Trail Runner #46, July 2007

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C ONTENTS JULY 2007 WWW.TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM

NOVEMBER 2004 | WWW.TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM ONE DIRTY MAGAZINE

DEPARTMENTS 4

EDITOR’S NOTE

6

LETTERS

10 MAKING TRACKS

Danelle Ballengee’s courageous tale of survival and recovery; CrossCountry Nationals draw elites to Boulder; Q & A with Will Harlan, Mount Mitchell Challenge dominator and environmental activist.

20 ADVENTURE RACING

Summer race calendar; tip from Robyn Benincasa; Collegiate Nationals report.

22 NUTRITION

Politically Incorrect. Reap the joys of unfairly maligned saturated fat and live healthier.

By Bruce Burnett, CH

26 ASK THE COACH

The scoop on mixing H20 and electrolyte drinks; dog care and feeding; know when to walk and when to run.

36

PATAGONIAN PASSAGE Rugged running past glaciers and granite towers along the Grand Circuit trail in Torres del Paine, Chile’s premier national park.

By Elinor Fish Photos by PatitucciPhoto

44

THE UNDERDOG Why does the Angeles Crest 100 dwell in the shadows of Leadville, Western States, Wasatch and Hardrock? Good question. A look at the 20th running of a lesser-known Western classic.

By Renne Gardner Photos by Larry Gassan

28 TRAIL TIPS

So you want to be a trail runner?

Six tips to get you hooked.

By Michael Weise

30 TAKE YOUR MARK

Off-Beat Races. Run with a burro, a dirty partner, a brick, a horse … or nothing at all.

By Scott Boulbol

34 LAST GASP

Breakneck Speed. You’ll never go fast if you never go fast.

By Bernie Boettcher

50 GALLERY 52 TRAIL TESTED

Outside the Box. We feature some of our favorite gear, from the Oakley Thump musical glasses to a superlight fastpacking hammock.

By Elinor Fish and Michael Benge

58 TROPHY SERIES RACE CALENDAR 62 RUN AMOK COVER: Brion After takes a break from running his shop—Independence Run & Hike—on the local trails, Carbondale, Colorado.

Photo by Duane Raleigh THIS PAGE: Kami Semick training on the Miwok 100K course outside San Francisco.

Photo by John Lee

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EDITOR’S NOTE

by MICHAEL BENGE

IMAGINE

The changing definition of a magazine

I

magine that you could belly up to your computer and pull up Trail Runner in a full four-color, page-turning digital edition, complete with a “live” Table of Contents. Then—say four months from now—you get a pain in your butt, and want to reread that article on piriformis syndrome but don’t want the tedium of paging through that back issue (if you even saved it) to find it. What if you could just go to that digital edition, type in “piriformis” and summon it straight up?

Guess what? You can. Trail Runner is now available in all the glory of a digital format. Subscribers will automatically receive a digital edition of each issue. A few weeks after each issue hits the newsstand, you will receive an emailed password, and the digi edition is yours. (If you’re unsure of whether we have your email address, please follow this link—www.trailrunnermag.com/ updateemail.php—to sign in.)

Not only will this issue and all future issues be digi, but also the past four years (26 issues) are now archived. What’s more, new and renewing subscribers who take advantage of our special offer (see the first bound-in card in this issue) will receive access to the complete archive as a free premium. And, for example, if you’re heading to Santa Fe, New Mexico, you could print out our recent article on that trail Mecca as a reference.

Will the digital “magazine” replace the print version? No. How could it? There’s something about that tactile satisfaction of holding a magazine in your hands and drooling over photos of, say, running the Grand Canyon that a computer screen just doesn’t provide. Please join us as we try to bring you more through advances in technology.

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Letters too much free energy causing us to go crazy, or the chemical imbalance that we’d love to blame the mood swings and grumpiness on.

It’s funny to go from the type of person up at 5 a.m. to run 20 miles to the type that nurses the snooze button.

There’s something cleansing about trail running that the elliptical machine can’t provide. Brian’s article gave me hope and reminded me that I’m not going crazy.

Not yet anyway.

—Andrew Alder Sunnyvale, California

NEEDS HIS FIX I just read “Run For You Life,” by Brian Metzler in the May issue [Run Amok, Issue 45] about being injured and the tailspin that it can throw you into. Being in that situation now, I take comfort in knowing I’m not alone in feeling lost and out of sorts. Maybe it’s just

DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE As an avid long-distance trail runner, who is now six months pregnant with my first child, I very much appreciated “Running for Two” [Training, May 2007, Issue 45], which supported my continued commitment to the trails throughout this new adventure in my life.

Living in Northern California I am spoiled by a multitude of trails and open space. I ran 14 miles this weekend and 18 miles around Mount Diablo the previous one.

Working in health care myself I found it hard to find information on exercise and

pregnancy, especially for those of us who are avid exercisers. But despite this I have continued running, and listened to my body and not to others’ apprehensions.

Now I have an article to share with these people and other non-believers.

I am lucky to have felt great these first six months, and my only complaint, which I share with other pregnant runners (per your article), is frequent urination—but that is what makes trail running even more conducive to pregnancy! And I’ve already invested in a baby jogger for my post-partum fix.

—Claudia Graetsch-Vasquez Benicia, California

GO, GIRL! I just read “Running for Two” in your May issue [No. 45]. I loved it! It is refreshing to hear about other women who ran through pregnancy. Kudos to Debbie Livingston for sharing her story. I ran the Catalina Marathon at five and a half months pregnant and received some of the same comments that Mrs. Livingston did.

My OB gave me her blessing to continue running throughout my pregnancy. Even

Leadville Trail 100 Training Camp June 30, July 1-2, 2007 3 organized runs to familiarize participants with the challenges of the Leadville Trail 100

Trail Marathon & Heavy Half Marathon July 7, 2007 Leadville Rocky Mountain Trails, summiting 13,185-foot Mosquito Pass

Leadville Trail 100 10K August 12, 2007 View the first and last 3.2 miles of the Leadville Trail 100 on this out and back 10K

Leadville Trail 100 August 18-19, 2007 50 miles out-and-back in the midst of the Colorado Rockies.

Low point-9,200 ft; high point-12,600 ft.

Entries Available January 2, 2007 Merilee O’Neal, Race Director • PO Box 487, Leaville, CO 81461 • (719) 486-3502 • www.leadvilletrail100.com

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Letters though I delivered four weeks early, my daughter weighed in at a healthy 4 pounds 9 ounces. I attribute running to keeping both me and my child healthy.

My daughter is now 21 months old and I recently ran the Catalina Marathon again, setting a PR of 3:40. I say to any woman contemplating running and motherhood, “You go, girl!”

—Sharon A. Pevsner Sierra Madre, California

GIVE ME FIVE I am a Trail Runner subscriber and an avid trail runner. While visiting your website, I saw an advertisement for some whackylooking “shoes” called the Fivefingers, made

by Vibram, featuring individual toe slots and promising to make the runner feel barefoot.

Anxious to see if the shoes could stand up to their claims, my running partner and I drove an hour and a half to the closest store that carried them. I bought two pairs. The Sprint has a strap across the top for an extra-secure fit, while the Classic is open at the top.

I had heard about ChiRunning, and thought this would be a perfect time to try it out. My partner watched me and informed me that my stride became perfectly aligned.

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I also noticed that my stamina seemed to improve when I wore the shoes. And the Fivefingers let me feel the trail more as well as improve my ground striking. My normal trail-running shoes, the Nike Shox Jungas, now feel like Cadillacs. I plan on wearing the Sprints running a few times a week, and the Classics around town. Anyone who wants a great ChiRunning shoe or loves to spread their toes and go barefoot should consider the Vibram Fivefingers.

—Peter Swiek Bethesda, Maryland

WEB KUDOS I want to congratulate your for a fantastic website redesign. I have been a Trail Runner subscriber for a couple years and look forward to your magazine throughout the year. I used to visit the website sporadically, but will be checking back much more frequently now.

The website has a great, intuitive interface and dynamic content, and it’s easy to find your way around. Now, just let me know when Trail Runner will become a monthly publication!

—Mike Valliant Easton, Maryland

HUNTER APPRECIATION Your neutral (non anti-hunter) stand on hunting is much appreciated and lends credibility to your magazine [“In the Hunt,” May 2007, Issue 45]. My first mountain race was to help train for sheep hunting. Little did I know that that first race would culminate in a lifetime passion of mountain running and result in 10 consecutive Mount Marathon races from 1996 to 2005, along with many other local races.

I moved to the edge of Chugach State Park to train, and spend nearly 300 days a year outdoors.

SEND YOUR LETTER to letters@trailrunner.com.

If we open the section with your letter, you’ll get a GoLite Wisp Wind Shirt valued at $50.

The Wisp Wind Shirt is the ideal travel shell: ultralite, ultra-compact, highly breathable, wind resistant and water repellent.

Weighing a mere 3 ounces, the Wisp excels in a wide range of activities and weather conditions.

5/1/07 3:01:54 PM

Letters Thanks again for your support of trail enthusiasts. It is refreshing to see hunters included in a positive light.

—Mark Schwartz Eagle River, Alaska

Distances of 5 Miles 12 Miles 24.5 Miles Sunday September 2, 2007

MUSIC BAN In Ask the Coach in the May 2007 issue [No. 45], the response on etiquette regarding using an iPod or MP3 players at trail races said, “There are no rules against running with tunes.” However, the use of these devices is prohibited by the rules of many races, including popular ones such as the Vermont 100 Mile and JFK 50 Mile. As pointed out in the article, safety is the issue, and from what I know it’s the insurance companies that require restricting the use of headphones.

I enjoy reading Trail Runner, and always look forward to the next issue.

—Paul Crickard Columbia, Maryland

CORRECTIONS In the East Bay story [May 2007, Issue 45], one of the local runners should have been identified as Lynn Schankliess (not Schottkliess). ■

EDITORIAL

ADVERTISING SALES

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Elinor Fish

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Garett Graubins Alison Osius

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Breckenridge, CO

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aosius@bigstonepub.com

EDITORIAL INTERN

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CREATIVE

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lbrown@bigstonepub.com

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RETAIL SALES COORDINATOR

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BIG STONE PUBLISHING 417 Main Street, Unit N Carbondale, CO 81623 Office: 970-704-1442 Fax: 970-963-4965 www.trailrunnermag.com

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FOR DETAILS AND REGISTRATION GO TO:

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bhelge@bigstonepub.com ACCOUNTING

Mark Kittay CPA accounting@bigstonepub.com WARNING! The activities described in Trail Runner carry a significant risk of personal injury or death. DO NOT participate in these activities unless you are an expert, have sought or obtained qualified professional instruction or guidance, are knowledgeable about the risks involved, and are willing to assume personal responsibility for all risks associated with these activities. TRAIL RUNNER MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, OF ANY KIND REGARDING THE CONTENTS OF THIS MAGAZINE, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTY REGARDING THE ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. Trail Runner further disclaims any responsibility for injuries or death incurred by any person engaging in these activities. Use the information contained in this magazine at your own risk, and do not depend on the information contained in this magazine for personal safety or for determining whether to attempt any climb, route or activity described herein.

The views herein are those of the writers and advertisers; they do not necessarily reflect the views of Trail Runner’s ownership.

•Manuscripts, photographs and correspondence are welcome. Unsolicited materials should be accompanied by return postage. Trail Runner is not responsible for unsolicited materials.

All manuscripts and photos are subject to Trail Runner’s terms, conditions and rates •Please allow up to 6 weeks for the first issue after subscribing or a change of address (to expect continuous service).

No part of this publication May be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. © Copyright 2007 by Big Stone Publishing Ltd.

T R A I L R U N N E R M A G . C O M JULY 2007 8

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Making tracks

by Brian Metzler » photos by Island Photography, Inc.

The 35-year-old professional trail- and adventure-racing athlete would love to head out the door for a meandering trail run, but she can hardly move, due to a broken pelvis suffered during a trail-running accident.

“My muscles want to work, but they can’t,” she says while recuperating in her condo in Dillon, Colorado. “It feels just like growing pains as a kid, but in the opposite direction.

I really want to run, but I need to learn how to walk again first.”

Danelle Ballengee, doing what she does best—hammering to the finish line in first place at Vermont’s grueling 32-mile Jay Mountain Challenge last July.

Cliff

hanger Danelle Ballengee’s horrific trail-running fall and her courageous tale of survival

L

ying on a couch on a cold February day, Danelle Ballengee massages her legs, which ache from atrophy. For more than 10 weeks, she’s had to remain idle, as her hamstrings and quads transformed from toned muscle mass to soft, gelatinous tissue. She shifts occasionally, trying to find a comfortable position. Her dog, Taz, snuggles in tighter and gives her a reassuring glance.

Trail of Adventure Ballengee made a name for herself as one of the world’s most successful multisport adventure racers, winning two world championships and recording dozens of other podium finishes in international events. “I’ve always just loved to run,” she says. “It’s something about being in total control of going as far as I want on a trail, going up and down hills and basically getting away from it all. I like all of the sports I do, but running keeps me grounded.”

Growing up in the foothills west of Denver, she was a standout high-school cross-country runner, who after college gravitated toward high-altitude mountain running, becoming a four-time winner of the Pikes Peak Marathon, setting records running marathons in the Himalaya and up a 17,500-foot Mexican volcano, winning more than 100 snowshoe races and scampering up all 54 of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks in 14 days 14 hours 49 minutes.

Those who know her think that same intensity will help her make a full, if prolonged, recovery to her former self. “She’s as tough as they come,” says her friend and adventure-racing teammate Dave Mackey, a two-time USATF Ultrarunner of the Year. “She’s a strong, independent person who is fanatical about training. If anyone can make it back, she can.”

Still, it was her most loyal companion and training partner rather than her athletic prowess that saved her life.

Just Another Trail Run When she and Taz drove out of Moab at noon on December 13, Ballengee planned to run an eight-mile loop that connects the Amasa Back Trail with remote, unmapped Jeep roads. She left the trailhead wearing running pants, two lightweight running

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Making tracks

shirts and a thin fleece top, carrying her iPod and small hydration pack and leaving her cell phone locked in the truck.

Midway through the run, Ballengee slipped on a patch of black ice and tumbled about 60 feet off of three successive rock faces. Although she landed upright, the impact shattered her pelvis and sent her tumbling to the ground.

“I knew it was icy and was being very careful, but my foot just slipped,” says Ballengee, a five-time member of the U.S. Mountain Running Team. “The next thing I knew I was sliding, and there was no way to stop.”

In severe pain, she spent the next five hours crawling a quarter mile on her

hands and knees. Taz came to her side to console her and help keep her warm.

During the night, Ballengee did hundreds of subtle abdominal crunches to keep blood circulatiing, wondering when she would be discovered. Not many people visit Moab in December. Fewer still run remote trails.

After the first night, Taz disappeared for long periods, which Ballengee hoped were exploratory sojourns to find help.

The two had run hundreds of trails and hiked numerous mountains in Colorado, Utah and Arizona since Ballengee adopted him from a suburban Denver rescue shelter three and a half years ago.

Ballengee remained hopeful, even as her feet numbed from frostbite. She drank from a puddle after her water bottle went dry and ate two packets of raspberry energy gels, her only food.

Miraculously, she survived two nights amid temperatures that dipped to the low 20s before a search party on ATVs finally found her near sunset on December 15. Police had spotted her truck at the trailhead earlier in the day, but it was Taz who led the rescue team five miles to the accident site.

“I stayed awake the entire time because I knew if I fell asleep I’d be dead,” said Ballengee, who also suffered internal bleeding in the incident. “It was horrible, but a fortunate turn of events saved my life.”

Road to Recovery Ballengee was airlifted by helicopter to a Grand Junction hospital, then transferred by medical airplane to Denver. She had a titanium plate and pins surgically implanted into her pelvis and sacrum on December 19, but wasn’t able to start physical rehabilitation and take her first steps until early March when doctors deemed her pelvis healed.

For a woman known for her relentless training and racing schedule, spending more than two months on a couch and in a wheelchair was pure torture. While she is expected to make a full recovery, Ballengee is not sure of her athletic future or how she will pay for her mountain of medical bills.

(As of early March, family, friends, race directors and random well-wishers from around the world had donated more than $15,000 toward her bills.)

She does know, however, that she will run trails again with Taz. “I sometimes take it for granted that I have this ability to run long distances in beautiful places. So maybe if I have more respect for that gift, I’ll be more cautious,” she says. “Trail running is one of the things I love to do, so I won’t stop doing it because of an accident.”

To donate to the Danelle Ballengee Fund, call First Bank in Silverthorne, Colorado, at 970- 468-8000.

Brian Metzler is the founding editor of Trail Runner and the author of Running Colorado’s Front Range (2003, Mountain Sports Press).

13 July 2007 T r a i l r u n n e r m a g . c o m

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Making tracks

Cold Warriors

Cross Country Nationals come to Boulder, Colorado

A

packed with firepower, including Olympian marathoner Deena Kastor and American 3000-meter record-holder Shalane Flanagan in the women’s event, and Olympians Alan Culpepper, Dathan Ritzenhein, Abdi Abdirahman and Adam Goucher in the men’s race.

