Wednesday, July 30, 2008

100 Kilometer Trail Champion Hopefuls Head to Willamette Pass

From the official race press release:

Willamette Pass, OR. Sunsweet Growers Inc., Willamette Pass Resort, the City of Oakridge, and USA Track and Field are excited to host the 7th Where’s Waldo 100 km Trail Run, which is also the 2008 USA 100 km Trail Championships, August 16th, at the Willamette Pass Ski Resort. As the U.S. National Championships, this year’s Where’s Waldo 100 km has drawn many of the top open and masters (over 40 years) ultrarunners from across the U.S. to compete for the title of National Champion and $6,000 in cash presented by Sunsweet Growers Inc. (www.sunsweet.com) and Rogue Valley Runners (www.roguevalleyrunners.com).

Racers lining up to run at Willamette Pass hold numerous long distance running records throughout the United States, including ultrarunning legends Eric Clifton and Roy Pirrung. Joining them will be other top U.S. runners, including the 2007 Masters 100 km Trail Champions Mark Lantz and Meghan Arbogast, 2008 Masters 100 mile Champion Beverley Anderson-Abbs, 2007 Western States Endurance Run Champion Hal Koerner, 2005 100 mile Trail Champion Sean Andrish, 2002 50 mile Trail Champion Nate McDowell, former Waldo champions Krissy Moehl and Jeff Browning, Ian Torrence, and Rod Bien.

Since its inception, the Where’s Waldo race has received rave reviews from runners for its scenery and difficulty. The 100 kilometer (62+ miles) course climbs Fuji Mtn, The Twins, and Maiden Peak along with numerous other smaller climbs for a total elevation gain of about 12,000 feet. The course provides excellent views of Central Oregon including the spectacular Waldo Lake. The race starts promptly at 5am.

More information and results will be available at: http://www.wpsp.org/ww100k/

Sunday, July 27, 2008

US Runner Wins Grintovec Mountain Race

Rickey Gates (Boulder, CO), member of the 2008 Teva US Mountain Running team, wins the Grintovec Mountain Race in Slovenia. The 10 kilometer course features 2000 meters (6000+ feet) of elevation gain from start to finish. The course surface featured 1.3km of asphalt, 2.7km of forest road; 4km of forest path (single-track); and 1km of meadow (ski slope). Rickey is racing in Europe as he prepares for the World Mountain Running Trophy to be held in Crans Montana, Switzerland this coming September.

According to the race website:
The Grintovec mountain running race is an extreme race reserved for kings of the heights (2184m). Running to the very heart of Grintovec and reaching its peak is a challenge and a self fight for every participant. Becoming the king of Grintovec is a dream for every mountain runner. The 11th Grintovec mountain running race is organized in co-operation with athletic federation of Slovenia / Mountain running association, WMRA and IAAF. National championships and Slovenian MR Cup - runners will compete in 14 categories on 4 different courses according to the national rules for those races (from junior children to older seniors).

The race website can be found at: http://www.kgtpapez.com/eng/index.asp

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Oregon Mountain Running Series Scoring Update

The La Sportiva USATF Oregon Mountain Running Series started back in June with the Granite Man Mountain Run outside of Medford. The second race in the series is coming up next week with the Mt. Ashland HillClimb Run. While all the races in the series are open to all runners, only USATF members score in the series. The top USATF man and woman in each race will receive a free pair of La Sportiva trail running shoes. Runners who complete all 4 races in the series receive a special "mountain goat" award. Scoring after race #1:

Men 39 and under
Richard Bolt - Portland, OR - 95.71 points
Ian Torrence - Ashland, OR - 92.47 points
Scott Jurek - Seattle, WA - 89.47 points

Men 40 to 49 - No USATF finishers
Men 50 to 59 - No USATF finishers
Men 60+ No USATF finishers

Women 39 and under - No USATF finishers
Women 40 to 49 - No USATF finishers
Women 50 to 59 - No USATF finishers
Women 60+ No USATF finishers

SCORING: Runners score points based on their time as a percentage of the winner's overall time, making every second count! For example, a winning time of 41:08 gets 100.00 points; a time of 42:21 is worth 97.13, and 1:20:32 gets 51.08 (the winning time being just about 50 percent of that runner's time. Women's scoring is based on 100.00 points for the first female finisher. A runner's top 3 of 4 races are totaled to determine overall series scoring.

