Mt. McLoughlin VS. Team RVR

Early Wednesday morning...I mean real early, a hardy crew of Rogue Valley Runners ventured north in hopes of summiting nearby Mt. McLoughlin. Rising high out of the verdent landscape below McLoughlin tops out at over 9,000 feet. In hopes of getting a few flat warm up miles Team RVR parked just off Highway 140 at a trailhead offering direct access to the Pacific Crest Trail. Fueled with coffee, Mountain Dew, and hope the team did eventually summit and the view from the top was fabulous. Presented below are several key photographs which capture the spirit of the endeavor as well as some good lookin' Ashlanders.


Danceparty!...Jenn and Kyle break it down on the summit


Man, Kyle's hair looks good...and he knows it


PCT...the "T" got confused

Going the Distance in October

A number of Rogue Valley runners went the distance this month. Here's a recap of some of this month's major marathons, and we'll throw in an ultra just for good measure.

More than 7,800 runners braved the rain at the Portland Marathon (10/5/08).
Here's a list of the local finishers:

1012 DANA BANDY ASHLAND, OR 3:38:12
1217 CHAD WIKANDER ASHLAND, OR 3:42:44
1279 DANA DUVIVIER ASHLAND, OR 3:43:49
1477 JOSHUA WIESEN ASHLAND, OR 3:47:45
2104 DESIREE BARNES ASHLAND, OR 3:59:00
2124 JEFFREY PROULX ASHLAND, OR 3:59:17
2255 STAN POTOCKI ASHLAND, OR 4:01:53
2442 MICHAEL SOTOS ASHLAND, OR 4:06:04
3061 ALINA SQUIRES ASHLAND, OR 4:17:54
3077 KAROLINA WYSZYNSKA, ASHLAND, OR 4:18:26
4397 TOM PELSOR ASHLAND, OR 4:46:01
4648 ROBIN DAWSON ASHLAND, OR 4:53:05
5039 TESSA BENEDICKTUS, ASHLAND, OR 5:03:26
5564 CAMILLE SIDERS ASHLAND, OR 5:26:50
5565 LORI FLEUTER ASHLAND, OR 5:26:50
6296 AUDREY THOMPSON ASHLAND, OR 6:05:59
6372 JANA CAROLE ASHLAND, OR 6:10:13
6373 MICHELLE ZUNDEL ASHLAND, OR 6:10:13
6883 KRISTIN JULBER ASHLAND, OR 6:41:18
7163 DONNA MARKLE ASHLAND, OR 6:59:08
7430 SARAH BRECKENRIDGE,ASHLAND, OR 7:20:22
7431 TONI RICHMOND ASHLAND, OR 7:20:22

450 DANIEL HOUGH TALENT, OR 3:22:03
943 FREEBORN MONDELLO TALENT, OR 3:36:37
1427 CHRISTI WATTS TALENT, OR 3:46:40
1544 ANDRE ANDERSON TALENT, OR 3:48:52
5361 LINDA MURPHY TALENT, OR 5:17:10
5506 JOHANNA HOBART-CRANE TALENT, OR 5:24:17
5950 ERIN OXENDINE TALENT, OR 5:44:45
6482 ALI LIVELY TALENT, OR 6:15:29
7477 DANI PISORS TALENT, OR 7:23:59
7478 ERIN DICKEY TALENT, OR 7:23:59

