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

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

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!"

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.

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

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.