Motivation

                                                           Photograph by Michael Lebowitz

In 2006 I ran my first official ultra marathon at the Hagg Lake 50k in Forest Grove, Oregon. Like many races all was well for the first half of the race and around the 17 mile mark I begun to push the pace thinking I was going to finish strong, but at the 20 mile mark a major bonk hit and every muscle in my body started to cramp from lack of calories, electrolytes and hydration. I spent the next 11 miles literally rolling around on the side of the trail attempting to get muscles to unlock and stumbling on muddy trails trying to make it to the finish. I could tell I was in really bad shape by the looks of concern from other racers and aid station attendants constantly asking me if I was okay. When I did finally finish at the 5:45 mark in 53^rd place my brother and sister in-law were waiting for me. I was shivering and in massive amount of pain, they quickly got a blanket around me fed me some soup and in 30 minutes I was able to pull myself together and with a lot of effort hobble off to the car to go home. I was happy to have finished my first ultra but the pain of the race and the realization that I had really had my ass handed to me from lack of training and experience put a dampener on the whole event. I felt like a world class chump.

That night over dinner which I limped to with muscles and joints that felt like I had missed a payment to a loan shark my brother recounted my finish to the whole family and made special effort to point out all the old men and ladies that had finished before me and how good they looked and how crappy and terrible I looked. The comments cut like a knife, deep down I knew he was just giving me grief like brothers do but the anger was building and I had to hold back from saying something mean in return, I bit my tongue and stared daggers. As I left the next day for the long drive home I had to walk down the three minor steps from my mom's house to the driveway backwards because my legs were so sore. My mom gave me that look that only a mom can, a mix of pity and concern. I can't remember exactly what she said but it was along the lines of, maybe this ultra thing isn't for you and why would you want to do it anyway. I left feeling terrible and with doubt in my own mind and thought maybe they're correct, maybe this ultra racing isn't for me. Weeks later as the muscles healed and my energy returned a new thought entered my mind, screw that, I'll show them and myself and with sweaty shaky hands I signed up for a 50 miler.

                                       
                                                        Photograph by Michael Lebowitz

My family since has been supportive of my racing, always asking how I did at the last race and how my training is going, my mom still gives me that look of  “why” but she seems to realize that I'm not ruining my knees and that I have met a lot of great people and seen cool places because of my racing. At this years Hagg Lake 50k race my brother crewed for me and he was cheering me on telling me to pass the guys in front of me and generally looking like he was having a great time and I ran just that little bit harder trying to show off.  No cramps or bonk this year, after finishing the first loop in training mode in 27^th place I was able to race the second half  of the race and crossed the line in 4:17 for 14^th place. As I ate a well deserved cheeseburger later that afternoon at a local burger joint with my brother in Oregon City I couldn't help smile at how things have worked out, glad that I had taken those negative thoughts and comments and turned them into motivation, motivation to try to be a better runner and a better person.

Running Rome

Rome from the top of St. Peter's

It’s hard to believe I’ve been working/living in Rome for three months. It seems like just a few weeks ago that I arrived for an anticipated year-long stay with a large Gregory duffle, a boxed bike, and an Italian phrase book from Christian - “you might need this” were his parting words.

In short, I’m having a ball. Work is both challenging and interesting. We live in a super cool neighborhood (Trastevere) in an apartment above a pizzeria and a bookstore. The building built in 1784 is on a narrow cobbled street with myriad restaurants, bars and little shops within close proximity. I enjoy not having a car and either running, biking or using public transportation to get around. And the change in environs, pace and lifestyle have been refreshing and fun for my daughter Zoe who has been visiting the last month and Adrienne who just arrived last week. All in all, it’s proving to be a most excellent adventure.

As for the running, it’s been fun and different. Let me share with a few of my favorites.

Coliseum

Tour of Rome – this 15K route through the city always surprises and delights me. I’ve been able to link together some of the best sights while minimizing traffic obstructions (AKA traffic lights & streets that are so busy they are hard to cross). In less than 90 minutes I get to pass the Roman Forum, run around the Coliseum, pass through Trajan’s Market, touch Trevi Fountain, climb the Spanish Steps, run up Via della Conciliazione to St. Peter’s, and then back home – all of time mostly on cobbled streets. The light, the traffic, the people, the smells are always different making this a run I always look forward to.

