downhill finishing 5th female in 4:56:09. She had some of the fastest downhill splits of anyone, men included, and was second in the nation behind Stevie Kremer (4:16:10) for the USATF Trail Marathon National Championship.
Watch out, she'll drop a bomb on you, I mean in the dance club sort of way (the Gov doesn't like when that word is used--hey maybe they are following Team Colorado now!).
Peter "The Prez" Maksimow had the most colorful outfit of the day, with matching Inov-8 buff and TrailRoc 245's, but stunk it up in the marathon, running 3:29:54 for 17th place for his debut PPM. The Prez sports a mustache worthy of a gold medal...at least he won something on Sunday!
Results
PPA Article
PPM Article
The Axel interview
Now you see why we are so exhausted!
The Inaugural Pikes Peak High-Altitude Mile
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| McD, Axel and Gute race at 14,115 feet photo: PikesPeakSports.us |
Special thanks to Dan Cockrell for his handy editing on the Team Colorado Pikes Peak Mile footage. For a rough edit, it came out pretty damn good!
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| This is like a fairytale picture: a giant befriending a hobbit with purple rabbit ears photo: Dr. Seuss |
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| Axel showing the guns! photo: PikesPeakSports.us |
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Big McD finishing with Axel in tow photo: PikesPeakSports.us |
Big McD and Axel Make Up ...in slow mo'.
Pikes Peak Ascent
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Big McD attempting to "Pull a GR" photo: PikesPeakSports.us |
Gute ran a strong race and finished 3rd in 2:27:27 while Big McD, after working with Gute through Barr Camp, acquired some Big McCramps in his quads and finished in 23rd in 2:49:36.
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| Team Colorado takes it out hard photo: PikePeakSports.us |
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| Gute does the Hoka Shuffle in his Hokas photo: PikesPeakSports.us |
Big McD still secured 2nd place overall in the Triple Crown of Running Series (Garden of the Gods 10 Mile that included "no bodily emissions", Summer Trail Round Up, PPA).
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| "It's a graduate level course that I teach" says Big McD photo: PikesPeakSports.us |
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| Gute giving some skin to the RD, Ron Ilgen photo: PikesPeak Sports.us |
Friend of Team Colorado Eric "Quadazilla" Blake of West Hartford, CT went on to win the Ascent in 2:13:45 (he had a flight that same night so he wasn't able to buy beer for everyone with his prize winnings like he did at Mt. Washington. We'll take a rain check, Eric!). Greg Ruckman of Breckenridge, CO placed 2nd in his first attempt that the Peak.
Kim Dobson, Lisa Goldsmith and Amy Perez represented Team Colorado for the first time and we can't be more proud of our ladies.
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| The "Queen of Uphill" keeps true to her bib number PikesPeakSports.us |
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| There's gold in them thar hills: Goldsmith searching for her namesake atop Pikes Peak photo: PikesPeakSports.us |
Kim "Boo" Dobson frightened the shit out of our camera man before she went on to claim a Hat Trick for the Pikes Peak Ascent in 2:41:43 (see "video evidence" above). Lisa Goldsmith has been battling an unidentified injury recently but still placed 2nd in the 45-49 age group and 21st woman in 3:24:42. And our very own Chef d'équipe Amy "Half As Fast" Perez officially earned her nickname after her 3:45:44 finish.
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| Amy, on her way to body checking a guy who cut the course photo: Michael Ciaglo, The Gazette |
The challenge was Amy's Ascent time vs. Axel's Marathon time. The verdict: Axel is victorious as he ran a 3:43:46 in the Marathon.
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No stranger to breakin' the vinyl, Dobson takes her second straight win on the Peak photo: PikesPeakSports.us |
Pikes Peak Marathon
On Sunday August 18th, three Team Colorado members made the trek up AND back down the mountain in the Marathon.
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| It's all fun and games...for the first mile, at least photo: PikesPeakSports.us |
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| Golden boy, Axel Nichols, has no more golden locks photo: PikesPeakSports.us |
Being no stranger to the mountain (but just looking like a stranger with his new haircut) Axel Nichols comes back from 3rd place and a 6 minute deficit at the summit of the mountain to catch and pass the Jason Delaney and pull up side-by-side with race leader Touro Miyahara in the last mile of the race. It came down to a kick and the Japanese runner used his speed as a road runner and his experience as a Mt. Fuji record holder to take the victory in 3:43:23. Axel finished 2nd in a close 3:43:46. Jason Delaney, 2012 Pikes Peak Ascent Champion, of Polson, MT finished 3rd in 3:53:45, after being the first to reach the summit in a time of 2:16:21.
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| photo: PikesPeakSports.us |
Also in her first appearance as a Team Colorado member, Michele "Bomb 'chele" Yates did just that and bombed downhill finishing 5th female in 4:56:09. She had some of the fastest downhill splits of anyone, men included, and was second in the nation behind Stevie Kremer (4:16:10) for the USATF Trail Marathon National Championship.
Watch out, she'll drop a bomb on you, I mean in the dance club sort of way (the Gov doesn't like when that word is used--hey maybe they are following Team Colorado now!).
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| Michele coming into the finish photo: Amy Perez |
Peter "The Prez" Maksimow had the most colorful outfit of the day, with matching Inov-8 buff and TrailRoc 245's, but stunk it up in the marathon, running 3:29:54 for 17th place for his debut PPM. The Prez sports a mustache worthy of a gold medal...at least he won something on Sunday!