As the Oregon Mountain Running Series is new this year, there are several excellent mountain / trail runners who have yet to compete in the series or are not currently USATF members. Some of those runners are:

Max King (28) - Bend, OR. 1st place in the Siskiyou Out Back 50k (7/12/08) - 3:42:36. Max also compete in the recent US Olympic Trials (Eugene) in the 3000m Steeplechase where he ran an 8:38. Max is a USATF member.

Erik Skaggs (25) - Ashland, OR. 1st place in the Granite Man Mountain Run (6/7/08). 2nd place in the Siskiyou Out Back 50k (7/12/08). Erik is not a USATF member.

Kami Semick (42) - Bend, OR. 6th place (1st woman) in the Siskiyou Out Back 50k (7/12/08). Kami is a USATF member.

Nick Schuetze (26) - Portland, OR. 1st place in the 2007 NACAC Mountain Running Championships in Canmore, Alberta (Canada). Nick competed in the 2008 US Olympic Marathon Trials finishing in a time of 2:21:36. Nick is a USATF member.

Andy Martin (33) - Bend, OR. 1st place in the 2008 Peterson Ridge Rumble 30k (4/13/08). Andy also competed in the 2008 US Olympic Marathon Trials finishing with a time of 2:26:23. Andy is a USATF member.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

US Mountain Team Selection Race Results

The final selection race for the 2008 Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team was held today at the LaSportiva Berry Picker Trail Race in Vail, CO. Four runners were named to the team including Simon Gutierrez, 42, Alamosa, who made his seventh straight team with his win today. “I’m happy,” said Gutierrez, “It was one of my major goals this year to make the team; my next is a good result at the World Trophy.”

Gutierrez plans to race uphill courses every two weeks leading up to the World Trophy which will be held in Sierre Crans-Montana, Switzerland on September 14. One of those races will include the World Mountain Running Masters Championships in the Czech Republic to be held one week before the Trophy. Gutierrez is the two-time defending masters’ world champion and has his sights set on a third masters’ title.

Gutierrez was timed in 38:15 over this challenging course which was primarily on single track trail and gained more than 2,000 feet of elevation in 4.6 miles. Second and third place went to sea-level runners Matthew Byrne, 33, Scranton, PA, who ran 39:05 and Shiloh Mielke, 28, Weaverville, NC, timed in 39:57.

Gutierrez will join teammates who secured spots at the first and only other mountain team selection race on June 21, the Mount Washington Road Race. Those athletes are Eric Blake, 29, New Britain, CT, Joe Gray, 24, Lakewood, WA, and Rickey Gates, 27, Boulder, CO. Both Byrne and Mielke are strong contenders for the final at-large spots on the men’s six-member squad.

Megan Kimmel, 28, Silverton, CO, bested a packed women’s field to earn a spot on her first mountain team. Kimmel, who lives and trains above 8,000 feet is no stranger to altitude, but is still a newcomer to the sport. She ran her first mountain race in Steamboat Springs last month where she finished second to Laura Haefeli, 40, Del Norte, CO. Today the finish places were reversed with Kimmel winning in 45:58 followed by Haefeli in 46:39.

“I’m really excited and very surprised,” said Kimmel about her finish. “My goal today was to just come out and run. I didn’t know what to expect – there were a lot of good runners here. Looking toward the race in Switzerland I don’t feel pressure. I’m just really, really excited to go and run with the world’s best ladies. It’s exciting to go international.”

Haefeli, with her runner-up finish, will be on her fourth mountain team. “I’m psyched,” said Haefeli, “I feel awesome and my training is going well. I’m going to take a little break now, and then get ready for Switzerland. I think the U.S. team needs to go for the gold again (the women’s team won gold the past two years with Haefeli leading the way in 2007 with a bronze-medal individual finish). I want to go for a medal too. I certainly hope for a top 10 (finish).”

Rounding out the top three spots for the women was Brandy Erholtz, 30, Bailey, CO, who finished in 47:25. Erholtz clinched her spot on the team with a win at Mt. Washington. When asked about how the team is shaping up Erholtz commented, “I feel we’re going to have a really strong team. I feel like we’ll have a good chance for medals.”

There is still one at-large spot for the women’s four-member squad. Women who finished in the top spots at the Berry Picker and Mount Washington will be considered for that spot.
This was the first year in the six-year history of the junior team that an athlete has earned a spot on the team at a selection race. Typically all of the juniors (four men and three women) are selected based on their running resumes. Paul Petersen, 16, Broomfield, CO, earned his junior team spot today with a 44:42 finish time edging out two-time junior member Jonny Stevens, 18, Vail, CO, by one minute for the win.