Appia Attica

Appia Attica (Apian Way) – Let’s just say I still can’t get my head around the fact that I’m running on the original basalt stones of road that was built more than 2000 years ago. From the apartment this run passes Circus Maximus, the Roman Baths and then out to Villa dei Quintili – 40K round trip.

River Tiber – When I rented the apartment I was stoked that it was just one street off the River Tiber and the “bike path” that Google Maps showed running along the river.  Since my office is also along the river I was excited about the prospect of biking or running to/from work.  My excitement turned to disappointment the first morning I ran to work. I had anticipated a scenic and bucolic path along the river where I could go to that other place in my head and run without thought or effort. The path abruptly stops 4K from the apartment and turns into a route amalgamated from roads, footpaths, parking lots and fields.  In some sense it’s a 20K “adventure race.” The banks of the river are covered in trash and the trees along the river are full of a flotsam of plastic shopping bags from when the river recently flooded. The “path” travels through several Roma camps where I’m always a bit uneasy and guarded. It’s an otherworld in the morning darkness watching silhouettes fanning out from the camps pushing shopping carts in the dark to collect recyclables, smelling the acrid smoke from campfires burning rubbish heavy with chemicals, and listening to conversations in a language I do not understand.  And, for giggles and absurdity, I have to climb over a rabbit fence before entering the office complex where the World Food Programme is located.  Given the poor design and disrepair of the fence, I’m sure the rabbits also find it absurd and amusing. What could be a great feature for the city (the river) is a shame. None-the less, I run to work most every morning and several times a week run home feeling lucky that I get to commute to work by foot.

Trail Running - Rome Style

Rome running seems to be serving me well in that I’m on the mend from the nasty piriformis I experienced the later half of 2102. My legs are feeling better and I can run again without pain and numbness! Fingers crossed I can continue to heal and get my strength back in time to run a good race at the Umstead 100 in April. My secret hope is that jumping over a rabbit fence 5 days a week will give me a competitive advantage that no other entrants will have. 

Ciao da Roma!

Skimo Racing Local Talent

I hope everyone has enjoyed the "Best of" posts lately, I know I had a great time watching the response from all of you. Greg deserves full credit for coming up with the idea and following through on it. We can't wait to see what this year brings, who the nominees will be and what new categories we'll have.

Continuing in the same vein of highlighting local talent I thought I would do a quick post on a few local runners that are among the very best in the nation at a winter sport. Before I get to them let me back up and explain why I've decided to write about them. Since the beginning of December I've taken some time off from running to try and heal some nagging issues I've been dealing with for quite awhile (future post on this). The prescribed exercises weren't nearly enough aerobic activity to keep me satisfied so I decided to try something new, Skimo racing, short for ski mountaineering.

For those that are unfamiliar with this sport I'll do my best to quickly explain it even though I am far from an expert. Basically skimo racing involves ascending a set route on skis, descending to a certain point and repeating often. The skis will have glue backed nylon hair strips affixed for climbing called skins. When the skier reaches the top of the climb the skins are ripped off and stashed for the descent. Upon reaching the bottom the skins are reattached for the next climb. The process at the top and bottom is called the transition and requires great skill to be swift. Sometimes the skier is required to remove the skis while climbing and hike up, this called a boot section or booter. Like many great sports this form of moving fast and light through the mountains has been around in Europe much longer than North America and consequently they many more races and racers. One particular fast guy is Killian Jornet, maybe you've heard of him.

This weekend is the World Championships held in Pelvoux, France and the U.S. team has a few local guys lining up against the rest of the world. They include Tom Goth, Andy Dorais (filling in as qualifying alternate to his brother Jason Dorais) and coach Chad Brackelsberg. Luke Nelson isn't a Utah resident but does plenty here in the Wasatch to be claimed as a local. Check out any of the links in this paragraph to learn more about the World Championships and the athletes paths to get there, they're all great stories.

I've known Andy and Chad for a few years now and they always encouraged me too come out and try a skimo race but I was always too intimidated to try one of the big races like the Wasatch Powder Keg, directed by Chad. Then I ran out of excuses when Chad, Jason, Andy and the SLC Samurai, Jared Inouye started the Citizen Series. Now in it's second year, there are anywhere from 30 to 60 skiers showing up on Tuesday nights at Brighton ski resort to race up and down the mountain. The races are usually right around an hour long and they're free. The participants include skiers on full race gear to "heavy metal" touring gear and the scene is very friendly and encouraging. I've done a few now and feel like I'm getting my aerobic fix while learning how to move a bit quicker in the snowy mountains.

