American Trail Running Association Adds Member Benefit

The American Trail Running Association (ATRA) has partnered with Outdoor Recreation Insurance to offer a new member benefit – accident coverage for its members.

“We’re thrilled to lend support to ATRA and to the rapidly growing community of off-road runners. Trail and mountain runners face inherent risks that aren’t always obvious. Outdoor Recreation Insurance (ORI) provides affordable accident coverage that softens the landing when the trail suddenly takes a nasty turn,” says, ORI’s Tad Linn.

The personal trail running accident coverage is priced at $85 per year under the ATRA group policy. (Coverage includes additional mountain activities). ORI accident benefits are paid directly to the injured person. If an individual has health insurance, ORI’s cash accident benefits can be used to pay deductibles, co-insurance amounts and other flat-fee copayments. If an individual does not have health insurance, ORI coverage may still be purchased for the same price using the cash benefits to pay medical bills directly. All benefits are paid on a cost-incurred basis. When purchasing, the ATRA member will be asked to provide an ATRA member number, which is simply the individual’s primary 10-digit phone number.

Members may only purchase coverage through the link established on the ATRA website (www.trailrunner.com)

ORI is underwritten by Security National Life Insurance Company of Salt Lake City, Utah.

The press release provided by ATRA Executive Director Nancy Hobbs.

Registration Open for the 2009 Cheyenne Cañon Mountain Race

Colorado Springs, CO ---- With a tagline, “Once is not enough,” the 2009 Cheyenne Cañon Mountain Race presented by WalMart, is sure to be a challenging yet fun trail running event for novice to elite participants. Slated for Sunday, July 26, 2009, the event is open to all levels of competitors.

The course starts at the Stratton Open Space Trailhead in North Cheyenne Cañon, connects with the Gold Camp Path, joins up with the Chutes, follows the east side of the reservoir, back up Gold Camp Path for the loop (men run three loops, women and junior men two loops), then back down to the finish. The race is limited to 200 participants. There are two separate race starts with the women running an 8 kilometer course at 7:00 a.m. and the men racing 12 kilometers at 8:30 a.m. (junior men – ages 19 and under – will run the 8 kilometer route).

“Whether a runner is new to the trails, or a seasoned veteran, the course for the Cheyenne Cañon Mountain Race caters to every ability. We set a course that will be challenging, yet very runable. It offers great scenery and terrain that ranges from wide gravel paths to single-track terrain including both ascents, level spots, and descents. Being a loop course, the spectators can enjoy seeing their favorite runners more than once on the route,” says Nancy Hobbs, Executive Director of the American Trail Running Association and race director.

This first-year event is presented by WalMart with additional local support from ERA Shields brokers Marzolf/Blessing, Champion Health, Bristol Brewing, and Colorado Running Company. National sponsors joining the effort include SportHill and Teva. Registration is available at www.imathlete.com, in person at Colorado Running Company, 833 N. Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, or through the mail by downloading an entry form at www.trailrunner.com. The pre-race fee is $30 through May 31, $35 from June 1 – July 25 and $40 on race day – if space available.

The event serves as a selection race for the Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team with the top two men and the top two women (must be current USATF members and USA citizens) earning spots on this year’s team which will compete in Italy this September for Team USA. It is the final team selection race – the first being the USA Mountain Running Championships on June 28 in North Conway, NH where the top three men and top woman will be named to the team. A prize purse of $1500 will be awarded (distributed between the top five men and top five women – must be current USATF members and USA citizens) and age group awards will be presented in 10 year increments. There will be random prize drawings for all participants and volunteers.
Every participant will receive a commemorative USA Mountain Running cowbell, post race refreshments, accurate results, and for those 21 and older – a beer certificate from Bristol Brewing.

Not only is the event a fundraiser for the American Trail Running Association, but also serves as a fundrasier for the Friends of North Cheyenne Cañon and Stratton Commons. Individuals may donate, as part of their registration, to any of these non-profit organizations.
For more information on the event visit www.trailrunner.com.

Where's Waldo 100k - Entry List Published

The Where's Waldo 100k / USATF 100k National Trail Running Championships has published an updated entry list for the race to be held on August 22, 2009 at the Willamette Pass Ski Area. 117 runners have signed up so far including Beverley Anderson-Abbs who was the 2008 USATF Female Masters Runner of the Year, Meghan Arbogast - 2007 Where's Waldo 100k winner and Neil Olsen - 2008 Where's Waldo 100k winner. A complete list of entered runners can be found at http://www.wpsp.org/ww100k/stats/2009entrants.php

Running Times - June 2009: The Oregon Running Connections

The most recent issue of Running Times has two great feature articles written by or about Oregon trail runners.