“I feel awesome,” said a very enthusiastic Petersen. “It’s a really cool opportunity to run the first year I’m able to (juniors must be at least 16 in the year of competition and not yet 20). My goal today was to win the race. At the beginning, I was right with Jonny until about 1/3 of the way through the course. I passed him and then kept my lead.” Petersen was also the junior champion at last month’s USA 8 km Trail Championships in Steamboat Springs, CO.

At the World Trophy, the junior men, like the senior women, will run an eight kilometer course. The junior women run approximately 4.5 kilometers, and the senior men run approximately 12 kilometers. Like the Berry Picker, the World Trophy Course is an entirely uphill event. In odd-numbered years the World Trophy is held on an up/down course.

Complete race results can be found at: www.vailrec.com

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Washington's Joe Gray Wins Canadian Mountain Champs

Joseph Gray (Lakewood, WA) won the Canadian National Mountain Running Championships held this morning in North Vancouver, BC. The 12k championship race was run in conjunction with the Peak Challenge Trail Ascent up Mt. Seymour overlooking scenic Vancouver. Last month Joe finished 4th place at the Mt. Washington Road Race earning a spot on the Teva US Mountain Running Team. Joe will join Eric Blake (New Britain, CT), Rickey Gates (Aspen, CO) and Brandy Erholtz (Bailey, CO) on the US Team which will compete this coming September at the World Mountain Running Trophy in Crans Montana, Switzerland.

According to the Canadian Mountain Running Team Leader John LoFranco:
This morning at Mount Seymour, Adrian Lambert repeated as Canadian champion and winner of the James Clampett trophy, and Suzanne Evans won her first women's title. The 12k course in North Vancouver was won by Joseph Gray of Lakewood, Washington. Joseph is a member of the USATF Mountain Running team. The top 6 men and top 4 women have been invited to form the Canadian contingent at the World Mountain Running Trophy in Switzerland in September.

Top 10 Men in the race were:
1 1/22 1/22 M-Elite 30 1:01:56 5:10 Joe Gray Lakewood WA USA
2 2/22 2/22 M-Elite 14 1:02:44 5:14 Adrian Lambert Edmonton AB
3 3/22 3/22 M-Elite 38 1:03:38 5:19 Kris Swanson Victoria BC
4 4/22 4/22 M-Elite 164 1:04:16 5:22 Adam Campbell Victoria BC
5 5/22 5/22 M-Elite 26 1:05:18 5:27 Mark Vollmer Edmonton AB
6 6/22 6/22 M-Elite 21 1:05:58 5:30 James Richardson Duncan BC
7 7/22 7/22 M-Elite 35 1:06:43 5:34 Dylan Gant Burnaby BC
8 8/22 8/22 M-Elite 25 1:06:48 5:34 Brian Torrance Edmonton AB
9 9/22 9/22 M-Elite 34 1:06:57 5:35 Dallas Raudebaugh Edmonton BC
10 10/22 10/22 M-Elite 27 1:07:52 5:40 Kurt Woytiuk Edmonton AB

Top 8 Women in the race were:
18 1/8 1/8 F-Elite 37 1:17:33 6:28 Suzanne Evans New Westminster BC
19 2/8 2/8 F-Elite 2 1:21:24 6:47 Krissy Dooling Edmonton AB
21 3/8 3/8 F-Elite 3 1:22:08 6:51 Carole McClean West Vancouver BC
22 4/8 4/8 F-Elite 1 1:22:58 6:55 Syl Corbett Calgary AB
25 5/8 5/8 F-Elite 33 1:25:51 7:10 Julia Ransom Kelowna BC
27 6/8 6/8 F-Elite 7 1:26:53 7:15 Ellie Greenwood (UK)
29 7/8 7/8 F-Elite 5 1:32:52 7:45 Emily Solsberg Duncan BC
30 8/8 8/8 F-Elite 4 1:33:28 7:48 Gitta Oldendorff North Vancouver BC

Complete results available at www.raceheadquarters.com

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Final US Mountain Running Team Selection Race

The final selection race for the 2008 Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team will be held this Sunday, July 20, at the LaSportiva Berry Picker Trail Race in Vail, CO. Start time is slated for 8:00 a.m. at the Golden Peak Children’s Center located on Vail Mountain. Some newcomers to the trail scene will be contending for a spot on the team along with seasoned veterans of the sport.