I think it's super cool that Chad, Jared, Andy and Jason (sorry if I've missed someone) have taken the impetus to grow the sport they love and teach others about it. Hat tip to you gentlemen and thank you for all your hard work in putting the Citizen Series together. To those on the team good luck in France!

Erik's Best Blog Post Picks of 2012

Picking the Best Blog Post of 2012 is kind of like picking my favorite flavor of Ice Cream  All ice cream is excellent , and my 4 or 5 "favorites" are completely different from my family's favorites.  The same holds true for this next nomination.  I am not going to pretend that the nominations are unbiased or will they include a true representation of all the Utah based ultrarunning Bloggers out there.  That's just too much info for me to read and process.  The one criteria I have tried to stay true to is "literary" content.  A post about a performance ending in a spot on the podium or a FKT through some crazy-ass terrain doesn't guarantee that it was a well written post.  I want to find myself seeing, smelling, "living" the author's experience. I want to feel motivated and inspired to push myself and my limits after a good read.  I want to walk away ready to change my behavior, to be a better person, a healthier person, a more whole person.  I want to laugh. I want to finish reading, and get that feeling of that's it.

So, here are my nominations.  I'll include author, title, a link and a line or two from the post to whet your appetite. Read the rest and you be the judge.

Please use the poll on the sidebar to place your vote. Polling will stop on 2/5/2013 at 6:00pm

1) Ben Lewis.  Aquatic Antisocial
The instructor- about 20-  is energetically jumping up and down on the sidelines but the old ladies pay no heed.  They are clustered in 3 small social groups chatting avidly, the water lapping at the hair on the base of their neck so that it hangs down in dark gray tendrils.  They bob slowly up and down effortlessly, legs moving in distracted, desultory circles: giant floating bags of jelly encasing small skeletons of brittle, osteoporotic bones.  


2) Jason Dorais. Salt Lake Skyline Traverse
We were planning on a self supported run with caches along the way.  Once off Olympus we were feeling pretty blown and since we were running by gas stations we figured we'd make it a "pseudo self supported" run and gorge ourselves on store food.  Only problem was the stores were all closed.  Once we had the idea of real food in our minds it was hard to get it out so in a moment of weakness we called Nick and he showed up with 9 double cheeseburgers, 3 large fries and some big drinks.  It was DELICIOUS!

3)Ben Lewis.  Wasatch 100 Race Report 
It is a long, plodding, block-legged, relatively mundane shuffle in the woods experienced predominantly as the increasingly unpleasant and gag-inducing sensation of forcing foil-wrapped simple sugars into your mouth at 20 minute intervals.
What a weird sport.

4) Jared Campbell. Barkley Marathons
Given that I was training for something that would likely involve terrible weather, I now looked forward to running in the worst weather possible as it was an opportunity for some great training.  I watched the forecast and prayed for wet cold-fronts to roll in.  I even had Ryan excited to join me for a good battle up Grandeur in full-on blizzard conditions in full body wet-suits.  Silly.

5)Greg Norrander. Norrander Trail Shots
Even though our self imposed rules state that MRC guys are excluded, this is my post, not really a group effort, and Greg's photos' continually inspire me and capture the essence of why we all hit the trails. Take a look for yourself.

WANTED!!: Suggestions for Best Blog Post of the Year

The MRC would like to recognize some of the great bloggers who contribute to the Utah Ultrarunning community.  Following the "Best of" theme of the past few posts, the next post will be on the "Best Blog post of 2012" by a Utah blogger with running significance.  While we definitely have our idea of the best posts of the year, we are sure that there are many, many stories out there that we haven't read, and would like to provide the chance for you to shamelessly shed some light on your own writing skills, or give someone else a shout out.

Please give us your suggestions for the Best Blog Post of the Year, and we'll review and nominate our completely biased selections in a few days.

Utah Ultra - Best of 2012 - Race/RD of the Year

Over the next couple of weeks The MRC will be posting some nominees for various Utah ultra running categories. The idea is simple, recognize people in the Utah ultrarunning  community that have done something special or noteworthy. The rules are simple too, nominees must live in Utah and members of the MRC are excluded. This means Erik’s trailblazing completion of the Millwood 100 is  excluded as well as Jay’s 4 wins at the 50k, 50 and 100 mile distances.  We will have a widget on the sidebar where you can place your vote. Also please feel free to post in the  comments on anybody you feel we missed.  The MRC is Salt Lake City based so I am sure we are missing some great runners and races from other parts of the state. So what do the winners get in the various categories?  Well nothing more than maybe a pat on the back at the next race.