Portland based author and senior writer for Running Times Richard Lovett has an article about cross training for serious runners. The article includes my suggestions for cross country skiing and mountain running. I also put in a plug for Max King (Bend, OR) who was a member of the 2008 U.S. World Cross Country (Running) Team and is by far the fastest mountain and trail runner in Oregon. Kelly Johnson (Portland, OR) has some great cross training suggestions based on her experience rowing crew in college. Kelly is the author of the Run Oregon blog on oregonlive.com and secretary of the Team Red Lizard Running Club.

American Trail Running Association president and Running Times trail editor Adam Chase travelled to Ashland to run with the Rogue Valley Runners and wrote "Inside America's New Trail Running Mecca". Featured runners included Hal Koerner (2007 Western States winner), Ian Torrance - described by fellow RVR Jenn Shelton as "your sometimes grouchy but always loveable uncle", Tony Krupicka (2 time Leadville 100 champion), Kyle Skaggs (Hardrock 100 winner) and Erik Skaggs (2008 Quad Dipsea winner and course record holder).

Pick up a copy of the June issue and read the full articles.

Northwest Mountain Runners Shine at Bloomsday

Two elite mountain runners from Washington State finished in the Top 25 at the 33rd running of the Lilac Bloomsday Run in Spokane, WA. Joe Gray (Lakewood, WA) finished 19th place in a time of 36:49 taking home $1000 for his efforts. Joe was a member of the 2008 Teva US Mountain Running Team and finished 16th at the World Mountain Running Trophy race in Crans Montana, Switzerland. Mike Sayenko (Bellevue, WA) finished the 2009 Bloomsday race in 22nd place with a time of 37:12. Mike's top mountain running finishes include an 8th place finish at the 2008 Mt. Washington Road Race which was the USATF Mountain Running National Championships. Congratulations Joe and Mike!

Larison Rock Hill Climb - Results

The fastest little race in Oregon - that's the best way to describe the inaugural Larison Rock Hill Climb which took place in Oakridge this morning. While only 8 runners toed the starting line (and crossed the finish), the field was stacked with some of the best mountain / trail runners in the state. Driving up from Ashland was the crew from Rogue Valley Runners - Eric Skaggs, Ian Torrence and Jenn Shelton. Eric won two races in the 2008 series and finished 3rd at the 2008 NW Mountain Running Championships. Ian is a regular on the regional trail and ultra running circuit and finished 2nd overall in the 2008 Oregon Mountain Running Series. Jenn was the 2nd place woman at the 2008 Mt. Ashland Hillclimb and won the 2008 World of Hurt near Las Vegas, NV. Not to be outdone by our neighbors to the south, Susanna Beck drove over from Eugene for the race. Susanna is the 2008 USATF 50 Mile Trail National Champion and was the top woman selected to the US Team for the 2009 IAU 100k World Trail Challenge.

The 4.5 mile running race was the first of six races in the 2009 La Sportiva / USATF-Oregon Mountain Running Series. The course started on the banks of the Willamette River in Greenwaters Park continuing for 1 mile on flat trails and dirt roads before turning onto the Larison Rock Trail for the 2200' climb to the summit. In spite of the significant climbing, the singletrack trail was very runable and "fast" as it wound thru the pine forests above Oakridge.

After all 8 runners had crossed the finishline pearched on the scenic summit "rock", the results were as follows:

1. Eric Skaggs (Ashland, OR) - 42:45 (USATF member)
2. Richard Bolt (Portland, OR) - 47:30 (USATF member)
3. Ian Torrence (Ashland, OR) - 48:09 (USATF member)
4. Donald Gallogly (Corvallis, OR) - 52:12 (USATF member)
5. Jenn Shelton (Ashland, OR) - 52:50
6. Sussanna Beck (Eugene, OR) - 55:10 (USATF member)
7. Sarah Altemus - 1:11:30
8. Emily Howard - 1:13:33
9. Rory Fuerst - DNS

Special thanks to:
Alan and Bev Abbs for thier help organizing the race and for managing the finishline. Alan is one of the race directors for the Where's Waldo 100k Trail Race which will be the 2009 USATF 100k Trail National Championships.

Catrina Davis and her crew who organized the Salmon 4.5 Mile Run & 2 Mile Walk and let the Larison Hill Climb be part of thier supurb event.

Mike Newby from La Sportiva who provided prizes and plenty of trail running shoes for participants to try out. La Sportiva is the title sponsor for the 2009 USATF-Oregon Mountain Running Series and will name one lucky series runner to the 2010 La Sportiva Mountain Running Team.

Sunsweet Growers for providing $100 for the top male and female finishers in the race.