The top two U.S. women, the top U.S. man, and the top U.S. junior man will each earn a spot on this year’s team which will compete at the 24th World Mountain Running Trophy Race in Sierre Crans-Montana, Switzerland this September. The athletes earning team slots in Vail will join the qualifying team members from the Mount Washington Road Race held on June 21 in Gorham, NH, which served as the first and only other selection race for this year’s team. Securing spots at Mount Washington were Eric Blake, 29, New Britain, CT, Joe Gray, 24, Lakewood, WA, Rickey Gates, 27, Boulder, CO, and Brandy Erholtz, 30, Bailey, CO. Of these athletes, only Erholtz is scheduled to race the Berry Picker. She’ll use the event to hone her climbing skills in preparation for the World Trophy. Should she finish first or second in the event, thereby taking one of the team spots, the third-place woman will not automatically earn a spot on the team. Rather, there would be two at-large selections for the women’s team.

Since none of the members of the men’s team are competing, Gray and Gates have already left for Europe to compete in mountain races in Norway, Germany, and Italy in preparation for Worlds and Blake is busy training and racing in New England, there will definitely be one new men’s team member announced after the Berry Picker. The additional two members of the men’s team, (Clint Wells who earned a spot on the team with his second place finish at Mount Washington declined his spot on the team), will be at-large selections.

For the junior team, additional athletes will be selected based on their running resumes. The junior squad includes four junior men and three junior women. The junior men run an eight kilometer course at the World Trophy like the senior women, the junior women run approximately 4.5 kilometers, and the senior men run approximately 12 kilometers. Like the Berry Picker, the World Trophy Course is an entirely uphill event. In even-numbered years the World Trophy is held on an up/down course.

The Berry Picker course is 4.3 miles long and starts at an elevation of 8,238 feet and ascends to 10,346 feet to finish at the top of Eagle’s Nest on Vail Mountain. The average grade is 12 percent and is run primarily on single track trails with a portion at the start and finish on double-wide gravel paths. There will be one aid station at mile three. Although there will be a strong field of top runners, the event is open to runners of all ages and abilities. In addition to the Berry Picker, there is also a 14.5 mile trail race which gains more than 4,000 feet of elevation over the challenging course on Vail Mountain. Both events start at Golden Peak. Race entry is $25 in advance, and $35 on race day. Register through www.active.com through Thursday, by fax to VRD, or in person at the VRD offices from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. Every race participant will receive a goody bag, a commemorative T-shirt, post race refreshments, accurate and timely results, and the opportunity to win great random prizes. Prizes from La Sportiva will be presented to overall and age group winners.

Runners expected to compete on the men's side (in age order) are:

Jonny Stevens, 18, Vail, was a member of the 2005, and 2007 junior mountain teams. He is a Battle Mountain High School graduate and will attend CU Boulder in the fall. Stevens will compete in the junior men’s division.
Page Two/Berry Picker

Paul Petersen, 16, Broomfield, CO, was the junior winner at the USA Trail Champs in Steamboat Springs, CO on June 29.

Payton Batliner, 24, Boulder, was the top U.S. finisher at the 2007 World Trophy. This year he finished second at both the Teva Mountain Games 10k in Vail last month and last week’s Barr Trail Mountain Race in Manitou Springs, CO. His PRs of 29:00 for 10k and 14:04 for 5k were set in 2007 Batliner was an All-American at CU Boulder. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree at CU.

Jesse Armijo, 25, Laguna Niguel, CA, has some international mountain racing experience having finished second at an 11.5 k race in Bouvert, Switzerland in 2006 with a time of 1:02:00. His PRs set in 2007 include 14:52 for 5k – 14:52, 24:14 for 8k, and 30:31 for 10k.

John Tribbia, 26, Boulder, finished 26th at Mount Washington and 10th at the Barr Trail Mountain Race.

Matt Byrne, 33, Scranton, PA, finished sixth at Mount Washington. He is a two-time Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier and a two-time winner of the Steamtown Marathon. He has run 29:49 for 10,000m (track) and 14:31 for 5k.

Bill Fanselow, 41, Golden, finished 24th at Mount Washington and has finished in the top five in many of the mountain races in Colorado.