“I’ve always had a great passion for cross country,” recalled Kastor. “For the past few years I’ve solely focused on marathons, but this year I felt a huge desire to get back to the naturalness of cross-country running.”

Flanagan bravely stuck to Kastor during the opening laps; the duo was well clear of the field after the first mile, which they covered in just over five minutes. Kastor stumbled in the first ditch, then buried Flanagan, winning in 26:47 by just over a minute.

Kastor flew down the finishing straight to the cheers of over 5000 spectators (Boulder’s Daily Camera newspaper estimated the total attendees for the day may have been twice that figure). “I heard this enormous cheering when Deena finished,” recalls Julian. “The excitement surrounding the championships had been on a slow burn for so long, and then it finally boiled over. At that point I knew we’d pulled off a successful event.”

The flames kicked up another notch for the men’s Open race. Again, a duo of runners opened an early gap on the field. To the crowd’s delight, University of Colorado (CU) grads Ritzhenheim and Goucher pushed the pace. They went through the first mile at better than 4:45 pace, with “Ritz” sliding a few yards in front of Goucher. Two other CU grads, Jorge Torres and Culpepper, led a

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emily diznoff

With a $40,000 prize purse, sponsorship from the Wild Oats grocery chain and Boulder Road Runners Club and star-laden elite fields, it seemed the components for a successful event were in place. But would enough spectators show up to make the championships an unmitigated success?

The frozen links held up well in the early races, as hundreds of Masters runners galloped across the Flatirons Golf Course. Pancake-flat terrain provided some relief for those not accustomed to Boulder’s 5500-foot altitude, but a handful of mud-filled ditch crossings added the right touch of cross-country challenge. Dennis and Michelle Simonatis, a couple who lives and trains at 5200 feet in Draper, Utah, showed that acclimatization couldn’t hurt: Dennis took the men’s crown in 26:28, and Michelle was second to Boulder’s Patty Murray (29:54) in the women’s race.

By mid-morning, when the Junior racers toed the starting line, bright sunshine had warmed the turf. Fifteen-year-old Californian Jordan Hasay ran away from the girls’ field early, ticking off 5:50 miles for the win. Another flatlander, Minnesota’s Eliot Heath, averaged 5:16 pace and won the tightly contested boys’ event.

A handful of elite distance runners decided to skip the U.S. Championships— notably absent from the men’s field were Olympic marathon silver medalist Meb Keflezighi and the new American half-marathon record holder Ryan Hall. Still, both the men’s and women’s Open races were (continued on page 18)

Mark Eller

week before the starter’s pistol fired at the 2007 U.S Cross Country National Championships, held February 10 in Boulder, Colorado, race director Pete Julian told the Denver Post that he hoped the event would be remembered as “the Woodstock of distance running.” An elite runner himself, Julian vowed to transform a municipal golf course into a world-class race venue.

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Making tracks

Running For the Earth Will Harlan uses Mount Mitchell Challenge success to highlight environmental issues

W

ill Harlan is well-known in trail-running circles for winning North Carolina’s Mount Mitchell Challenge 40-miler five times. At last February’s Challenge, he set a new course record of 4:54:22 (smashing the previous time of 5:47:20 set by Dink Taylor in 2000) over a course with a 4000-foot ascent on rocky trails that are, at that time of year, often covered with vast ice sheets and subjected to erratic weather ranging from sunshine to driving rain to blinding blizzards. But Harlan has bigger things on his mind than setting records or winning races.

The 31-year-old editor-in-chief of Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine is more concerned about North Carolina’s environment, even going so far as assuming the role of a “canary in a coal mine.”

Few people spend as much time on the Appalachian Mountains’ trails, knowingly gulping gallons of polluted air. In July 2003 the “canary” even suffered an asthma attack while running 72 miles across Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Harlan’s notoriety as a successful trail runner and vocal environmental advocate has motivated local communities to stand up against big industry and protect their rights to clean air.

What makes the Mount Mitchell Challenge so special?

I feel very personally connected to Mount Mitchell because two years ago I moved to Barnardsville at the foot of the mountain, so I could train on the national forest there year round.

emily diznoff

Mark Eller

How did the race unfold this year?

My best friend, Mark Lundblad, reached the top first and I came up in third position. I slowly reeled in Mark during the mountain descent and at mile 25, along a two-mile stretch on the state park road,

I gave it everything. We were both a lot of pain at that point—altitude dizzy and in survival mode for the last 15 miles.

He came in three minutes behind me at 4:57:21, also breaking the previous record.

How do you prepare for such a grueling race?

Honestly, I don’t train nearly as hard as others in Asheville’s hard-core trail-running community. A gastrointestinal disorder kept me from racing all year, so this was my first ultra since last year’s Mount Mitchell Challenge. I focus on intensity rather than duration, averaging between 40 to 50 miles a week for most of my training, then gradually kicking it up to 80 miles a week for a few weeks, ending off with only one 100-mile week.

What’s your secret to dominating the Mount Mitchell Challenge?

I try to be spiritually grounded and focused on race day. I don’t want to get caught up in race times and splits; rather I just pour my heart into running my best. After all, when it’s all said and done, it’s just exercise. I try not to be consumed by running’s competitive aspect, and instead appreciate being

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Making tracks

Do you have any running sponsors?

I have received commercial sponsorship offers, but decided to run for the Canary Coalition [a grassroots clean-air advocacy group] as an unpaid athlete because of their mandate to improve air quality in North Carolina and the southern Appalachian region. I left Atlanta in 2000 to get away from the pollution, but the Smoky Mountains are just as polluted as Atlanta due to coal-fired power plants, which belch out nitrous oxide, sulfur dioxide, mercury and other toxic compounds. It breaks my heart to see skeletons of dead spruce and fir hanging like crucifixes on Mount Mitchell’s summit.

Has your affiliation with the Canary Coalition been successful in raising awareness of air-quality issues?

In early April, the Canary Coalition persuaded the Town of Woodfin not

Enthusiastic crowds cheered Olympian Alan Culpepper to victory along the muddy 12-kilometer course.

to build another power plant in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

Many people at the town meeting were runners and outdoor people. I hope that by being outspoken I influenced some of them to become involved.

You have recently formed a new non-profit organization, Run For Africa. What’s it about?

I couldn’t live knowing that a lack of clean water is killing millions of people on this planet. So my sister, Jill Youse, and I created the volunteer-run, nonprofit charity, which is bringing sustainable water programs to villages in Africa. In April we organized a 24hour trail relay in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, the first race of its kind in the country. All the entry fees and funds raised go directly to water programs in Africa. Runners can find out more about the race and the charity at www.RunforAfrica.org.

—J.P. Kennedy

(continued from page 14) small chase group.

As the laps clicked by, Culpepper moved toward the front. “I knew I had a good base from my fall marathon training,” said Culpepper. “The month before the crosscountry nationals, I reduced my mileage to about 100 miles per week and added quality workouts. I’d hoped to run on grass, but this winter [in Colorado] was so rough, and I didn’t get to do the workouts I’d hoped for.”

Culpepper seemed to gain confidence with every lap. When he moved past Goucher and the now-fading Ritz with two laps to go, a mighty roar erupted.

“It had to be the loudest shouting I’ve ever heard at a cross-country meet in the U.S.,” said Julian. Culpepper stayed strong and finished in 37:09, standing atop an all-Buffs-alumni podium with Goucher (37:35) and Ritz (37:47); CU grad Jorge Torres took fourth.

Few of the top 12 American athletes who had qualified at the Boulder meet went to the world championships in Mombassa, Kenya, in March. Knowing they would likely be trounced by talented runners from Africa, U.S. runners had more to gain from staying home and continuing to train for lucrative marathons such as Boston and London.

—Mark Eller

Mark Eller

on the trails and having the health to run 40 miles.

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adventure Racing USARA

Collegiate Nationals Adventure Race

On April 15, teams from 21 universities battled for top honors at the inaugural USARA Collegiate Nationals Adventure Race in Reno, Nevada. The competition was part the College Sports Television’s Collegiate Nationals, an eight-day, 12event festival for both college students and alumni.

Off the start, two-person teams hammered two and a half miles on foot, then kayaked three miles along the Truckee River, during which a team from the University of Nebraska capsized twice in the icy water, ending their race.

In the alumni division, the Georgetown

team of Sarah and Ross McMahon pulled ahead during the paddle and never relinquished the lead. Hot on their heels was Dane Shannon, an alumnus from the University of New Hampshire and his teammate Justin Burger, a Texas A&M University alumnus, who hung onto second. The McMahons sealed the coed alumni victory in 2 hours 17 minutes, followed by Shannon and Burger less than a minute later.

In the collgiate division, teams from Johns Hopkins University and UC Santa Cruz exited the river neck-and-neck as they embarked on a 10-mile mountainbike leg through downtown Reno. Here, Johns Hopkins University’s Laura Hanlon and Michael Stratton took the lead among the coed teams, while Garrett College’s Ian Hall and Dave Sisolak led the male teams.

Midway through the bike section teams dropped their bikes to run a hilly two-mile loop trail and scramble over boulders, then returned to their metallic steeds to complete the bike route. For the final leg, racers donned life jackets and forged across the river to the finish line. Hall and Sisolak grabbed the Collegiate Male National Championship with a time of 2:26, and Hanlon and Stratton captured the Coed Collegiate National Championship in 2:32.

—Troy Farrar

April Fools at The Link At the Link Urban Adventure Race in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska, 45 teams of three spent their Sunday running, riding, climbing, kayaking and navigating.

At the pre-race meeting, race organizers pulled a representative from each team and informed them they had to race with a different team for the day.

Widespread panic ensued until they were told, “April fools!”

Starting at the University of Nebraska baseball stadium, teams had to locate race instructions stuck to the back of the stadium’s 8500 seats, using row and seats numbers. The resulting mad scramble gave spectators a chuckle. Teams then raced

out the stadium to bike 40 miles on concrete, rock and singletrack trails, followed by a seven-mile run through city parks.

Next competitors kayaked on Holmes Lake before tackling the climbing wall at the University of Nebraska Recreation Center.

Team Lincoln Running Company, comprised of Ann Ringlein, Scott Wieskamp and Barrett Brandon, won with a finishing time of 4:30, followed by Team PTP (Dan Kapke, Brad Rettig and Nolan Hanson) in 4:44:11 and Team DDJ (Dana Merrihew, David Dyer and Jodi Fougeron) was third in 4:46:31.

—Jim Craig

Summer 2007

race calendar Highlights RACE

DATE

LOCATION

WEBSITE

Longest Day AR Texas State Championship AR Series #2 Texas State Championship Sprint AR #3 Oak Ridge 24 Hour AR Odyssey One Day AR Series #3 Baton Rouge Urban AR National College Sprint Series AR #3 Atlantic Coast Conquest AR Texas State Championship Sprint AR #4 Ocean Blue AR Krista Griesacker Memorial Race Kit Carson AR Bushwack This

6/23 6/30 7/14 7/21 7/21 7/21 7/21 7/28 7/28 7/28 8/5 8/11 8/11

New York, NY Fort Worth, TX Austin, TX Oakridge, CA Roanoke, VA Baton Rouge, LA Roanoke, VA Orlando, FL Austin, TX Half Moon Bay, CA Hamburg, PA Carson City, NV Wasilla, AK

nyara.org terrafirmapromo.com terrafirmapromo.com bigblueadventure.com oarevents.com LAAdventureRacing.com oarevents.com mycfar.com terrafirmapromo.com bigblueadventure.com goalsara.org bigblueadventure.com egadsalaska.com

Proud Sponsor of Adventure Racing

PRO TIP When the going gets tough, don’t stop Front-finishing AR teams are not necessarily the fastest, but those who slow down or stop the least. Here are a few ways to keep moving: • Wear a map case that hangs around your neck, keeping your thumb on your location. That way you don't waste time digging through your pack or hunting for your location on the map.

• Keep food in your pack’s front pockets, or better yet, in your teammates' packs so it’s easily accessible.

• Get a cushy mountain bike seat so you can comfortably wear running shorts or tights (rather than bike shorts) and don't have to waste time changing clothes in transition zones.

Wearing running clothes helps prevent chafing that results from trekking or doing hike-a-bike sections in often-wet bike shorts.

—ROBYN BENINCASA is an EcoChallenge Champion and Captain of Team Merrell/Wigwam Adventure, ranked among the world’s top three expedition-length racing teams. For more information, visit www.teammerrellwigwam.com.

Do you have an adventure-racing question? Send it to us at adventure@bigstonepub.com

Heavy-hitting Lightweight Gregory Advent Pro pack $149, 2 lbs 9 oz www.gregorypacks.com Built for function and speed, the Advent Pro is ideal for adventure racing or fastpacking.

At 2200 cubic inches, the Advent Pro is a streamlined version of the old Advent. Practical features include ample waist-band pockets, great for small tools and energy food, an easy-access top-and-front-loading main compartment and internal drawstring compression cords to keep your load snug.

Despite its ultralight weight, testers found the pack sturdy and stable. Shoulder and waist straps aren’t bulky but provided ample support for loads up to 25 pounds.

The self-healing, siliconized ripstop nylon is membrane-thin and virtually punctureproof. Air channels in the plush, foam back panel offered welcome ventilation during a long race.

—Pete Rognli

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NUTRITION

by BRUCE BURNETT, CH » photo by DUANE RALEIGH

September 30, 2007 Boulder Reservoir Boulder, Colorado

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or every complicated problem,” wrote H.L. Mencken, “there is a solution that is simple, direct, understandable and wrong.”

And the tiresomely repeated, fallacious cliché that saturated fat is bad for you and causes heart disease is wrong! Especially for physically active people such as trail runners and other athletes. Study after study proves this, in addition to simple historical evidence, but the advertising and lobbying power of the processedfood and vegetable-oil industries manages to win over the facts, repeatedly.

For example, 100 years ago, per capita consumption of butter in the United States was 50 times what it is today. Heart disease was almost unknown. So why is it that after a century of decreased consumption of butter and other saturated fats, along with a substantial increase in the consumption of margarine and other processed vegetable oils, we arrive at the curious conclusion that saturated fat is to blame for the increase in heart disease?

Vegetarians and near vegetarians tend to eat a lot of grains and other sources of vegetable oils, which are high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid. Omega-6 and the heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids, derived primarily from animal-based foods, work in balance. In your diet, the more you absorb of one, the less you’ll take up of the other. In the Paleolithic diet, the ration was 1:1. In the modern North American diet the ratio is closer to 1:20 in favor of omega-6. And yet doctors are still advising their patients to chuck the butter and switch to margarine.

PRESENTING THE EVIDENCE

In the Framingham Heart Study, which

began in 1948 and involved some 6000 people from the town of Framingham, Massachusetts, two groups were compared at five-year intervals—those who consumed little cholesterol and saturated fat and those who consumed large amounts. After 40 years, the director of this study stated: “In Framingham, the more saturated fat one ate, the more cholesterol one ate, the more calories one ate, the lower the person’s serum cholesterol … we found that the people who ate the most cholesterol, ate the most saturated fat, ate the most calories, weighed the least and were the most physically active.”

So, forget about that carb-loading spaghetti dish before your next race and chow down a good steak instead. According to the Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation (www.price-pottenger.org), “Carb-loading for athletes is not such a good idea.” Following studies done on athletes in New York and South Africa, athletes who “carb-loaded” had significantly less endurance than those who “fat-loaded” before athletic events.

The Iowa State University Extension Sport Nutrition website (www.extension.iastate.edu/nutrition/sport/index. html) reports that energy obtained from fat plays an important role for both high intensity and endurance sports. The site claims that fat serves as the primary fuel for low-intensity and long-duration activities such as marathons, triathlons and cross-country skiing. In high-intensity activity where carbohydrate is the primary fuel, fat is necessary to fully release the available energy in carbohydrates.

A study conducted by Peter J. Horvath and his colleagues at the State University of New York at Buffalo showed that

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Nutrition marathon runners and other highly trained endurance athletes appear to perform better after consuming a highfat diet for several weeks than after eating their customary carbohydrate-rich, low-fat meals.

The study customized three diets for 25 competitive runners 18 to 53 years old who trained at least 40 miles each week. Each four-week-long diet aimed to provide the same total energy, but fat contributed just 16 percent of calories in one diet, 30 percent of calories in the second and 45 percent of calories in the last.

Each athlete completed all three diets, and after four weeks they performed a series of exercise tests.

At the end of the two fattier diets, the athletes increased the amount of time they could run at peak capacity by an average of seven percent—or about 30 seconds. Overall endurance increased 14 percent, and exercise-induced muscle fatigue decreased. Moreover, the study found that runners who consumed the fattiest diet used their stored energy more efficiently than they did when on the lowest-fat diet.

In another study at the same university, six members of the track team were able

to run 20 percent longer and achieved higher maximum oxygen consumption on a diet moderately high in fat than on a high-carbohydrate, low-fat regimen.

“Our data are consistent with a number of investigations that have shown muscular adaptations to a high-fat diet which result in increased endurance. Furthermore, our findings present evidence that severely restricting dietary fat may be detrimental to endurance performance,” said John J. Leddy, associate director of UB’s Sports Medicine Institute and a coauthor of the study.

