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Flagstaff Rocks the Rockies

The third stage of the 6-day GORE-TEX TransRockies Run began in Leadville, Colorado and ended at Camp Hale. Stage 3 covered 24.3 miles, with 2,700ft of elevation gain. As we are now halfway through the event, signs of cumulative fatigue are beginning to show in many of the racers - the massage and medical tents are busy!

In addition to the team-based 6-day event, the GORE-TEX TransRockies offers a RUN3 event, in which racers participate solo for just three of the stages (58 miles). The RUN3 event has concluded, with Oregon-based Max King (Montrail) and Flagstaff-based Alicia Shay dominating the Men's and Women's categories. King covered the 24.3 miles of trail in 3h8m and Shay blazed through in 3h15m. Shay's times have been surprisingly close to speedster King's all week, which indicates she is definitely someone to watch in the trail scene.

TransRockies Run Stage One Results

The Gore-Tex TransRockies Run kicked off from South Main Street in Buena Vista, Colorado, elevation approximately 9,000 feet, to Railway Bridge. The stage covered 20.8 miles of sun-exposed, sandy terrain, with a modest elevation gain of 2550 feet. Stage One rewards those who are already well-aclimatized to the altitude, comfortable in the heat, and fast on the flat sections.

TransRockies veterans Mike Smith and Rob Krar (Team Flagstaff) handily won the Men's Open in a blistering 2 hours 15 minutes. (Max King, who challenged Team Flagstaff in 2011, is competing solo in - and dominating - the TR 3-day event.)

Ryan Sutter to take on the 2012 GORE-TEX TransRockies Run

Ryan Sutter announced his participation in the 2012 GORE-TEX TransRockies Run with teammate Johnny LoFaro.

Whether or not you are a fan of reality TV, you have probably heard of Ryan Sutter.  He became a household name in 2003 when he won the heart (and hand) of the Season One Bachelorette, Trista Rehn.   But unlike most in the reality television arena, Sutter has admirably chosen the pursuit of more meaningful things in life, over pursuit of the spotlight.  He remains grounded in his quiet life as husband, father, and firefighter in Vail, Colorado, making use of his public persona primarily to benefit the causes he cares about

Team EverymanTRI TransRockies Run 2012: The joy of trail running revealed

Probably like you, I grew up playing and watching sports, putting posters of my elite idols on my bedroom wall, and reading intently about team dynamics, shattered course records, and the accomplishment of what seemed physically impossible.

In other words, in whatever sport I followed, the elite were a pack of immortals that existed solely on screen, in print, and on my pedestal.

In my 20's, when I started marathoning, I was turned on by the notion that I, as an amateur, would be able to compete in the same race, at the same time, as my heroes.  In what other sport is this possible?  Even with a few corrals separating us, I felt privileged to be sharing the road with professionals.

In my 30's, when triathlon had my attention, the thrill was even greater, because I was actually standing in the same transition area pre-race, readying my gear.  I was so close to those I admired, I could see what brand of sunscreen they use.   And often on an out-and-back course, I witnessed the battle for podium as they hauled ass back in my direction.   Pretty exciting stuff for a sports nerd.

Team EverymanTRI TransRockies Run 2012: The Running High

This is the third year I'm deep in training for the GORE-TEX Trans Rockies Run and I must admit, its about this time of my program that I'm reminded how much I love trail running. My running career started in school track and field, with sprints, 400 meters and then progressing to 800 meter events. I ran my first marathon aged 18 and over the years have competed in many road races. 

Generally the preparation for these races was long and brutal, especially having to train through the winter for the Boston Marathon in April. I got so bored with running on pavement, icy sidewalks in winter and dodging vehicles as they drifted across the road in a text induced funk. I had to resort to running with music, friends, dogs and almost any distraction I could find, to make it through those bone jarring training runs and do the requisite mileage.

Team EverymanTRI TransRockies Run 2012: Teaming Up: Selection, Strategy, and Psychology

With the popularity of adventure- and stage-race formats on the rise, you may find yourself, for the first time, considering a team race experience.  Many of these events require you to complete the entire distance with at least one other person (i.e. not a relay), and finish together.  Here are a few tips on how to team up so that you have a successful race (and still like each other at the end of it).