Simon Gutierrez, 42, Alamosa, CO, is a six-time Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team member (2002-2007) and was the first American at three World Trophy events where he finished 17th overall in 2004, 10th in 2005, and 10th in 2006. He was the 2005 and 2006 USATF Mountain Runner of the Year, and the 2006 and 2007 USATF Masters Mountain Runner of the Year. Gutierrez is a nine-time winner of the La Luz Mountain Race and three-time Mt Washington Road Race champion. He is the back-to-back World Masters Mountain Running Champion ’06 and ’07. He finished fifth at this year’s Mount Washington Road Race and won the Vail HillClimb earlier this month. He is a three-time USA world cross country team member and a 1983 High School cross country All American. At age 17 Gutierrez set the still standing road 10Km record of 29.45. He works at the San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center as an outpatient manual /orthopedic physical therapist and works closely with the Adams State men's and women's cross country and track teams.

Bernie Boettcher, 45, Silt, CO, is arguably the most raced athlete in the country. Boettcher races just about every weekend, sometimes racing both Saturday and Sunday. Boettcher earned honors as the 2005 USATF Masters Mountain Runner of the Year. Boettcher is an accomplished artist and writer. He finished second at the La Sportiva Trifecta in 2007. He was tenth at the 2005 USA 10km Trail Championships, finished 14th in 2006, and He was fifth at this year’s Barr Trail Mountain Race and eighth at this year’s USA Trail Championships (12 km).

Andy Ames, 45, Boulder, was a member of the 2004 Teva USA Mountain Running Team and placed 47th in the World Mountain Running Trophy in Sauze d’Oulx, Italy. In 2004 he placed sixth at the Masters Mountain Running World Championships (Sauze d’Oulx), was Masters Trail Running 10 km National Champion (fifth overall), masters mountain running National Champion (6th overall), and was named USATF Masters Mountain Runner of the Year. Past victories include U.S. Skyrunning Vertical Kilometer in 1998 and Kokopelli Supermarathon (100 mile stage race over 5 days), Vail HillClimb in 1995 and 1998, Vail HalfMarathon in 1995.He finished eighth at last year’s Trail Championships. He was 14th at Mount Washington this year and seventh at the USA Trail Championships (12 km). Ames is a buyer for Excel Sports in Boulder.

On the women’s side, a talented field is expected to compete to include (in age order):

Camille Herron, 26, Lafayette, IN, is a newcomer to the trail scene. She is presently training in Alamosa with Simon Gutierrez. In early June she finished second in the Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Road Race and two weeks later ran to a sixth-place finish at Mount Washington. Herron finished sixth at the Vail HillClimb in early July. She was a scholarship cross country/track athlete while at University of Tulsa.

Rachael Cuellar, 26, Albuquerque, NM, was a member of the gold-medal winning squad in both 2006 and 2007 at the World Trophy. Cuellar finished fourth at the Trail Champs in both 2007 and 2008. Cuellar has PRs of 17:40 for 5 km indoor track set in 2006 (5,000 feet), 17:14 for 5 km outdoor track a road 5 km PR of 17:27 set in 2006 at 5,000 feet, and ran the 3 km steeplechase in 10:12. She is a five-time winner of the La Luz Trail Race, a 9 mile uphill race with 4,578 elevation gain and an average grade of 12 percent. Cuellar attended New Mexico State University and University of New Mexico and is currently enrolled in a master’s degree program.

Keri Nelson, 27, Grand Junction, CO, is a competitive cyclist, triathlete, snowshoe racer, mountain, and ultra runner. In 2007, she was victorious at the North American Snowshoe Championships and second at the U.S. Snowshoe National Championships. She was also first at the U.S. Winter Triathlon Nationals in Breckenridge, CO and in 2006 was third at the Pikes Peak Marathon and third at the Mt. Evans Ascent in Colorado. She was 10th at the 2005 USA 10km Trail Championships and finished 15th last year. She was seventh this year at Mount Washington, the overall winner at the Leadville Marathon, and third at Barr Trail Mountain Race.

Megan Kimmel, 28, Silverton, CO, is a newcomer on the mountain running circuit and finished second at the USA Trail Champs in Steamboat Springs. Kimmel lives and trains at elevations above 8,000 feet.

Brandy Erholtz, 30, Bailey, CO, earned a spot on the 2008 Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team with her win at the USA Mountain Running Championships at Mount Washington. Erholtz just started competing on the trails last year when she raced at the Teva Mountain Games 10 km in Vail and finished third. She finished third again at the event on June 8. She competed at the 2007 North American Central American Caribbean Mountain Running Championships (NACAC) for the U.S. Team in Canada finishing fourth overall among the women. Erholtz is employed as a schoolteacher.