Also, athletes training on a high-fat diet have a healthier cholesterol profile than when they eat the traditional lowfat, high-carbohydrate training diet, and they do not gain weight or body fat in the process, new data from researchers at UB have shown.

Dr. Weston Price (author of Nutrition and Physical Degeneration) and his wife, Florence, spent much of the 1920s and ’30s roving the globe and studying the dietary habits of indigenous peoples.

Wherever they went they discovered the same pattern: Groups that adhered to their native diets consisting largely of animal-based foods enjoyed robust health.

Bonus Content Please visit www.trailrunnermag.com for a mouthwatering, fat-loading recipe, Pork Tenderloin in Puff Pastry.

They never once encountered an entirely vegetarian culture and heart disease and cancer were virtually non-existent.

Peoples who had adopted the western diet of processed, sugar-laden foods quickly fell victim to cardiovascular disease, cancers, arthritis, dental decay and many other ills of modern man. For example, the Masai people of Kenya live almost exclusively on the milk, meat and blood of their cattle herds. They are a tall, lean, athletic people who have given the world some of the greatest long-distance runners. Heart disease is unknown to them.

So What Gives?

Given these facts, why is high cholesterol so firmly imbedded in our consciousness as a sure-fire sign of a future heart attack? Dr. Ravnskov, M.D. PhD, author of The Cholesterol Myths: Exposing the Fallacy that Saturated Fat and Cholesterol Cause Heart Disease, says “[Public health officials, cardiologists, etc.] have

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confused a statistical association with causation,” he observed. “It’s as if they saw a house burning and determined that the bigger the fire, the more fireman are present, and then concluded that firemen cause burning houses.”

Dr. Paul J. Rosch, president of The American Institute of Stress, clinical professor of Medicine and Psychiatry at New York Medical College, and honorary vice president of the International Stress Management Association, says that half of all heart attacks occur in people with normal cholesterol levels. “Stress has more deleterious effects on the heart than cholesterol,” says Dr. Rosch. The change to a Western diet is usually identified as the culprit in the studies of immigrants with low rates of heart disease that change for the worse years after they emigrate to the U.S., but Dr. Rosch suggests that the stress of adapting to a new culture is harder on the heart. For example, a study of Japanese male immigrants found a lower rate of heart attack among those who consumed a Western diet but retained a Japanese lifestyle, compared to those who continued to eat only traditional Japanese foods but lived a Western lifestyle.

This view is echoed by Malcolm Kendricks, M.D. who writes (from www. redflagsweekly.com), “If you want to protect yourself against heart disease, do the following things: Don’t smoke, take exercise, lose weight, relax when you eat and eat slowly, if you feel ‘trapped’ in your life, change it, don’t disrupt your social network—or create a good social network.” And he adds, “What about high cholesterol levels? This red herring has thrown researchers off the scent for the last 60 years. Only when it is abandoned as a risk factor will mainstream researchers be able to make sense of heart disease.”

Mary Enig, PhD, Fellow of the American College of Nutrition and President of the Maryland Nutritionists Association and an expert in lipid chemistry, believes that the rise of obesity is related to the types of food Americans have been encouraged to eat by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the food industry and consumer groups. “[People are eating] a diet high in grain and inappropriate fats, instead of natural animal fats, such as lard, tallow, chicken fat, goose fat and natural vegetable fats, such as olive, palm and coconut oils, that we used to have in our diets.”

Nutrition These fats provide the major fuel for the heart, kidneys and skeletal muscles, says Dr. Enig, and adds that inappropriate fats are the highly processed polyunsaturated fats, such as soybean, canola and corn oils, which are ironically promoted as heart protective.

As Sally Fallon, journalist and nutrition researcher, says in her excellent book, Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats, “Animal fats and cholesterol are not villains but vital factors in the diet, necessary for normal growth, proper function of the brain and nervous system, protection from disease and optimum energy levels.”

So trail runners, don’t fall for the dictates of the food fascists. Enjoy that steak, cheese omelet and pork tenderloin. You’ll enjoy life more and run better!

Bruce Burnett, 65, is a Chartered Herbalist and author of HerbWise: growing cooking wellbeing. He runs the fabulous wooded trails around his home in Ladysmith, British Columbia, and according to his doctor has the cholesterol and blood pressure of a 16-year-old.

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ASK THE COACH

by THERESE IKNOIAN » illustration by JEREMY COLLINS

MIXED DRINKS I’ve heard that it’s best to keep water and electrolyte drinks in separate bottles.

Why shouldn’t you mix them?

—Chris Wenger, Kamloops, British Columbia

Research has shown that carbohydrates in a sports drink are better absorbed by your body at a certain concentration.

If you dilute it, the drink won’t provide you the energy, sodium and hydration you need, and if it’s too “thick,” it won’t be absorbed properly in your intestines. Shoot for about a five- to 10-percent carbohydrate solution. Tim Noakes, ultrarunning exercise physiologist from South Africa, sums up the science well in his must-have tome, Lore of Running (Human Kinetics, 4th Ed., 2003), noting the contents of any fluid you sip are taken up rapidly when reaching the first few inches of your intestines. But first it has to get through your stomach quickly and that passage is slowed significantly when you drink more than a 10-percent solution or less than a four- to five-percent solution.

To calculate the concentration, divide the number of grams of carbohydrates per serving by the number of milliliters per serving (Tip: eight ounces equals 236 milliliters). For example, 14 grams of carbohydrates in an eight-ounce serving is about a six-percent solution. Also important is the amount of sodium, with research showing the best absorption coming with about 1.2 to 3.5 grams of sodium per liter, which equals about 300 to 900 milligrams per eight-ounce serving. Drinking regularly, every 10 minutes or so, also helps the uptake, says Noakes.

So unless you know you will sip evenly enough to get the right percentage down the hatch at constant intervals, you’re probably safer carrying separate bottles if you want to balance your fluids, sodium and carbohydrates and stay hydrated.

WALK, DON’T RUN?

DOG-DAY AFTERNOON

Is there a general rule for when to hike instead of run on uphills?

I have two dogs that love to run trails with me. How should I be considerate of other trail users? And how much water do they need, especially in the heat?

—Forrest Naujock, Beaumont, California

Dogs on the trail are fine, as long as they are behaved and properly cared for. First, they need to be under voice control if they are off-leash. Your dog shouldn’t be

allowed to charge other runners or attack other dogs. And clean-up is your responsibility, meaning poop-scooping along the way (BYOB: bring your own bags).

In the heat, dogs need to acclimatize just like humans so don’t keep them in your air-conditioned house then expect them to romp along for an hour or two on a hot day. According to Kathy Diamond Davis, author of Therapy Dogs and Responsible Dog Ownership, dogs heat up quickly, especially if they are young, old, a large breed, extra furry or a dark color, and don’t perspire to cool down. Since panting for cooling is extremely inefficient, pet experts recommend spraying your dog with water or otherwise getting it wet, letting your dog drink frequently and not working it in temperatures higher than about 85 degrees. Bringing along a collapsible bowl and sharing water from your bottle works well.

“Dogs are not aware of their own needs, and like humans will often not feel thirsty until their bodies are already damaged,” Diamond Davis writes in VeterinaryPartner.com. “Dogs will run themselves to death when engaged in an activity that interests them.”

100), says if she can walk faster than she can run a hill, she walks. But she doesn’t turn to a slouching schlep, rather a vigorous power hike that keeps her heart rate consistent with that of her running rate.

Don’t “redline” your intensity by pushing too hard, especially early in a long race.

Balance your energy output and exercise intensity with your goal, fitness level and the length of the race. Walking the same inclines in a 10- or 20-kilometer race that you might in a 50-mile race isn’t appropriate. Over longer distances (and “long,” of course, is relative too), you’ll need to conserve energy to make it to the finish line, meaning more power walking to avoid the dreaded redline zone.

“Do what it takes to stay at the upper end of your comfort zone,” suggests Moehl. “Going above that burns up your energy stores.”

While training, practice both hiking fast on hills and running up shorter hills, so you learn what feels right for your fitness level.

GEAR GIVEAWAY

—Jim Goodrum, Asheville, North Carolina

Unfortunately, there isn’t any accepted guideline, and it is very individual. For example, Krissy Moehl, who at age 27 became the youngest and second-fastest woman to complete the 2005 Grand Slam of Ultrarunning (on the way notching a victory among women at the Vermont 100 and second place at Colorado’s Leadville

Trail Runner would like to answer your questions on training, medicine, gear and technique. Please send them to coach@bigstonepub.com.

If we use your question in an upcoming issue, you will receive a pair of the latest footwear from The North Face.

The added support, stability, and traction make the Arnuva™ 100 TR the ultimate shoe for the off-road ultradistance runner who logs mega miles on rugged, technical trails.

www.thenorthface.com

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Photos: William Anthony, Thomas Backer, Corey Rich.

THE NORTH FACE速 ENDURANCE CHALLENGE, presented by Gore-Tex速 and hosted by Dean Karnazes, invites you to push your boundaries and compete for $10,000. This five-region event spans the country and offers an array of distances to test the limits of runners at every level: Presented by:

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EXPLORE YOUR PERSONAL LIMITS. COMPETE IN THE ENDURANCE CHALLENGE.

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4/26/07 12:25:24 4:48:35 PM 4/24/07 PM

Trail Tips

by Michael Weise » photo by Duane Raleigh

So you want to be a

trail runner?

Six tips to get you hooked on off-road running

overheating. Use a three-tiered layering system including base, mid and outer layers designed to draw moisture away from your skin while keeping your warm. As you heat up, remove outer layers, cap, hat, gloves or unzip tops to allow better airflow.

On all but the coldest days, one moisturewicking, windproof layer will suffice for the lower body.

Expect to encounter muddy trail sections, stream crossings and rough ground that can lead to any number of foot ailments. Blisters, caused by friction on the skin, can be a trail runner’s biggest handicap. Either place a blister pad such as Blist-O-Ban or Spenco’s Second Skin on known problem areas before you go or carry bandages in your hip pack.

Padded trail-running socks cushion your feet and ankle gaiters keep your shoes pebble- and mud-free.

Stay Safe

M

y first trail run, along the Mesa Trail in Boulder, Colorado’s Chautauqua Park, was not what you would call poetry in motion. Donning bright yellow track shoes, I tore out, quickly rolled an ankle and limped home. I solicited advice from a trail-running friend, who, after a good laugh over my flimsy ribbonpaper shoes, furnished me with a simple gear list and said, “Listen to your body, eat right and run safely.”

The following six tips will help make your first trail runs successful. As you feel more adventurous and your runs become longer and more challenging, quiz experienced trail comrades and learn from your mistakes.

Appreciate The Trail Advantage

Gear Up

Trail runners, preferring the rush of a swift river or the hush of wilderness to the honk and roar of traffic, are attracted to off-road routes’ natural settings. Not only mentally refreshing and de-stressing, trails are less physically punishing than their concrete counterparts.

“Trails are easier on the body, not just because dirt is softer than pavement, but on uneven terrain every step is different, requiring you to use stabilizing muscles in the lower legs and hips,” explains Denverbased trail-running coach Adam Feerst.

“In a flat road marathon you repeat the same muscle movement and stress the same ligaments over and over.”

To survive rough trails, learn to slow down or walk over especially technical or steep sections, to keep moving efficiently.

Talk to a local running-shop expert about which shoes best suit local trails, fit well and best combine cushioning and stability (see also Trail Runner’s fall and spring shoe reviews, November and May issues). Trail-specific shoes are generally beefier than road models, with knobby treads for better traction on dirt, mud and rock, and reinforced uppers.

For maximum protection, some models come with waterproof-breathable uppers and durable toe rands.

Trail-running attire should match the weather conditions, climate and season.

Sunny conditions call for light-colored, moisture-wicking apparel (lighter colors reflect heat while darker colors absorb it).

Essential in cold conditions, layering is the art of staying dry and warm without

Familiarize yourself with new trails with maps or guidebooks found at outdoor-gear, running or mountain-bike shops. The American Trail Running Association’s website (www.trailrunner. com) lists numerous trails by state, and this magazine features prime destinations in each issue.

To avoid getting lost, pay attention to trail junctions and landmarks and learn how to use a map and compass. Though it’s wise to carry a cell phone, keep in mind there may be no network coverage outside town limits. Staying on the marked trails and making a mental note of your route (glancing behind you frequently is helpful) is the surest way to find your back to the trailhead.

Inform a family member or friend of your intended route and return time, or write this information down in the trailhead logbook or in a note left on your car.

Fuel up

Every trail runner has unique nutritional needs based on body type, individual preferences, food sensitivities and training regimen but all trail runners need to monitor their hydration level. Always carry more water than you anticipate needing in case you are out longer than expected. On trails far from convenient, sanitary water stops, use a portable water-purifying system such as a handpump filter, iodine and chlorine tablets or ultraviolet light.

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Trail Tips

Trail running gear to get you going The Basics Trail-specific running shoes Padded trail-running socks Moisture-wicking shorts or tights Moisture-wicking shirt and lightweight jacket Non-chafing wicking underwear Hat with visor (mesh or waterproof) Sunglasses Watch with chronometer (optional: altimeter) Sunscreen

Condition-specific gear Water, sports drink, energy gel (runs over 5 miles or 1 hour) Hydration system (waist or hand-held bottle carrier or bladder and hose) Wrist computer (with heart-rate monitor, etc) Headlamp or flashlight Waterproof/breathable clothing Gaiters Ear warmers, hat, gloves

A key part of proper hydration is consuming sufficient electrolytes, the essential minerals that regulate water retention, blood pH and muscle function. Consuming electrolyte-containing drinks, gels or tablets is critical when running over an hour. When you go out for a long haul, combine electrolyte-balancing water with easily digestible, calorie-rich foods such as energy gels, bars, bananas, dried fruit or crackers.

Take Training Off-Road Share the Trail

Chances are you won’t be alone out there.

Be aware of animals in your area—know what to do if you encounter a mountain lion, bear, moose, poisonous snakes or other dangerous wildlife. Pay attention to your route and keep your gaze several paces in front of you, watching for roots, loose rocks or other hazards.

Be aware of other trail users, yielding the trail to downhill mountain bikers and runners and keeping your dog on a leash. To avoid startling hikers and riders on horseback, call out when approaching them from behind.

Trail runners often require more recovery between workouts because they recruit more muscles to stabilize the body while moving over uneven terrain.

Perform core-strengthening exercises on a ball, focusing on the abdominals and hips to develop connector tissue while giving your joints a rest. Between hard, hilly trail runs, include several flat, short, easy trails for active muscular recovery.

Running pace does not generally translate well from the roads to the trails.

Five miles at seven-minutes-per-mile pace may feel easy and comfortable on the road, but the same distance on trails

may take twice as long. Given the varied terrain and rolling topography of most trails, gauge your workout on a basis of time instead of pace. Heart-rate readings also tend to fluctuate more dramatically on the trails. As your trail running advances, add distance and intensity gradually to avoid injuries and burnout.

Join a running camp, running clinic or ask your local running shop about group runs or upcoming trail races in your area. Preparing for a race can keep you motivated to train and give you a great sense of achievement when you cross the finish line. (Visit trailrunnermag.com for Trail Runner’s Race Calendar).

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Take Your Mark by scott boulbol

Off-Beat Races Run with a burro, a dirty partner, a brick, a horse … or nothing at all

Pittsfield Peaks Ultra Challenge

Runners and burros team up at Leadville’s Boom Days Burro Race.

Leadville Boom Days Burro Race Location » Leadville, Colorado Dates » August 5, 2007 Distance » Approximately 21 miles Information » leadvilleboomdays.com Why you should go » “Get your ass up that mountain!” That’s the idea of this historic event, which has been run since 1949 as part of Boom Days, an annual celebration of the area’s mining history. Starting in the nearly two-mile-high town of Leadville, Colorado, racers head over 13,000-foot Mosquito Pass, while leading a burro loaded with at least 33 pounds of saddle and mining equipment. That may be what burros were made for, but they are equally known for their stubborn temperament.

“Some burros will not run through water; they will stop and lie down or just

Location » Pittsfield, Vermont Dates » June 9, 2007 Distance » 40-45 miles Information » peak.com Why you should go » No burros are allowed in this race, but runners could probably use their load-carrying help.

It’s hard enough running a mountainous trail—now try lugging a canoe paddle with you! Racers climb six peaks, in any order they choose, carrying a unique load which varies from bricks to eggs.

After summiting a peak via the established course, they are free to descend (sans load) by any route.

Less fleet-footed runners can make up time by using creative ways to carry their booty, ascending peaks in the most efficient order and choosing the quickest routes down. Racers vie for cash and a $200 random prize.

Squaw Peak Scramble Location » Phoenix, Arizona Dates » May and October (specific dates TBD) 2007 Distance » 8-10 miles Information » wedmtnrunner.blogspot.com Why you should go » If you’ve never imagined yourself standing on a podium, don’t give up hope. The Scramble gives even the slowest runner a chance to win first prize with its special handicap (read: luckiest) system. Competitors, encouraged to wear costumes in recognition of the fall event’s proximity to Halloween, collect a five-card poker hand at various points throughout the race. The finisher with the best poker hand wins.