The winner of the poll was Jim Skaggs with 53% of the vote and a tight race for 2nd went to John Grobben with 24% and Karl Meltzer with 21%. This was an especially tough choice since all of the races are so valued and vary in distance and degree of difficulty. Thanks to each one of you for providing us a venue to indulge ourselves in.

Utah Ultra - Best of 2012 - Race/RD of the Year

Utah is fortunate to have a vibrant trail running community, due in no small part to the number of races that are offered in our great State. From the flat Pony Express and Salt Flat 100's, to the brutal Bear 100 and MAS 50. There are "official" races and classic "fun runs" such as the BoSho Marathon and Millcreek Midnight 50k. Here are a few of the races, and their Race Directors, that stood out to us this year.

Wastach 100 Mile Endurance Run. RD John Grobben

John Grobben and the wonderful Wasatch 100 Race Committee once again put on a great race with fast times, a competitive field, and enough sense to maintain Wasatch's characteristic, feels-like-home atmosphere. A record 213 out of 289 runners finished the race with Jeff Browning winning in the third fastest winning time of 19:33. 5 out of the top 10 were Utahns . Despite pressure from local governmental agencies to cut down traffic at some of the major aid stations, Grobben and Co. managed to come up with a plan that while controversial to some runners and their crew, allowed the race to proceed without a hitch and all runners to receive all the support they needed. Wasatch has done a remarkable job of maintaining it's low-key image. Anyone who ran it in 2012 was reminded again that despite the growing commercialism found in ultrarunning, Wasatch continues to embody the reasons so many of us run: friends, community and the wild places that the trails leads us.

Antelope Island Buffalo Runs. RD Jim Skaggs

Starting in 2006 with 146 finisher in 25 and 50 Km distances, Jim Skaggs has grown the Antelope Island Buffalo Runs into one of the premier early spring running events in the West. 2012 saw over 700 runners run the 25 and 50Km, 50 mile and 100 mile races. Juggling that number of runners, crew, and the various start times is a huge task. Jim has put together an amazing crew of volunteers to coordinate the weekend of running. He cooks 100 gallons of buffalo stew for the finishers and hazes the occasional "friendly" buffalo off the course. Throughout the weekend, Jim can be seen all over the Island with a quick smile, a joke and his trademark stuffed buffalo ball cap. If you spend any time at all on the local trails, you have seen a runner in one of the 3500 finishers shirts dispensed over the last 6 years. Odds are you have one of your own. If you don't, sign up this year and experience the wonders of Antelope Island on your own two feet.

Speedgoat 50K. RD Karl Meltzer

Once again, legendary ultrarunner Karl Meltzer put on a race that will not soon be forgotten. As if the reputation of being the toughest 50K in the U.S. with more than 11,000 feet of climbing wasn't enough to bring out the best of the best, this year Karl put together a purse of $12,000. The race was part of the International Skyrunning Federation's race series. 265 runners with arguably the deepest field of "elite" runners in 2012 started the race. There were more than 80 volunteers to ensure everyone stayed on course and minimize the carnage that has come to be expected in the latter stages of the day. Karl handled the controversial issue of winner Kilian Jornet cutting corners on some switchbacks with grace and equanimity. In doing so he guaranteed the race would stay a part of the Skyrunning series and continue to attract the top runners from around the world for years to come. Despite being one of the highest profile races of 2012 in the US, the Speedgoat 50K maintained a down-home feel with all participants mingling at the finish holding a slice of pizza in one hand and a bottle of Ultragen (or beer) in the other

Utah Ultra - Best of 2012 - Male Ultra Runner of the Year

Over the next couple of weeks The MRC will be posting some nominees for various Utah ultra running categories. The idea is simple, recognize people in the Utah ultrarunning  community that have done something special or noteworthy. The rules are simple too, nominees must live in Utah and members of the MRC are excluded. This means Erik’s trailblazing completion of the Millwood 100 is  excluded as well as Jay’s 4 wins at the 50k, 50 and 100 mile distances.  We will have a widget on the sidebar where you can place your vote. Also please feel free to post in the  comments on anybody you feel we missed.  The MRC is Salt Lake City based so I am sure we are missing some great runners and races from other parts of the state. So what do the winners get in the various categories?  Well nothing more than maybe a pat on the back at the next race.