Deeja Youngquist, 31, Albuquerque, NM, is primarily known as a road runner. She is a two-time Olympic Marathon Trials “A” qualifier with a marathon PR of 2:29:01. She is a three-time NCAA Division I qualifier in 10,000m, 1997-1999. She has been training in Albuquerque and spending a lot of time training on the hills and trails around her home. She is employed by Whole Foods Market as the Demonstration Coordinator in Albuquerque, NM.

Christine Lundy, 37, Sausalito, CA, is a three-time member of the Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team and last year’s USATF Mountain Runner of the Year. Her best result at the World Trophy was last year’s eight-place finish. She was 18th overall – second American – at the World Mountain Trophy Race in Wellington, New Zealand in 2005 and 16th overall in Bursa, Turkey in 2006. She finished 23rd at the ’04 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon with a time of 2:41:55 and qualified for the ’08 Olympic Trials as well. A graduate of the University Pennsylvania, Lundy is a member of the Impala Racing team and is employed as a veterinarian.

Laura Haefeli, 40, Del Norte, CO is a four-time USA National 10km Trail Champion and a three-time member of the Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team. In 2007, she won an individual bronze medal at the World Mountain Running Trophy and led the U.S. women’s team to a gold-medal finish. So far in 2008 she has won the Teva Mountain Games 10k, she has broken the masters’ course record at the Mount Washington Road Race, and she won and set the course record at the Barr Trail Mountain Race. She was 15th at the World Mountain Running Trophy (second American) in 2004 (a member of the bronze-medal winning American team) and in 2005, she was the top American finisher at the Trophy with an eighth-place finish. Equally talented in summer biathlon (running and marksmanship), Haefeli is a seven time National Champion and a nine-time National Team Member. She was an All-American during her senior year in college at the University of Dayton and was twice named All-Ohio Runner of the Year and is a two-time USATF Mountain Runner of the Year (2004 and 2005). Laura and her husband Tom are beekeepers and sell honey and wax. She is the mother of three young children.

Lisa Goldsmith, 43, Nederland, CO, is a two-time member of the mountain team. She finished 30th on the gold medal winning women’s team in 2007. Goldsmith also represented the U.S. at Upice, Czech Republic in 1997 where she was the first American woman finisher. Goldsmith has several top uphill finishes to her credit most notably a win at the Pikes Peak Ascent in 2005 and 2006 and a masters’ win at the 2006 Mount Washington Road Race where she was fifth overall. She won the Barr Trail Mountain Race in 2006 and 2007 setting a new masters’ record. In 2006 she recorded more than nine overall wins in events she entered. In 2005 and 2006 she was named USATF Masters Mountain Runner of the Year. Goldsmith is a massage therapist.

Anita Ortiz, 44, Eagle, CO, is a five-time member of the Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team with two team medals to her credit. A bronze medal at the 2004 World Trophy race in Italy and a gold medal from last year’s Trophy Race in Switzerland. She won the 2007 USA Mountain Running Championships and was the 2007 USATF Masters Mountain Runner of the Year. Ortiz is equally talented in both short and long distances races and won the San Juan Solstice 50 Miler last month and was the 2007 USA Masters 50Mile Trail Champion. She is also an accomplished snowshoe racer having set records at numerous snowshoe events throughout Colorado. Ortiz teaches in the Eagle County school district and with her husband Mike, is raising four children ranging in ages from 11 to 15.

Sponsors of the 2008 Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team include title sponsor Teva, the official footwear of the team since 2002, SportHill is the official apparel sponsor providing team uniforms, OrthoLite Insoles, the world’s leading supplier of open cell foam insoles in the performance and footwear category is the official insole, Fleet Feet Sports Boulder, the official specialty running store, Windermere of Teton Valley, the official real estate company, Wicked Fast Sports Nutrition, Wicked Fast sports nutrition, the official dietary supplements for pre-exercise energy/endurance (Energ-Ease) and post-exercise recovery (Recover-Ease), and product sponsors FuelBelt, Inc. (hydration products), Costa Del Mar (performance sunglasses), and Youth Runner magazine.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

German Mountain Running Race Turns Deadly

German Prosecutors Probe Death of Athletes in Zugspitze Mountain Race.

According to DW-World.de, "German prosecutors are investigating the tragic chain of events that led to the death of two extreme athletes taking part in an annual race up the country's highest peak, the Zugspitze. Prosecutors opened their investigation on Monday, July 14, a day after freezing temperatures, snow and wind turned the organized endurance race up the Zugspitze into total chaos. Two runners, aged 41 and 45, died of hypothermia and exhaustion as they neared the finish on the 2,962-meter (9,718-ft) mountain. Six other runners who were hospitalized for hypothermia have since been released, police said on Monday."