Selection
A race is not a Vegas roadtrip.  Don't yell out at your next gathering "who wants to do ___ with me", and pick the person who high-fives you and says "hell yes I'll go".  Your entry fee is much better spent if you choose:

someone of similar ability.  Your pace should be within a reasonable range of your partner's, and you should be equally comfortable in the race environment (e.g. terrain).

Someone who has similar expectations for both the journey and the outcome.  If you are soaking in the scenery, you don't want a Type A partner throwing rocks at you.  In other words, someone who would like to win their age group should not pair with someone who will be happy to finish.

TransRockies Camp living: In Case You Were Wondering....

In case you have been intrigued by the idea of participating in the GORE-TEX TransRockies Run, but are wondering about the basics of camp life, let me enlighten you.   My expectations going in were far more rustic than reality;  the well-planned infrastructure is geared toward making sure that you never feel like you are truly roughing it. 

Without a doubt, the most frequently-asked question I got from friends and family was: "weren't you all tremendously smelly after running and camping for a week"?   Enter Burt.  He enjoys rock-star-like status at TRR because he's the Shower Truck Guy.  His mobile setup is at camp every day, boasts about five private shower stalls each for men and women, and pumps virtually endless hot water.  The truck also has a row of sinks and mirrors for shaving, teeth-brushing, etc.  After a tough morning on the trail, and a therapeutic soak in a nearby icy river, I looked forward to that shower.  People trickle back into camp at their own pace, so I never experienced a wait.

2011 TransRockies: Reflections From The Side Lines

So the 2011 GORE-TEX® TransRockies is over. It was over for me pretty much in the first stage when my teammate did a face plant in front of me and I had to hop over her to avoid a major collision. In the process I rolled my recently healed ankle. I felt a searing pain and hobbled away from the scene in major discomfort.

So I did my best to run with a foot injury, but this is not like running a nice smooth road race. The Gore-Tex TransRockies offers up some of the gnarliest running terrain on the planet, and this does not bode well for any racer with a significant injury.

I was pretty impressed that my mind did a great job of blocking the pain for two and half days and 47 miles, but at mile 14, during Stage 3 from Leadville to Camp Hale, my brain sent a text to my body to shut down the power valves. With each mile up a steep long ascent, I felt the body slowing down and shutting down the gas! I was done, my mind and body were spent and with encouragement from teammate Lori, I decided to call it a day at the second check point. Game over!

TransRockies final results FlagStaffers take title in Beaver Creek

Jason Wolfe and Mike Smith (Team Run Flagstaff) won the 2011 GORE-TEX® TransRockies title in Beaver Creek. After six ultra-competitive stages, the men from Arizona, clocked 14h57m23s over 125 miles of grueling mountain racing. They also increased their lead to 21m50s over runners-up Max King and Ryan Bak (Team Bend) over a tough 24 mile finale from Vail today.

"It was like the final rounds of a boxing match, where the fighters are punch drunk and swinging with everything they've got", said an exhausted Mike Smith after clinching the title today. "We planned to push hard all day, but it was a tough stage, and we managed to pull close to 6 minutes on Max and Ryan today, after cranking up the ascents. It feels really good to be done with this six day battle."

Elite Racer Interview: Jason Wolfe

Team EverymanTri caught up with Flagstaff's Jason Wolfe for an exclusive chat at The GORE-TEX® TransRockies Run. Jason and his teammate, fellow Flagstaffer Mike Smith, are contenders to win the very competitive Open Men's category of the six-stage, 120 mile race.

Team EMT: Jason, you took second last year at this event - did you come back because you have some unfinished business here?

Jason: Lots of reasons, actually. One, I'm a GORE associate, and since it's a GORE-TEX sponsored event, there is always a lot of electricity at work leading up to it, folks training for it, and preparing for the race. There is also a fairly large representation from Flagstaff, and a tremendous amount of energy in the running community - it's easy to get swept up in the whole vibe of it. Of course there's also the 'unfinished business' part. I feel like we can win it, which is always better than second place.

Team EMT: What's your favorite part of the race?

TransRockies Day 5 results: Smith and Wolfe take control

Jason Wolfe and Mike Smith (Team Run Flagstaff) (pictured here) took control of the 2011 GORE-TEX® TransRockies Run with a dominant performance in the penultimate stage of the race from Red Cliff to Vail today.