RESULTS:
1. Jared Campbell
2. Karl Meltzer
3. Matt Hart
4. Robert Mueller
A total of 203 votes were cast with Jared receiving 56% of the vote, Karl 27%, Matt with 8% followed closely by Robert with 7%. Outstanding year by each one of you. Each one of these runners make Utah and the Wasatch Front that much better. Keep the bar high in 2013!

Utah Ultra - Best of 2012 - Male Ultra Runner of the Year

Jared Campbell managed to string together one of the most impressive ultrarunning seasons on record, not just for a runner from Utah but any ultra runner in the country. Forget Killian's Quest how about Jared’s Summer of Slog (his term). Not only did he complete all these amazing runs he did it with humor, style and grace. From posting about his lowest lows during Nolan’s 14, to letting Ben Lewis video him as he threw up at 14,000 ft during Hardrock, Jared is always reminding us why we're in this sport in the first place.

Jared Campbell’s 2012 results

• Grandeur Peak 10x 21:30 (also raised money for Breath Utah)

• Barkley Marathons 100 56:00 2nd

• Nolan’s 14 58:58

• Hardrock 100 29:38 13th

• Wasatch 100 23:07 5th

• Millwood 100 34:20 (A route created by Jared, 2nd person to complete the course)

Matt Hart was healthy this year and it showed, getting his first 100 mile win at the Tahoe Rim Trail 100m in a time of 19:14, he also completed Nolans 14 with Jared Campbell in a time of 58:58, then topped off the season with a strong 3rd at the Bear 100 in a time of 19:29.  Matt has sold his beloved van and is actually living in a house so we’re hoping he sticks around for a while. If you get a chance to run with Matt do so, we guarantee you’ll have fun and learn something new.

Matt Hart’s 2012 results

• Yakima Skyline Rim 50k 5:47 4th
• Pocatello 50m 9:10 4th
• Tahoe Rim 100m 19:14 1st
• Nolan’s 14 58:58
• Bear 100 19:29 3rd

Karl Meltzer claims he’s getting old and slow but nobody is buying it. In 2012 he proved again that  there are few that can match his combination of speed and endurance over a given season. We counted 6 100 mile finishes, with 3 wins for Karl this year, with his strongest showing at Run Rabbit Run 100 were he out ran some of the best runners in the country. Karl’s fastest 100 was Rocky Raccoon 100 in 14:17 and his slowest the Hardrock 100 in a time of 28:43, these times demonstrate  Karl’s amazing talent at running any 100 mile race extremely quick, be it the hardest 100 in the country to the flattest.

Karl Meltzer’s 2012 results

• Rocky Raccoon 100 14:17 2nd

• Red Hot 50k+ 4:19 3rd
• Antelope Island 100 15:28 1st
• Zane Grey 50 9:25 2nd
• Pocatello 50 8:42 2nd
• Hardrock 100 28:43 7th
• RRR 100 19:16 1st
• Grindstone 100 17:13 1st
• Chimera 100 17:30 2nd

Robert Mueller didn’t have quite the season the other three nominees above had but the MRC decided to give some recognition to Robert  seeing that he is only 25 and ran a very fast breakout season.  He started off the year chasing Karl with a 2nd place at Antelope Island 100 in time of 17:00, then followed up with a very quick Bighorn 100 mile finish in 20:48 good enough for 4th place and the 15 fastest time on record. Robert then showed his climbing abilities and lung capacity in the Speedgoat 50k taking the top Utah spot; 12th place in a time of 6:08. Robert finished the season off with two hard 100 mile races the Leadville and the Wasatch Front  100 which he finished just under the 24 hour mark to claim his first Crimson Cheetah Buckle.

Robert Mueller’s 2012 results

• Antelope Island 100 17:00 2nd
• BoSho  Marathon 4:13 7th
• Bighorn 100 20:48 4th
• Millcreek 50k 6:41 6th (the only runner to chug a beer at Elbow Fork)
• Speedgoat 50K 6:08 12th
• Leadville 100 23:08 36th
• Wasatch Front 100 23:55 14th

Utah Ultra - Best of 2012 - Female Ultra Runner of the Year

Over the next couple of weeks The MRC will be posting some nominees for various Utah ultra running categories. The idea is simple, recognize people in the Utah ultrarunning  community that have done something special or noteworthy. The rules are simple too, nominees must live in Utah and members of the MRC are excluded. This means Erik’s trailblazing completion of the Millwood 100 is  excluded as well as Jay’s 4 wins at the 50k, 50 and 100 mile distances.  We will have a widget on the sidebar where you can place your vote. Also please feel free to post in the  comments on anybody you feel we missed.  The MRC is Salt Lake City based so I am sure we are missing some great runners and races from other parts of the state. So what do the winners get in the various categories?  We’ll nothing more than maybe a pat on the back at the next race.

