Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Trans Rockies Heats Up

The start on Day One. (Photo taken from the Transrockies website.)

As this blog post goes to "press" our intrepid duo (Erik Skaggs and Max King) are in the midst of a 24-mile running leg from Leadville, CO to Camp Hale, CO. This is Day Three of six. They will pass over altitudes of 11,000 feet and accrue a net gain of nearly 3,000 feet by the end of the day.

On Day One they ran quickly on a relatively flat course and placed second overall to Team Salomon. Results are here.

Yesterday, Day Two, entailed a gut wrenching 10-mile climb and descent over Hope Pass (12,538'). Team Nike/Rogue Valley Runners placed second yet again, but to a different team, but still placing them in the overall lead.

Controversy, however, arose at the end of Day Two's leg. The winning team, Britian's Team Saab/Salomon, was witnessed cutting the course on switchbacks as they ascended and descended Hope Pass. Penalties were not accessed even though the race's official rules and pre-race briefings strictly prohibit such behavior. Let's hope bad boys can change their ways.

View other accounts of the race on these blog sites:
Sean Meissner's, Matt Hart's and Bryon Powell's.

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