The North Face Endurance Challenge 50 Mile (well, really 46.4 miles)

This past weekend in a sloppy swamp in San Francisco....a 50 mile race took place. Well, it turned out to be more like 46.4 miles, depending on which loop you decided to do in which order. Team Colorado was represented by Alex Nichols, Justin Ricks and Rickey Gates.

Little do they know what they are getting themselves into - the elite field of the 2012 TNF 50     photo: Candice Burt

Alex's muddy little legs--at least he's showing the competition a clean pair of Inov-8's!             photo: Bethany Garner

After incessant rains led the California State Parks division to nix the original course a day before the race took place, the race directors had to modify the course...or better yet, improvise. There is that doozie of a climb, Cardiac Hill, that they had to remove. Stinson Beach--they removed that section. The beautiful out-and-back on the Coastal Trail is a staple of the race, it got the ax. But there is that area North of Muir Beach that the course runs on...oh, but wait, that was removed, too. Is there anything left to race on, you ask? Well, there is this 23 mile loop we can try...

So, basically the runners had to do two 23 mile loops which contained loops within that 23 miles and overlapping of the course in some sections that caused a lot of the men's elite field to "make up" the laps they missed later in the the race...and the course marshals were fine with it! (On a site note: iRunFar's live coverage stated that the women's elite field did not get lost because they "stopped to ask for directions". Pretty typical of the males!)

Here is Rickey Gates refueling after swimming through this river        photo: iRunFar

It would have been an entertaining race to watch, wouldn't it have? Well, not to some people following iRunFar's live streaming online. Some might have called it chaotic. I likened it to watching an episode of the Benny Hill Show--very entertaining, because "5th" place Miguel Heras was 21 minutes behind "leader" Sage Canaday at 32.3, when in reality, Heras thought he was leading and ACTUALLY was leading. Then Timmy Parr came into the aid station behind Alex Nichols, who was in 15th at the time (not sure if that was 15th or "15th"), thinking he was was in 15th-20th, only to be told he was in "3rd". SCORE FOR TIMMY!!! Probably the best news he has heard all day!

Alex is staying on course...me must have asked for directions                   photo: Brett Rivers

I would compare the updates of runners coming through the aid stations like the PowerBall drawings where all those ping pong balls that fall from that large funnel into that big mixing machine get ejected into a spiral track revealing random numbers. Here comes 5, then 1, next 15. There are probably better odds playing craps! A comment from Brett on the iRunFar live feed stated, "They should just have a lottery at the end, throw the top 20 finishers' names into it, and randomly draw for the win and prizes." 

Brilliant!!!

Justin Ricks running down the creek                     photo: Brett Rivers 

Then we are alerted that Team Colorado's Rickey Gates drops out at 4 hours. A few minutes later he tweets Exhaustion, what feels like blood issues and way too many wrong turns for me at#TNF50 has me dropped at mile 25ish." OK, so we are hearing from the athletes at this point. Next we hear that when Heras asked what place he was in, the response might have been you are first, third, or fifth." Ha! I bet that wasn't funny to him at 36.3 miles.

Hilarity ensues.

We get word that Justin Ricks has come through an aid station and stops what appears to be a bottle of mud...what aid station?...it doesn't matter what aid station, no one was keeping track anymore, they are just going to look at everyone's GPS and determine if they are run adequate distance. It is also reported that Sage was 1st, 5th and disqualified all at the same time.

OK, maybe not mud, maybe it is a Anchor Steam Porter!         photo: Bethany Garner

A tweet on iRunFar informs us that "At mile 42 3rd-9th(ish): Clayton, d'Haene, M Wolfe, Bowman, Martin, Cort & Vollet between 12-20 minutes behind Heras." No Sage? No Alex? Maybe iRunFar should have put a disclaimer up on their life coverage that stated, "this is not actually what is happening, it's just an estimate." Then we hear from someone at the final aid station announcing Alex has moved his way up into 5th place. Not sure if it was a real 5th or a fake "5th".