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| The Prez, putting the Hip back into Hippie photo: PikesPeakSports.us |
Results
PPA Article
PPM Article
The Axel interview
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Michele Yates joins Team Colorado
Name: Michele "Bomb 'chele" Yates
Age: 31
Age: 31
Hometown: Alpena, MI
Current residence: Littleton (Roxborough Village), CO
Sponsors: Pearl Izumi, Ultimate Direction, Icespike, GU Energy, The Simply Bar, Body Armor Super Drink
Personal Bests:
5k – It’s been so long I don’t remember! 17 flat –ish?
10k – 34:17 Salt Lake City, UT 2009
Half Marathon – 1:17 Ohio 2009
Marathon – 2:38:37 (road) Seattle WA 2009
50 Mile – (trail) 6:53:25 Nueces Rocksprings TX
100k – (trail) 10:08:48 Bandera TX
100 Mile – (trail) 17:35:18 Indiana
Notable Achievements:
* 2x Olympic Trials Marathon Competitor
* USA Team - World Mountain Trail Championships 2011, World Championships Trail Ultra Team 2013
* USA Team-NACAC 2012, 2013
* 9 Marathon Wins
* 3x National Champion (50 mile Trail 2012, 2013-record holder and 100k Trail 2013)
* Overall winner - Indiana Trail 100 17:35:18
Goals:
Win USA Marathon Trail Champs, Run Rabbit Run 100 mile, North Face Endurance Challenge.
Favorite trails: Is there ever a not favorite one?
Favorite workout: Any trail runs!
Favorite races: Nueces 50 mile, Pikes Peak Marathon, Cranmore Hill Climb
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Team Colorado Welcomes Kim Dobson
Age: 29 years old
Hometown: Born in the mountainous region of Midland, Texas, grew up in Littleton, CO.
Current residence: Grand Junction, CO
Sponsors: Runners Roost (team supported by Mizuno, Honey Stinger)
Personal Bests:
5k – 17:41 (road)
Half Marathon – 1:20:32 (road)
Pikes Peak Ascent (13.32 miles) - 2:24:58 CR
Marathon – 2:45 (road)
Notable Achievements:
Ø Trail Runner Magazine’s 2012 Trail Runner of the Year (TROY)
Ø 2012 Colorado Sportswomen award winner for trail running
Ø 2012 USA Mountain Running Champion (Mt. Washington)
Ø 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier
Ø Two time Mt. Washington and Three time Pikes Peak Ascent champion
Ø Pikes Peak Ascent course record holder
Future goals:
Ø Run happy and healthy, strong and fast
Ø Improve my personal best at Jungfrau and Mt. Washington
Ø Run the Pikes double
Ø Continue to coach high school and adults
Ø Qualify for the 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials (sub 2:43)
Ø Try new races outside of Colorado and the US
Ø Qualify for the US Mountain Running Team
Favorite trails: Nellie Creek Trail up Uncompaghre, Capitol Creek Trail, most trails up 14ers
Favorite workout: Running up 14ers, mile repeats, any uphill workout
Favorite races: Pikes Peak Ascent, Mt. Washington Road Race, Jungfrau Marathon
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Team Colorado Welcomes Lisa Goldsmith
Name: Lisa Marie Goldsmith
Age: 48 (!) for now…b-day 9/25 …….big party to follow! (Stay tuned to Team Colorado for the big party plans)
Hometown: CINCY, Ohio
Current residence: Nederville, Colorado
Sponsors: Fleet Feet Boulder
Personal Bests:
Marathon: best: 2:50:12
Pikes Peak: best: 2:42:44
5k: 17:34
10k: 36:18
½ marathon: 1:20:13
Notable Achievements:
-14 Spingsteen concerts since 1977 (shoulda been more..)
-Successful hand grope of Bruce’s (as in Springsteen) vastus lateralis, 2009
-1988 Amateur National Triathlon Champ (seemed like a big deal at the time-it was! Set the tone for my future)
-2xTour de France Feminin (Most Funnest racing EVER; L’Alpe Dhuez…)
-2xPPA 1sts; 2xPPA 2nds
-Master records at Imogene Run and Pikes Peak Ascent
-2006 Team Gold medal at Mountain Worlds (even though I didn’t score, but I made Christine Lundy -run fast!)
-‘05/’06 Masters Mountain Runner o’ Year…
-2nd Master at Boston Marathon ’07 (in slowest 2ndplace Masters time ever)
Lately, it is a notable achievement that I get my butt out the door and keep training…
Goals for 2013/2014/beyond:
2013: get knee healthy
2014: Boston! Pikes Peak Ascent!!!
Favorite trails: Pikes Peak aka Barr Trail, Mt. Sanitas (I don’t actually run many trails…dirt roads are my favorite; Caribou Rd., Magnolia Rd. in Ned)
Favorite workout: The long uphill run, 1’ on/1’ off, 5 mile tempo up Flagstaff or Magnolia Rd.
Favorite races: Pikes Peak Ascent (surprise!) Mt. Evans, BTMR (also known as the Barr Trail Mountain Race) except for the downhill part.
