The Pikes Peak Road Runners Fall Series #2: Attack of the Killah Bees!

At the last race, RD Larry "Sadist" Miller and the Fall Series brought to you the polluted creek of Monument Valley. This time it was Bear Creek Regional Park--just with rabid bees rather than bears. Other than not going into anaphylactic shock due to bee stings, the good news is that the government is back in business and the barricades were lifted so that the runners could climb, descend, scramble, creek jump and scale hillsides in a single bound (with the aid of ropes, of course).

With our commentator, Simon "Gute" Gutierrez being out of town to pace his mother to a sub-30-minute 10k (yes, she is fast, too!), we had to mental telepathize the race participants to get the commentary.

Last time the runners contracted the Monument Valley Creek Cough...what will it be this time?

Initiate telepathizer!

Big McD: "I hope nobody notices that I am scratching my ass in public."

Everyone: "Who's this gingerbread man who's showing off some midriff while taking out the race like someone is going to eat him?"

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Gingerbread Man: "You'd also be running this fast if you looked this delicious and nutritious!"

editor's note: The gingerbread man was just a rabbit, he didn't want to get his yellow and orange frosting soggy in the creek water.

Tim Bergsten (PikesPeakSports.us): "ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO, START OF FALL SERIES 2, WE'RE IN BEAR CREEK PARK...GOOD JOB BOYS!" (Just watch the video so he doesn't have to repeat himself.)

Unsuspecting runners discovered that the secret obstacle was a hive of angry Africanized bees. Not good for people who have a lot of exposed skin.

Innocent Runner: "Oh...huff, hufff...there is a bee hive...hufff...someone is going to get stung...hufff...I better put my jacket over it so that doesn't happen."

Angry Bees: "ANGRY...MUST STING!!!!!"

Unsuspecting recipient of bee stings: "Ohhhh....beeeeees, ahhhhh! It stung my eyeeeee! AHHHHHHH!"

Larry Miller: "HAHA, I love it when these courses devour people!!!!"

Angry Bees: "SHOULDN'T...HAVE...DONE...THAT.....NOW.......I........DIE....or merely get jobbed out of the WWF."

While in racing news...

Big McD: "Oh shit...Axel is getting away...whoa, Killer Bees...I love that duo!"

Axel: "La la laaaaa...this is so much easier compared to last weekend in Italy...what bees are you talking about...I don't see any bees...plus, I am moving at 5:00-min/mile pace, bees are slow."

The Prez: "Oh Shit, I can't stop for beer at this beer station, Justin is on my ass...but there's BEER! [contemplatively] I hope that was a fly that just went into my shirt....

The Prez: Where are my feet!? I don't see my feet!!


Justin: "Oh shit, a beer station, Peter is definitely going to stop there. I'll catch him there for sure!"

Axel: "And they thought that only those silly looking lizards could do this, ha!"

Lizard: "Don't call me silly...I weigh more than you do!"

Axel: "OK, this is more like Limone, just without some Spanish guy named 'Hornet'."

Big McD: "Now I really wish I had some of those fancy Inov-8 X-talon 212's that The Prez is wearing."

Big McD: "This is what a Heisman winner looks like...."

Big McD: "...and my next impression...Jesse Owens!"

Chef l'équipe: "I am glad I took the rope out from in between my legs--those people are really tugging back there! Sheesh!"


Big McD: "Give me your lunch money, kid!"

Axel: "Nooooooo, I neeeeeed MILK...for strong bones!"


Team Colorado sweeps the top 4 spots with Axel, Big McD, The Prez and Justin....who looks a little worse for the wear after the killah bees and creek crossings.

THE TEAM PHOTO!

Results

PikesPeakSports.us article

World Mountain Running Championships: A Preview

World Mountain Running Championships...this way                                         photo: Rich Bolt

On Sunday September 8, 2013 in Krynica-Zdrój, Poland, three Team Colorado members will other join forces with some of the other best mountain runners is the US and together they will assemble and form what we know as the US Mountain Running Team. Sort of like Voltron. 

Here is the team recently when they took a photo in their full kit. 

Max King is the one in green, such a small guy!              photo: Defender of the Universe

Before we blab on about the World Championships, we would like to cordially welcome our newest member, and Team USA member competing this weekend, to Team Colorado and our wonderful group of women. The master barista and owner of the Café Mobius in Silverton, CO, who doesn't need a stinkin' altitude tent (because she lives at 9,300 feet), she put the "Silver" into "Silverton" and the "America" into your "Americano",  Megan "The Caffeinator" Kimmel. We look forward to sharing a cordial (or an espresso) with you soon!

Megan "The Caffeinator" Kimmel keeping things stimulating

Representing Team USA along with Megan, we have Axel Nichols and Glenn "Pulling a GR" Randall, who is spending his spare time in Poland cramming as much physics into his brain as humanly possible.