There are some Ron Burgundy jokes, Sage getting re-lost on his make up laps, suggestions for a penalty box like they have in triathlon. Up comes a picture of Heras coming across the line 1st, with what looks like a scowl towards the race directors on his face, and 3rd place is put before 2nd place for a short while until that is straightened out. And, just to prove that he officially won, a photo of Heras' GPS to confirm that he ran 46.4 miles. I guess that looking at someone's watch when $10,000 is on the line is adequate enough proof.

Even his watch speaks a different language! Can it say "dinero"?             photo: iRunFar

After leading at 28 miles in the 2011 TNF 50 and spraining both ankles forcing him to drop out (and it was a dry day!), Alex Nichols comes across the line to take 5th place in a time of 5 hrs. 55 min. 25 sec. behind 2nd place François d'Haene (actually pronounced "från-swaHHH", who knew?), "3rd" place Cameron Clayton (who registered only "one" split out of 5 during the entire race) and 4th place Adam Campbell.

Alex crossing the mud line in 5th, looking like a wet puppy!           photo: Brett Rivers

Justin Ricks finishes in very respectable 18th place, only 25 minutes back of Alex, with a time of 6:24:16; which proves the competitive depth of this 2012 TNF 50 field, regardless of if they stayed on or went off course.

No, it's not poop on his legs, it's just mud - Justin comes across the line after a wet and muddy race    photo:Brett Rivers

So, now the question is: How can you not disqualify someone if they did not stay on the appropriate course? Track & Field would be a disaster if someone was allowed to run a counterclockwise lap without being disqualified! 

Alex noticed that a few of those runners who went off course and attempted to make up by adding that section in later, completely missed a climb, therefore, running less distance than him. Alex's GPS read 46.94 miles, half a mile longer than the winner, who is assumed to have stayed on course. Would Alex have finished 3rd if those runners that didn't run the entire course were disqualified? Would Justin have possibly moved up to 10th place?? We'll sit down and ask them about it. Stay tuned...

Mmmmmm, chocolate! Rickey Gates fondues his feet after a tough day.    photo: Rickey Gates

Thanks to iRunFar for the race entertainment...uhhh, coverage. We know it's not your fault, but thanks for making us laugh anyway. Kudos for trying to broadcast chaos!

iRunFar's live coverage: http://www.irunfar.com/2012/11/2012-tnf-ec-50-mile-championships-live-coverage.html

TNF 50 Results

On the same day in warm and sunny Colorado Springs, Simon Gutierrez runs the antithesis of TNF 50, winning the Nielson Challenge 2 mile in 10:20. Smart move, Gute!

Turkey Day...According to Gute

Simon Gutierrez (lovingly known to his Team Colorado teammates as "Gute") got his fill of Thanksgiving races in the past few weeks. 

On November 17th, Gute participated in the Pikes Peak Road Runners Turkey Trot Predict, where he came across the line in 16:37.15, only 2.85 seconds off his predicted time of 16:40, thus winning a big-ass frozen turkey.

Gute (the bald guy holding a frozen turkey) graces the December cover of the Long Run

OutThereColorado.com article and results

Then on Thanksgiving Day, Gute ran the Fort Collins Thanksgiving Day Run, an extremely competitive 4 mile race.

In his own words, Gute gives us his race review:

I knocked off another race from my "got 2 run it" list.

With great prize money, wonderful weather and many of the top Colorado runners showing up for a flat fast race at 5000 ft sea level, I was expecting to cruise 20:20, win the masters money and pumpkin pie for my age division.

Sometimes you show up for your "A" game and all you got in the 1st mile is noodle legs....hitting the mile in 5.02 feeling like it was 4.50 is not a good feeling especially when your in 20th place and and 2nd overall master....next mile was when you ask yourself if racing is worth it...2 miles 10:16...3rd mile 15.42. But I had recovered enough to enjoy being slightly ahead of master ace Art Siemers...feeling like I could at least finish strong, I did not expect the calf cramping with 400 meters to go...something that I have dealt with, especially on hard flat pavement over the past 25 years...

21:00 second master and like 26th overall may seem like a disaster but in reality It was a lot of fun, I still got a 100 dollar prize and being in different old guy age groups, Art and I each got pie...

