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RACES
24 Hours of Sunlight Ski
Race
http://www.24hoursofsunlight.com
Sunlight Mountain Resort, Colorado
February 10-11 2006
Carl Gable, 23325 vertical feet, 15 laps, 13th place
Rich Siemer 26435 vertical feet, 17 laps, 9th place
Support: Bill Roth
by Carl Gable
This was the first time that a race of this kind had ever been held and
by the time it was over, a new world record had been set. Twenty four hours
straight ascending a 1550 vertical foot ski run, turn around ski down, repeat...
The goal is to ski as many vertical feet as possible. Conditions were good,
clear and calm but a bit cold. The night before the race, temperatures went
down to 8F. The night of the race was not as cold, only going down to about
20F. As with any race of this length, a steady pace was the key. Rich and
I kept at it all day and into the night. Bill set up support in our condo
that was only one hundred feet off the course. We would just stop in for a
quick change of clothes and refueling. Bill did a great job keeping hot soup
on the stove, offering us a variety of food and offering encouragement and
putting my climbing skins on for the next ascent lap. As the night wore on,
the pace slowed and the stops in the condo got longer. My worst time was
between 3-6 AM during which time I took a break because it felt as if my
lungs were full of fluid. Even resting my heart rate would not go below 100bpm.
Bill said he was impressed that I took two No-Doz and lay down on the couch
and slept for an hour, boots still on and buckled. After a few hours rest
and the sun out, my lungs were clear enough so I headed out for a few more
laps.
First place was a tie. Greg Hill and Jimmy Faust had been neck and neck
for the first sixteen hours of the race and agreed to tie. They each did
an incredible 50000 vertical feet. A world record.
The race was a benefit for the Heuga Center, a national, non-profit organization
based in Edwards, Colorado, is dedicated to improving the lives of people
and families living with MS through its interactive, educational programs
unique to any in the world.
Newspaper coverage of the race can be found at the web sites:
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20060213/SPORTS/102130027
http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_3506436
http://ski.mountainzone.com/2006/24hours_sunlight/index.html
Thanks to the sponsors: CW-X, NiteRider, Thorlo, Polar, GoLite, Dermatone,
Hydropel
Mount Taylor Winter Quadrathlon
http://www.mttaylorquad.org/
Grants, New Mexico
Saturday, February 18th, 2006
Jan Bear 4 hours 48minutes 55 seconds, 3rd in 50+ males, Kim Bear 6 hours
25minutes 29 seconds, 4th in 45+ females.
By Jan Bear
This year the lack of snow in New Mexico has been a big concern for more
than just winter sports but certainly the 23rd annual Mt. Taylor Winter Quadrathlon
was affected. The race usually consists of a 13 mile uphill road bike followed
by a 5 mile dirt road run then a 3 mile cross-country ski finishing with a
1 mile snowshoe to the top of Mt. Taylor at 11300 feet before you reverse
the order of events for the rest of the race back to Grants at 6500 feet for
a 44 mile round trip. This year's race however was similar to the 2000 race
which ended up as a winter triathlon. 2006 proved to be even dryer, so it
became the Mt. Taylor Winter Duathlon(bike and run). Race day was cool and
windy making both sections of the race difficult. The start gun went off
at 9 AM, the number of entrants was down this year due to the dry conditions
but the racers were ready to head up the mountain. The bike was a steady up-hill
climb as was the run. The section that usually comprises the cross-county
ski and snowshoe is quite steep and turns into a power hike with the wind
howling at the top of the mountain. The route down was slippery in spots but
generally soft on your feet in the upper sections due to the snow. Once on
the dirt road the wind picked up making the run tough. This was just the beginning
because the wind on the bike leg is always a headwind and this year it was
very powerful thus really slowing your pace on the way back to Grants. Kim
and I both had a good race and finished in goods times considering the long
run and big headwind.
We enjoyed the afternoon after the race visiting the hot tub at the motel
where we stayed and then headed off to the awards ceremony and followed that
with dinner at a local restaurant with friends.
Thanks to the following sponsor gear companies; Litespeed, Bike & Sport,
CW-X, SixSixOne, CamelBak, ThorLo, SofSole, Montrail, GoLite, Dermatone, Wenger
NA, Bolle, Suunto, E-Caps, Polar and Hydropel.