This extreme mountain race climbs 6889 feet in 16.5k to a finishing elevation of 9718 feet.

Read the full article at: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3485345,00.html

Read about this story on CNN.com

More coverage can be on Spiegel Online International

Sunday, July 13, 2008

McCubbin's Gulch Scramble - Race Report

The McCubbin's Gultch Scramble is a 5 to 6 mile, very technical, off-road running race near Bear Springs, Oregon.

Below is a first person race report from Team Red Lizard President Torrey Lindbo:
The race was challenging as ever. A new ribbon color (white with checkers) seemed to blend in with the intense sunlight pouring through the pine forest canopy. Apart from the usual hills, rocks, logs, sticks, branches and creek crossings, navigation was definitely a factor in this race.

I worked together with Joe Remtiz, who eventually finished 2nd, for a good part of the course with both of us trading off taking the lead and helping each other spot ribbons. There were more than a few spots where we had to stop and backtrack to the last ribbon because we had lost the trail - but we were far enough ahead of the next runners from the start that no one ever caught us even when we had to spend some time to pick up the trail again.

The course pops out onto a forest service road for the final half mile and that was where I put it into racing speed and will have to wait to see what the official results show, but it seemed like I put about a minute on Joe in that final stretch.
This course also adds in a little barbed wire for good measure; there is one point where you have to make your way under a fence before one of the creek crossings - I know I saw one girl who got a little scratched up; but not the women's winner.

Audra Hendon was the winner on the women's side, powering her little not-quite 5 foot tall body to the finish several minutes ahead of the next two women who dscended the final hill and splahed down into the dammed up creek which is the finish at the same time. A great way to cool off after a hot dusty run in the woods.


View the official race website at:
http://xdogevents.com/McCubbins%20Gulch.html

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Siskiyou Out Back - Race Results

The 11th running of the Siskiyou Out Back 15k and 50k races took place today in Southern Oregon. Starting and finishing at scenic Mt. Ashland Ski Area, the course followed the historic Pacific Crest Trail. Part of the Oregon Trail Ultramarathon Series, the 2008 50k race was won by Max King (Bend, OR), fresh off his participation in the US Olympic Trials. 50k runner-up Erik Skaggs (Ashland, OR) was the winner of the Granite Man Mountain Run held in nearby Jacksonville, Oregon in early June. The woman's 50k winner was perennial favorite Kami Semick (Bend, OR) who also finished 6th overall in 4:11:53.

For complete 50k & 15k results visit: http://www.siskiyououtback.com/results.cgi?year=2008

Post race comments from Race Director Marilyn Bailey:

"The race went really, really well. We had no serious injuries, nobody got lost (even briefly, as far as I know), and nobody seemed too terribly upset about it being smokey. I think the worst disaster was that one of the aid station porta-potties was set up in the wrong place - by 4 miles! But really, we could hardly have asked for a smoother race.

And it was VERY exciting,of course, to have not only the 50K women's course record fall due to a superb run by Kami Semick of Bend, but the men's, too, by the first THREE male finishers: Max King, Eric Skaggs, and Hal Koerner. Both records fell by a substantial amount - it's probably going to be awhile before these new records are surpassed!

The 15K was super exciting as well, although course records didn't fall. The men's record-holder, Trevor Hanlon, was at the line, but it just wasn't his day and he wound up dropping. He cheered on the other front-runners and encouraged them to "go for it" but nobody got under his mark. On the women's side, Laura Raber of Eagle Point had a go at the women's record with an excellent race, but didn't get to the standing record from 2004 of 1:08:02. Nonetheless, it was great, fast racing by all.

While everyone - no matter the distance - was beat by the time they finished, it really seemed that they all had a great time. Our volunteers were the best, as usual, with super assistance to make it all a really quality event for everyone!"

Friday, July 11, 2008

What is "mountain running"?

So you might be wondering "what the heck is mountain running"? In short, mountain running races are trail (and sometimes road) races with large amounts of vertical ascent or ascent and descent. Famous American mountain races include the Pikes Peak Marathon and Ascent, The Dipsea and the Mt. Washington Road Race. Here in Oregon we have dozens of trail races but only a few that have enough climbing to be considered true "mountain races". The best example of a mountain race in Oregon is the Mt. Ashland Hillclimb Run - now in it's 31st year!

Anatomy of a mountain running race: Just last weekend the Loon Mountain Race took place in Lincoln, New Hampshire. A superb race website and video of the course being laid out provide great insights into what makes mountain running so challenging, so unique and just plain cool.