Website/Blog: not sure what these are…
Favorite beer: MODUS HOPERANDI! I am having one now…
Favorite Musician: Bruce Springsteen (you know, "Born to Run", "Working on a Dream", "Promised Land"…)
Favorite songs: Born To Run, You Can’t Always Get What You Want (‘Stones)
Why Trail/Mountain/Ultra Running?: At first, because I was actually competitive at these races vs. road racing...Now, the usual answer: more beautiful venues, more fun people, nicer on my body, more fun people, love being in the natural world without cars zooming by, more fun people.
Additional funny (or serious) stuff you want to add:
I’ll have to work on this one – it’s ALLL funny…
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Sierre-Zinal: It's like the NASCAR of European Mountain Running
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| Not the Red Cross...Switzerland! photo: Sage Canaday |
With the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon in the rear view mirror, we cannot neglect to speak of "one of the finest mountain races in the world," the famous European mountain race in Switzerland called Sierre-Zinal. You know it's a big deal when they have THREE helicopters and over THREE AND A HALF hours of race coverage!
Dear American mountain running, we have some catching up to do!
In what we consider an amazingly well-translated description of the Sierre-Zinal race on the race website, it states:
The race Sierre-Zinal (August 11, 2013, 40th edition), also called the Race of Five 4000m Peaks, is considered to be one of the finest mountain races in the world. It was once written that it is to mountain races what the New York Marathon is to marathons. It is the oldest mountain race found in its category in Europe's mountains.
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| Advising proper footwear since 1973 |
Sierre-Zinal, which takes place in the heart of Valais' Alps, offers its participants a significant challenge: distance - 31 km, 2200m ascent and 800m descent. Incredible scenery, a warm atmosphere and exceptional organisation explain the success and longevity of this challenge.
As Jonathan Wyatt (record holder of both Sierre-Zinal and the Jungfrau Marathon, as well as a multiple world mountain racing champion) wrote, "As a mountain racer you must experience the tradition and history of this race."
A few Team Colorado members took a crack at this Swiss equivalent of NASCAR and we were able to track a few of them down to ask them about this classic race.
As a formal introduction to Team Colorado, an all-star rockin' the Pearls, a smiler on-par with our Chef d'équipe, Amy Perez, we would like to introduce Stevie "Sunshine" Kremer.
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| "Yeahhhhhhh," says Stevie as she wins the Pikes Peak Marathon photo: The Gazette/Jerilee Bennett |
On the mens side, Team Colorado's Rickey "MIA" Gates placed 9th OA in a time of 2:40:47, Sage Canaday was 17th OA with a 2:45:01 and Glenn "Pulling a GR" Randall was 21st OA (18th according to the Awards Ceremony) in 2:47:01.
Stevie Kremer
Team Colorado: Stevie, first of all, welcome to the Team! We are excited that you are adding some additional sunshine to it! We hear Sierre-Zinal is one of the most, if not the most, prestigious mountain races in the Europe. Why does it have that slogan? Is it true?
Stevie: Thank you so for letting me be part of this extremely talented group of runners! The best part is they all have such phenomenal personalities with so much going for them, including fast legs and huge lungs, that I'm really looking forward to meeting and learning more about everyone!
Sierre-Zinal is one of the best and most popular races I've ever competed in. I believe one of the reasons this race has such a prestigious reputation is the runners that come out for it and these runners come back year after year...for example, this past year, many of the past winners from years ago came to race and celebrate the 40th Anniversary of it. It is five days filled with delicious food at various places around Sierre and Zinal, beautiful areas to run in, plus a phenomenal group of people from, literally, all over the world.
Team Colorado: Hmmm, sounds nice, can you pack me in your bag next time you go!? A lot of us on this side of The Pond have a certain idea of mountain running. How is it different than European mountain running? This race in particular or a general mountain race in Europe?
Stevie: It's funny because this is one question I get asked a lot since returning (the difference between Euro and US mountain running, that is, not human trafficking), and I'd have to say one of the biggest differences is how technical the trails in Europe are, although Sierre-Zinal is not particularly technical. In addition, I would say the trails seem to be much steeper than those in the U.S. You go from Sea Level (or close to it) to 1,500 meters in a super short distance.
But another big difference are the spectators and fans that come out to watch big trail/mountain races in Europe. People line the course, regardless of how steep or technical the trail may be. You feel like you're in the Tour de France running in Europe!
Team Colorado: How does it compare to Pikes Peak?
Stevie: I loved Pikes Peak. It's not too technical and not to steep. Besides the 16 Golden Stairs, I was capable (although I'm not sure I actually did) of running the rest of the course, which is more than any European race I ran. In Europe I did a bunch of "riking" (run/hiking...something a good friend of mine from Crested Butte taught me), something I didn't do much of in the trails back here. I loved being in the mountains of Europe and running in the diverse terrain, but I did miss the smooth trails in CO.
Team Colorado: From pictures, the finish line of Sierre-Zinal looks like the Tour de France of running (are we really using the TDF reference twice in this interview?). Are runners really treated like rock stars over there? Stevie, you ARE a rockstar, you were 2nd there this year (oh, and 2nd last year, as a matter of fact).
Stevie: Oh yeah, everyone is treated like a rockstar, it's incredible. Everyone is friendly and excited FOR you...and when I say everyone, I mean supporters as well as your competitors. We get spoiled with food and accommodations...it's one of the best vacations ever!