Mardi Gras Mambo 10K
http://www.clubsouthrunners.org
Baton Rouge, LA
February 18, 2006
Barb Dutrow 46:42 3rd F overall, 1st F45-50, 89/524 overall
Runners celebrate Mardi Gras season with a fabulous race and party. The
Mambo takes place the week before the season culminates with the local
polically-incorrect parade. The race runs from downtown, winds through LSU,
and returns along River Road adjacent to the Mississippi River levee (unbreached).
This stretch is typically windy, and this day was no different. The generous
race support provided for over 30 police officers on the course; every
intersection was secured from traffic, no chasing dogs. It was wonderful!
This course has a few hills, plenty of potholes, but is fast. 524 runners
took part in the race with several of the displaced New Orleans runners
joining the group. It was a welcome sign to see the head of the New Orleans
Track Club join in the festivities. Cool temperatures, slightly overcast,
and mist combined for good conditions until one got to River Road. The headwind
was fierce, constant and simply nasty. I was running alone, and couldn't
catch the two guys ahead of me in order to tuck in behind. Fortunately I
finished prior to the downpour of rain. My pace plummeted over 30 sec/mile
for the last three miles, for a slow finishing time of 46:40. That was sufficient
for 3rd overall female (1st in my age group). After the race was a great
party with jambalaya, King Cake, beer and other beverages.
Thanks to Polar Heart Rate systems for keeping me going and to Thorlo
for padding my feet.
Training:
Skiing, Whistler/Blackcomb
(Inbounds and Backcountry)
Whistler, BC, Canada
January 24 - February 4 2006
Carl Gable, Barb Dutrow, Joel Krypel and friends
From the Whistler/Blackcomb web site:
"As of 10am January 31, 2006, Whistler broke the record for the snowiest
month the mountains have seen since weather data collection began 25 years
ago. ... January's snowfall accumulation reached 469 centimetres (185 inches.)"
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Carl Gable finds something
steep.
Photo by Lee Lau
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Barb Dutrow finds the
powder.
Photo by Lee Lau
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A spectacular couple of weeks, the pictures tell the story:
http://www.leelau.net/2006/santafe//blackcomb270106/blackcomb270106.htm
http://www.leelau.net/2006/santafe//whistler280106/whistler280106.htm
http://www.leelau.net/2006/santafe//whistler290106/whistler290106.htm
http://www.leelau.net/2006/santafe//whistler010206/whistler010206.htm
http://www.leelau.net/2006/santafe//blackcomb020206/blackcomb020206.htm
http://www.leelau.net/2006/santafe//fluteoboe030206/fluteoboe030206.htm
http://www.leelau.net/2006/santafe//blackcomb040206/blackcomb040206.htm
February Dress Rehearsal
Cedro Race
http://www.bcdracing.com/hawke/fdr.html
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Sunday, February 26th, 2006
Jan Bear and Ries Robinson
By Jan Bear
Ries and I had not seen each other for a couple months so we decided that
this "practice race" would be a great opportunity to get together since Ries
is moving to California this April. The event was held in the Albuquerque
open space with about 25 hard core riders showing up to RACE. Ries and I thought
it would more of a controlled ride but it was a RACE. The course was 90%
single track with some good downhill's and some tight single-track climbs.
Each loop was about three miles in length. No more than ten minutes into
the race Ries and I were in the middle of the pack and drifting backwards.
We were both on new bikes and still getting used to them, at least that was
our excuse. On lap two I passed Ries and stayed in front till the end despite
two crashes, Ries had one. So with the practice lap we did before the RACE
started we got in a good 18 miles. The event was a lot of fun but the drive
was a little too long for the time spent on the bike however when racing you
always push harder than when out doing a training ride. We really enjoyed
the ride and time we spent together catching up on each others life's.
Thanks to the following sponsor gear companies; Litespeed, Bike & Sport,
CW-X, SixSixOne, CamelBak, ThorLo, SofSole, GoLite, Dermatone, Wenger NA,
Bolle, E-Caps, Polar and Hydropel.
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