6746 VICKIE HELFRICH PHOENIX, OR 6:32:55

128 SCOTT STEMPLE MEDFORD, OR 3:04:06
344 KEITH MINOR MEDFORD, OR 3:18:06
505 STEVE WYATT MEDFORD, OR 3:24:28
510 GEORGE JOHNSTON MEDFORD, OR 3:24:36
1185 JENNIFER NIDALMIA MEDFORD, OR 3:41:51
1372 JARED LEEPER MEDFORD, OR 3:45:42
1745 DAVID JORDAN MEDFORD, OR 3:52:58
1971 RYAN RACKLEY MEDFORD, OR 3:57:09
2419 THOMAS BELL MEDFORD, OR 4:05:42
2942 RON GASSMAN MEDFORD, OR 4:15:28
2986 JASON SLAUGHTER MEDFORD, OR 4:16:13
3076 MICHELLE CHRISTIAN MEDFORD, OR 4:18:26
3829 KEVIN TULLY MEDFORD, OR 4:33:53
3879 NATHAN HARP MEDFORD, OR 4:34:56
3888 DUSTIN CLARK MEDFORD, OR 4:35:09
4018 EDUARDO LEDESMA MEDFORD, OR 4:38:11
4115 DEAN LEWIS MEDFORD, OR 4:40:21
4802 TED ADAMS MEDFORD, OR 4:56:37
5083 SARAH DEMULDER MEDFORD, OR 5:04:59
5462 NANCY FADLING MEDFORD, OR 5:21:56
5470 DALE MEADOR MEDFORD, OR 5:22:10
5493 MIVEN DONATO MEDFORD, OR 5:23:12
5572 HENRY BARRUETA MEDFORD, OR 5:27:07
5724 DANICA CRUMLEY MEDFORD, OR 5:33:30
5744 NATHAN GAOIRAN MEDFORD, OR 5:34:39
5925 INGRID MATHEWSON MEDFORD, OR 5:43:21
6446 RHONDA COLLINS MEDFORD, OR 6:13:42
6447 TERESA GALLAGHER-HILL MEDFORD, OR 6:13:43
6448 TARA BEHNKE MEDFORD, OR 6:13:43
6573 MOLLY CLARK MEDFORD, OR 6:20:34
6708 CHRISTIE SANDERS MEDFORD, OR 6:30:27
6763 LINDA JACKSON MEDFORD, OR 6:34:26
6823 LORNA BOLTON MEDFORD, OR 6:38:00
6824 CLAUDIA VIETS MEDFORD, OR 6:38:00
6902 CHRISTINA SAUNDERS MEDFORD, OR 6:42:50
6903 ROBIN MCMILLIN MEDFORD, OR 6:42:50
7156 DIANE SANDLER MEDFORD, OR 6:58:27
7201 LINDA VANBUSKIRK MEDFORD, OR 7:03:00
7203 STEPHANIE SMITH MEDFORD, OR 7:03:01
7479 HEATHER AYERS MEDFORD, OR 7:23:59
7658 SARA ENRIQUEZ MEDFORD, OR 8:09:23
7659 MARIANNE ROBISON MEDFORD, OR 8403 8:09:24
7746 LINDA DUFFY MEDFORD, OR 8:15:17

50 JC CALLANS EAGLE POINT, OR 2:53:35
2076 LANCE COOPER EAGLE POINT, OR 3:58:35
2523 JENNIFER CALLANS EAGLE POINT, OR 4:07:52
6799 MICHAEL GOHDE EAGLE POINT, OR 6:36:35
7021 ANNE MURPHY EAGLE POINT, OR 6:50:14
7022 JANE LEONARDO EAGLE POINT, OR 6:50:15

1954 RUSS SMITH CENTRAL POINT, OR 3:56:48
3348 JIM COOL CENTRAL POINT, OR 4:24:35
5630 JANET GROUT CENTRAL POINT, OR 5:29:30
6593 CHELSEA BROESDER CENTRAL POINT, OR 6:21:53
7142 ALICE CUSHMAN CENTRAL POINT, OR 6:57:18
7717 VALERIE MCMEEKIN CENTRAL POINT, OR 8:12:49
7771 LOIS SHANKS CENTRAL POINT, OR 8:20:38

3817 DAWN KERWIN ROGUE RIVER, OR 4:33:44


It was another warm one at this year's Chicago Marathon (10/12/08). Temperatures reached into the low 80's as more than 31,400 runners made their way through downtown Chicago.
Local finishers were:
205 IAN TORRENCE ASHLAND, OR 2:50:36
8787 MARIA CLEMENTI ASHLAND, OR 4:13:01


In Utah, more than 5,000 runners encountered rare wind and rain at the St. George Marathon (10/4/08). Local finishers were:

47 NEIL OLSEN CENTRAL POINT, OR 2:52:54
195 JIM BRENDLE CENTRAL POINT, OR 3:06:59
2827 JOHN LOTTS CENTRAL POINT, OR 4:16:43
3099 CHRISTOPHER FOSTER MEDFORD, OR 4:24:48
3227 MAUREEN MITCHELL CENTRAL POINT, OR 4:27:59
4181 DAVID DEVILLENENUE CENTRAL POINT, OR 5:02:33

The Twin Cities Marathon (10/4/08) went off in Minnesota. Our lone local finisher was:
7603 NANCY WILSON MEDFORD, OR 5:30:40

Now for a little Ultramarathon news:



The Dick Collins Firetrails 50 mile trail race was held on Saturday (10/11/08) in the Berkeley/Oakland hills of California. Southern Oregon and the Rogue Valley Runners were well represented on this course that gained more than 7,800 feet. Hal Koerner, the owner of Rogue Valley Runners, continued his winning ways (after his victory at the Angeles Crest 100 Mile three weeks ago) with a winning time of six hours and 43 minutes. Rogue Valley Runners employee Chris Rennaker had a strong sixth place showing, and Siskiyou Outback 50 Kilometer co-race director John Price finished in 10th place and first in his age group (50+). Ashland's Aaron Brian, a newbie at this distance, finished with a strong 8:58. On the women's side, Carly Varner finished with a personal best 9:11. Jody Waters finished in 9:22 and Erin Keller in 9:59.

Cross Country Comes to Ashland!

Thirty-two high school teams from Southern Oregon and Northern California will converge on Lithia Park (a stone's throw from downtown Ashland) this Saturday (October 11th) for one heck of a cross country meet. The highly-anticipated State of Jefferson Cross-Country Invitational will pit the best local high school running talents against one another. Junior Varsity races will start at 11:15am. Varsity races begin at 12:45pm. The shaded five-kilometer course will run throughout Lithia Park's wood chipped, dirt and paved trails. Come out a support your favorite local teams!

Wagner Glade Trail Work Redux

Work continues on the new Wagner Glade Trail. See a write up on the trail work in this Mailtribune article. All the downed logs have been removed and another 1/3 mile of tread has been laid down in the last two weeks. However, roughly 2/3 miles of tread still needs completion on the highest portion of the trail.

The view from Wagner Glade Gap and the terminus of the Wagner Glade Trail.

Here are few more opportunities for you to assist in the trail work going on in the region. The events are sponsored by the Ashland Woodlands and Trails Association.

October 11th: Time Warp Trail, a 3 mile downhill bike trail up by Mt. Ashland. Work with other downhill cyclist on key eroded areas. Meet at Ashland Ranger Station on Washington St. at 9am. See the following link for background information.

October 25th: Wagner Glade Trail in Ashland’s Watershed. Meet at Ashland Parks Department office in Lithia Park at 8:30. We will carpool into the gated watershed approximately ten miles then walk from there. We are reclaiming a trail that hasn’t been used for almost 40 years. See the following link for more information.

November 15th: Either Ostrich Peak Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail. Meet at the Ashland Ranger Station at 8:30. Check the AWTA website for further information.

December 6th: Ostrich Peak Trail. Meet at Ashland Parks Department Office in Lithia Park at 8:30. Check the AWTA website for further information.

Questions regarding the trail work mentioned above can be directed to Rob Cain at robrcain@yahoo.com.

Kyle Skaggs is happy to be putting time in on a trail he'll no doubt be running on in a few weeks.

Rogue Valley Goes to Xterra Nationals

On Saturday several Rogue Valley Runners traveled to Bend, OR to take part in the Xterra Trail Run National Championships. The 21 kilometer trail course was set along the scenic Deschutes River that meanders through town. With a $5,000 prize purse available, some of the country's swiftest trail runners came to race. When the dust cleared, 225 runners would complete the race. Max King (Bend, OR) would take the lead at mile three and win the men's race in 1:08:01, that's roughly five minute mile pace. Eugene's Susannah Beck would win the women's race by see-sawing back and forth several times with Bend's Kami Semick. Beck would outdistance Semick by 19 seconds at the finish line, winning in 1:23:07.

(l to r) Jenn Shelton, Ixel Sanchez and Susannah Beck at Xterra Bend.

Rogue Valley had some stellar performances as well. Leading the pack was Ashland's Brian McGuire in 1:22:23. Brian missed winning the 50-54 age group by 30 seconds. Central Point's Joe Griffin finished in 1:29:44; 44th overall and fifth in the 44-49 age division. Ashland's Jenn Shelton blazed the course in 1:30:04, winning the 25-29 age division and finishing sixth lady overall. Winning the 20-24 age group was Rogue Valley Runners store employee Ixel Sanchez in 1:33:31. Jeff Pons and Melissa Glatte, both from Central Point, also represented the Rogue Valley by finishing in 1:46:19 and 1:46:44 respectively. Medford's Jodi and Wayne Marthaller finished in 1:53:42 and 2:23:31 respectively. Running across the line together were Jennifer Patterson (Medford) and Pennie Pons (Central Point) in 2:12:41. Nancy and Mark Fadling of Medford ran in 2:24:47 and 2:28:38 respectively.