Team Colorado: Stevie, you qualified for the US Mountain Running Team in July (2nd at the US Mountain Running Champs at Cranmore) but you turned down you spot because of work obligations (you are a teacher and couldn't leave the little ones to their own devices). Was that a difficult decision?
Stevie: It was a very hard decision not to run in Poland with Team USA, not only because of the amazing experience it would have been but also because of the camaraderie that comes with it. Being part of the Team last year was one of the most incredible running experiences I've had and I hope I am able to relive that again one year. It is such a strong team and I am super excited for them to crush it:-)
Team Colorado: Do you like cheese!? I heard there was some amazing cheese there in Switzerland.
Stevie: You know, I'm not a huge cheese fan, but if I had to choose one, I'd definitely choose Munster--a cheese that isn't in Switzerland:-/ Boring answer, I know! They do make some sweet cow bells that I love to wear (and so do my dogs!).
Team Colorado: Has anyone ever told you that your style is di bomb digi bomb di deng digigi?
Stevie: When you say style do you mean my stylish pearls that cover up my big ear lobes when I run, or do you mean my popped collar look that is part of my every day wardrobe? Thanks for the nice compliment, by the way!
Team Colorado: What is up next for you--more world domination?
Stevie: Basically, in a nutshell, I just hope to continue enjoying running and doing okay, all over the world, and of course, with the pearls in:-)
When we asked Rickey about what he thought of this huge European Mountain race, he poignantly added, "Yeah, what she said."
Stevie: It's funny because this is one question I get asked a lot since returning (the difference between Euro and US mountain running, that is, not human trafficking), and I'd have to say one of the biggest differences is how technical the trails in Europe are, although Sierre-Zinal is not particularly technical. In addition, I would say the trails seem to be much steeper than those in the U.S. You go from Sea Level (or close to it) to 1,500 meters in a super short distance.
But another big difference are the spectators and fans that come out to watch big trail/mountain races in Europe. People line the course, regardless of how steep or technical the trail may be. You feel like you're in the Tour de France running in Europe!
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| Stevie, showing the men who's the boss...not Tony Danza! photo: Ian Corless |
Team Colorado: How does it compare to Pikes Peak?
Stevie: I loved Pikes Peak. It's not too technical and not to steep. Besides the 16 Golden Stairs, I was capable (although I'm not sure I actually did) of running the rest of the course, which is more than any European race I ran. In Europe I did a bunch of "riking" (run/hiking...something a good friend of mine from Crested Butte taught me), something I didn't do much of in the trails back here. I loved being in the mountains of Europe and running in the diverse terrain, but I did miss the smooth trails in CO.
Team Colorado: From pictures, the finish line of Sierre-Zinal looks like the Tour de France of running (are we really using the TDF reference twice in this interview?). Are runners really treated like rock stars over there? Stevie, you ARE a rockstar, you were 2nd there this year (oh, and 2nd last year, as a matter of fact).
Stevie: Oh yeah, everyone is treated like a rockstar, it's incredible. Everyone is friendly and excited FOR you...and when I say everyone, I mean supporters as well as your competitors. We get spoiled with food and accommodations...it's one of the best vacations ever!
Team Colorado: Stevie, you qualified for the US Mountain Running Team in July (2nd at the US Mountain Running Champs at Cranmore) but you turned down you spot because of work obligations (you are a teacher and couldn't leave the little ones to their own devices). Was that a difficult decision?
Stevie: It was a very hard decision not to run in Poland with Team USA, not only because of the amazing experience it would have been but also because of the camaraderie that comes with it. Being part of the Team last year was one of the most incredible running experiences I've had and I hope I am able to relive that again one year. It is such a strong team and I am super excited for them to crush it:-)
Team Colorado: Do you like cheese!? I heard there was some amazing cheese there in Switzerland.
Stevie: You know, I'm not a huge cheese fan, but if I had to choose one, I'd definitely choose Munster--a cheese that isn't in Switzerland:-/ Boring answer, I know! They do make some sweet cow bells that I love to wear (and so do my dogs!).
Team Colorado: Has anyone ever told you that your style is di bomb digi bomb di deng digigi?
Stevie: When you say style do you mean my stylish pearls that cover up my big ear lobes when I run, or do you mean my popped collar look that is part of my every day wardrobe? Thanks for the nice compliment, by the way!
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Stevie: Basically, in a nutshell, I just hope to continue enjoying running and doing okay, all over the world, and of course, with the pearls in:-)
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| Top 3 women (L to R), Steveee Ktktkemehr-2nd, Eliso Desco-1st, Maude Mathys-3rd photo: Fred Bousseau |
Rickey Gates
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| So, that is what you call a trail in Europe photo: Ian Corless |
Glenn Randall
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| GR with the now-extremly-tanned-and-acquirer-of-some-kilos, Lance Armstrong, the Maillot Jaune, in the background |
Team Colorado: We hear Sierre-Zinal is one of the most, if not the most, prestigious mountain race in the Europe. Why does it have that slogan? Is it true?
Glenn: I think you hear that because it is true. This is a race that gets a lot of really good people running it. I got 9th at World Mountain Running Championships last year and 18th (according to the awards ceremony) at Sierre-Zinal this year. Also, I only saw one helicopter at Worlds last year, but I saw at least three helicopters at Sierre-Zinal. As awesome as World Mountain Running Championships is, the numbers seem to be on Sierre-Zinal's side, somewhat like they are for a couple of the world's biggest marathons.