Second place goes to best costume (your favorite Vegas showgirl getup might be appropriate). Don’t worry speedsters, the first across the line gets third place, but that feat also requires strategy as well as speed: each uphill route has a longer, flatter alternate.

Bare Buns 5K Fun Run Location » Issaquah, Washington Dates » July 15, 2007 Distance » 5K Information » fraternitysnoqualmie.com/BBFR.html Why you should go » Expose yourself to trail running! Let it all hang out! Bare your soul! Run your ass off! OK … I’ll stop now.

But you can bet the innuendos­—and any loose body parts—will fly at this (mostly) nude trail race (last year only two runners were fully clothed and a few women wore shorts) except for running shoes.

Now in its 16th year, the Buns is a challenging mountain run, featuring a 1200foot climb, and is one of the country’s first and biggest nude races. The nudist group Fraternity Snoqualmie organizes the race, which is open to the public and attracts over 200 runners, 40 percent of whom are women.

Post-run, enjoy the Fraternity’s private park equipped with a pool, hot tubs and volleyball courts. Race director Mike Donoghue says this is a perfect event for first-time nude runners: “Once they enter the park and everyone else is naked, they can’t wait to get their clothes off, too!”

Man Against Horse Race

Location » Prescott, Arizona Dates » October 6, 2007 Distance » 50, 25 and 12 miles Information » managainsthorse.com Why you should go » So a trail runner and a horseman enter a bar … Sorry, there is no punch line, but when this actually happened 24 years ago in a bar on Whiskey Row in Prescott, Arizona, a classic race was born. Said runner bet the horseman he could beat a horseback rider in a 50-mile trail race. The

lori teneyck

refuse to move,” says Don Ferrie, who directed the race for 25 years before passing the reins. Legendary burro racer Ken Chlouber adds that training with the animals can help runners avoid these problems. But don’t show up in Leadville and grab one from the nearest pasture— rentals are available!

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Take Your Mark runner lost a close battle, but started a tradition and every year since about 300 runners and riders have repeated the contest.

Feet and hooves kick up a dusty haze at race start, with horses generally taking an early lead. However, a 2000foot climb at mile 29 gives runners the chance to catch up, as riders dismount for mandatory veterinary checks. Then competition really heats up on the ensuing decent. Runners have nabbed the overall win in recent years, usually with a horse or two close behind.

Location » Eight locations nationwide Dates » May 12–Oct 28, 2007 Distance » Approximately 7 miles Information » muddybuddy.com Why you should go » Get down and dirty with a partner! In this eight-event series, teams of two share one bike and trade off riding and running at five checkpoints along a seven-mile trail.

At each checkpoint one team member

There’s no dodging mud puddles at Muddy Buddy races. must navigate an obstacle (anything from monkey bars to cargo netting) before continuing.

Race director Bob Babbit keeps the tone fun and casual, usually while wearing

a frog costume. He once replied to a racer who complained that his own costume had snagged on an obstacle and prevented him from placing in his age category, “Dude, I’m dressed as a frog!”

courtesy muddy buddy

Muddy Buddy Ride and Run Series

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Last gasp

by Bernie boettcher » illustration by JEREMY COLLINS

Breakneck Speed You’ll never go fast if you never go fast

he last thing I remember is seeing my bare white toes flying over my head, as my body slammed to the ground, upside-down, with the force of a sledgehammer.

I was 11, pretending I was the Road Runner (beep-beep!). I used to run barefoot around the outside of our house, dodging in and out of trees, jumping a rock pile and sprinting to the finish under a clothesline. I ran for the sheer joy of it and imagined myself winning the Olympics every time I completed a lap.

One night, after dinner, I had run the course in the dark. I’d felt like I was flying as I passed the clothesline, then jogged to the driveway and rested up for another go.

Little did I know, my mother was doing laundry, and had just hung up some wet pillows to dry overnight. As I sprinted to finish another lap, I never saw that sagging clothesline.

From the ground I staggered to my feet, but fell back to my knees. My neck

felt like I got a hickey from a love-starved crocodile. My head felt like it was trying to hatch an anvil from the lump on the back of my skull.

All I could think as I crawled off to bed was: If I never went fast, this never would have happened.

In moments of sheer agony, a guy can have revelations. Mine that night was, “Speed is bad.”

From that day forward, I took to exploring the backwoods, where there were no clotheslines. I ran more slowly, and soon discovered a new world: the natural world between the forested tops of the rolling hills of west Jersey. And that laid the foundation for my love of trail running.

Over the many years since, I think I’ve found the essence of devotion to trails.

It’s to expand one’s boundaries and to find one’s limits. To explore. To stoke the fiery core of one’s soul till the superficial parts of our civilized world have melted away, funneled down to mind, body and movement. Long, slow distance was for years my method of exploration, but this

past season I began exploring the world of speed again. I was invited to run on a team with Peter Hegelbach, Ken Pliska, Andy Ames and Richard Dissly at the USA Club Cross Country Championships in San Francisco. The 10K course was mostly flat and fast, not really my thing.

“But I like trying new things,” I told myself. (“What a moron!” I told myself later.)

I flew through the two-mile mark at 9:35, my chest about to explode. That was a two-mile PR for me, and I was still the last guy on my team, back in about 34th place. I unraveled like a cheap racing flat after that, and finished 40th.

Our Masters team took second out of 55 clubs, but we had been aiming for first.

I felt like the dragging anchor at the end of the chain.

After awards and dinner that night, the team all went down to watch the sea lions on Pier 39. The faster sea lions there captured the docks and controlled the planks. The slower animals struggled to find a spot.

It’s a rotten feeling to miss out, and the slow ones barked like homesick dogs in a kennel. Their undefeated wills bellowed from their exhausted bodies as, again and again, they lifted themselves to try to shoulder into the crowd on the packed flotillas.

I saw myself in them: a little too slow to get a good spot, and not at all happy about it.

I told myself, “If you never go fast, you’ll never go fast.” And then a new/old thought hatched in my brain cells again.

“Intervals. I need to do intervals again.”

A laundry list of bad memories ensued. The last time I did intervals I pulled a hamstring, and the time before that, I pulled a calf muscle. Another time my illiotibial band twanged like a country guitar. And I remembered how awful my feet and back and stomach and chest and head have felt when I’ve done intervals.

When I got back home, I did intervals, because sometimes you just have to do something you’re not sure you can do ... again and again and again, till you get your flippers on the dock.

Trail running taught me that. The sea lions just reminded me.

Bernie Boettcher is still searching for speed, and not at all happy about it.

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Right | A rocky moraine gives runners a stunning vantage point of Los Perros glacier.

Below | Dan Patitucci in a tugo’-war with unyeilding winds on Garner pass.

Above | Huts along the Paine Grand Circuit treat hungry runners to hot meals.

Right | The Paine River valley, once singed black by wildfire, now abounds with scarlet firebush.

by Elinor Fish | Photos by PatitucciPhoto

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Patagonian pa ss age

Rugged Running through Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park

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Top Right | Janine Patitucci gets up close and personal with a Magellan penguin.

Below Left | Chilean cowboys horsepack supplies to remote huts.

Right | Nearing the circuit’s end, the author and Janine Patitucci soak up the sunshine.

Next Page Top | Dense beech-tree forests offer a welcome reprieve from frequent wind blasts.

Next Page Bottom | Lago Dickson’s ice-cold water makes a refreshing footbath.

C

lad in running tights, a light thermal top and windproof hat and gloves, I kick steps into sunwarmed snow toward Garner Pass, the most remote and treacherous section of a 100-kilometer (62-mile) circuit through Chile’s Torres del Paine.

Sheer 6800-foot granite spires flanking the pass channel chilling winds from neighboring Antarctica. Despite the icy blasts, I work up a sweat, and surprisingly, my feet aren’t cold even though slushy snow soaks through my running shoes.

As the ever-present Patagonian winds intensify at the pass, I urgently yank a lightweight shell jacket from my small backpack and we begin a steep, kneegrinding descent into the valley below, marveling at Grey Glacier’s bright blue parallel crevasses shimmering in the midday sun. Eventually our route flat-

We begin a steep, kneegrinding descent, marveling at Grey Glacier’s bright blue parallel crevasses shimmering in the midday sun.

tens out and runs along the pristine 17kilometer ice expanse to its jagged terminus in the milky waters of Lago Grey.

Our day’s destination is Refugio Grey, a quaint lodge on a small knob of land overlooking the lake dotted with floating glacial ice chunks.

A Hard Day’s Work A sparse five percent of the park’s 130,000 annual visitors complete the full Paine Circuit in part because of Garner Pass’s difficult footing and punishing weather. Indeed, our troupe of 28 trail runners slithered and swung from tree to tree during the steep descent our guide dubbed “The Monkey Trail.”

“You have to grab trees to keep from slipping in the mud and landing on your butt,” said our guide Devy Reinstein.

Upon reaching the refugio, or hut, and

pulling off my mud-caked shoes, I flopped onto the nearest cushioned bench, satisfied with the day’s 19-mile run and glad we still had two more spectacular days of trail running ahead.

California-based Andes Adventures had organized this unique five-day running tour, and our group included American, Canadian and British trail runners ranging in age from 17 to 60. I normally prefer the freedom of independent travel, but arranging a running holiday in one of South America’s busiest parks, including all meals and accommodations, would have been nearly impossible. As it was, Andes Adventures had reserved the refugio beds two years in advance.

Patagonia is a massive and diverse wilderness region spanning the ChileanArgentinean border, which runs along the spine of the Andes Mountains. Over

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the past decade, Torres del Paine has seen a 600-percent increase in visitation, attributed in part to its surging popularity among day hikers and backpackers. Rich in scenic beauty and pristine wilderness, the park was named a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978.

During the busy months of December through February, trails often become clogged with foot traffic, refugios are filled to capacity and camping sites overflow. Chile’s Ministry of Agriculture and National Forests has struggled to keep up with the growing demand for tourist infrastructure and adequate trail maintenance.

Andes Approach Our adventure began in Chile’s southernmost city, Punta Arenas (which means “sandy point”), a port town situated on the east side of the Brunswick Peninsula, part of the long, thin country’s curled tip.

Just across the Magellan Strait is Tierra del Fuego, a collection of rugged islands that taper off to form Cape Horn.

Punta Arenas (population 120,000) is a contradictory mix of structures ranging from rusty corrugated-iron buildings to grandiose mansions built in the late 19th century. Back then, as the industrial age boomed and a shortcut through the Panama canal to bypass the Cape’s treacherous seas had not yet been conceived, the city was one of the world’s busiest shipping ports.

Devy Reinstein, our host and the founder of Andes Adventures, is a Peruvianborn American and avid trail runner.

The hyperactive, super-fit 51-year-old is a former competitive marathoner (his best time is 2:28) and ultrarunner who now diverts his infectious energy into organizing unique trail-running and trekking adventures throughout Peru, Chile, Argentina and Bolivia.

What began 13 years ago as a spontaneous running holiday in Peru with a handful of California running friends has blossomed into 30 annual hiking and running tours to South America’s most spectacular and historic mountain destinations. “The appeal of my trips is that anyone can do them,” says Reinstein.

“You don’t have to be young or an ultrarunner. People of all ages and running backgrounds run with us.”

From Punta Arenas, we took a six-hour, bumpy bus ride north to Torres del Paine National Park, stopping en route at a pinguineros, or penguin rookery, to see wild Magellen penguins. Small, flightless birds waddled back and forth over the windswept ground between the ocean’s edge and shallow burrows, where fuzzy penguin chicks hid from predators and the elements.

Continuing toward the Andes Mountains’ jagged profile, we passed through bland rolling plains subdivided into sheep and cattle ranches or estancias—remnants of the once booming wool trade that made many Spanish settlers wealthy.

Reaching the Patagonian steppes that border the national park, the long drive became a wildlife safari as we spotted long-necked llama-like guanacos grazing on the grassy hillside and nandus, a member of the ostrich family, running awkwardly on spindly legs. Fleeting glimpses of Chilean flamingos’ bright pink plumage and a wild fox’s red coat splashed vibrant color onto the otherwise drab landscape.

hot showers. The remote refugios we’d stay at in the days to come would be considerably more rustic.

We awoke early the next morning for the first leg of our trail-running adventure, a 10.5-mile out-and-back jaunt up Valle Ascencio to three iconic torres, or towers. Devy led the way up a sustained ascent through forests of southern beech trees, beaten by unrelenting winds to grow at an odd angle. We then scrambled up a moraine of large boulders to a glacier-fed lake at the foot of Torre Central, Torre Norte and the highest of them all, 9350-foot-high Torre Sur. That evening, after a hearty feast of grilled fish and beef, Devy painstakingly reviewed the fastpacking strategy for our four-day circumnavigation of the Paine Massif. We would run almost 20 miles a day, carrying only a change of clothes, several pairs of socks and a few other essentials. Sleeping bags, pillows and meals would all be provided at each refugio.

At the relaxed hour of 9 a.m., the group embarked for Refugio Dickson at an easy pace, chatting excitedly and savoring the

The Three Towers After passing through the park’s entrance station at Laguna Amarga, we spent the night at Refugio Las Torres, a newly renovated hostel within view of the dramatic peaks for which the park is named. Refugio Las Torres is the best-equipped lodge on the circuit, complete with electricity and

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TRAILHEAD :

Torres del Paine Grand Circuit, Patagonia, Chile

Geography. Torres del Paine National Park is 1127 square miles, situated on the southeastern end of Hielo Sur, Patagonia’s massive southern continental icecap. Its highest point is Cerro Paine Grande, at over 9800 feet.

Getting There. Fly to Santiago from Los Angeles or Miami. Take a LAN Airlines regional flight to Punta Arenas, then drive 240 miles to the park (located 70 miles north of Puerto Natales).

Season. December through March is best for trail running, though it’s best to avoid the park during January, when Chileans are on holiday. Summer temperatures ranges from 45 to 60 degrees.

warm sunshine and pastoral setting. Steve Kipisz, 44, of Plano, Texas, ran alongside Jon Kimura, a 26-year old software engineer from Cupertino, California, and Stevie Matthews, a 55-year old British woman who has run marathons on all seven continents.

The motley trio had forged a tight friendship during a previous Andes Adventures trip to Peru. “I met Jon and Stevie at the Inca Trail marathon in June 2005,” said Steve. “We had so much fun that the three of us signed up for this trip together.”

As everyone settled into their own pace and the group spread out along the trail, the landscape’s remoteness sank in. We soaked up vibrant views, punctuated by scarlet-red flowering bushes covering hillsides that had been charred black by an accidental wildfire years before. While traversing one of many stream crossings, I mis-stepped and landed on my side in icy-cold water. Embarrassed, I quickly glanced around, relieved no one had witnessed my clumsiness.

Throughout the day we encountered only a handful of backpackers (in stark contrast to the previous day’s hiker-choked trail in Valle Ascencio) and a few gauchos, or Chilean cowboys, who still use Valle Encantado’s lush pastures to graze cattle herds. The gauchos also horse-pack supplies into the park’s refugios that are inaccessible by boat or road.

Eventually we reached Refugio Dickson, a charming two-story hut sporting a bright red exterior and blue alumi-

Guides. Andes Adventures is the only outfitter offering guided running tours of Torres del Paine and many other South American national parks. Included in the packages are ground transportation, hotels, huts, meals, park fees and English-speaking guides. The next Patagonia Running Adventure is scheduled for January 3-17, 2008, and includes the Torres del Paine tour (800-289-9470, info@ andesadventures.com, www.andesadventures.com). Andes Adventures welcomes healthy adult runners of all ages, and recommends participants be able to comfortably run 10 to 15 miles in rolling terrain.

Visas. Visitors must have a passport and pay a $100 reciprocity fee ($132 for Canadians) to Chilean immigration.

num roof, situated on an idyllic grassy peninsula jutting out into Lago Dickson.

Runners trickled in throughout the afternoon, welcomed by a spread of rice, beef, hot soup and boiled vegetables. The feast was prepared by a jovial kitchen staff— three large hombres with thick dark hair and beards and wide smiles—who sang along to Chilean pop tunes on the radio while they worked.

A group of trail-running friends from the United States who call themselves “The Over-50 Club” usually congregated at Oregon’s Hood-to-Coast Relay or the Grand Canyon for a rim-to-rim-to-rim trail run, and added this exotic holiday to their calendars as a special treat. Liz Kellogg, her sister Jane Kellogg and Dot Helling are serious ultrarunners, with races such as the Vermont 100 and Western States 100 on their resumes.

“We like to run ultras, but this kind of trip isn’t competitive at all,” said Liz. “We’re here to enjoy the social aspect, and sightsee.”

Along with Betty Wagner, Bob Mow and Kamm Prongay, from Portland, Oregon, the fun-loving gang talked and laughed their way around Torres del Paine. “This isn’t the kind of experience you want to rush,” explained Dot. “There’s too much beauty here, you gotta slow down and take it in.”