Statistical Thermo-Dynamics reads like...well, just as it sounds           photo: USATF MUT

This is Megan's 3rd US Mountain Team, Glenn's 2nd and Axel's debut on the team. It is rumored that Axel and Glenn are giving Megan piggyback rides around town to save her legs for the race. Way to welcome our new teammate, guys!

Axel readied his training for Worlds with a new haircut...no more golden locks so he might be mistaken for a junior   photo: PikesPeakSports.us

Glenn attempting to pull a GR on JoeGeezi (aka Joe Gray) at the US National Champs                                                                   photo: Joe Viger

Megan finishing the US National Championships race at Cranmore Mountain in NH                     photo: Joe Viger

The senior women’s team consists of Magdalena Lewy-Boulet of Oakland, CA, Megan Kimmel of Silverton, CO, Chris Lundy of Sausalito, CA, and Megan Lizotte (formerly Lund) of Basalt, CO).

Senior Women's Team (L to R) Magdalena Lewy-Boulet, our very own Megan Kimmel, Chris Lundy, and Megan Lizotte                                                                         photo: Joe Viger

The senior men’s team includes Joe Gray, hailing from Renton, WA, Max King of Bend, OR, Glenn "GR" Randall of Mesa, CO, Zach Ornelas, Ann Arbor, MI, local Colorado Springers Ryan Hafer, Colorado Springs, CO, and Alex Nichols of  Old Colorado City (aka Colorado Springs), CO.

Stevie "Sunshine" Kremer placed 2nd at the National Championships to secure a spot on the Team, however, had obligations like teaching the youth of 'Merica...so that they know how to spell their country.

Senior Men's Team USA consists of (L to R) Joe Gray, Zach Ornales, Max "Mullet" King, Glenn Randall, Ryan "Afro" Hafer and Axel Nichols                                                        photo: Joe Viger

The races kick off with the Junior Women's race at 9:15 am, followed by the Junior Men's start at 10:00 am. Then Senior Women's race will hear the gun at 11:30 am with the final race of the day being the Senior Men's race at 12:30 pm (in Polish time, of course).

Best of luck to all of Team USA!

Team USA Senior Men's and Women's Team (minus Afro man)                                      photo: Rich Bolt

Follow Team USA on Twitter (@usmrt) or Facebook (facebook.com/usatfmut).

USMRT
2013 World Mountain Running Championships website

Randall, Nichols qualify for US Mountain Running Team

On July 21st the U.S. Mountain Running Championships was held at the Cranmore Mountain in North Conway, NH. The 26th Cranmore Hill Climb presented by Delta Dental race doubled as the NACAC (North American Central American Caribbean Championships), which explained why the there were a bunch of Canadians and Mexicans milling around before the race.

Team Colorado had three representatives (four if you include cheerleader Peter Maksimow): Glenn Randall, Axel Nichols, and Tommy "One Man Wolf Pack" Manning. Of the three, Randall (4th) and Nichols (6th) went on to place in the top 6 and qualify for the U.S. Mountain Running Team that will compete  at the 29th World Mountain Running Championships on September 8 in Krynica-Zdrój, Poland.

Team Colorado poses for a pic                                              photo: Joe Viger

Randall was holding on to 2nd position with one lap remaining, of the three lap, 12k course, however, was passed by newcomer to the mountain running scene and eventual 2nd place finisher, Zach Ornelas. Then there was that sneaking Max King that surged in there for the 3rd spot. That King is a punchy one, using his steeplechasing skills and silver mullet (literally) to get him to the line. Local Colorado Springs runner, Ryan "Afro" Hafer placed 5th just ahead of our golden boy, Axel Nichols (6th), who held off speedster Andy Wacker (that is not a nickname!) of Boulder, CO. Manning took a digger on a steep downhill section of the course which put him out of contention for a top 6 finish. Manning stayed in the race to place 20th in 1:04:42.

Randall leading Joe Gray on a steep downhill section                          photo: Joe Viger

                                        Axel, with the wind in his hair                                                      photo: Joe Viger

One Man Wolf Pack finishes wounded                                               photo: Joe Viger

Unfortunately, Team Colorado was not able to field a full team so the National Mountain Running Champions title was awarded to the Central Mass Striders. Next year, CMS, next year!!!

On the women's side, Morgan Arritola and Stevie Kremer had a hard fought battle to finish 1-2, respectively, with Magdalena Lewy-Boulet finishing 3rd and Megan Kimmel 4th to make the U.S. Mountain Running Team. Since Morgan Arritola declined her spot on the U.S. Team, 5th place finisher, Christine Lundy, will round out the 4-woman team.

Men's Results (12k)

1. Joe Gray - 56:23
2. Zachary Ornelas - 56:28
3. Max King - 56:45
4. Glenn Randall - 57:58
5. Ryan Hafer - 58:11
6. Axel Nichols - 58:17
7. Andy Wacker - 58:44
8. Alex Varner - 58:56
9. David Laney - 59:30
10. Victor Manuel Mercado Mirands - 1:01:06
20. Tommy Manning - 1:04:42

Women's Results (8k)

1. Morgan Arritola - 42:31
2. Stevie Kremer - 42:50
3. Magdalena Lewy-Boulet - 44:52
4. Megan Kimmel - 45:01
5. Christine Lundy - 45:33
6. Megan Lizotte - 46:03
7. Juliane Masciana - 47:17
8. Rachel Viele - 47:32
9. Amber Reece-Young - 47:50
10. Laura Haefeli - 48:19
11. Michele Yates - 49:01

Level Renner article and videos

Yep, that hurt                                                                      photo: Joe Viger

More to come...