Team Colorado: A lot of us in 'Merica have a certain idea of mountain running. How is it different than European mountain running? This race in particular? A general mountain race in Europe?
Team Colorado: A lot of us in 'Merica have a certain idea of mountain running. How is it different than European mountain running? This race in particular? A general mountain race in Europe?
Glenn: The only mountain races I've run in Europe are Sierre-Zinal and Worlds last year. However, I will say that both courses had much steeper ups and downs than I've seen in the States. Also, Sierre-Zinal probably does the best job of any mountain race I've ever run of including pretty much everything you can run on, so you are forced to confront your weakness, and although you are using different muscle groups through a lot of that, for me, this just means pushing harder, which means there is more of my body to hurt. This may not make me popular, but I think that mountain running in Europe is a much more painful endeavor than it is in the United States. As for Sierre-Zinal, it's difficult to describe. Mountain races hurt in a much different way than road marathons. Sierre-Zinal, at least in my experience, is somewhat to mountain running as mountain running is to road running. Amazing trails, scenery and locale, but also probably the most pain I've ever put myself through.
Team Colorado: I guess you have never experienced child birth, have you, Glenn!? You said Sierre-Zinal was probably the most painful experience of your life (after child birth, that is). How does it compare to Pikes Peak on the pain-scale?
Team Colorado: I guess you have never experienced child birth, have you, Glenn!? You said Sierre-Zinal was probably the most painful experience of your life (after child birth, that is). How does it compare to Pikes Peak on the pain-scale?
Glenn: Pikes Peak is a strange mountain. I think the great challenge of Pikes is the altitude. But that oxygen deprivation means that you are kind of numb to the pain. Marc Lauenstein, who won Sierre-Zinal this year, was second when I won Pikes. After the race, he told me that shortly after timberline, he started to feel drunk and then I pulled away. The altitude didn't make me feel drunk until I finished. But nonetheless, that kind of dulls the pain. But Sierre-Zinal is at a low enough altitude that you have to feel the pain, and it is really severe. It's kind of like the difference between morphine and no morphine. Pikes has substantially more staggering and slobbering on yourself, but it doesn't hurt as much.
Team Colorado: From pictures, the finish line of Sierre-Zinal looks like the Tour de France of running. Are runners really treated like rock stars over there? Glenn, now that you are going to grad school for physics, could you answer this in physics terms.
Team Colorado: From pictures, the finish line of Sierre-Zinal looks like the Tour de France of running. Are runners really treated like rock stars over there? Glenn, now that you are going to grad school for physics, could you answer this in physics terms.
Glenn: Much like Schroedinger's Cat, you're never sure if they are treating you like a rock star or treating you like a pig being fattened up for slaughter until you run the race. At that point, the wavefunction collapses from a superposition of both into one state. This year, after the race, I was a pig that had been fattened up for slaughter: popular at the dinner table, basted in wine, sizzling hot, but also fatty and nonmoving. On that note, I'm kind of hungry.
Team Colorado: Glenn, you made the USMRT (as they used to call it when TEVA was our sponsors and the rest of the world thought we were the country "TEVA"), when do you head out to Poland? Are you going to eat a lot of perogies?
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| That is a cute little mountain! photo: Glenn Randall |
Team Colorado: Glenn, you made the USMRT (as they used to call it when TEVA was our sponsors and the rest of the world thought we were the country "TEVA"), when do you head out to Poland? Are you going to eat a lot of perogies?
Glenn: I leave for Poland on September 4. I'm going to eat whatever they give me to eat out there, because the food is half the adventure and in Europe, if you're a picky eater, they let you starve.
Team Colorado: How does physics help your mountain running?
Glenn: Physics makes me realize that a) the pain is not real, it is a chemical reaction (ok, that's chemistry, but chemistry is just applied physics), b) an undetectably small part of me has already finished (seriously, quantum mechanics is awesome), c) as I climb, the gravitational pull that makes climbing hard is decreasing by 1/r^2 where r is my distance from the center of the earth, and d) the pain doesn't exist until I observe it, nor do any bad results.
Team Colorado: Physics sounds fun. Best of luck out there in Poland, you mad scientist!
Team Colorado: How does it compare to Pikes Peak, (in your terms, not Killian's terms)?
Team Colorado: How does physics help your mountain running?
Glenn: Physics makes me realize that a) the pain is not real, it is a chemical reaction (ok, that's chemistry, but chemistry is just applied physics), b) an undetectably small part of me has already finished (seriously, quantum mechanics is awesome), c) as I climb, the gravitational pull that makes climbing hard is decreasing by 1/r^2 where r is my distance from the center of the earth, and d) the pain doesn't exist until I observe it, nor do any bad results.
Team Colorado: Physics sounds fun. Best of luck out there in Poland, you mad scientist!
Sage Canaday
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| Sage leads CR holder, Jonathan Wyatt of NZ, "for a couple seconds" photo: Sage Canaday |
Team Colorado: Sage, congrats on your race. We hear it is one of the most, if not the most, prestigious mountain race in the Europe. Why does it have that title?
Sage: First of all there's the history of the event: it's been going on for 40 years! Also, it is a beautiful place to run, you are connecting these little mountain towns near the Alps. The ridge line and the severity of the climb on what are usually just hiking trails make it the ultimate mountain race/challenge.