After dinner, Devy reviewed the next day’s 19-mile stage, which was the most difficult and longest, beginning at Dickson and going over Garner Pass to

Refugio Grey. He would employ experienced guides to ensure the group’s safe passage through the circuit’s more challenging portions.

Said one guide, Nelson Oyarzo, from nearby Puerto Natales, who has hiked the trail 10 times, “It usually takes nine days to hike this circuit with clients, but with you runners, we see it all in just five days, and best off all, we don’t carry large packs!”

“Tomorrow will be a long day, but it is also the most rewarding,” Devy promised. “And you are lucky you don’t have to cross the river.” Until this year, accessing Garner Pass from the Dickson side, as we would, involved a mandatory waist- to chest-deep river crossing.

The new trail avoided this unpleasant proposition, however, it did entail navigating the “the muddy section”—a ludicrous maze of shoe-sucking mud and tree roots. We tried to avoid completely submerging our feet in the soggy quadmire for as long as possible, but everyone eventually gave up and delighted in becoming completely grubby.

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The soggy conditions did little to dampen our spirits, however, as the evolving scenery and unique trail obstacles, such as ladders and rope bridges, kept the run fun and engaging.

Top Left | Janine Patitucci glides along Paso Los Cuernos trail above Lago Nordenskjold.

Above | A tri-lingual menu at a makeshift cafe offers international visitors a selection of Chilean fare.

Left | Runners reach Refugio Dickson after running 19 miles along the pastoral Paine River valley.

Arising at first light and grabbing an early breakfast of toast and instant coffee, the junior guides, Mauricio and Pablo, headed out early, speeding ahead to mark the trail with fluorescent blazes. At each day’s midpoint, the two would set out a variety of bars, trail mix, chocolate and energy drink, and serve up cups of hot soup. After the last runner had passed, they would quickly clean up and zoom down the trail again, beating everyone to the next refugio.

Closed Circuit Day four was a relatively easy run of 9.5 miles along a rolling trail contouring Lago Nordenskjold’s pebbly shoreline on one side, with the Cuernos del Paine— jagged gothic turrets of sedimentary black shale—on the other. Strong winds periodically parted the mist to reveal brief glimpses of the towering cuernos.

Thus far we had encountered relatively little rain, but today the skies opened up.

The soggy conditions did little to damp-

en our spirits, however, as the evolving scenery and unique trail obstacles, such as ladders and rope bridges, kept the run engaging. “We’re running every kind of terrain; all that’s missing is a zip line!” said Blaine Tonking, a 17-year-old Texan who had bought the trip as a highschool graduation gift to himself.

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Top | Runners steadily ascend through a misty morning to Los Perros glacier.

Bottom | The author takes a break overlooking massive Grey Glacier’s abrupt terminus in Lago Grey.

Far Right | The steady ascent up Valle Ascencio leads to three distinct granite towers rising from the Paine massif.

{Chile

The Long, Thin Country, At a Glance

LOCATION Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru POPULATION 16 million, almost half of which lives around the country’s capital, Santiago.

SIZE Chile has 2700 miles of coastline, but is never more than 221 miles wide. Chile also lays claim to almost a half-million square miles (9 percent) of Antarctica and includes Easter Island.

GEOGRAPHY The Andes Mountains run along the country’s entire length and is home to some of the world’s highest active volcanoes. The Atacama Desert in the north is one of the world’s driest regions.

together. “We consider these group trips a holiday,” explained Julie. “We travel a lot on our own, but on these tours don’t have to have to worry about logistics and can just enjoy running trails.”

That night at dinner at Refugio Los Cuernos, Julie and Brian set the evening’s celebratory mood by ordering several bottles of Chilean red wine. Everyone toasted the near-completion of our running odyssey. Crammed side-by-side at an elongated dining table, we savored our last meal on the trail, swapping stories with an international mix of hikers envious of our simple, lightweight travel style.

The next morning we hit the trail at 6 a.m. for a rolling three-hour run back to Refugio Las Torres in time for breakfast. This last section, along delightfully smooth, easy trails past a chain of small lakes, was a relief after the previous two

days’ taxing terrain.

During the drive back to Puerto Natales, we stopped at the Argentinean border where the group was split into those flying back to the U.S. the next day and those continuing on to Los Glaciares National Park and Tierra del Fuego. Those going to Argentina would spend the next few days running trails with views of Patagonia’s most notorious peaks, Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre, before continuing on to Ushuaia and Buenos Aires.

“What Julie and I love best about trail running is that it takes us to the most beautiful places,” said Brian on the drive.

Indeed, long before this trip was over, many members of the group were already planning the next one.

Elinor Fish is the Associate Editor of Trail Runner.

CURRENCY Chilean pesos. $1 USD equals 540 Chilean pesos.

LANGUAGE Primarily Spanish, though native languages include Mapundungun (from Mapuche) and Rapa Nui (from Easter Island).

GOVERNMENT Democracy. A three-year-old Marxist government was overthrown in 1973 by a dictatorial military regime led by Augusto Pinochet, who ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990.

RELIGION Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11% MAIN INDUSTRIES The primary export is copper, followed by agricultural exports (fish, fruits, paper and pulp, chemicals and wine), mostly to the U.S. and Japan.

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Ashley Idema

Why does the Angeles Crest 100 dwell in the shadows of Leadville, Western States, Wasatch and Hardrock? Good question. A look at the 20th running of a lesser-known Western classic.

Hal Koerner

BY RENNE GARDNER • PHOTOS BY LARRY GASSAN los Angeles in the fall: Santa Ana winds, wild fires, nFl football on TV and, oh, a little footrace in the Angeles national Forest, the Angeles Crest 100. On September 16, 2006, 111 primal men and women lined up in the mountain resort community of Wrightwood for the 20th running of the race. They were hunting for a finish, a buckle, perhaps even for a championship trophy. Among them nine runners from Oregon, one of the strongest women’s fields ever, two runners going for number 20 and four former race champions.

Wrightwood, at nearly 6000 feet, is generally not a place for shorts, especially at 5 a.m. in the fall. But the Angeles Crest 100 runner knows that the climb out of town will warm them up in a hurry. Although the temperature is

frigid, only a few runners wear tights. runners chat and laugh nervously, review final crew instructions, take photos and gulp last-minute coffees and energy drinks under the oversized start banner strung up across Park Avenue by the volunteer fire department. Anything to keep the anxiety about the tremendous task at hand —traveling to Pasadena on foot within 33 hours—to a minimum.

Assistant race Director, Andy Morehead, alerts runners to the imminent start. Ten minutes, five minutes, then the fire engine horn sounds and they are off, briefly through town and up the Acorn Trail toward the Pacific Crest Trail, the frontrunners at a gallop, the middle-of-the-packers at a trot and the backof-the-packers at a brisk walk.

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“Barefoot Ted” McDonald Carlos Herrara Sue Johnston Jussi Hamaleinen

and 26,700 feet of loss. The highest point runs near Mount Baden-Powell at 9210 feet. The kicker? Over the final 25 miles, the course punches through Chantry Flat and up and around Mount Wilson—with approximately 6000 feet of climbing.

“If you have a course that can capture the imagination of the runner and the volunteers, then the race will prosper,” says codesigner Beaudoin. Since 65 runners first entered the race in 1986, Angeles Crest has evolved each year. Runner feedback prompted race management to increase the quality and number of awards, there have been a few minor course improvements and the race now requires runners to perform volunteer trail maintenance on the Angeles Crest trail.

Probably the most significant upgrade was moving the finish line from the Rose Bowl to Johnson’s Field near Cal Tech’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The old finish at the Rose Bowl was congested, and there was little shade. The new finish area has plenty of room, grass and shade.

According to Hal Winton, co-race director and U.S. Forest Service trail-maintenance volunteer coordinator, the finish line is the most impressive of all the 100-mile runs, with all-night food, breakfast in the morning and hot showers.

“The very best change over the years is the mobile hot shower set up at the finish,” says 19-time finisher Garry Curry.

“It feels so good after running 100 miles.”

Some of the best ultrarunners in the country have challenged the Angeles Crest course. In 1989 former Leadville course-record holder Jim O’Brien set his untouchable AC course record of 17:35:48.

San Diego’s Ben Hian and Evelyn Marshall ran off a string of wins in the 1990s, and Marshall still holds the women’s course record of 22:01:16, set in 1995. Jorge

Guillermo Medina

Ashley Idema

After being denied in the Western States lottery on several occasions in the early 1980s, Angeles Crest 100 race founder, Ken Hamada, decided to create a Southern California 100-miler. He and fellow ultrarunner, Del Beaudoin, set about designing a course in the rugged San Gabriel Mountains.

“I wanted a course more difficult than Wasatch,” says Hamada. “A tougher course is a lot more respected.”

The Angeles Crest 100 is certainly respected. Runners love the diversity of terrain and the large amount of singletrack. The race is considered tougher than Western States due to climbs during the last 25 miles; the last one-third of WS is primarily downhill. “With two huge climbs at the beginning and two huge climbs at the end,” says Oregon’s Hal Koerner, “there really isn’t another race like it.”

The course runs from the San Gabriel Mountains resort community of Wrightwood at the eastern end of the Angeles National Forest to the Los Angeles suburb of Pasadena, about 12 miles north of downtown Los Angeles, and has 92 miles of trails and six miles of dirt road, including portions of the Pacific Crest Trail. Despite the proximity of the finish to the Los Angeles basin, poor air quality has been increasingly less of an issue due to stricter state air-quality rules. However, runners finishing late Sunday morning or early afternoon generally have to deal with heat. There are 21,610 feet of cumulative elevation gain

“The race is special because it is very ‘old school’,” explains Curry. ”It has changed little over the years, and is still low key, just like the good old days of ultrarunning.”

45 July 2007 T r a i l r u n n e r m a g . c o m

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Mt. Baden Powell summit

Pacheco has owned the course over the past several years, with wins in 2001, 2003 and 2004 (the race was canceled in 2002 due to forest fires). Other notable Angeles Crest runners have included Western States champ Scott Jurek, former Leadville course-record holder Juan Herrera and former Badwater courserecord holder Gabriel Flores. During the last decade, Tarahumara Indians of Mexico’s Copper Canyon have run Angeles Crest each year to raise money and awareness for drought and famine conditions in their homeland.

Two runners have completed all 19 previous races. 1990 and 1991 race champion Jussi Hamalainen, 59, of Agoura Hills, California, and Garry Curry, 52, of Boulder, Colorado, will be the first to be awarded the Angeles Crest Grizzly for 20 straight finishes if they make it to Pasadena within the 33-hour time limit. Curry returns each year to visit with old friends, who have crewed and paced him over the years. He sends in his race application each year around Christmas time when he’s itching for some warm weather and to get back on the trails. “The race is special because it is very ‘old school,’” explains Curry. “It has changed little over the years, and is still low key, just like the good old days of ultrarunning.”

When Curry applied to run the first Angeles Crest 100 in 1986, his entry was denied because he had only run a couple of road marathons and no ultras. The telecommunications worker had grown up in Wrightwood and was living in Manhattan Beach at the time. “I ran a 50K race on a

track a few months later,” he says, “then resubmitted my entry and was accepted. I got into the habit of running the race and, like many participants, vowed never again many times.”

In addition, three recent race winners will toe the start line in Wrightwood: defending champion Guillermo Medina, two-time winner Tom Nielsen and Pacheco. Nielsen was fourth at the 2006 Western States.

Oregon’s Hal Koerner is here to redeem himself from a Western States DNF. With a best of 17:17 at Western States in 2004, when he finished third behind Scott Jurek and Dave Mackey, his 2006 Western States was tripped up by dehydration on the climb up Devil’s Thumb, 48 miles into the race.

At this year’s race, one of the strongest women’s field ever is led by defending Angeles Crest champion Julie Finger

of Granite Bay, California. Hoping to dethrone Finger are two-time Hardrock winner Sue Johnston, Carol O’Hear, 2004 Western States and Vermont 100 thirdplace finisher, and the always-strong Stephanie Ehret, Francesca Conte, Stacy Bunton and Leslie Bardessono.

The youngest runner in the race is 26-year-old Ashley Idema, a fifth-grade teacher in Upland, California, who grew up in Corvallis, Oregon. Two years ago she was injured and under-trained and suffered through a Western States finish with ice bags duct taped to her knees.

Even with a couple of ultra wins, at the 2006 Lake Hodges 50K and the PCT 50 Mile, she is intimidated by the strength of the women’s field. “When I got to Wrightwood and saw the list of women entered, I thought I would have to have the race of my life to place even 5th,” she says.

Fast Times at the Angeles Crest 100 Men # Contender

Guillermo Medina

1

women Age StATE

Jim O’Brien

36

CA

2 Hal Koerner

30

3 Ben Hian

25

4 Ben Hian 5 Jorge Pacheco

Time

Yr

# Contender

Age State CS

Time

Yr

17:35:48 ‘89

1

Evelyn Marshal

37

22:01:16 ‘95

OR

18:37:48 ‘06

2 Kathy Britcliffe

34

CS

22:36:57 ‘89

CA

18:39:48 ‘94

3 Suzanne Brana

41

CS

23:08:47 ‘99

27

CA

18:50:24 ‘96

4 Sherry Kae Johns

42

NM

23:18:00 ‘97

35

CA

18:52:24 ‘03

5 Jennifer Johnston

34

CA

23:28:43 ‘98

6 Jorge Pacheco

33

CA

19:05:06 ‘01

6 Ashley Idema

26

CA

23:29:08 ‘06

7 Ben Hian

29

CA

19:05:35 ‘98

7 Susan Gimbel

43

CA

23:37:05 ‘90

8 Tom Nielsen

40

CA

19:07:50 ‘99

8 Evelyn Marshall

36

CA

23:39:37 ‘94

9 Tom Nielsen

41

CA

19:09:04 ‘00

9 Vicki DeVita

38

CA

23:46:56 ‘91

10 Jorge Pacheco

36

CA

19:10:28 ‘04

10 Jennifer Johnston

35

CA

23:51:57 ‘99

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Buy the suunto X9i before July 31st and receive Free toPo! Software with purchase. Go to www.suuntowatches.com.

“Angeles Crest runners have to survive Cooper Canyon. Located on the Antelope Valley side of the San Gabriel Mountains, the canyon absorbs the full brunt of the rising desert heat.”

this map of the Cooper Canyon area was created with national geographic’s toPo!® software.

Angeles Crest 100’s Cooper Canyon, Mile 30 to 37

Mt. Baden Powell summit

Tom Nielsen coming into Chilao Flats, mile 53.

Jule Finger, 2005 AC winner.

Through the first 14 miles Jorge Pacheco is on a mission. He and Ashland, Oregon, running-store owner Hal Koerner are two minutes ahead of Jim O’Brien’s courserecord pace. The top women are within a few minutes of each other.

Idema almost didn’t make the initial climb out of Wrightwood up the Acorn Trail. “Five minutes before the race I was in tears because it suddenly hit me what I was doing, and I got scared,” she says.

“Western States two years before had been so rough. My husband took me aside and just said to run my own race. And that is what I did.”

The mile-14 aid station, Vincent Gap, lies at the base of the second highest peak in the San Gabriel Mountains, 9399-foot Mount Baden Powell. After three and a half miles, 41 switchbacks and 2800 feet in elevation gain, runners climb to 9200 feet, about a half mile from the summit.

On the way up the northeast ridge of the mountain, runners are rewarded with expansive views of the Mojave Desert to the north. Views to the southeast include the deep valley of the East Fork of the San Gabriel River. Climbing through lush forests of oak, Jeffrey pine, white fir, sugar pine and incense cedar, runners receive an additional pay-off near timberline.

Here, a scattering of ancient Limber pines surround the trail. Only Giant Sequoia and Bristlecone pine are known to be older than these gnarled, weather-beaten trees. Arriving at Vincent Gap in tandem in 2:06, Pacheco and Koerner are now five minutes ahead of course-record pace.

“Jorge is an amazing runner,” explains Koerner. “He had the performance of the year at Rocky Raccoon 100-miler [near course record in 13:16] in Texas, and he always goes out hard. I knew that if I wanted to win, I had to work with him.”

At Islip Saddle, mile 25.9, Pacheco leaves the aid station a minute ahead of Koerner, a full 12 minutes ahead of O’Brien’s pace.

“I ended up running behind Jorge,” says Koerner, “because I wanted to respect his pace on a course that he knows so well.”

The question is, of course, can they both maintain such a torrid tempo?

Between miles 30 and 37, Angeles Crest runners have to survive Cooper Canyon.

Located on the Antelope Valley side of the San Gabriel Mountains, the canyon absorbs the full brunt of the rising desert heat. Although there are lush, shaded areas courtesy of stands of Jeffrey and sugar pine, alder and oak, much of the course here runs above the verdant creek on open, sun-exposed trails. Pacheco takes a three-minute lead on Koerner at Eagle’s Roost, the mile-30 aid station, perched on Angeles Crest Highway and increases it to six minutes at mile 37.5, Cloudburst Summit. He has fallen a couple of minutes behind record-setting pace, but looks strong. Koerner drops a few more minutes behind when he misses his crew at Eagles’ Roost.

Cooper Canyon is difficult for Idema.