Full results can be found here. Some photos can be found here. Congratulations to all runners!

Northwest Mountain Running Championships

Driving in from eastern Oregon, the horizon gave nothing away. It was going to be cold and wet. And it was.

Rain on the verge of snow at the finish line.

However, the drizzle and 40 degree temperatures could do nothing to cool the hot competition lined up for this year's Northwest Mountain Running Championships. The line-up would prove to be one of the best in the region this year. With $6,000 (supplied by END) in prize money (open, master's, team) runners with mountain running talent were bound to head for Mt. Hood. The headline duel was between Joe Gray, fresh off his stellar performance at the World Mountain Running Championships in Switzerland, and Olympic Trials Steeplechase Qualifier/TransRockies co-winner, Max King. However, if they were to falter, a strong secondary group of runners would be there to scoop them up. In that group were Erik Skaggs (co-team member of King's at this year's TransRockies and 2008 Mt. Ashland Hill Climb winner), Erik's brother, Kyle Skaggs(winner of the 2008 Hardrock 100 Mile Endurance Run), Richard Bolt(Team Leader for the Teva US Mountain Running Team and fierce mountain running competitor), John Howell (2:29 finish at the 2006 Austin Marathon), and Anthony Rinck (2:35 finish at the 2007 Portland Marathon). To add even more dimension to the race, Portland's Team Red Lizard Running Club and southern Oregon's Team Rogue Valley Runners would bring to the table two tough teams that would compete for the Men's Team Title.

The sign says it all.

The course, now wet, started at Mt. Hood's Timberline Lodge at 6,000'. Runners ran six miles across, up and down ski runs, the Pacific Crest Trail, dirt access roads and technical single track to determine who the best mountain runners were. Runners ran to over 7000' and above tree line, across snow fields, climbed 2000', all while buffeted by a few 30 mph wind gusts.

Joe Gray leads Max King and Erik Skaggs early in the race.

Max King burns the downhill.

Erik Skaggs in pursuit.

Kyle Skaggs digs in.

Ian Torrence leads a chase pack up the slopes of Mt. Hood.

At the finish line, Max King would start his final sprint too late. Joe Gray (Team Rogue Valley Runners) would win the NW Mountain Running Championships in 39:23 (taking home $1,150 for his first place, top of the mountain course premium and team wins). Max (Team RVR) would follow two seconds later. Erik Skaggs (Team RVR) would finish third in 41:35. Richard Bolt would finish first for Team Red Lizards in 42:58, fourth overall. Kyle Skaggs and Ian Torrence came across the finish in 7th and 8th places respectively to round out a winning Team Rogue Valley Runners.

Lisa Nye, of Bend, Oregon would win the women's title in 50:45, less than a minute ahead of fellow Bend runner Katie Caba.

Team Rogue Valley Runners (left to right; Erik Skaggs, Max King, Ian Torrence, Kyle Skaggs, Joe Gray not pictured)

***More awesome photos, top ten men's and women's results and another write-up can be found on Richard Bolt's Oregon Mountain, Ultra & Trail Running web site.

Lithia Loop Trail Marathon Entrants

Here's the current list of runners (as of September 17th) who have entered the LLTM. That means 57 athletes are entered. This leaves 43 available slots to fill before the race on November 8th.

