Some Find it Hard to Believe

Well, there is common thread to this picture, let's see if you can figure it out.   OK, more than enough time. A four pack,  what looks like a 4 oz of malt liquor, and 4 perfectly good $1 IOU's to Taco Bell ( because TB is so classy they don't sell their bucks in any denomination smaller than a fiver.) And after all this do I still need to explain, of course.  Rogue Valley Runners celebrated it's fourth anniversary yesterday and by the looks of it, you know it turned out to be a quality evening.

We have seen many wonderful folks come and go over the years but ironically I was stopped yesterday, walking into the YMCA, by an acquaintance that mentioned to me the amazing job we have done to create community in Ashland.  She was amazed that our store had managed to stay in business let alone expand in such a small amount of time and turn so many people on to what it is we do best.  So thank you to everyone that has played a part in our success and has supported us through these "best of times."

Some may find it hard to believe that Erik Skaggs continued his dominance this past weekend by winning the Collins Mountain Trail Run portion of the Granite Man in 1:15.  Erik has burned through July racking up victories at the 4th run, S.O.B. and GM. Can he follow up August with some redemption at the AHC, we'll have to wait and see?  Store employee Jeff Olson was a close second and RVR 'rrrrrrr Jeremy Eisen eeked into the top 5.  On the ladies side, former shoe saleswoman, Ixel Sanchez placed second as time clock puncher Meghan Shaffer ran a strong 4th place showing.  Full results can be found here. 

Ixel Moving strong, barely breaking a sweat!

Southern Oregon Runners were out in full force. 

Look Jeff, you don't have to move all the way to Isreal to enjoy good ethnic cuisine, it's alive and well in the Applegate! 

Some of you may be wondering where the valley's fastest woman was this past weekend.  Well I'll tell you anyways.  The Deseret News Marathon was run early Saturday morning in Salt Lake City to a crowd of more than 700.  The odd thing about this run was the net 3,200 feet of downhill. Perfect for our mistress of descent (too much word play?)

After failing to raid the hotel's mini bar, this Born to Run star  hopped on a bus at 3 in the morning to make the trip to the start at Big Mountain.  After all was said and done, Jenn, with a rubber band bank in her pocket, ran a screaming 2:54 first place victory.

"I decided this year to maybe try a marathon and you know what? It's harder," she said. "I didn't train for this really. I was just doing my mountain runs. I guess if you want to run well in the marathon you have to train for it.

Now that's hard to believe.