Check out this video of race director Paul Kirsch and Dave Dunham (the father of American mountain running) setting the course as they hike up Loon Mountain. The video is shot by Tim VanOrden:
Running Raw: Loon Mountain Race - The Course 7/5/2008

NEW ADDITION (7/12/08): Tim VanOrden just released his race day video of the Loon Mountain Race:
Running Raw: Loon Mountain Race - The Race 7/6/2008

Also check out the Loon Mountain race results. The race was won by Eric Blake (New Britain, CT) who 2 weeks before won the Mt. Washington Road Race becoming the USATF Mountain Running Champion and earning a spot on the Teva US Mountain Running Team.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Clackamas River Runoff - CANCELED

The Clackamas River Runoff scheduled for Saturday, July 12 at Milo McIver State Park in Estacada, OR has been canceled. More information about this and other races presented by Rogue Multi-Sport can be found at http://roguemultisport.com/home.html

There are still other trail races this weekend in Oregon including:

7/12/2008 - Siskiyou Out Back, 15k & 50k Trail Races, Mt. Ashland, OR
7/13/2008 - McCubbins Gultch Scramble, 5 Miles Trail Race, Bear Springs, OR

Saturday, July 5, 2008

NACAC Mountain Running Championships

The Mexican Athletic Federation hosted the fifth North American Central American Caribbean (NACAC) Mountain Running Championship in Tepatitlan, Jalisco, Mexico, (located 50 km from Guadalajara) on Saturday, July 5. This uphill-only 13 kilometer event was a tune-up for NACAC teams preparing for the World Mountain Running Trophy (WMRT) events to be held in Sierre Crans-Montana, Switzerland on September 14.

The US women team (pictured above) won with Kasie Enman (Huntington, VT) in 1st, Alison Bryant (Elkin, NC) in 3rd and Carly Graytock (Cambridge, MA) in 4th. The Mexican women were second with Canada placing third. The US men's team was second behind Mexico. Top American runners were Shiloh Mielke (Weaverville, NC) in 3rd, Aaron Saft (Fletcher, NC) in 6th and Jason Bryant (Elkin, NC) in 9th. The Canadian men were third in the team competition.

The U.S. hosted the NACAC event in 2004 and 2005, Mexico hosted in 2006, and Canada hosted in 2007. Team USA won the first two years, but did not compete in 2006. In 2007 Team USA was again victorious in both the men’s and women’s divisions. “Jason Bryant assembled a great group of athletes this year to represent the U.S. He served as both manager and athlete on the team. We congratulate him for bringing home Silver and Gold for the U.S. men's and women's teams,” said USATF Mountain Ultra Trail Council Chairperson Nancy Hobbs.

WOMEN'S RACE 9.150 KMS.
1. KASIE ENMAN 53:55 ESTADOS UNIDOS
2. LAURA E. FLORES DÁVILA 54:07 MÉXICO
3. ALISON BRYANT 54:57 ESTADOS UNIDOS
4. CARLIE GRAYTOCK 56:00 ESTADOS UNIDOS
5. NORA LILIANA FLORES 57:14 MÉXICO
6. ALEJANDRA CADENAS 58:17 MÉXICO
7. OLIVIA YUEL 1.03:05 CANADÁ
8. BROOK SPENCE 1.04:42 CANADÁ

MEN'S RACE 9.150 KMS.
1. JUAN CARLOS CARERA 41:17 MÉXICO (ROJO)
2. RANULFO SÁNCHEZ H. 42:08 MÉXICO (ROJO)
3. SHILOH MIELKE 43:42 ESTADOS UNIDOS
4. TOMÁS PÉREZ NAVA 43:53 MÉXICO (ROJO)
5. JOSÉ ÁNGEL RAMÍREZ 44:27 MÉXICO (VERDE)
6. AARON SAFT 45:09 ESTADOS UNIDOS
7. EITALI GAMALIEL JIMÉNEZ 47:08 MÉXICO (VERDE)
8. JESÚS ARTURO ESPARZA 47:22 MÉXICO (VERDE)
9. JASON BRYANT 48:56 ESTADOS UNIDOS
10. ALEX MAGDANZ 49:22 CANADÁ
11. JOSÉ JUAN ESPARZA 50:10 MÉXICO (VERDE)
12. PHIL VILLENEUVE 52:12 CANADÁ

For additional information on the USA Mountain Running Program visit www.usmrt.com, www.trailrunner.com, and www.usatf.org.