Please let us know if you see any glaring mistakes with our current information.
Name Age Gender Origin
Michael Sotos 33 M Ashland, OR
David Jordan 41 M Medford, OR
Luke Frechete 30 M Ashland, OR
Kelly Bradbury 38 F Smithfield, UT
Eric Dinger 34 M Medford, OR
Nikki Dinger 32 F Medford, OR
J.C. Callans 41 M Eagle Point, OR
Jennifer Callans 35 F Eagle Point, OR
Freeborn Mondello 29 M Talent, OR
Darcy Kleiman 31 F Talent, OR
Amy Nangle 38 F Talent, OR
Rick Blink 33 M Vacaville, CA
Rob Reckard 37 M Grants Pass, OR
C.B. Fralich 35 M Grants Pass, OR
Erin Fralich 38 M Grants Pass, OR
Brendan Holmes 29 M Klamath Falls, OR
Shahid Ali 23 M Ashland, OR
Kim Larson 37 F Ashland, OR
Chad Harris 32 M Roseburg, OR
Adam Cortell 36 M Talent, OR
Reeger Cortell 42 F Talent, OR
Stephen Itano 49 M Fairfield, CA
Lisa Dean 38 F Fort Jones, CA
Leonard Farr 44 M Newburg, OR
Courtney Pickett 40 F Ashland, OR
Phil Finch 58 M Reedsport, OR
Jennifer Sallee 38 F Ashland, OR
Brooke Bouer 34 F Talent, OR
Molly Holzshu 35 F Ashland, OR
Rene Millan 35 M Ashland, OR
Steve Waxmonsky 34 M Ashland, OR
Kouba Sayre 37 F Talent, OR
Luanne Park 48 F Redding, CA
Dean Heuberger 57 M Yamhill, OR
Megan Heuberger 28 F Ashland, OR
Darrin Bolz 41 M Medford, OR
Clem LaCava 60 M Corvallis, OR
Kelly Cronin 31 F Yosemite, CA
Rick Haase 63 M Shoreline, WA
Ali Miles 24 F Jacksonville, OR
Anne Crispino-Taylor 50 F Ashland, OR
Jinny Brown 55 F Ashland, OR
Lisa Bach 42 F Ashland, OR
David Kamp 61 M Corvallis, OR
Joe Mosley 54 M Eugene, OR
Sharon Mosley 46 F Eugene, OR
Grey Hecht 36 M Talent, OR
Susannah Beck 40 F Eugene, OR
C.J. Hitz 35 M Findlay, OH
Anne Hitchcock 30 F Auburn, CA
Hillary Noel 26 F Henderson, NV
Josh Brimhall 32 M Henderson, NV
Priscilla Anderson 32 F Murphy, OR
Win Goodbody 41 M Portland, OR
Terri Libert 40 F Eugene, OR
Stephen Hamilton 66 M Sunriver, OR
Kaija Staley 33 F Jacksonville, OR

Hal Koerner wins Angeles Crest 100 Miler!

Hal after his 2006 Angeles Crest victory. Photo courtesy of Larry Gassen.

I got a call a little after midnight last night from a very excited young man; Hal has done it again! In 18 hours and 29 minutes, Hal has won the Angeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run; a full hour ahead of his nearest competition. Improving on his 2006 winning time by eight minutes, he again cements his name in this southern California race's history. He raced back and forth with Jorge Pacheco for the first half of the race and then, in the heat of the day, Hal made his move. He was able to gap the rest of the field and run alone through the night to the finish line outside Pasadena, CA.

Here's a great description taken from the event's web site of what Hal experienced during his 18 and half hour win:

"From Wrightwood to Pasadena. 100 miles includes 90 miles of trails and 8 miles of dirt road in the Angeles National Forest including portions of the Pacific Crest Trail, and 2 miles of paved road. The race starts on Park Street in downtown Wrightwood and finishes at Johnson's Field in Pasadena. There is a 21,610 ft. accumlative elevation gain, 26,700 ft. accumlative loss, resulting in a 48,310 feet total elevation Change. The highest point is Mt. Balden-Powell at the 9,210 ft. level."

Congratulations Hal!

Wagner Glade Trail Work

Rob Cain and Tipper in the "Glades" with Mt. Ashland in the background. A view seen by few.

Allen Goffe and Ian Torrence cut a tree in the upper "Glades."


Ever thought what it'd be like to summit Wagner Butte from Ashland. Well, dreams do become reality. Through a cooperative agreement with the US Forest Service and the Ashland Woodlands and Trails Association the Wagner Glade Trail is close to completion. Over the past week, several work parties have traveled up to the foot of Wagner Butte from Ashland via Forest Service Road 2060 to punch through the trail.

Here the basics:

1) The trail is approximately two miles in length. It rises from the USFS 2060 road to the Wagner Glade Pass and connects with the Wagner Butte Trail which arises from the opposite side of the mountain.
2) It rises from approximately 5000' to 6600'.
3) The trail follows a faint, but already existing tread-way that was used up until the 1950's to supply the Wagner Peak Lookout, until that lookout burned down.
4) The trail skirts the "glades" high on Wagner Butte's flanks (as seen from Mt. Ashland).
5) There's water too, a small spring can be heard and seen from the trail's path. If it's flowing in September, good chances it flows all year round.
6) The trail is NOT yet complete. The trail is flagged, but about a mile of tread-work remains as does about a half-mile of downed tree removal. This is where YOU come in!

