With unfortunate cancellation of this years Western States 100, the 2008 edition of the Where's Waldo 100k Trail Ultramarathon became the premier long distance off-road running race on the West Coast. Serving as the
USATF National 100k Trail Championship for both open and masters athletes, Where's Waldo attracted an all star field including ultrarunning legends Eric Clifton (Winchester, CA) and Roy Pirrung (Kohler, WI) as well as 2007 Masters 100 km Trail Champions Mark Lantz (Gold River, CA) and Meghan Arbogast (Corvallis, OR) , 2007 Western States Endurance Run Champion Hal Koerner (Ashland, OR), 2005 100 mile Trail Champion Sean Andrish (Leesburg, VA), 2002 50 mile Trail Champion Nate McDowell (Los Alamos, NM), former Waldo champions Krissy Moehl (Bend, OR) and Jeff Browning (Terrebonne, OR) as well as Ian Torrence (Ashland, OR).
At the end of a very long and very hot race it was Neil Olsen (Central Point, OR) who became the national open and masters champion crossing the finish line in a course record of 10:06:54. On the women's side Prudence L'Heureux (Bend, OR) held off Krissy Moehl (Bend, OR) and defending champion and course record holder Meghan Arbogast (Corvallis, OR) to win in 11:12:36. Finishing 15th overall, Meghan was the female master's national champion with a time of 12:03:45. As the hot afternoon turned to evening, skies turned overcast threatening thunderstorms, but producing only a rainbow to welcome home the weary runners.
Other award winners included Nate McDowell (Los Alamos, NM) who earned the The Find Waldo Award. The Wet Waldo Award went to Randy Benthin (Colton, OR) for swimming in six lakes and finishing in 15:07:30. The Show Us Your Waldo Award went to Rob Cain (Ashland, OR) for his Waldo impersonation. Rob ran all 62 miles in a red and white striped very non-technical, very non-wicking, cotton t-shirt with matching hat and dark rimmed "waldo" glasses. He may not have been comfortable, but Rob was most definitely a "found" waldo.
First run in 2002, the race begins and ends at
Willamette Pass Ski Area, 70 miles southeast of Eugene, Oregon on Highway 58 at an elevation of 5120'. The course is on 97% single-track trail with more than 11,000' of elevation gain and equal amount of loss. There are 3 major climbs of more than 2000' each and 2 minor climbs of more than 1000' each. High point is 7818' at the top of Maiden Peak. Low point is at Gold Lake, about 4900'. 37 of the 83 finishers registered USATF members competed in the National Championship including 60+ runners David Kamp (60) finishing in 15:20:40, Kent Holder (69) in 15:59:17, Eb Englemann (66) in 16:28:54 and Roy Pirrung (60) in 14:43:44. While Oregonians dominated most of the awards, runners from 12 states finished the race.
Sanctioned by USA Track & Field as the 2008 USA 100k Trail Championships, this race is supported by presenting sponsors
Sunsweet and the
City of Oakridge. The Where's Waldo 100k Ultramarathon is also a benefit for the
Willamette Pass Ski Patrol. The $6000 in prize money awarded to the top 5 open men and women and the top 3 masters men and women was made possible by
Sunsweet and
Rogue Valley Runners. Special thanks to co-race directors Craig Thornley, Curt Ringstad and their many dedicated volunteers.
Pictures can be found at:
Complete results can be found at:
Once again, the good folks at the Mt. Bachelor Ski Education Foundation pulled off an excellent set of races to the 9000' summit of Mt. Bachelor. Starting in Bend, the Bend to Bachelor duathon featured a road bike leg out Century Drive to Sunrise Lodge followed by a run to the summit. While the cyclists made their way out Century Drive, the Sunrise to Summit running race started at Sunrise Lodge climbing 3 miles and 2500 vertical feet to the top of a cool wind-swept Mt. Bachelor.
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