A very deep field, including defending USA Trail Champion Rickey Gates and two time winner, Clint Wells. To put perspective on just how deep the field was, Ricky Gates came in 9th place and Bernie Boettcher came in 10th.

So needless to say, I am thrilled with my 13th place overall finish (1st AG).

This course was just kooky! The race starts off fast. The women run two laps instead of 3 so they jump on it causing the men to run harder than they might have at the start. After the initial 250 meter sprint, we hit a hill that is said to be a 35% grade. Bernie Boettcher was right in front of me at this point and he began speed marching. Knowing that he is considerably faster than me, I start speed marching too. This was probably the most efficient way to climb this 400 foot wall. Some people were 'running' but they were not putting any time into me. The other thing that made this climb difficult was that it was not on a trail, but straight up a grassy ski slope and my racing flats were not getting a good grip. I was happy to finally crest the hill and begin running. Immediately I started passing people. I knew that there were at least 2 people in my age group ahead of me and I needed to be patient. Before too long I was behind the 3rd place women and the 2nd place guy in my age group. I stayed right behind them for most of the single track and then on a very technical downhill passed them both with a totally Evil Knievel kick and surged hard on the uphills to keep them behind me. When I made the final turn on the first lap I had about a 25 meter lead on both. Now I could see the 2nd place women and the guy who was leading my AG. I ran hard into the 2nd lap and mentally prepared myself for the return of the big climb. I did the same thing. Some guy didn't like it when I passed him so we battled back and forth on the climb. This helped me gain a bit on the leading guy in my AG... Before too long I passed the 2nd place women (I did not catch the 1st place women, but might have if they ran 3 laps too), and I was right behind my guy! I was feeling really strong and passed him. He quickly passed me back on a short steep climb and I thought that maybe I surged too quickly... So I just stayed on his heals through the single track and rollers. Again when we got to the technical downhill, I employed another Evil Knievel move and surged ahead. I wanted to really pour it on now to try and demoralize this guy... It didn't work, I ran all of lap two really hard and every time I looked back, he was right there. I knew lap 3 was going to be tough, but if I could get to the top of the big hill before him, he would not catch me on the technical descent. I did get to the top before him. And although I was confident, I was tired too. I missed a turn following some guy on his second lap and luckily some mountain bikers told me I missed my turn. When I looked back, my guy was now ahead of me. I ran as hard as I could to catch him and knowing he knew that I had to run hard to get back in, I wanted to impart to him that I wasn't tired and I surged right past him. with a lot of running left this was risky but it seemed to work. I built a nice cushion on him and cruised in to win my AG easily.




Not much. Stay on course...

Chilled in the Sun... Ate some Qdoba burrito - nice post race offering!

Hung out with Katie. She kicked butt too. She did an Olypmic Distance tri on Saturday and this monster trail race today.


I ran well. I was tired going in and very stiff as I got out of the car, but putting on a race number always seems to change things.


Great event. Stacked field of runners. Not your typical running event. I liked post event food, and I especially like winning a free pair of Vasque shoes! I need them.