Mt. Washington Road Race

The facial expressions say it all                                                photo: Joe Viger

At the 53rd running of the Delta Dental Mt. Washington Road Race, Team Colorado represents...Colorado, of course!

With sunny and warm temperatures in the first half of the race, it quickly changed to blustery, cold winds as high as 50 mph in the second half of the 7.6 mile course that prides itself on containing "Just One Hill." It is a 4,727 foot climb in 7.6 miles, but, then again, it is just one hill. 

Sage taking a look back                                                      photo: Joe Viger

Sage Canaday coming off a 2012 American record of 58:27 at Mt. Washington and only a week after winning the 50 Mile National Championship, Cayuga Trail 50, placed 3rd in 1:03:39.

Sage enjoying the beautiful scenery...well, just trying to get tot he top, but the scenery is still there      photo: Joe Viger

Simon Gutierrez, who is just getting younger as he ages, placed 4th, out-kicking a boxing champion and past US Mountain Running Team member from Scranton, PA, Matt Byrne, in the last few meters of the race. He also pulled some large shoes up the mountain finishing in a time of 1:04:44. Gute was inducted into the Mt. Washington Hall of Fame the day before the race and is a three-time Mt. Washington Champion.

Gute stalking Matt Byrne on The Wall                                          photo: Far North 

Gute waits to out-kick the scrappy Matt Byrne of Scranton, PA (and guest star on The Office) until the 22% grade. Typical Gute!      photo: Joe Viger

Maksimow didn't win, but he sure did have the most colorful uniform and facial hair          photo: Far North

Peter Maksimow, who has only run a few times in the past couple of months due to an achilles injury, managed to put all of his cross training to good use and place 9th in a time of 1:07:26. Not bad with one achilles, eh?

Maksimow scales the 22% finish pitch lovingly known as "The Wall"                             photo: Joe Viger

The finishing times seemed to be approximately two minutes slower compared to last year. The outlier was race champion, Eric "Quadzilla" Blake of New Britain, CT, and now most exclusive club member in history, the American Sub-One Hour Club at Mt. Washington (only four American men have broken one hour at the race that contains just one hill--Matt Carpenter, Colorado Springs, CO, 59:49 in 1993 & 59:16 in 1999; Rickey Gates, Boulder, CO, 59:58 in 2009; Sage Canaday, Boulder, CO, 58:27 in 2012 (American Record). There are currently more living US presidents than American sub-one hour performers and Team Colorado is proud to have two of said exclusive club members on the team! There are now 7 men that have broken the one-hour barrier at Mt. Washington, most notably Jonathan Wyatt of New Zealand who holds the course record of 56:41.

Gute claims that he is among the American Sub-One Hour Club because he ran 28:02 for the win in 2002. He pauses before he tells you the race only finished at the halfway point due to severe weather. Such a joker!

The three amigos of Team Colorado, L to R, Maksimow playing lizard, Canaday with his new cereal bowl, Gute needing a nap after a hard race                                                           photo: Donna Garcia

After smashing the team course record in 2012 by 5 minutes 31 seconds, Team Colorado did not field a complete team this year, however, did manage to put the three that did run in the top 10 (3, 4, 9) and ahead of the winning Central Mass Striders first finisher. Not too shabby! Did I mention that it is just one hill?

On the women's side, Laura Haefeli, long-time mountain and trail runner out of Del Norte, CO won her first Mt. Washington in 1:18:05. She is following in the footsteps of Gute and proving that age (she is 45) doesn't slow her down.

Haefeli contributes her longevity to her family-owned honey farm, www.haefelihoney.com       photo: Joe Viger

Honorary Team Colorado member Brandy Erholtz placed 2nd overall with a 1:23:48 in the women's race. The amazing part is that she carrying a 4 month of fetus in her belly!!! Regina Loicano of Gloucester, MA finished 3rd in 1:24:45. Here Brandy shows off why she should have won the 2nd and 3rd place prize money.

 She's pushing it out!                                    photo: P-Max

Canaday making his way up the mountain in black & white                                   photo: Joe Viger

Special thanks to Joe Viger for the amazing photos that capture the essence of this amazing race. Mt. Washington is one of the most challenging races in the country, which you can tell by just looking at the faces of the racers. If you don't believe it...run it for yourself and find out!

For more great photos check out www.joeviger.com.

Results

Post race press release

Big Mountain Trail Race

Peter "The Prez"Maksimow, Tommy "One Man Wolf Pack" Manning, Justin Ricks