Work parties are still meeting and continuing to work on the trail. The next work party is headed up on Sunday (September 14th). They are meeting at the Ashland Park and Recreation Department in Lithia Park at 8:30AM. John Price is heading the work party this weekend. Contact him at tomshasta@yahoo.com to RSVP or to ask questions. Other work will be done as well on dates yet to be announced. If you can't make it this weekend, but want to do some work in the very near future contact John or Rob Cain at robrcain@yahoo.com. One day's all it takes to make the dream a reality.

Historic blazes that once marked the route to Wagner Glade Pass, and, now, will again do so.

Ian Torrence cuts tree that blocks the trail's tread-way.

Rogue Valley Runners in the News

Ian Torrence and Chris Rennaker running trails in Ashland. Photo courtesy of the Mailtribune and Denise Baratta.

A great story in today's (9/11/08) Mailtribune on trailrunning quotes several Rogue Valley Runners! Check it out here!

McKenzie River Trail Run

The McKenzie River from along the course.

This past weekend a large contingent of Rogue Valley Runners headed north for the annual running of the McKenzie River 50 Kilometer Trail Run. Set along the beautiful McKenzie River, about an hour east of Eugene, runners would run a point-to-point course along the river under a canopy of dense, cooling vegetation. The race has a long, deep history in the ultrarunning community, as it has results that date back to 1988. It's a 'must do' for any trail runner.

This race started fast and ended fast! Todd Braje, of Eugene, won the race by setting a new course record in 3:33:17. Many personal records were turned in as well. Here's how the Rogue Valley group did...

The sea of green. Rogue Valley Runners off to a fast start.

Maria Clementi (#32, who would go on to complete her first ever ultra in 5 hours and 23 minutes) and Carly Varner (looking at her watch) head out for the 31 mile jaunt.

Ian Torrence finished second in 3:44:48, the sixth fastest McKenzie River 50K finish ever.

Todd Ragsdale finished in 3:58:23, 4th place overall, a new personal record.

Eric Poole finished 8th in 4:02:37, also a personal record.

John Leuthold finished 9th in 4:04:24, his fastest 50K time ever.

Chris Rennaker, finished 11th in 4:08:50...a PR as well!

Joe Griffin finished in 14th, in 4:17:53, a new personal record too.

Carly Varner ran her fastest 50K by finishing in 5:03:20, 9th overall in the women's division.

Becky Hacker finished in 5:08:14.

Full Results for the 2008 race can be found here. The photography is courtesy of Tom Riley.

The Rogue Valley Runners finishing photo! From left to right; Griffin, Leuthold, Rennaker, Torrence, Clementi, Varner, Poole, Ragsdale.

...and now your moment of Zen...

Ben Benjamin at the Lean Horse 100 Mile Ultra

Scenery along the Lean Horse 100 Mile Ultra course.

On August 23rd and 24th, Ashland native Ben Benjamin completed the Lean Horse 100 Mile Ultra; an ultra that traverses an old railroad bed turned trail near Hot Springs, North Dakota. The course cuts through the Dakota's famous Black Hills.

Ben Benjamin running at the Peterson Ridge Rumble this past April. Photo by Glenn Tachiyama.

Ben, 61 years young, finished the course in 26 hours and 19 minutes. Ben is far from new to ultrarunning. Lean Horse was his twelfth 100-mile finish. Ben also completed the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning (four 100-milers in one summer) in 2005 in a combined time of 119 hours, 15 mintes and 34 seconds. Also this year, he completed the Oregon Trail Ultramarathon Series by finishing Hagg Lake 50 Kilometer Trail Run, Peterson Ridge Rumble 60K, McDonald Forest 50 Kilometer Trail Run and the Mt. Hood PCT 50 Miler. Congratulations Ben!

Lithia Loop Trail Marathon Update

Heading out along the 2060 road (approximately mile nine of the course).

In order to bid for the USA Track and Field Trail Marathon Championships in 2009, we had to accurately measure the LLTM course. So, last week Hal and Bob Holtel wheeled the entire thing. We found that the course was a little long; approximately two miles too long. So here is the revised map and profile with the new starting line and finish line posted. We'll now start at the yellow gate at the bottom of the 2060 road and finish near the upper duck pond in Lithia Park. Don't worry, we'll get you to the start line from the parking lots near Pioneer Hall via mass transit. Those details are forth coming.

We should also note that we have 42 entrants to date. This is a reminder for those that procrastinate, this marathon will fill and we can only take the first 100 entries. We will post a current list of entrants in the next few days.

Nike/Rogue Valley Runners win Transrockies Run

Erik Skaggs and Max King (in their yellow Leader's Jersey's) win the last stage, as well as the overall title in the Transrockies Run.