Team Colorado: A lot of us in America have a certain idea of mountain running. How is it different than European mountain running?
Sage: I don't know much about other European mountain races, but the Alps are just plain steeper than the Rockies! What would be a technical trail in the US is considered a "road" in Europe. As Killian even said: The Pikes Peak Marathon is a "flat road."
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| Sage with Glenn Randall closely following (there's Lance again!) |
Sage: I was in a lot of pain at both Sierre-Zinal and Pikes. The pain at Sierre-Zinal was caused by sheer muscle failure and the pain at Pikes was caused by glycogen depletion. As runners like Max King can attest, Sierre-Zinal does something horrible to your legs if you aren't prepared for it!
Team Colorado: The finish line of Sierre-Zinal looks like the Tour de France of running. Are runners really treated like rock stars over there? Sage, you are already a ultra rock star in the States, how was it over there?
Sage: I'm pretty sure everyone knew Ricky and they had no idea who I was. Then again, I didn't finish in the top 10!
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| Raclette under the heat lamps...just like McDonalds does here in the US! photo: Sage Canaday |
Team Colorado: I hope you brought some of that local Raclette back to the US!
Sage: I tired to but it all melted on the plane ride back so I ate whole wheel in the airport.
Team Colorado: Wow, that is a lot of cheese to consume. You probably had a belly ache. So, are you ready for some time off? I am sure you have some ultras coming up soon, which ones?
Sage: I took one day totally off after Sierre-Zinal and then another recovery on the 30 hour train/plane/plane/plane/car ride back from Zinal to Boulder. I'm more determined than ever to train specifically for the UROC 100km from Breck to Vail in a few weeks...it's the SkyRunning Ultra Series Final and Killian and Anton (and maybe Max) will be there.
Team Colorado: Wow, that is a lot of cheese to consume. You probably had a belly ache. So, are you ready for some time off? I am sure you have some ultras coming up soon, which ones?
Sage: I took one day totally off after Sierre-Zinal and then another recovery on the 30 hour train/plane/plane/plane/car ride back from Zinal to Boulder. I'm more determined than ever to train specifically for the UROC 100km from Breck to Vail in a few weeks...it's the SkyRunning Ultra Series Final and Killian and Anton (and maybe Max) will be there.
Team Colorado: So, no rest is what you are saying? Thanks and we will look out for you and the rest of Team Colorado out at UROC 100.
Results
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A Laborious Holiday Weekend
Team Colorado took advantage of the long weekend and labored harder than usual on Labor Day.
2013 World Masters Mountain Running Association Championship
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| Manning (center) is now an official old man...as well as a World Champion photo: TJ Maratonstav |
In foreign affairs, Tommy "One Man Wolf Pack" Manning stays true to his nickname and takes the win at the 2013 World Masters Mountain Running Association Championship in Janské Lázně, Czech Republic in a time of 37:44 for the 8.6K course. Tommy is not that old, you may say. Well, according to the Kenyan calendar he is 37 years old and in European thinking the masters category starts at 35 years old. So, if you combine those two ideologies, Tommy is thus a masters runner and therefore a World Champion! If you have any complaints, direct them to the Europeans, they make the rules.
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We asked Tommy about this and he said, "I don't know why the masters category starts at 35 in Europe, but because it does, I thought I would go over and give the masters category a shot while I still feel good (I actually wanted to go to world masters in 2011, the year I turned 35, but I earned a spot on the USMRT when I didn't expect to)."
Tommy told us a bit about the race in Janské Lázně, Czech Republic.
I love small mountain towns in Europe. There is hardly anybody there, the scenery is beautiful, there is no traffic, lots of dogs, clean air, etc. I love the small cottages in the villages, the absence of Starbucks or anything Vail-esque, the lack of many tourists, and that the locals are so nice to tourists.
The race started at the bottom of a ski slope. The climb to the top was a little over 5km, so we ran a loop around town first. The loop had a steep climb up a to a ridge, ran on singletrack across the ridge for at least a kilometer, then circled back with a descent towards the start. At the bottom of the gondola, we turned up and started climbing. That's where the race really started. It was 5+km of climbing and the next 2km were brutal. I ran a 6:07 km up the super steep part, while my last 3 km were 4:36, 4:00, and 4:20.
Most importantly, did you try the local beer?
I had a beer the first night I got in. I had a few beers actually. I don't know what they were, but I liked them. I also drank beer the night before the race.
PikesPeakSports interview with the One Man Wolf Pack.
Results
Breck Crest Mountain Marathon
Stevie "Sunshine" Kremer, the newest addition to Team Colorado, takes the victory and breaks the CR at the Breck Crest Mountain Marathon in 3:34:14 in ye ol' fair city of Breckenridge, CO, with a smile on her face and pearls in her ears.
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| Stevie Kreams the competition...even the men photo: Scott Dunlap |
Running Times Results
Blue Moon Trail Run 5K & 10K
At the Blue Moon Trail Run 5K and 10K in Ute Valley Park, Neil "Big McD" wins the 12K race! After leading both the 5K and 10K race fields, Big McD was "feeling fresh" and "so clean"as he gives a low-five to an unidentified spectator on the course, before an innocent volunteer sent him right instead of left and he found himself in a place that looked a lot like Kansas. He claims to have seen Toto.