“I don’t do well in the heat,” she says. “I couldn’t eat anything solid after 25 miles, so I was hoping to get enough calories from drinks to keep me going. I tried not to worry about how far behind I was.” She maintains a fourth- or fifth-place position, and is within striking distance.

A well-known but sometimes unheeded adage at Angeles Crest is that the race begins at Chantry Flat. Many runners push the first 75 miles too hard only to fade going up and over Mount Wilson via the Winter Creek Trail. From Chantry Flat, they must still cover nearly a marathon over several mountains, climbing 6000 feet.

On this day, however, the race seems to begin at mile 59, the Shortcut Saddle aid station, a chunk of asphalt where the Angeles Crest Highway intersects the Silver Moccasin Trail. It’s three in the afternoon, the hottest part of the day that, fortunately for the runners, has been cooler than normal. Here, Koerner emerges first, with a five-minute lead over Pacheco. The race, it seems, is on.

The runners now leave the high country of pine, fir and cooler temperatures for southern California’s foothill environment, typical of the local ecosystem below 5000 feet. Although there are still sprinklings of evergreens, the vegetation includes oak of the benign and poisonous kind, chaparral like toyon and Manzanita and desert plants such as agave and prickly pear cactus. The frontrunners descend into Big Santa Anita Canyon where leasedcabin sites dot the canyon floor. Runners approach Chantry Flat, a popular entryway into the Angeles National Forest.

Chantry Flat is located just six miles from the Los Angeles suburb of Arcadia.

(Continued on page 60)

Angeles crest at a glance Date / September 15, 2007 Elevation / 21,610 feet of elevation gain and 26,700 feet of loss.

Website / AC100.com Webcast / Last year’s Angeles Crest 100 webcast drew rave reviews. Says 2001 Angeles Crest 100 finisher Nancy Shura, “I have tracked runners at various 100-mile races including Western States, Badwater and Leadville. The Angeles Crest webcast was the best, almost real-time reports of the runner’s locations.”

Awards / Besides silver (for sub-24 hour finishes) and bronze buckles (including a Second Sunrise buckle for finishing between 24 hours and the second sunrise), winners are awarded finely detailed bronze animal trophies in a unique handicapping structure, where a 50-year-old can win the 30-and-over award, i.e. a runner in the 50-59 age group who beats all the 30-39 year olds will win the 30 and up age group award.

One year 44-year-old Tom Nielsen beat all the 30year-olds, finishing second overall. Nielsen won the cougar that in a traditional age-group award structure would have been awarded to the 30-year age-group winner. “The unique structure of the awards,” says Winton, “really draws out some excellent running.”

Angeles Crest also awards the Bronze California Grizzly to the runner who wins both the Western States and the Angeles Crest 100 endurance runs, finishing first overall in the same year (there are no gender divisions). A solid 14-karat-gold buckle is awarded to anyone who breaks the overall course record.

T r a i l r u n n e r m a g . c o m July 2007 48

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suunto 46.indd 1

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visit www.suuntowatches.com UHRHS VVV RTTMSN BNL

5/1/07 3:00:21 PM

MEGHAN FUCHS FINDING HERSELF ON THE NUALOLO VALLEY TRAIL, KOKEE STATE PARK, KAUI, HAWAII. PHOTO BY PATITUCCIPHOTO

Mostly I run

because I am an

ANIMAL

artist

and a child,

an

AND A SAINT.

SO, too, are

FIND

YOU.

your own

PLAY,

p.050-51 Gallery.46.indd 50

4/30/07 3:07:26 PM

your own

self-renewing

compulsion, person and YOU

WILL BECOME the

you are

meant to be.

-George Sheehan

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trail tested by elinor fish and Michael benge

Outside the Box

check out this selection of cool gear to enhance your summer on the trails.

T

o help you stoke your trail-running kit, we scoured the outdoor-gear universe for innovative accessories. We found gadgets for taking your tunes to the trails, improving your running workouts Euro-style and strengthening your feet while you run. And you can stay fueled up with candy-like energy food, hydrated with an ergonomically friendly bottle carrier and, post-run, slip on a pair of causal après-run shoes.

THUMP IT UP Oakley Thump Pro $299, 1.8 oz www.oakley.com After I asked an office mate to slip on the Oakley Thump Pros, he mainly looked confused. “Where’s that music coming from?” he asked, then took them off, saying, “That’s too weird for me.”

These hybrid sunglasses-MP3 player seem futuristic but were shockingly simple to use. A quick visit with my savvy friend Brian, and we had the thing packed with enough high-energy tunes to melt your face (Brian’s a metal head). You simply plug the included USB cable from the Thump Pros into your computer, and click and drag (the unit is iTunes compatible).

If you like running with your iPod or MP3 player, the Thump Pros eliminate cords and extra weight. The play/pause, fast-forward/next-song and rewind/previous-song buttons sit on top of the right

temple and the volume buttons on the left quickly become intuitive. By pressing various combinations of the buttons you can program numerous other functions, such as random play, reset and move up or down 10 songs.

The Thump Pros are the latest in Oakley’s wearable electronics, and are the most athletically oriented, offering interchangeable lenses and lighter-weight, sweat-resistant frames. The model I tested holds 512MB of music—or about 120 songs; it is also available in 1GB and 256MB versions. Several running pals commented on the glasses’ sleek look.

Particularly nice were the articulating earbud arms.

With an approximate six-hour battery life (recharge by simply plugging the USB cord into your computer), the Thump Pro may not provide quite enough play time for ultra freaks but plenty for you marathoners.

YOUR FEET WILL FLIP Chaco Latitude Flip Flop $65 www.chacousa.com After a good jaunt on the trails, slide your tired, swollen feet into Chaco’s soft leather flip-flops. More than just another stylish sandal, the men’s Latitude belongs to Chaco’s new Flipside line for men and women that are made with a stiff, contoured midsole designed to cup the heel and support your tired feet.

The Vibram outsole (used in many performance trail-running shoes) makes the Latitude a durable, functional après-run shoe. Available in an array of colors, the Flipside line’s weather-ready leather and cool designs are attractive and good for your feet.

brian bailey (top)

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2007

GoLite G oLite USARA

Adventure Race National Championships November 2-3, 2007 • Missouri

Regional Sponsorship Program: The 1st place coed team from each regional qualifying race will receive a $400 sponsorship, provided by the regional qualifying race, to be applied to the teams entry fee for the 2007 GoLite USARA Adventure Race National Championship™. If the 1st place team does not attend, the sponsorship will roll down to the 2nd place team, etc.

PRESENTED BY:

Houston Adventure Racing Team, Inc.

Ozark Challenge Adventure Race • Apr-14-07 • Ozark, AR www.ozarkchallenge.com

The Cradle of Liberty Adventure Race • Jun-30-07 Southeastern, PA • www.goalsara.org

BlackBeard Adventure Race • Sep-15-07 • Outerbanks, NC www.americanadventuresports.com

Endorphin Fix Adventure Race • Apr-20-07 Canann Valley, WV • www.oarevents.com

Lionheart 24 Hour Adventure Race • Jun-30-07 Ohiopyle, PA • www.americanadventuresports.com

Midwest Monster Adventure Race • Sep-15-07 • Quincy, IL www.monsteradventure.com

Castaic Lake Adventure Race • Apr-28-07 • Castaic Lake, CA www.bigblueadventure.com

Longest Day Adventure Race • Jun-7 • New York, NY www.nyara.org

Wild Adventure Race • Sep-21-07 • Biwabik, MN www.wildadventurerace.com

Save the World Adventure Race • Apr-28-07 McCormick, SC • www.s-t-w.org MISSION Adventure Race • May-12-07 • Versailles, IN www.dinoseries.com Central Coast Adventure Challenge • May-19-07 San Louis Obispo, CA • www.ccadventure.com Florida Coast to Coast • May-25-07 • FL www.adventurousconcepts.com Spread Your Wings Adventure Race • May-26-07 RockSprings, TX • www.toocoolracing.com Yough X-treme • May-26-07 • Ohiopyle, PA www.americanadventuresports.com Run, Row, Rock, & Roll Adventure Race • Jun-9-07 Fairbury, NE • jcraig@nebraskasportscouncil.com New England AR Series #2 • Jun-9-07 • Westover, VT info@racingahead.com

Oak Ridge 24 Hour Adventure Race • Jul-21-07 Oakridge, OR • www.bigblueadventure.com Odyssey 1 Day Adventure Race • Jul-21-07 • Roanoke, VA www.oarevents.com Atlantic Coast Conquest • Jul-28-07 •Oralndo, FL www.mycfar.com Bushwak This! • Aug-4-07 • Vasilla, AK www.egadsalaska.com Krista Griesacker Memorial Race •Aug- 5-07 • Hamburg, PA www.goalsara.org Kit Carson Adventure Race •Aug-11-07• Carson City, NV www.bigblueadventure.com Bear Adventure Race • Sep-2-07 • Jacksonville, FL www.performancemultisports.com/BEARinfo.htm The SHAG • Sep-8-07 • NY • www.nyara.org The Thunder Rolls Adventure Race • Sep-8-07 • IL www.thethunderrolls.org

New England AR Series #3 • Sep-22-07 • NH www.racingahead.com Berryman Adventure Race • Sep-29-07 Big Springs Park, MO • www.berrymanadventure.com Terra Firma Adventure Race • Oct-6-07 • Smithville, TX www.terrafirmapromo.com Warrior Challenge Adventure Race • Oct-7-07 • Ashland, NE jcraig@nebraskasportscouncil.com Raid the Rock Urban Adventure Race • Oct-27-07 Little Rock, AR • www.raidtherock.com Howl at the Moon • 27-Oct-07 • FL www.adventurousconcepts.com

The 2007 GoLite USARA Adventure Race National Championship team will receive free entry to all 2008 Regional Qualifying Events. (see website for details)

Zanfel & Bulleit Bourbon are proud to donate $100.00 each towards the entry fee to the GoLite USARA Adventure Race National Championships to the winning teams from each Reginal Qualifying Event.

www.USARAnationals.com USARA_46.indd 1

4/25/07 4:52:19 PM

trail tested

BOUNCELESS BOTTLE CARRIER Amphipod Full-Tilt Velocity $30, 7.9 oz www.amphipod.com Just as running styles vary, everyone has unique preferences when it comes to water-toting. As one who never took to carrying hand-held carriers or using hydration packs, waist systems have been my frequent favorite for long jaunts and trail races.

Amphipod’s Full-Tilt Velocity waterbottle belt secures a 20-ounce bottle horizontally across your lower back, which means no bouncing bottle digging into your spine. The design also avoids the awkward arm angles required to retrieve an upright bottle. I was espe-

cially pleased with how easy it was to remove the flat bottle from the sleeve and slip back in again. The stretchy storage compartment was ideal for holding a few gels, keys and an iPod, and the cushioned waist belt, made from vented foam to release moisture, prevented unpleasant “sweaty back.”

For well-equipped trail runners who dare not venture out under-prepared, the Full-Tilt Trail version boasts nine storage pockets including an expandable, bucklesecured pocket for holding a lightweight jacket or hat.

AIRATE YOUR SOLES NATIONAL RANKING SYSTEM Presented by

February 2007 1 Lab Rats 2 Berlin Bike 3 HART / Hammer Nutrition 4 HART / Texas Dare 5 INERTIA 6 Backpacker / Bicycle Shop 7 HART / Dead Reckoning 8 Dynamic Earth 9 M.O.A.T. 10 Bikes Plus - Little Rock

BITE Xtension 3 running sandal $80, 12.3 oz www.biteshoes.com I’ve tried to run in sandals before, footslapping down the trail with all the control and grace of a wet duck. But clipping into Bite’s Xtension 3 running sandal was a blast of fresh air. These aren’t your typical river sandals. The four-point harness feels a bit excessive walking around the office, but was secure while trail running. The harness’s well-cushioned nylon

March 2007 1 Checkpoint Zero / GoLite 2 Berlin Bike 3 Bikes Plus - Little Rock 4 HART / Texas Dare 5 INERTIA 6 Lab Rats 7 Werewolves of Austin 8 Dynamic Earth 9 Enduraventure - Outspokin’ Bikes 10 Team Peanut Butter

www.usara.com

straps didn’t rub my boney foot parts.

The Xtension 3 wore like a sandal but gave me the sole support of a trail shoe to tackle uneven terrain.

While running, I felt naturally inclined to land on my forefoot rather than my heel. The sole’s rocker facilitated a smooth toe-off, and the toe guard protected my tender digits from stubbing and twigs. Mild pronators will be pleased with the medial posting that, combined with a stiff mid-foot bridge, provided surprising stability.

Word of caution: if your feet perspire like mine (profusely!), it’s nice to run in sandals ... for awhile. But watch out for sweaty sole slippage. Overall, this is no replacement for a good trail shoe, but occasional training with the sandal’s minimal structure forces your feet and lower leg to work harder. The extra effort will strengthen these stabilizing muscles, reducing your chances of an overuse injury.

—PETE ROGNLI

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trail tested

WALK ON Exel Nordic Walker Extreme $154, 12.2 oz/pair www.nordicwalking.com Want to bring some Euro chic to your local trails? Then get yourself a pair of Nordic walking poles. Trendy in the Alps, the poles are becoming more popular with trail runners in North America, especially in rugged, knee-pounding terrain.

The Nordic Walker Extremes are super light, and the grip-strap system gives a locked-on feeling that allows you to really push off the strap with the heel of your hand rather than having to grip the pole.

For pure rock or pavement, the poles come equipped with rubber tip guards, which can be removed to expose the spike tip when you hit sand, mud or dirt.

On unrunable steep uphills, the poles made me feel faster, providing some propulsion, and promoting a chiropractor-approved upright posture. On

runable sections, you can let the poles dangle and tick-tick along or you can grip them lightly to keep them off the ground, but the latter can add tension to your upper body. On steep downhills, the poles swung out and lightly touched the ground, giving stability and confidence, but I felt faster when I just cut loose and ran with the poles pointing backward.

While most runners use the poles for balance and support, they can also provide great upper-body conditioning. Anyone who has Nordic skied can attest to the all-body workout it allows. To get the most out of Nordic Walker Extremes, plant the pole beside your foot, push off and follow through, extending your arm and hand by pushing on the wrist strap (your hand won’t be touching the grip in this phase) before retracting the pole for the next stroke, and seek a rhythm that employs natural arm swings. Happy striding.

PHOTOS ON THE FLY GoPro Digital Hero 3 camera $139, 5.0 oz www.goprocamera.com If you leave the digital camera at home to avoid the extra bulk and weight or are simply worried about getting it damaged by the elements, GoPro’s Hero 3 digital wrist camera might be the answer.

Designed for use without having to remove the 2.2-ounce camera from its clear plastic waterproof and shockproof housing, the mini sports camera boasts 16 MB of memory, which will hold only about 45 photos or 20 seconds of video; you can boost the camera’s capacity with an SD card, and get 3500 photos or 54 minutes of video from a 2 GB card.

This simple point-and-shoot isn’t bogged down with any extra features such as a flash, focus, zoom or image display, but does have a view finder and takes three megapixel photos that you can view once you’ve downloaded them to your computer or television (PC/TV

connector cable included).

A wide Velcro strap secures the camera to your wrist and a rubber ring clamps the camera down flat while you’re running. Unclip the ring to swivel the camera upright to take photos or shoot video. This tester found the wrist gear bulky after an hour of running, and ended up tucking the unit away in the side-pocket of a waist pack.

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trail tested

BLOWING IN THE WIND Hennessy Hammock UltraLite Backpacker A-sym $180, 1 lb 15 oz www.hennessyhammock.com Fastpacking entails a whittled-down camping kit that will let you move quickly.

Though a shelter is vital, bivy sacks can be claustrophobic nightmares and tents heavy. Consider instead the lightweight Hennessy Hammock, but first toss all your preconceived hammock notions. With the UltraLite Backpacker A-sym’s ingenious design, you cannot spin off or around like a cartoon character, and the asymmetric cut allows you to lie on the diagonal in a nearly flat position (not rounded like a banana) on your back or side.

Once you figure out how to set up the hammock (the directions printed on the stuff sack beg clarifying), it goes very quickly (under two minutes), and requires just two trees approximately 12 to 20 feet apart.

That’s the beauty—you can sleep comfortably in the rockiest, rootiest country out there. The “canopy,” or rain fly, attaches to

the main ridge line and is further tensioned with guy lines to rocks or trees. In windy conditions, weight the fly/guy line attachment point to keep the fly from flapping.

The hammock system’s drawbacks include not being able to bring your gear inside (there is an interior ridge line for hanging small items; it’s best to store your pack underneath in a waterproof bag), heat loss due to being off the ground (while the hammock is a great, airy hot-weather bivy, a sleeping pad is recommended in cooler temps) and limited room for cooking and hanging out underneath the fly in inclement weather. And in bear country, you might be mistaken for a tasty burrito wrap.

For the ultimate cool-weather combination, use the Big Agnes Zirkel sleeping bag which has an integrated, removable sleeping pad.

Bonus Content Visit www.trailrunnermag.com for a review of the Big Agnes bag and pad.