In Day Six's final push for Beaver Creek, Colorado and the finish line of the Gor-tex Transrockies Run the overall winning position was still up for grabs. Team Nike/Rogue Valley Runners had a slim four minute lead on the second place team, Team Saab/Salomon. In this final day's 21 mountainous miles anything could happen; teams would have to work hard to secure their positions in the overall standings.

Running the hardest they've run all week long King and Skaggs finished first and bolstered their overall win by finishing eight minutes ahead of the Saab/Salomon Team. A good video and full results can be found on the Transrockies web site.

Now back in Ashland and recovering from sore quads, swollen ankles and brusied toes, Skaggs looks back on the adventure. "It was so tough going out there each day knowing I had to run as hard as I could again and again and again. Max was a great team mate, we worked well together. He's a powerhouse! I could get a small lead on the climbs, stay even with him on the downhills, but he would just blow me away on the flat sections. The competition was much stiffer this year than last. That fact made the win so worth it. I'd definitely consider returning again next year."

Colorado Intense!

Team Saab/Salomon keeps applying the pressure on Team Nike/Rogue Valley Runners. Though Max and Erik won today's stage (Day Five), the winning margin was only 24 seconds. Think about it; run 24 miles over the hairiest terrain you can imagine to only come across the line 24 seconds before the chasing team. That's intense!

Tomorrow is the final day of the Transrockies Run. Skaggs and King have about a four minute overall lead on Team Saab/Salomon. Tomorrow, Day Six, has 21 mountain miles in store. Anything can happen...

Stay tuned...

Nike/Rogue Valley Runners Continue to Roll in Colorado

So far so good! At the end of day three King and Skaggs continued to build their lead by winning the third leg of the Transrockies Run.

Here is today's Mail Tribune article on Team Nike/Rogue Valley Runners' progress.

Stay tuned for more info and updates...

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.

Oregon goes to Colorado: Trans-Rockies Run

Rogue Valley Runner and store employee Erik Skaggs (Ashland, OR) and Olympic Trials Steeplechase qualifier Max King (Bend, OR) head to the heart of the Colorado Rocky Mountains for the second annual Gor-tex TransRockies Run. But unlike their head to head duel at the Siskiyou Out Back 50K Trail Run back in July, the boys will be running and working together as the Nike/Rogue Valley Runners Team at this race starting Monday morning.

Max King at the 8K USATF Championships. (photo courtesy of the New York Road Runners)

Last year's Trans-Rockies winners (r to l) Erik Skaggs with his brother and then partner, Kyle. (photo courtesy of Trailrunnermag.com)

Together with King's experience at the World Championship level and Skaggs' experience as the defending champion from last year's race; these two put together one of the fiercest resumes at this year's TransRockies Run. Their expertise will come in handy over the six-day stage race that pits the duo against some of the best mountain runners in the world. Race legs vary from 12 to 24 miles in length and the teams will spend the majority of their time between 9,000 and 12,000 feet. Daily course descriptions and elevation profiles can be found here. Teams must run together and finish side by side if they wish to be counted in the day's results. The Team with the fastest cumulative time at the end of the six days will be crowned winner.

We'd be remiss if we didn't mention another Oregon runner participating in this year's race; Sean Meissner (Bend, OR) on Team Montrail.

Last year, the TransRockies Run web site did a good job of posting daily updates at the end of each leg. Check back Monday night for the first leg's results!

Good luck fellas!

The Anatomy of a National Championship Win: Told by Neil Olsen

Neil after 62 miles of hard racing.

The cool thing about the trail ultramarathon is that the race unfolds over a long period of time, over varying terrain, and is littered with unforseen obstacles. Lots can happen. A story unfolds.

Leaders switch position more often; the runner at the front of the pack at mile 30 might not be in the lead after mile 55. The runner in fifth place, 10 minutes down with 10 miles to go, might be your winner when it's all said and done. Often the race can become a race against yourself and not against the runner in front of you or behind you. The uncertainties add up, as does the anxeity and unknown.

Here's Neil Olsen's story about his day at the USATF 100K National Trail Championships.

"This year I toed the Where's Waldo starting line ready to try it again with fresher legs and a determination not to make any wrong turns.