The resemblance is striking! photo: Chef l'équipe
American Discovery Trail Marathon
On Labor Day, Justin Ricks takes 2nd in the American Discovery Trail Marathon with time of 2:38:03. Robby Young of Colorado Springs, CO won in 2:32:18 and Trent Briney of Boulder, CO placed 3rd in 2:40:18.
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Justin looking like a fresh puppy after 26 miles of running photo: Chef l'équipe |
Video of the start
Also at the American Discovery Trail Races, Simon "Gute" Gutierrez was part of the winning coed marathon relay team, Bubba's Run Team, in 2:56:32, which not doubt included Bubba.
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World Mountain Running Championships: A Preview
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| World Mountain Running Championships...this way photo: Rich Bolt |
On Sunday September 8, 2013 in Krynica-Zdrój, Poland, three Team Colorado members will other join forces with some of the other best mountain runners is the US and together they will assemble and form what we know as the US Mountain Running Team. Sort of like Voltron.
Here is the team recently when they took a photo in their full kit.
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| Max King is the one in green, such a small guy! photo: Defender of the Universe |
Before we blab on about the World Championships, we would like to cordially welcome our newest member, and Team USA member competing this weekend, to Team Colorado and our wonderful group of women. The master barista and owner of the Café Mobius in Silverton, CO, who doesn't need a stinkin' altitude tent (because she lives at 9,300 feet), she put the "Silver" into "Silverton" and the "America" into your "Americano", Megan"The Caffeinator"Kimmel. We look forward to sharing a cordial (or an espresso) with you soon!
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| Megan "The Caffeinator" Kimmel keeping things stimulating |
Representing Team USA along with Megan, we have Axel Nichols and Glenn "Pulling a GR" Randall, who is spending his spare time in Poland cramming as much physics into his brain as humanly possible.
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| Statistical Thermo-Dynamics reads like...well, just as it sounds photo: USATF MUT |
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| Axel readied his training for Worlds with a new haircut...no more golden locks so he might be mistaken for a junior photo: PikesPeakSports.us |
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| Glenn attempting to pull a GR on JoeGeezi (aka Joe Gray) at the US National Champs photo: Joe Viger |
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| Megan finishing the US National Championships race at Cranmore Mountain in NH photo: Joe Viger |
The senior women’s team consists of Magdalena Lewy-Boulet of Oakland, CA, Megan Kimmel of Silverton, CO, Chris Lundy of Sausalito, CA, and Megan Lizotte (formerly Lund) of Basalt, CO).
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| Senior Women's Team (L to R) Magdalena Lewy-Boulet, our very own Megan Kimmel, Chris Lundy, and Megan Lizotte photo: Joe Viger |
Stevie "Sunshine" Kremer placed 2nd at the National Championships to secure a spot on the Team, however, had obligations like teaching the youth of 'Merica...so that they know how to spell their country.
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| Senior Men's Team USA consists of (L to R) Joe Gray, Zach Ornales, Max "Mullet" King, Glenn Randall, Ryan "Afro" Hafer and Axel Nichols photo: Joe Viger |
The races kick off with the Junior Women's race at 9:15 am, followed by the Junior Men's start at 10:00 am. Then Senior Women's race will hear the gun at 11:30 am with the final race of the day being the Senior Men's race at 12:30 pm (in Polish time, of course).
Best of luck to all of Team USA!
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| Team USA Senior Men's and Women's Team (minus Afro man) photo: Rich Bolt |
Follow Team USA on Twitter (@usmrt) or Facebook (facebook.com/usatfmut).
USMRT
2013 World Mountain Running Championships website
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Axel does Poland: World Championships Race Review by Axel Nichols
After a little over a day of travel I arrived in the Krakow International airport and stepped into a sleek black Mercedes with two Japanese athletes. Before long we were flying down the highway at speeds in excess of 130 MPH in a leather and walnut rocket ship on our way to the host town of Krynica Zdrój. This was my introduction to the 2013 World Mountain Running Championships. I’m not sure if Poland lacks the standard laws of the road that we so strictly follow in the states, or if our driver was just a mad man, but that drive was a perfect introduction to the theme of my trip – speed.
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| Axel looks surprised at the number of countries that exist in the world photo: Maddy Schmid |
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| Axel and the "King" rush to get back in time for Polish sausage and beer happy hour photo: Maddy Schmid |
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| What is this, a 5K!? photo: Maddy Schmid |
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| "I thought this was a mountain race" Axel says photo: Maddy Schmid |
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| Power hiking is perfectly legal! photo: Paul Kirsch |
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| Ryan Hafer's 'fro flails in the wind photo: Maddy Schmid |
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| How did I get so tanned in 12K of racing!? photo: Maddy Schmid |
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| Who's this muscly guy? photo: Maddy Schmid |
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Team Colorado Welcomes Megan Kimmel
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| photo: Rich Bolt |
Name: Megan Kimmel
Age: 33
Hometown: Denver, CO
Current residence: Silverton, CO
Sponsors: ASICS, Emich Volkswagon, Cafe Mobius
Personal Bests (or Worsts): Well plenty of worsts....but most proud of 2009 Pikes Peak Ascent Victory because its such a classic and it has been such a mind bending race ever since that year.
Notable Achievements: 3 time USA Mountain Team Member, 5 time LaSportiva Mountain Cup Champion.
Goals for 2013/2014/beyond: Oh, lots of goals but it all comes down to goal #1 of having more time to train.
