USATF Mountain Running Update

Dear Mountain Runner,

In this issue: Results from MA, CT, NY and CO. Upcoming races in NH, VT, CO, OR and Norway

RESULTS:

June 5, 2004 - La Sportiva USATF New England Mountain Running Championships - Northfield, MA

Results
Pictures

Part of the USATF-NE MOUNTAIN RUNNING SERIES
Story by Dave Dunham

The USATF NE Mountain running circuit headed to Northfield Mountain on June 5th. The Northfield race (8.2m) will featured the meeting of quite a few series runners. The race was the next to last in the highly popular Hockomock Swamp rat (HSR, a mix of 20 races around New England) series, as well as the New England Grand Tree series (20+ trail races in New England). This in addition to being part of the USATF NE Mountain circuit, and designated as the USATF NE Mountain Championship.

Conditions were excellent for racing, with mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid fifties. The field of 130 was the most ever for a New England Mountain running championship. There were runners from 8 states (CT, RI, MA, NY, VT, NH, ME and MD) and more than 30 different running clubs.

The course was slightly modified from last year, moving to the original Snowshoe trail that could not be used last year due to erosion consideration. The modification and the number of downed trees made the course slightly slower than last year. Despite that, there were some age group records and an overall course record set.

At the start Joshua Ferenc (Endurance) took the lead and by the start of the first climb (at about 3/4m) he had gapped Paul Low (CMS) by about 5 seconds. Low, who has not been beaten by an American in an up/down course since 1999, made his move on the steepest climb of the course at about 3 miles. He gained a slight lead before the wide grassy downhill. Paul noted "I ran the first downhill hard yet, conservatively and Josh caught me just before the single track turn". Josh gapped Paul on the remaining downhill and had a few seconds lead as they passed through the start/finish at 4½ miles. As the duo climbed the first hill in the second loop, the next two runners passed on their way down the hill. Paul gauged that "Werner and Bolt were way back and would not be a factor". This factored into his decision to "push the uphill as hard as I could" as he knew "Josh would make up time on the long, grassy downhill". Paul moved back into the lead at the single-track section about 5½ miles into the race. At that time Mark Werner (La Sportiva) was fairly safe in 3rd with about 30 seconds on Rich Bolt (CMS). Mark was on the US Mountain team last year and recently qualified to represent the US in the 100 Kilometer World challenge. Rich has been on the US Mountain team numerous times and was a top 5 finisher at Mt. Washington last year. Rich noted that he "went out too hard on the first loop last year" and that he was hoping to run "a more even race this year".

On the second loop, Paul held his lead until about ½ way down the hill and then was passed. "I tucked in behind him for a while" Paul said, and added "I was right behind him by the end of the single track (400m from the finish). He proceeded to put 7 seconds on me by the finish line". Josh looked strong on the final downhill and Paul's hurdling of the gate did little to cut into the lead. Paul took 40 seconds off of his winning time from last year. Josh's new course record (49:18) equates to 5:58 per mile over the 8.2m course with 1800' of climb and descent. Mark held on to 3rd with Rich moving up 4 places and 30 seconds from 2002. Rich noted that he may have "saved a little on the downhill, thinking about Mt Washington". He also noted that it was "great to see some younger runners coming out and doing the Mountain circuit". "Zach Emerson (Moose Milers - 6th overall) ran great, it has been a while since we've had good Junior (under 20) mountain runners in New England".

Kelli Lusk (CMS) took the women's race in 1:03:04. Kelli finised 3 minutes slower than her course record of last year, but may not have run all out. Jennifer Brooks-Lassen was 2nd more than four minutes back. Grace Jensen took the 40+ victory by nearly 2 minutes. The 50+ win went to Sherisa Sterling. On the men's side, Dan Verrington (CMS) took the 40+ victory. Dan has the master's course record from last year. He was closely followed this year by Mark Pitts (Moose Milers). The 50+ went to Rob Higley (WMAC) with an excellent 11th place overall finish in 58:27. He broke Richard Stockdale's course record by nearly 6 minutes. Peter Orni (CMS) won the 60+ race in 1:11:03, missing his own course record by one second.

Mike Woodman of Timonium MD was the top Hockomock Swamp rat finisher in 12th place. Rob Smith (CMS) was the top Grand Tree runner with his 13th place finish. The final "rat race" will be the Montpellier VT 10m later this month.

June 5, 2004 - Teva Mountain Games Spring Runoff - Vail, CO
Results at: http://www.vailrec.com/adult/running_races/spring_runoff.html
Story at: http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/3/3_1/gutierrez-and-haefeli-nat.shtml
This race was also the 2004 USA 10k Trail Championships

June 6, 2004 - Whiteface Mountain Uphill Footrace - Wilmington, NY
Results at: http://www.coolrunning.com/results/04/ny/Jun5_2004Wh_set1.shtml

June 6, 2004 - Nipmuck Trail Marathon - Mansfield, CT
Results coming soon at: http://www.marathonguide.com/sites/nipmucktrail/

MOUNTAIN RUNNING FEATURE:
Polar/CMS team member Kevin Tilton has put together a great website for those runners intersted in the upcoming Mt. Washington Road Race. Kevin's site features a mile by mile course description and pictures. Kevin's website can be found at:
http://pubpages.unh.edu/~kltilton/washington/washington.html


Upcoming Races:

June 19 (Saturday) - Mt. Washington Road Race - Pinkham Notch, NH
2nd Annual USATF Mountain Running National Championships
Info at http://www.gsrs.com/mwrr/index.htm

June 26 (Saturday) - Mt. Ascutney Run to the Summit - Windsor, VT
3.8 miles - 2250' of climbing
Info at: http://www.usatfne.org/trail/
Part of the USATF-NE MOUNTAIN RUNNING SERIES

July 4 (Sunday) - 26th Annual Teva Vail Hillclimb - Vail, CO
7.5 miles - 2200' of climbing
Info at: http://www.vailrec.com/adult/running_races/mountain-haus.html
Also the 2004 NACAC Mountain Team Championships

July 24 (Saturday) - Jay Mountain Marathon - Jay, VT
Info - http://www.jaychallenge.com

August 7 (Saturday) - 25th Annual Mt. Ashland Hill Climb - Ashland, OR
13.3 miles - 5600' of climb!
Info at http://www.oregonrunner.com/

August 14 (Saturday) - Skaala Uphill Race - Norway
8.2k and 1800 meters of climbing - OUCH!
Info at http://www.skaala.no/Sk%E5la%20Opp/Practical%20information.htm
"There is an organisation for endurance sports in Norway called KONDIS who are staging a mountain race in the Jostedalsbreen National Park on August 14th. The race is over 8.2km and there is a height difference of 1,818m. It will be staged on Mt Skaala the highest mountain in northern Europe. Anyone interested in visiting this beautiful region may find more details of the race by visiting web page www.skaala.no."

Richard Bolt
Team Leader
Teva US Mountain Running Team
43 Salisbury St.
Manchester, NH 03104
603-494-6947