DEBRIS DETERRENT Inov-8 Debris Sock $18 (Coolmax), $23 (Merino wool) www.inov-8.com Inov-8’s Debris Sock may not make the hippist fashion statement, but the builtin gaiter, which folds over the top of your running shoes, will keep pebbles and grit from getting into the high-friction zone between your skin and shoes.

We found the gaiter fit well over our favorite trail shoes and easy to fasten down thanks to a durable Kevlar strap that hooks under the shoe’s outsole and a small hook that grabs onto the laces.

The underfoot strap, secured to the sock

by Velcro tabs, can be easily replaced if it breaks or wears out.

In warm weather, the Coolmax Debris sock kept our feet dry and comfortable,

while the warmer Merino wool version offered extra padding underfoot. The wool gaiter added welcome warmth on cold, muddy outings, but led to rapid overheating on milder days.

T r a i l r u n n e r m a g . c o m July 2007 56

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MUS T DO R ACE S

June 9; Sept 22 • Dover VT; Gilford NH New England AR Series, 45 to 100 miles of paddling, mtn. biking, trekking and navigation, and up to 3555 meters of climb over 3 mountain ranges. Eastern Mountain Sports won this last year and became National Champions. Test your team against the best at this National Qualifier for USARA Nationals. www.racingahead.com

USA TRAIL CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 30 • Steamboat Springs, CO The USA Trail Championships (10k) is on June 30, 2007 at the Steamboat Ski area.

The open race is at 8:30 a.m. The elite race ($5000 purse) at 10 a.m. Everyone will get Smartwool NZ merino wool shirts, post race taco buffet, beer, bluegrass band and raffle prizes. www.runningseries.com

LEADVILLE TRAIL MARATHON & HEAVY HALF MARATHON

July 7 • Leadville, CO Experience miles of breathtaking Leadville Rocky Mtn trails. Summit notorious 13,188 ft. Mosquito Pass. Well supported aid stations provided. Also consider LT 10K Aug 12 and the legendary LT 100 Aug 18-19. www.leadvilletrail100.com

THE WASATCHSPEEDGOAT 50K

July 21 • Snowbird and Alta Ski Resorts This is a tough, rugged, high altitude 50K with nearly 9,000' of climb. Mostly singletrack and some fireroads with a tunnel at 10,900'. Very accesible for spectators and a fabulous venue for familes. www.wasatchspeedgoat.com

27TH ANNUAL SQUAW VALLEY MOUNTAIN RUN

August 4 • Lake Tahoe, CA The Squaw Valley Mountain Run / Hike is the perfect opportunity for the whole family to experience the California sunshine, stunning views of the High Sierra and Lake Tahoe. Starting at the base of Squaw Valley USA (6200') the course climbs the 3.6 mile mountain run to High Camp (8200') www.squawmountainrun.com

HERC OPEN SPEED HIKING COMP.

August 11 • Warren, VT Enter The First Annual (the inaugural race of many years to come) Herc Open (anyone can enter, runners welcome) Vermont Speed Hiking (a unique sport involving hiking and/or running on trails over scenic Vermont Peaks of significant elevation) Competition (a scramble for a share of the $25,000 cash purse!). www.hercopen.com

TAHQUA TRAIL 25K

August 25 • Paradise, MI Run from the largest fresh water lake in the world to the second largest waterfall east of the Mississippi. Enjoy the amazing scenery and wildlife (glimpse moose) as you travel from the shores of Whitefish Bay on Lake Superior to Upper Tahquamenon Falls. Local wild blueberry filled pastries await finishers. www.greatlakesendurance.com

JUNGLE MARATHON STAGE RACE

October 5-14 • Santarem, Brazil A six-stage, 125 mile self-sufficient stage race through the Amazon jungle on trails and paths with several swamp and water crossings; lots of elevation gain. Limited to 100 competitors.

An epic challenge in an incredible location. www.dreamchaserevents.com

WHAT IS IT? TRAIL RUNNER TROPHY SERIES 101 WHAT a point series of over 100 trail races, including two divisions: Marathon and Under, and Ultra.

WHO anyone is eligible. Just finish a TROPHY SERIES race, and you’re automatically entered. Win bonus points for finishing top three.

WHEN all races take place between March 1 and September 30, 2007.

WHERE TROPHY SERIES races dot the United States and Canada, from coast to coast. * WIN ONE OF 18 PRIZE PACKAGES, STUFFED WITH AWESOME GEAR FROM TROPHY SERIES SPONSORS!

06/02 Kelly Canyon Trail Run 5M; Ririe, ID; Info@PB-Performance.com; www.PB-Performance.com/pb/KCTR 06/02 Kettle Moraine 100 Endurance Runs 38M, 100K, 100M, 100R; La Grange, WI; kettle100run@yahoo.com; www.kettle100.com; 06/02 Scorched Sole Ultra 25K, 50K; Kelowna, BC, Canada; shirleeross@ shaw.ca; www.scorchedsole.com 06/03 Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon, Half & Relay 13.1M, 26.2M; Deadwood, SD; leanhorse@rushmore.com; www.DeadwoodMickelsonTrailMarathon.com 06/09 Lake Youngs Ultra 38.5M; Renton, WA; aj_martineau@yahoo. com; www.marathonmaniacs.com/Lake_Youngs_Ultra.htm 06/09 Laurel Highlands Ultra & 50K 50K, 70.5M; Ohiopyle, PA; rfreeman@access995.com; www.laurelultra.com 06/09 USATF New England Trail Championships This race has withdrawn from the Trophy Series 06/10 Valley Crest Half Marathon 13.1M; Tarzana, CA; valleycrestrun@ yahoo.com; www.valleycrestrun.com 06/16 Highlands Sky Trail Run 40M; Davis, WV; wvmtr@starband.net; www.wvmtr.org 06/16 La Sportiva Trail Race Trifecta 5K, 13.1M, H; Snowmass, CO; mikemac@bigfootproduction.com; www.bigfootproduction.com 06/17 Joe Colton’s Off Road Adventure Run 1M, 5K, 10K, 10M, 15M; Rollinsville, CO; Lori.kinczel@igc.org; www.joecoltonadventure.org 06/17 Tanglewood Tanglefoot Trail Run 5M, 10M; Elmira, NY; twood2004@aol.com; tanglewoodnc@stny.rr.com; www.tanglewoodnaturecenter.com 06/23 Double Dipsea (Walt Stack DSE Double Dipsea) 13.8M; Stinson Beach, CA; runkenrun@aol.com; www.doubledipsea.com 06/23 Kusam Klimb 23.2K; Sayward, BC, Canada; sfs@saywardvalley. net; www.kusamklimb.ca 06/23 Old Gabe 25/50K 25K, 50K; Bozeman, MT; trailrunner@montana. net; www.math.montana.edu/~thayes/Runs 06/23 Pilot Hill Trail Run (The Oldest Footrace In Wyoming) 25K; Laramie, WY; Labman_2001@hotmail.com 06/23 Slacker Half Marathon & Relay 4M, 13.1M; Georgetown, CO; bluther@co.clear-creek.co.us; www.slackerhalfmarathon.com 06/24 Cranmore Hill Climb 10K; North Conway, NH; info@whitemountainmilers.com; www.whitemountainmilers.com 07/07 Keweenaw Trail Running Festival 5.8K, 10K, 25K; Copper Harbor, MI; jcrumbaugh@charter.net; www.greatlakesendurance.com 07/08 Loon Mountain Race 10K; Lincoln, NH; info@whitemountainmilers.com; www.whitemountainmilers.com 07/08 Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K; Colorado Springs, CO; raceinfo@ pikespeakmarathon.org; www.pikespeakmarathon.org 07/08 TEVA Vail Hill Climb 7.5M; Vail, CO; jrabinowitz@vailrec.com; www.vailrec.com 07/15 High Mountain Trail 25K & 50K 25K, 50K; Leadville, CO; coachamanda@earthlink.net; www.hminet.org 07/21 Clackamas River Runoff 8K, 15K; Estacada, OR; cneely@ RogueMultiSport.com; www.RogueMultiSport.com 07/21 Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance Runs 50K, 50M, 100M; Lake Tahoe, NV; trt50k50m@sbcglobal.net; www.tahoemtnmilers.org/trt50/ 07/28 Grand Island Trail Marathon & 10K 10K, 26.2M; Munising, MI; jcrumbaugh@charter.net; www.greatlakesendurance.com 07/28 Mt. Hood PCT 50/50, Scott McQueeney Memorial 50K, 50M; Clackamas Lake OR; monika.c.gold@tek.com; www.pctultra.com.

07/28 Snow King Hill Climb 2.3M; Jackson, WY; jharkness@tetonwyo. org; www.tetonwyo.org/parks 08/TBA Springmaid Xstream 10K 10K; Spruce Pine, NC; matthollifield@mitchellraces.com; www.mitchellraces.com

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

T R A I L R U N N E R M A G . C O M JULY 2007 58

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PATITUCCIPHOTO

VT 12-HOUR & NH 24-HOUR ADVENTURE RACES

PATITUCCIPHOTO

TROPHY SERIES RACES 08/04 HURL Elkhorn 50 Mile Endurance Run 50M; Helena, MT; slengebrecht@msn.com; www.elkhorn100.com 08/04 Indian Peaks Trail Run 10K; Nederland, CO; info@racingunderground. com; www.racingunderground.com 08/11 Dirty Girls’ 6, 12 & 24 Hour Trail Race 6H, 12H, 24H; Toronto, ON, Canada; dchesla@sympatico.ca; www.dirtygirlsrun.com 08/11 Herc Open VT Speed Hiking Competition 16M; Warren, VT; info@hercopen.com; www.hercopen.com 08/11 Mt Disappointment Endurance Run 50K; Mt Wilson, Angeles National Forest, CA; gary@mtdisappointment50k.com; www.mtdisappointment50k.com 08/11 STORMY 64km Solo Ultramarathon and Relay 50M, 100M; Squamish, BC, Canada; wendy@stormtrailrace.ca; www.stormytrailrace.ca 08/12 Haulin’ Aspen Trail Marathon and Half Marathon 13.1M, 26.2M; Bend, OR; haulinaspen@freshairsports.com; www.FreshAirSports.com 08/12 Wreck Beach Bare Buns Fun Run 5K; Vancouver, BC, Canada; Judyw@ wreckbeach.org; www.wreckbeach.org 08/18 Where’s Waldo 100K 100K; Willamette Pass, OR; thornley@wpsp.org; www.wpsp.org/ww100k 08/25 Bulldog 50K Ultra / 25K Trail Run 25K, 50K; Calabasas, CA; bulldogultra@yahoo.com; www.bulldogrun.com 08/25 Conquer the Canuck - NB Edition 12.5K, 25K, 42.2K, 50K, 92.2K; Crabbe Mountain, NB, Canada; Trail@ccrr.ca; www.ctc.ccrr.ca 08/25 Lean Horse Hundred, Half Hundred & 50K 50K, 50M, 100M; Hot Springs, SD; Leanhorse@rushmore.com; www.Leanhorse.com 08/25 Tahqua Trail 25K 8K, 25K; Paradise, MI; jcrumbaugh@charter.net; www.greatlakesendurance.com 08/26 Bramble Scramble Trail Races 5K, 15K, 30K; Williston, VT; eric@catamountoutdoor.com 09/01 Grand Teton Races 26.2M, 50M, 100M; Alta, WY; info@tetonraces.com; www.tetonraces.com 09/01 Meeteetse Absaroka Challenge 5K, 10K, 15K; Meeteetse, WY; meetrec@tctwest.net; www.meetrec.org 09/02 Walk in the Park 18K, 36K, 54K; Kamloops, BC, Canada; witp@shaw.ca; http://members.shaw.ca/witp/ 09/03 American Discovery Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K 5K, 13.1M, 26.2M; Colorado Springs, CO; ADTMguy@hotmail.com; www.adtmarathon.com 09/08 Dances with Dirt Ultra 50K, 50M, 100R; Hell, MI; events@runningfit. com; www.danceswithdirt.com 09/08 Mid Mountain Marathon 26.2M; Park City Utah, UT; info@mountaintrails.org; www.mountaintrails.org 09/08 Moose Mountain Trail Races 16K, 29K; Bragg Creek, AB, Canada; jen. silverthorn@shaw.ca; www.members.shaw.ca/moosemountain 09/15 Cle Elum Ridge 50K Run 50K; Cle Elum, WA; marty@cleelumridge50k. com; www.cleelumridge50k.com 09/15 Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Harvest Stompede 5K, 7M; Suttons Bay, MI; rick@lpwines.com; www.lpwines.com 09/15 Sombrero Ranch Roundup 4.5M; Estes Park, CO; matt@bolderboulder.com; www.bolderboulder.com 09/15 Timberline Marathon 26.2M; Mt Hood, OR; cneely@RogueMultiSport. com; www.RogueMultiSport.com 09/16 Lead King Loop 25K and Quarry Trail Climb 12.5K 12.5K, 25K; Marble, CO; macek57@hotmail.com; www.leadkingloop25k.com 09/22 Bays Mountain Trail Race 15M; Kingsport, TN; markskelton@markskelton.com; www.runtricities.org/asp/racecal_manage.asp?action =view&racecalid=529 09/22 Lake Superior Shore Run/Race Against Tobacco 5K, 13.1M; Negaunee, MI; jharrington@hline.org 09/22 Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Harvest Stompede 5K, 7M; Suttons Bay, MI; rick@lpwines.com; rick@lpwines.com 09/22 Odyssey Trail Marathon & 1/2 Trail Marathon 13.1M, 26.2M, 40M; Douthat State Park, VA; info@OARevents.com; www.OARevents.com 09/22 Salomon 24 Hours of Frisco 6M, 24H; Frisco, CO; emgmh@emgcolorado.com; www.emgcolorado.com 09/22 Vasque Golden Leaf Half Marathon 13M; Aspen, CO; paul@utemountaineer.com; www.utemountaineer.com 09/23 Rock Cut Hobo Run 25K, 50K; Rockford, IL; larrydswanson@peoplepc. com; www.rockcuttrails.org 09/29 Great Eastern Endurance Run 50K, 100K; Charlottesville, VA; rungillrun@comcast.net; www.badtothebone.biz

RACE FINDER

NEW FOR

2007!

RACE YOUR WAY TO LA SPORTIVA TRAIL SHOES AND A SPOT ON ITS MOUNTAIN-RUNNING TEAM

HERE’S HOW YOU MUST REGISTER BY AUGUST 31 TO BE ELIGIBLE: www.trailrunnermag.com/ Trophyseries/enter.html

1 Run in the 2007 Trophy Series and receive up to 40% off La Sportiva shoes!

2 For each Trophy Series race you finish, earn 10% off a pair of La Sportiva trail-running shoes, accumulating up to 40% after four races.

3 Plus win a chance to become an honorary La Sportiva Running Team member!* Team members will receive four pairs of La Sportiva trail-running shoes and a team apparel package including socks, headlamp, singlet, running tee, shorts, warm-up jacket and headwear.

KEWEENAW TRAIL RUNNING FESTIVAL JULY 7-8, 2007 10K • Lake Fanny Hooe to Keweenaw Mountain Lodge • 8 a.m. Saturday 6K Hill Climb • Eagle Harbor Beach to Mt. Lookout Summit • 7 p.m. Saturday 25K • Keweenaw Highlands • 7 a.m. Sunday Join us for three trail races in two days in Upper Michigan’s remote Keweenaw Peninsula. Enjoy abundant single track along wilderness lakes, streams, and the rugged highlands surrounding the village of Copper Harbor. The KTRF is based out of the historic Keweenaw Mountain Lodge where runners can reserve trail side cabins with stone fireplaces. A hearty breakfast made with local and organic foods is served to runners after the 25K. Race info: www.greatlakesendurance.com Contact: info@greatlakesendurance.com Call: 715.460.0426

*When you register, you will automatically be placed in a weighted drawing based on the number of races you finish.

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Unidentified Tarahumaran.

RESULTS #

Contender

Age

State

Time

1

Hal Koerner

30

OR

18:37:48

10 Craig Thornley

2 Tom Nielsen

38

CA

20:23:12

3 Kyle Hoang

35

CA

20:35:49

4 Guillermo Medina

31

CA

#

Contender

Age

State

Time

42

OR

23:11:47

11 Ashley Idema

26

CA

23:29:08

12 Brian Polley

35

CA

23:32:13

21:05:25

13 Devin Corcoran

49

CA

23:40:56 23:43:18

5 Jeff Riley

37

OR

21:08:55

14 Jussi Jamalainen

60

CA

6 Osbaldo Nava Lopez

34

MEX

21:14:47

15 Adaberto Mendoza

54

CA

24:07:51

7 Roperto Romero

42

CA

22:00:39

16 Stacey Bunton

43

OR

24:10:47

8 Carlos Herrera

21

MEX

23:04:10

17 David Coblentz

43

NM

24:43:42

9 Angel Perez

35

CA

23:11:26

(Continued from page 48) By 5:30 p.m. at Chantry Flat, the mile74.5 aid station, the frontrunners have not yet arrived. The aid-station volunteers here are still setting up trays of fruit, sandwiches and cookies. Soup and vegetarian chili are being warmed. Last year the frontrunner didn’t arrive here until 6:30. In fact, it is so early that the course between Newcomb’s Saddle and Chantry Flat isn’t completely marked yet.