The Run Flagstaff duo completed the 24 mile, course in an amazing 2h44m, which was close to 14 minutes ahead of arch protagonists Max King and Ryan Bak (Team Bend) who finished third today, with Bak struggling with multiple injuries, sustained in yesterday's stage. The British pair of Tom Owens and Ricky Lightfoot (Team Salomon) were second today despite losing their way on the course.

TransRockies Day 4 results: High Noon In Redcliff

The pendulum kept swinging in stage 4 of the 2011 GORE-TEX® TransRockies run. in Red Cliff today. The 14 mile stage, which included a 27 degree climb of four miles, was again a duel between the leaders Max King and Ryan Bak and chasers Jason Wolfe and Mike Smith.

Today it was the turn of Smith and Wolfe to win the stage in 1h44m from Coloradans Peter Maksimow and Alex Nichols (Inov 8). King and Bak faltered on the steep descent when Bak took two major tumbles which cost them valuable time, and they crossed the line 5m43s behind the winners, which drops them back to second in the GC. Bak was taken to Vail hospital for treatment to his lacerations after the stage.

TransRockies Day three results: Team EMT's heartbreak moment

It was a tough day for Team EverymanTri, with Paul Shippey dropping out of the stage at mile 14, leaving teammate Lori Lyons to run solo to the finish at Camp Hale in 6h03m. This effectively drops them from the race classification of the 2011 GORE-TEX® TransRockies run.

'This is a tough race to run with injury and sickness and after three days of pain and not feeling great, my body had the final say today. I may be able to soldier on tomorrow, but today was brutal for me and my teammate', said Shippey after the stage.

It took three stages, but finally the 'king' of the GoreTex TransRockies Run came good. Max King and Ryan Bak (Team Bend) blasted through the 24 mile stage from Leadville to Camp Hale in 2h47m and in so doing moved into the overall lead of the GC.

Today's stage, arguably one of the toughest of the race - with 3000ft of vertical, provided yet another intense battle between the leading protagonists - with Jason Wolfe and Mike Smith (Team Run Flagstaff) running in second on the stage, some seven minutes adrift of the leaders. Wolfe and Smith seem to have the upper hand on the uphills and King/Bak have the faster legs on the descents, which has set up an interesting contest between these four.

TransRockies Day two recap: the wounded warrior

The day's crossing of the Continental Divide was magnificent. The elevation map of the route was fairly straightforward, looking much like the bell curve. Based on dinnertime and pre-start conversations, I was not the only only one intimidated by the climb/descent of Stage Two; even Max King, who was not pleased about his second place finish yesterday, was concerned about his ability to retake first on this particular stage.

We would be climbing over 3,000 ft up a singletrack to Hope Pass, which lies at an elevation of around 12,700 ft, and navigating our way back down a steep, rocky trail on the other side. Once the tedious descent was behind us, we had another 6 or so miles of rolling trail though the forest and alongside Twin Lakes to the finish of day 2 of the GORE-TEX® TransRockies race.

Three things worried me: The rapid elevation gain could lead to altitude sickness, Paul's ability to manage the technical descent with a sprained ankle, and, of course, my ability to stay upright.

TransRockies Day two results: team EMT moves up to 5th place

Team Salomon runners Ricky Lightfoot and Tom Owens won the second stage of the 2011 GORE-TEX® TransRockies Run from Victorville to Twin Lakes today in 1h52m.

Team EverymanTri athletes Paul Shippey and Lori Lyons, moved up to 5th in the Mixed 80+ division with a solid run in 3h20m. Shippey, struggling with a sprained ankle, sustained in avoiding his teammate's fall on stage one, hung in to finish despite some discomfort on the steep descents.

TransRockies Day One recap: team EMT suffers first injury

My friends know two things about me: 1) I have zero natural navigational skills, and 2) I am about as klutzy as they come. And while I didn't get us lost on yesterday's course, I did manage to catch a toe on some (real or imagined) obstacle, and eat some sand.

I emerged from the tumble unscathed (plenty of practice) but Paul, who was directly behind me, leapt to the side to avoid stepping on me, and rolled an already weakened ankle. I was on the ground congratulating myself for not trashing my legs when I heard the painful groan (followed by #bleeeeep#) behind me. We were only eight miles into a 120 the 2011 GORE-TEX® TransRockies, and I had managed to take out my partner.

Nice.