I was more prepared in some ways, and less sure in others. It had been 3 long months since my previous race instead of the 3 weeks I tried the year before. I had done more long training runs earlier in the year but in the previous 2 weeks my longest run was a 4 hour 23 mile hill run that wore me out. In the wake of the Western States 100 Mile cancelation my motivation had lagged a bit. I hadn't done any timed intervals nor have I made it to any of the cross-country series. I did some cross-training including a bike-paddle-mountain bike-hike-bike from here to the coast with some friends from church the week before (during which I was able to spend about 1.5 seconds of quality time with David as he was running the other direction in some event at the north end of Grants Pass), and I'd spent a week hiking with my son and some scouts in the Trinity Alps.

My hope was to take it easy and make it past half way without hurting, then pick it up from there. I dropped that plan, in favor of running a little harder early, because I figured I'd have to slow down once it warmed up. It did get hot, and drinking enough was an issue, but there was a breeze, and it clouded up a bit, and most of the course is in the shade, so it was manageable. From the start Hal Koerner, Nate McDowell, Sean Andrish and some others went out fast. (Nate is the guy with the time for the slightly short SOB course that converts to just 1 minute slower than Max's this year). My splits through the 1st 4 aid stations were about the same as last year but I quickly fell more than 10 minutes behind the leaders. Other than a calf that got very sore, and some tightness in the hamstrings (in-door soccer is not a good way to taper) I felt fine.

I got caught by Jason Bryant while I was checking my map a couple of miles past 4290. I stayed close enough to him to watch him catch Sean, but I couldn't match their pace on the uphill. I got by them both on a down-hill, and later got caught and almost passed by a very strong Joe Grant who paced himself well throughout the race. Somehow they didn't pass me on the long hike up the last super-tall climb to Maiden Peak. I was still 10 minutes behind Nate. I didn't feel all that fresh, as I had been having trouble keeping liquids down. The only solids I had tried were some pretzels at Charlton. I kept urping them up and spitting them out for the next 2 hours. I stuck mainly to the Gu-2O downing 20+ oz every 45 min. After the aid station that only had water (but thankfully had ice!!) I swallowed an s-cap and tried to down an extra Gu.

At the last aid station Joe was on my tail, which usually would have concerned me, but I was thinking forward, as they told me I was now only 7 minutes behind Nate. Sean inexplicably dropped out at this aid station. Hal at least had the good sense that if he was going to drop out, to do so early. My calf wasn't any worse, my quads weren't entirely thrashed, and I had yet to cramp, so I maintained hope and tore out of the aid station moving quickly. I thought it was going to take the entire last 7.5 miles to catch him, so I was surprised and thrilled when less than 3 miles later I spotted, then passed him. I had burned a lot of energy, had forgotten to grab any Clif shots, and now had to avoid bonking for almost 5 more miles. I slowed a bit, thinking I just needed to cruise, but a mile later on a switch-back I realized Nate was still only 40 yards behind me. So I picked it back up, and ran in fear, hoping to get a cushion but never knowing how close he was until the finish. Last year I was in tears at the finish, in relief that the agony was over. This year the agony was much less intense, and mainly limited to the last part. But for the 2nd time in my running career I got emotional at the end of the race, this time with happiness.

I'm not sure why the course was so fast this year, with 7 of us under the 2007 course record. I know without Nate, Jason, and Sean pulling me along, Joe and others pushing, I wouldn't have chosen to go that speed. I am 42.&;quot;
Neil Olsen is congratulated by Craig Thornley, the RD for the Where's Waldo 100K Ultramarathon.

Neil continues, "The race directors put on a great event. These trails would be fabulous to run on if I wasn't so preoccupied the whole time with my racing. The aid station people were extremely attentive to my needs and so up-beat. I asked for some vasoline, and in a flash the volunteer had an open container with a gob of it on her fingers asking, with a straight face, where to put it. The logistics of marking the trails, communicating, having people at intersections were so well done that I didn't have a chance to get lost. The sponsors were generous. I was overwhelmed by the awards. Stop reading here if you struggle with jealousy. John Ticer made stained glass plaques for the overall mens and womens that are works of art. I don't know if he did the sewing, but John also provided quilts for the masters winners. I got a jacket and a shirt that my kids quickly laid claim to. The USATF medals are nice, and the checks were very cool too. Now maybe Emily can go to college after all.

My sisters and their families and my parents camped together at Waldo lake in part for this. They came to the Charlton lake aid station, and it was awesome having them there as my crew. But I got ahead of schedule, so they missed the finish by less than 10 minutes. My daughter Emily offered to go on a long cool-down with me, but I opted for a much needed massage instead."