Over the next 25 tough miles, says corace director Hal Winton, East Coast runners often suffer because they’re not used to the climbs. Winton, a hale 75, finished

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Angeles Crest 100

September 16-17, 2006

the Last Great Race (five 100-milers) in 1992. “I have often used my history to prod young runners who want to quit at Chantry Flat,” he says. “I ask them, ‘Can you please tell me what you did wrong here? When I was 60, this was my fifth 100 of the year.’” According to Winton, runners so admonished get pissed off enough to rally and finish.

At 5:43 p.m., Koerner makes the big climb out of Big Santa Anita Canyon and is the first runner to arrive at Chantry Flat. He steps up to the scale to gauge his hydration. He seems confident and unrushed, and needs no admonition

from Mr. Winton. He straps an LED light around his waist and, as he heads out with his pacer, says a big “thank you” to the aid-station volunteers.

The question is, “Where is Jorge?”

Pacheco’s crew is ready. Chairs, nighttime running gear and water bottles are laid out. Minutes turn into an hour. Still no Jorge.

Suddenly shouts about an approaching runner stir volunteers and crews to action. However, the second runner is not Pacheco. It’s the ever-consistent Tom Nielsen, over an hour behind Koerner.

Three more runners arrive before Pacheco

5/1/07 2:38:45 PM

trudges into the welcoming arms of his crew. A five-minute deficit to Koerner at mile 59 has turned into an hour and a half just 16 miles later.

Pacheco explains to his crew that he has no legs left, no energy. He had pushed himself hard at the Bulldog 50K in the Santa Monica Mountains only a few weeks earlier, and may have run too many races this summer. “This is the passion of the frontrunners,” says Winton. “They can’t not do it.”

If anyone has a chance to catch Koerner now, it is 47-year old Nielsen, of San Diego.

The two-time Angeles Crest winner was fourth at Western States this year and takes pride in his ability to push past runners during the final stages of races. But Nielsen loses ground to Koerner at each checkpoint over the last 25 miles.

The key for Koerner over the final 25 miles? “I got myself a good pacer,” he says. He has working flashlights this year, and is listening to some favorite tunes on his Nano: Michael Franti, Hendrix and Bob Marley. In 2004 when he finished AC in 20:59, Koerner didn’t have a pacer and went through four flashlights in the final 20 miles. At the finish, he was sporting

a five-pound clunker light borrowed from an aid-station volunteer. Being rested coming into the race doesn’t hurt either.

“Opening the new running store [Rogue Valley Runners in Ashland, Oregon] has been taxing,” he explains. “But it let me get some much needed rest.”

Idema was anxious coming into the course’s last quarter. “I was very intimidated by the last 25 miles, because I have had so many bad experiences there during my training runs,” she says. Approaching mile 75 she is passed by Oregon’s Stacey Bunton and is the third woman into Chantry. “That woke me up,” she says.

“All of a sudden I felt like a new person.”

Idema passes Julie Finger and Bunton on the climb up Mount Wilson. “When we saw headlamps ahead, I could not believe it,” she says. “I was nervous to pass because that would make me the one being chased. After passing Julie we just kept powering up the climb and to me it felt like we flew.”

Koerner and Idema both fly. Koerner wins the 20th Annual Angeles Crest 100 in 18 hours 37 minutes, the second-fastest time ever. Idema becomes the youngest

women’s champion with the sixth-fastest women’s time. Hamalainen and Curry finish and win Grizzly awards for 20 straight finishes. Six runners from Oregon finish.

Of 111 starters, 81 finish within the 33hour time limit.

Both Koerner and Idema say they’ll return to defend their titles. Koerner is targeting big efforts at both Western States and Angeles Crest this year. Idema may alter her training somewhat. Instead of racing or training seriously this past summer, she got married in Oregon, visited her new in-laws in Minnesota, bought a house and spent her honeymoon on the John Muir Trail. “I think hiking the JMT was the best thing for me,” she says. “It was rough and required long days on my feet hiking at elevation.

“I have never run the same race twice yet,” says Idema, “so I would like to come back and see if I have improved.”

Renne Gardner finished the Angeles Crest 100 in 1996, and returns regularly as a pacer, volunteer and spectator. He also writes about outdoor issues for regional and national publications from his hometown in Southern California.

September 8, 2007 8:00 AM Park City, UT Come and run this stunningly scenic marathon on a level single track trail at 8,000 feet. The trail traverses Deer Valley, Park City, The Colony and The Canyons ski areas with spectacular scenic vistas, enchanted forests, glowing aspens and outstanding foliage.

Sponsored By:

Photo by: Mark Maziarz ParkCityStock.com

For the avid trail runner, we offer a stage race in the mountains of Park City!

The Triple Trail Challenge combines three events, the Jupiter Peak Steeplechase on August 11, the first half of the Park City Marathon on August 25, and the Mid Mountain Marathon on September 8, 2007. Complete all three, and you’re wearing the “must have” fashion statement – an embroidered vest, bragging rights included. Registration and more information can be found through . . .

www.mountaintrails.org

61 JULY 2007 T R A I L R U N N E R M A G . C O M

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O U T F I T T E R S

ONLINE

LIST YOUR STORE! • CALL 1-877-762-5423 ext. 17 CANADA GORD’S RUNNING STORE 919 Centre St NW Calgary, AB T2E2P6 403-270-8606 • F 403-283-8341 www.gordsrunningstore.com info@gordsrunningstore.com NORTH SHORE ATHLETICS 1200 Londsdale # 101 N Vancouver, BC V7M3H6 604-990-6888 www.northshoreathletics.com info@northshoreathletics.com STRIDE AND GLIDE LTD 1655 A 15th Ave Prince George, BC V2L3X2 250-612-4754 • F 250-612-4758 www.strideandglide.ca info@strideandglide.ca RUNNERS DEN - GRIMSBY 60 Main Street E Grimsby ON L3M1N1 905-309-0289 • F 905-309-0507 www.runnersden.com/grimsby runnersden@cogeco.net ALABAMA 2750 Carl T Jones Dr Ste 1200T Huntsville, AL 35802, 256-650-7063 www.fleetfeethuntsville.com dink@fleetefeethuntsville.com ARIZONA FLEET FEET TUCSON 6538 E Tanque Verde Road Tucson, AZ 85715 520-886-7800 RUNNING SHOP 3055 N Campbell #153 Tucson, AZ 85719 520-325-5097 www.runningshopaz.com SCOTTSDALE RUNNING COMPANY 6941 N Hayden Rd #B-4 Scottsdale, AZ 85250 480-948-4436 • F 480-948-4435 www.scottsdalerunningco.com mflynn@scottsdalerunningco.com SUMMIT HUT 5045 E Speedway Tucson, AZ 85712 520-325-1554 www.summithut.com SUMMIT HUT 605 E Wetmore Tucson, AZ 85705 520-888-1000 www.summithut.com CALIFORNIA FUTURE TRACK RUNNING CENTER 30125 Agoura Rd Ste. A, Agoura Hills, CA 91301 (818) 991-4786 • F 818-991-4784 www.futuretrackrunning comfuturetrack@aol.com ADVENTURE 16 11161 W Pico Blvd West Los Angeles, CA 90064 310-473-4574 for other SO CAL locations, see: www.adventure16.com 1850 Douglas Blvd Roseville, CA 95661 916-783-4558 F 916-784-9150 www.fleetfeet-fairoaks.com danelle@fleetfeet-fairoaks.com

p.C3 Outfitters_46.indd 1

FLEET FEET SPORTS 32411 Golden Lantern Ste H Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 949-488-3356 www.fleetfeetln.com scott@fleetfeetlagunaniguel.com RUNNING REVOLUTION 511 E Campbell Ave Campbell, CA 95008 408-374-9310 www.runningrevolution.com info@runningrevolution.com COLORADO BOULDER RUNNING COMPANY 2775 Pearl St #103 Boulder, CO 80302 303-RUN-WALK www.boulderrunningcompany.com BOULDER RUNNING COMPANY 3659 Austin Bluffs Pkwy #32 Colorado Springs, CO 80918 719-278-3535 www.boulderrunningcompany.com BOULDER RUNNING COMPANY 8116 W Bowles #C Littleton, CO 80123, 303-932-6000 www.boulderrunningcompany.com RUNNER’S ROOST LAKEWOOD

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OHIO DULUTH RUNNING CO 1217 E Superior St, Duluth, MN 55802 218728-1148 • F 218-728-1153 www.duluthrunning.com denise@duluthrunning.com

ENDURANCE SPORTS 6056 Wilmington Pike Dayton, OH 45459 937-848-6250 • F 937-848-9065 www.endurancesports.com endurancesports@aol.com

MISSOURI GARRY GRIBBLES RUNNING SPORTS Independence Commons 188810-E East 39th St Independence, MO 64057 816-373-1100 • F 816-373-6442 www.garrygribbles.com ggrunkc@mindspring.com

TRIATHLETE STORE 3570 Bainbridge Rd Clevland Heights, OH 44118 216-849-5468 • F 216-373-2637 www.TheTriathleteStore.com sales@TheTriathleteStore.com

GARRY GRIBBLES RUNNING SPORTS Ward Parkway Center 8600 Ward Parkway Kansas City, MO 64114 816-363-4800 • F 816-363-8484 www.garrygribbles.com ggrunkc@mindspring.com

BUCKS COUNTY OUTFITTERS 64 E Swamp Rd, Doylestown, PA 18901 215-340-0633 • F 215-340-9621 www.buckscountyoutfitters.com info@buckscountyoutfitters.com

MONTANA SCHNEES BOOTS & SHOES 121 West Main St Bozeman, MT 59715 406-587-0981 • F 406-577-7789 800-922-1562 www.schnees.com les@schnees.com NEW JERSEY

PENNSYLVANIA

TENNESSEE RIVER SPORTS OUTFITTERS 2918 Sutherland Knoxville, TN 37919 865 523-0066 • F 865 525-6921 www.riversportsoutfitters.com info@riversportsoutfitters.com

CAMPMOR www.campmor.com info@campmor.com 800-CAMPMOR • 800-226-7667 Catalog - PO Box 680-TR7 Mahwah, NJ 07430

ROCK CREEK OUTFITTERS 100 Tremont St Chattanooga, TN 37405 423-265-5969 www.RockCreek.com info@RockCreek.com

TYD 285 Pascack Rd Washington Township, NJ 07676, 201-664-2355 • F 201-664-4330 www.mytyd.com, tydllc@aol.com NEW MEXICO

ROCK CREEK OUTFITTERS 2200 Hamilton Place Blvd Hamilton Crossing Chattanooga, TN 37421 423-485-8775 www.RockCreek.com info@RockCreek.com

ABQ RUNNING SHOP 12611 Montgomery Blvd NE #A6B Albuquerque, NM 87111 505-293-2786 • F 505-293-2814 www.abqrunningshop.com randy@runningshopaz.com

RUNNER’S MARKET 4443 Kingston Pike Knoxville, TN 37919 865-588-1650 www.runnersmarket.com runnersmarket@nxs.net

HEART AND SOLE SPORTS 2817 San Mateo Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87110 505-884-5300 • F 505-884-5311 www.heartnsolesports.com heartsolesports@aol.com

TEXAS

NEW YORK

ADRENALINE 414 W Main Street Denison, TX 75020 903-465-4300 • F 903-465-4303 www.adrenalinelifestyle.net terri@adrenalinelifestyle.net UTAH

MASSACHUSETTS

TRI RUNNING & WALKING 191 W Main Street Victor, NY 14564 585-924-7690 www.trirunningandwalking.com trirunningandwalking@frontiernet.net

CARABINERS INDOOR CLIMBING INC 328 Parker Street New Bedford, MA 02740 508-984-0808 - Gym Phone F 508-984-7577 www.carabiners.com philp@carabiners.com

WESTCHESTER ROAD RUNNER 179 E Post Rd White Plains, NY 10601 914-682-0637 • F 914-949-4166 www.westchesterroadrunner.com westchesterrr@aol.com

MINNESOTA

NORTH CAROLINA

ST GEORGE RUNNING CENTER 1091 N Bluff St #1503 St. George, UT 84770, 435-773-3245 www.stgeorgerunningcenter.com info@stgeorgerunningcenter.com

45 DEGREES 209 S Main Street Stillwater, MN 55082 651-430-3609 www.45-Degrees.com GetOutside@45-degrees.com

JUS RUNNING 523 Merrimon Ave, Ste. 1 Asheville, NC 28804 828-252-7867 • F 828-252-7817 www.jusrunning.com jusrun@bellsouth.net

WASATCH RUNNING CENTER 8946 S State St Sandy, UT 84070, 801-566-8786 www.wasatchrunningcenter.com wasatchrunning@earthlink.net

SALT LAKE RUNNING CO 3142 S Highland Dr #A3, Salt Lake City, UT 84106 801-484-9144 • F 801-484-9215 www.saltlakerunningco.com info@saltlakerunningco.com

CAMPMOR www.campmor.com customerservice@campmor.com 800-CAMPMOR (226-7667) LAKELAND ENTERPRISES camping, vacation and travel gear 888-575-6652 • 888-301-GEAR www.lakelandgear.com support1@lakelandgear.com RIVER SPORTS OUTFITTERS www.riversportsoutfitters.com ed@riversportsoutfitters.com 865-523-0066 • F 865-525-6921 2918 Sutherland, Knoxville, TN 37919

www.RockCreek.com info@RockCreek.com 888-707-6708 100 Tremont St Chattanooga, TN 37406

www.summithut.com summit@summithut.com 800-499-8696 5045 E Speedway Tucson, AZ 85712

VIRGINIA CHARLOTTESVILLE RUNNING COMPANY 110 Old Preston Ave Charlottesville, VA 22902 434-293-7115 • F 434-293-7015 www.charlottesvillerunningcompany.com info@charlottesvillerunningcompany.com THE RUNNING STORE Gainsville, VA 20155 703-507-5092 www.TheRunningStoreTeam.com Grand Opening in July!

WASHINGTON FLEET FEET SPORTS 19685 State Route 410 East, Bonney Lake, WA 98390 253-862-8890 • F 253-862-5211 www.fleetfeetbonneylake.com staff@ fleetfeetbonneylake.com POULSBO RUNNING 19980 10th Ave NE Poulsbo, WA 98370 360-779-8757 • F 360-779-8759 www.poulsborunning.com info@poulsborunning.com WISCONSIN CLEAR WATER OUTDOOR 744 West Main St Lake Geneva, WI 53147, 262-348-2420 • F 262348-2421 www.clearwateroutdoor.com sarah@clearwateroutdoor.com

5/1/07 4:03:48 PM

Run Amok

by Brian Metzler » illustration by Jeremy collins

Often, she’ll stretch with me after a run, reminding me once more how limber I used to be. While watching the pro field in last spring’s Bolder Boulder, she said, “Look, Daddy, they’re fast, just like you.”

That’s when I realized that her outlook on running was as distorted and unrealistic as mine.

To me, however, sticking to a rigid running schedule suddenly isn’t as important as it used to be.

Running after …

New Outlook

butterflies

“Did you have a good run, Daddy?”

These words are always music to my ears. Not only do they mean I’ve just finished a run, but that my 3 1/2-year-old daughter is greeting me at the door. Lucy has been asking that question for almost as long as she could speak. At first, she was merely parroting my wife and had no idea what she was talking about. But, given all the races she’s been to as a youngster and the hordes of running shoes that pile up in the garage, she has figured a few things out by now. In fact, when arriving at a familiar trailhead for a casual family hike last fall, she was eager to pick up the pace.

“Daddy, are we going to run?” she asked, bursting away from the trailhead at a wobbly pace, arms flailing.

A lot of my running friends are either married with no kids, or single, which means they’re not only as fit as they were five years ago, but they’re also not exhausted to the point of fainting by the end of the day. When agreeing to go for a run with them over the past few years, I’ve often had to offer the caveat that I wasn’t in tip-top shape and would appreciate it if we didn’t put the hammer down in the first mile.

“What’s wrong? Are you injured?” some have asked. Or: “Have you been sick?”

When I’ve said, no, I just haven’t had time to run because of work, family and sleep, I hear a scoff in disgust.

“How can you not have time to run?” one friend asked last spring. “Just make time.”

He had a point, but he was also living the dual-income, no-kids lifestyle, and seemed to have ample time to work, run, eat, go to movies, run again, eat again and sleep.

“When we have kids, I’ll just get up at 5 a.m. and run,” he said.

To me, however, sticking to a rigid running schedule suddenly isn’t as important as it used to be.

Running will always be a big part of my life, but lately I’ve traded a few opportunities to run three hours with friends and instead took a 45- to 60-minute run followed by two hours of chasing butterflies, digging in the dirt or swinging.

And that allows me to say something that is music to my daughter’s ears.

“Lucy, do you want to go to the park?”

Brian Metzler is the founding editor of Trail Runner. He once took his sleeping daughter on a 22-mile run in a baby jogger.

63 July 2007 T r a i l r u n n e r m a g . c o m

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