Results

Next up for Gute is XC Nationals in Lexington, Kentucky on December 8th after a 2 mile tune up at the Nielsen Challenge on the December 1st.

This weekend will also see Team Colorado members Justin Ricks, Alex Nichols and Rickey Gates take on the North Face Endurance Challenge 50 Mile Championships in San Francisco, CA.

Another Incline Beer Mile and the last Fall Series Race

The second edition of the Incline Beer Mile took place on Saturday, November 10th. The small field of 6 had to endure the incline masses, the raining of snow pellets and foamy beer (considering each participant had to carry their own beer with them).

Note the winning technique - getting the beer down your throat as quickly as possible.                    Photo: Andy Wooten

Peter Maksimow defended his title in a pedestrian 30:56, with JT (Jon Teshier) claiming the second spot and Liz Sanchez of Denver close behind him in 3rd OA, setting a new women's CR in 42:58.

This is what the Incline Beer Mile looked like back in November of '82!                                                Photo: Amy Perez

The next day at the Pikes Peak Road Runners Fall Series race #4, Justin Ricks come off a 2nd place at the USATF Trail Marathon Championship a week ago to place 2nd OA in 47:06 at the 7.3 mile trail race at Palmer Park in Colorado Springs, CO. He solidified his 2nd place in the series behind overall and series winner, Robby Young.

Justin trying to stay warm in the sub-30 degree weather

Peter Maksimow finished 6th OA in 49:56 and pretty much just stank it up, losing positions in the overall series. Alex  "Axel" Nichols just put in an easy effort to keep an injury at bay in his preparation for the North Face 50 Mile in a few weeks.

Results
Write up on PikesPeakSports.us

Ricks Captures 2nd at USATF Trail Marathon Champs

Justin Ricks places 2nd at the slick-rock, rope-climbing, shit-show which was the Moab Marathon in 3:14:40.

The Moab Trail Marathon, which must have been inspired by PPRR's Fall Series, played host to the 2012 USATF National Trail Marathon Championships. Team Colorado's Justin Ricks ran a conservative race to finish in 2nd place. "I knew it was going to be a challenging course and knew an easier start would play in my favor once I reached the more technical parts of the course." 

Yeah, it's all fun and games in the first 3 miles of a marathon!

Justin, who moved into third place around mile 10, started out in 12th place. "I felt great all day and had a lot of fun out on the trails! Considering the depth of the elite field, I am very happy with a second place finish at a national championship race."  

OK, now it looks serious

Results

Trail Runner Mag write up
Colorado Runner Mag write up

Werewolves and Domination

18th Annual Emma Crawford Coffin Races - 10/27/12

On Saturday in Manitou Springs, CO, a event that might be considered on the Lunatic Fridge took place. Known as the Emma Crawford Coffin Races, this event features a crew of four runners and a coffin with a "Emma" (preferably lightweight lightweight Emma) 195 yards down Manitou Ave.

The story of Emma Crawford goes back to 1889 when she moved to Manitou Springs in hopes that the famous Mineral Springs would heal her tuberculosis. Unfortunately, she died a year later and was buried atop Red Mountain. A few years later a large rain storm washed her coffin down the steep slope into town. And to commemorate her, we race coffins through the streets! She would have been proud!


The "Werewolves of Manitou" consisted of (L to R) Brandon Stapanowich, Logan Wealing, Peter Maksimow, Justin Ricks and Brian Rawlings.

No, we didn't win, but we represented for all Werewolf kind and for our sponsors: PikesPeakSports.us, 2 South Wine Bar and Colorado Running Company.

See the write up on Brandon's blog.

Pikes Peak Road Runners Fall Series #3 - 10/28/12

The 3rd installment of the Fall Series saw Team Colorado take places 2, 3, 4 and 6. This 5.5 mile (advertise) race (actually it was 6.4 miles--way off Larry Miller, RD!) was held in Ute Valley Park in Colorado Springs, CO and featured the 46-year-old-retired-from-downhill-running Team Colorado member Simon Gutierrez, who braved the rocky, technical up-and-down course to place 2nd overall (38:41) behind Robbie Young. He was not wearing the proper footwear, or else he would have won!