RESULTS:
1. Sarah Evans McCloskey
2. Amie Blackham
3. Bethany Lewis

Wow! A total of 336 votes were cast with Sarah getting 48% of the vote, Amie 43% and Bethany with 12%. Congratulations to each of you for an outstanding year, can't wait to see how 2013 goes.

Ladies first so we will start with Female Utah Ultrarunner of the year:

Amie Blackham completed 9 ultra trail races in 2012, she took first place in two of those races,  Corner Canyon 25K and Bighorn 50. She placed in the top 10 in all of but two of the races, the highly competitive Speedgoat 50k and the early season Moab Red Hot 50k+. Most impressive were her solid 100 milers; Wasatch in 26:09 backed up by another very solid run at the Bear 100 in a time of 24:51. I don’t know Amie but happened to run in to her and Seth Hales just  a few days ago as they were completing a 20 mile run consisting of Wire, Van Cott, Unkle combo, watch out for Amie in 2013.

Amie’s 2012 results (all results Gender)

• Red Hot 50k+ 5:43 12th place
• Antelope Island 50 8:16 4th
• Squaw Peak 50 10:28 2nd
• Bighorn 50 9:35 1st
• Millcreek 50k 8:31 3rd
• Speedgoat 50k 8:19 13th
• Corner Canyon 25k 2:35 1st
• WasatchFront 100  26:09 3rd
• Bear 100 24:51 4th

Sarah Evans McCloskey racked up another impressive year of races, 8 in total that I could find. Sarah also mentioned that she finished a solo fast pack of the John Muir trail this summer. Not only is Sarah fast and consistent in her running she has to be the happiest runner at any given race.  Sarah had a super impressive finish to her running season with a 24:42 at Wasatch followed by a 23:32 at the Bear,I am sure a sub 24 at Wasatch is a real possibility  for Sarah in the future.


Sarah’s 2012 results (all results Gender)

• Antelope Island 50 8:25 5th
• Zion 100 23:09 2nd
• Pocatello 50 10:50 2nd
• San Juan 50 10:52 3rd
• Logan Peak 28m 5:03 1st
• Speedgoat 50k 6:58 3rd
• Wasatch 100 24:42 2nd
• Bear 100 23:32 3rd

Bethany Lewis the fastest female ultrarunner in the state? I can’t think of anybody faster at the 50k or 50 mile distance. For a lady with only 10 listing on Ultra Signup she has shocked and awed the ultrarunning community with her amazing speed and much like her husband Ben her ability to run with the best ultra runners in the country without showing any signs or symptoms that this is abnormal or special. I like Bethany’s style, no blog post or interviews, she lets the results talk for her.

Bethany’s 2012 results (all results Gender)

• Antelope Island 50 6:55! 1st (2nd overall)
• Miwok 100km 10:49 2nd
• San Juan Solstice 9:58 1st (4th fastest on record)
• Northface 50 9th 7:20

Maps page

Take a peek at the top and you will find a new page I added to the blog. I decided it's time to liberate some of the maps and beta from my hard drive to the trail enthusiasts that might enjoy them.

I started with a series of hand drawn maps for some of the "fun runs" we do here in the Wasatch and gradually I will add other types of maps, profiles and kml's as time permits. The hand drawn maps have also been added to the Wasalpstriders site since they pertain to those events.

If you have a request send it over in the comments and I will attempt to put something together.
Hope you enjoy!

Blessing Way Results

Head on over to the Wasalpstriders blog to see the results from the Blessing Way.

Irv

Lap 1

Chasing down the brother

The little brother pulls ahead

After a wrong turn, they run together, a little mad

Greg heading back on lap 2

Rich, Jim, Roger

Out for another lap

Steve

The morning started out a brisk, but it was well worth an early start and chill to turn a few laps with friends, and exchange a few hugs and high fives as the temperature rose.  I was lucky enough to start with Rich McDonald and Jim Huffman.  We shared a few laps before I met up with Greg and then my wife and kids.  A "race" that is this flexible is pretty hard to find.    Blessing Way indeed.

Peter