Favorite trails: The Colorado Trail off of Molas Pass, The Colorado Trail out of Durango. Both of these trails are very different than each other and totally beautiful.
Favorite workout: Long adventure runs.
Favorite races: The Golden Leaf (Snowmass, CO).
Website/Blog: www.megankimmel.com
Favorite beer: The one that is the coldest.
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Run Rabbit Run 100 Mile...Should Have Been Called "Run Michele Run" the Way She Kicked Some Tail!
Michele Yates' Run Rabbit Run Race Review Recapped Rather Rivetingly. Really, that is a lot of R's. Here it is.
Triple redemption...one might call it. On Friday, September 13th at noon, I started the Run Rabbit Run 103 mile course with thoughts of revenge. Not only did I let this race course beat me last year, but because of injury this year...I had been forced (for the last 3 months) to bomb one World Championship, give up another...and race well below my potential at a National Championship.
The deep elite group and I slowly climbed our way up Mt.Werner. We navigated our way through the long grass, trail, rocks and dirt until we reached some supporters at the top of the gondola. I quickly exchanged out my 2 Ultimate Direction handhelds for my Blaze Plus fuel belt...complete with GU Energy gels and a Simply Bar. This would be the start of a long day for crew chief and hubby extraordinaire, Wyatt Yates. Jordan Whitlock would soon join me for the rest of the ascent. A good friend of mine who encouraged me to run my own race even though Rhonda Claridge would briefly pass us at the crest of the mountain before I made a strong pass on the downhill leaving both of them behind. The mountain weather wouldn't disappoint. I found myself already with a chill and quickly put on a light running shell jacket at aid station #2. Tim Olson would lead the way down the technical section of fish creek falls. Myself and a few other guys quickly passed through the aid station there and hammered down on concrete road to Olympian hall. There, I would meet up with Wyatt, do some more quick weather change outs, refuel and be on my way. This section of the course was a huge circle and on the back side (after yet another big climb), I found myself struggling mentally a bit. I questioned if my legs were going to bounce back and/or if I was going to get through this low so early in the race (around 30 miles). Meredith Terranova (backup crew), talked me through it. I was on my way again and with the extra encouragement on the course from her hubby, Paul Terranova...I found myself breezing through Olympian hall, back up Fish Creek Falls and on my way to Summit Lake for the first time. *** All of that would be put to a standstill...With a quick stop and stare down from a standing bear...I slowly raised my arms to make myself appear bigger, and let out a sigh of relief as he ran off the other way*** The easy road from Long Lake to Summit Lake would be cold, for now it was night time and the glow of dim lights along the way inspired me.
Next up, a rough, downhill jeep road that rolled right into Dry Creek Aid Station and continued on down to Spring Creek aid station. This was the part I really needed to utilize ( I told myself). Always noted as a downhill runner, I would be sure to use those sections to capitalize on any lead I had, and to push myself the hardest I could so I knew what I "had." You guessed it...now on the turn around, it was the long ascent up...passing through those aid stations once again, only this time dry (thanks again to hubby Wyatt!). On the way down a freak thunderstorm passed through, down poured on all of us, and moved on.
Playing games with myself to keep the focus, I counted in my head...5,6,7,8..up to 30 seconds...30 seconds that is all the break you can have after a few minutes of pushing hard Michele ( I told myself). The plan worked. Numerous runners poured down the mountain as I ran up...their words of encouragement meant so much more than they would ever know. They "moved" me...all the way to Summit Lake aid station for the second time.
Keeping my stay brief, my tummy fueled, and my mind optimistic I got on the flooded, now technical Wyoming trail. My heart sank, I realized I could hardly see through small, dim beam of light coming from my head lamp. "Am I getting night blindness? Are my eyes watering so bad from the snow and cold I can't see?" (Yes, I said snow, although not that bad, it was snowing)...Oh no!!! I made a rookie mistake and forgot to change out my batteries!!!!" Feeling so slow, and like I was losing ground, I pushed myself through the darkness, splashing in puddles and tripping over tree roots. This was supposed to be the "fun" trail for me! Thankful my light wasn't totally out, I surged onto Long Lake aid station where I would be forever grateful to the aid station volunteer for giving me new batteries! With only 45 minutes of darkness left...and about 13 miles to go...I rushed out of there like my pants were on fire! I needed to be strong on these last two sections in order to make up some time. Although never even looking at my watch for a majority of the race, I did now and saw that I could MAYBE make it under 20 hours. My emotions were getting to me, my anxiety grew with each step towards Mt. Werner aid station (the final one before the finish). Frustration built, " where is the damn aid station!?...it has to be around this corner, okay up this hill, okay around this corner, grrrr!" With all the voices in my head, a real one appeared, "great job Michele, almost to the aid station!" ...a fellow 50 mile runner would exclaim. Relieved, I trudged on, soon greeted by Mt.Werner aid station and numerous 50 mile runners with their energized words as my quads screamed out on the final downhill.
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| You can't see me because I'm camouflaged! |
On the last trail called zigzag, I relaxed and enjoyed the rest of the way in. I loved every painful minute of this race. The other runners, volunteers, race director, and supporters made this experience the best I could have asked for. With God all things are possible, and I am so happy he decided to give me the ability to run again. I did not break that 20 hour mark, but I did finish 1st female 20:16:54, 7th overall.
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