Gute finishing with a Barn close on his heels!

Justin Ricks was a close 3rd in 38:58, followed in 4th by the newly returned to the uninjured world, Alex Nichols (39:17), along with Peter Maksimow rounding out the top 6 in 6th with a 40:23.

Justin making a "I-just-got-beat-by-a-46-year-old" face

Alex "Axel" Nichols swallowing his tongue but placing 4th

Pikes Peak in the background, beard in the foreground, and the midrift in the midground

Results on PikesPeakSports.us

And we will leave you with this pug that tried to dress like Peter.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

USATF CO State Championships' Weekend

There were two USATF CO State Championship races this past weekend and Team Colorado was represented in both.

USATF Colorado State Cross Country Championships - 10/21/12

This very competitive 8k was held at Monument Valley Park in Colorado Springs and consisted of 4 X 2K loops on crushed gravel/dirt trails and grass. The meet also served as the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships hosted by Team Colorado Member and coach of the UCCS Men's Cross Country team, Mark Misch, who will become a masters runner in less than 3 weeks!

The Gute taking it out with the leaders (white Hoka singlet #663)

Team Colorado's Simon Gutierrez and Justin Ricks took it out with the roadies and speed demons in a race that saw a Andy Wacker take the win in a very impressive 24:41. Simon ran an impressive race (for an old guy) placing 26th in 26:38 and taking the overall masters win.

Justin showing some leg!

Justin, who has been running long, slower distances in the mountains and neglecting doing very many speed workouts said, "that sucked!" after the placing 61st in 27:20. He is training for the US Trail Marathon Champs and The Northface 50.

Gute would have run at least a minute faster if he less midsole to his shoes!

video of the start of the XC Champs

USATF Colorado State Half Marathon Championships - 10/21/12

Peter Maksimow ran the Boulder Half Marathon serving as the USATF CO State Half Marathon Championships the next day at the Boulder Reservoir. The course consisted of mostly dirt roads, some pavement and, yes, that ringer again, Andy Wacker, who took the win in 1:11:37 for his second USATF CO State Championship of the weekend. Congrats Wacker!

Peter placed 8th OA in 1:17:47.

Photos courtesy of PikesPeakSports.us

Gute Strikes Gold in Cripple Creek, Ricks & Maksimow Take On Fall Series

Saturday October 13

Simon Gutierrez takes to them thar hills, at the Mine To Mine 9K in the old gold mining towns of Cripple Creek and Victor, CO, in an attempt to strike gold. And gold he did strike, by gum, by placing 3rd OA in 30:49 and winning a gold nugget worth $100.

Gute doing what he swore he would never do...run downhill. Luckily he had his fat shoes on!

The 9K road race started on a blustery snowy day from the Mollie Kathleen Mine and descended into the town of Cripple Creek before climbing back up and finishing at the Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mine. The OA male and female (Matt Levassiur & Brandy Erholtz) winners took home a $500 gold nugget. When asked what he was going to do with his valuable earnings, Simon concluded that he would make himself a gold tooth for his mouth!

Sunday October 14

The very next day saw a lot warmer weather for the second race of the Pikes Peak Road Runners Fall Series, where Justin Ricks and Peter Maksimow took the 2nd (28:49) and 3rd positions (29:48), respectively, and place themselves in that same order in the overall series. Local runner, Robbie Young, took the top spot and extended his lead in the series.

A well-tanned Justin has his eyes on the last climb of the course

Wonderful fall foliage with NORAD in the background...and, no, Peter is not heel-striking in this photo

This 4.5-mile real cross country-style course (actually, closer to 5 miles, Larry Miller, RD, doesn't know how to measure) at Bear Creek Regional Park was a roller coaster of climbs and descents, soft gravel, single tracks which looked like a drunk person blazed them (Larry?), creek crossings and the formidable rope climb up a 30-foot embankment. (Again, thanks Larry!)

There's the rope climb

Results, videos photos and colorful commentary by Tim Bergsten can be found at www.pikespeaksports.us