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February 2007 Team Santa Fe Activities
Races :
100th Anniversary of Jackson Day Race 10K
Old Spanish Fort to Jackson Square, New Orleans, LA
January 7, 2007
http://www.runnotc.org
Female Masters Winner 41:38 8/272
By Barb Dutrow
On an overcast, humid and warm (70s at race start) day, the 100th running of the
Jackson Day race began with 1300 participants. This race, the longest running of
the New Orleans Track Club races, commemorates the Battle of New Orleans
(January 8, 1815) when the American forces lead by General Andrew Jackson
decisively defeated an invading British army. The race is point to point,
beginning at the Old Spanish Fort and winding through city streets to end at
Jackson Square. This year's race was tricky; it was hot, the streets had
abundant potholes, and there were few water stops along the 9K course. It was
also disturbing in that Fort is adjacent to the area heavily damaged by floods
from Katrina and the neighborhood is almost completely deserted. One would not
know that 18 months had passed since Katrina.
A terrific race party was on a pier overlooking the Mississippi River and was
complete with music, much food and drink. My finish was slow, in 41:38, but
sufficient for the Masters win and for 8th F overall.
Thanks to Thorlo for padding my feet and to Polar Heart monitors for keeping me
on track.
The Wall - Louisiana State Championship Race 30K
East Bank Bridge Recreation Park, Destrehan, LA
January 28, 2007
http://www.runnotc.org/races/2007/wall.html
Female Masters Winner 2:24:48 2nd/42 F
By Barb Dutrow
Under overcast and gray skies, with temperatures hovering around 50F and
winds gusting to 25mph, more than 425 runners gathered on top of the
Mississippi River Levee for "The Wall". This year's race included a 10K, the 30K
and a 6-person 30K relay team. A mass start of all runners on the 6' wide asphalt
levee path made for lots of positioning and required restraint so as not to match
the pace of those running 10K. The course is fast, almost flat (although we
descended and ascended the levee twice - 30' each way), and out and back atop
the Levee; there is no shelter from the elements. A stiff and relentless crosswind
was tiring. Once the hairpin turn was made for the return, it seemed like the wind
increased, although it did not. The storm front moved past about mile 7 and
sunny skies erupted.
This run is wonderfully scenic. Runners distractions included Destrehan
Plantation, live oaks with hanging Spanish moss, immense loading docks, tug
boats and cargo ships moving up river and lots of other runners. Added
excitement is that the Mississippi River is at flood stage, and seeing the water
about 15' from the levee top on the river side, with the towns about 30' lower
on the opposite side, reinforced the fact that New Orleans is mostly wetlands!
The New Orleans Track Club (NOTC) always puts on great races; miles marked,
plenty of aid stations, volunteers and police, food and water at the finish.
My finishing time was three minutes faster than in 2005, 2:24 for 1st Masters
Female and 2nd female overall, despite the slow pace. Because the winds were
constant, my pace per mile varied by less than 10 sec.
Thanks to Polar Heart Rate systems for keeping me on pace and to Thorlo for
padding my feet.
24 Hours of Sunlight Ski Race
Sunlight CO
February 3-4, 2007, 11AM - 11AM
http://www.24hoursofsunlight.com
Carl Gable, 16 laps, 11th of 15 solo male, 24,032 vertical feet
Rich Siemer 17 laps, 8th of 15 solo male, 27,066 vertical feet
Support: Luke Ortner
by Carl Gable
This was the the second annual running of this race and the field grew from
37 team and solo entries in 2006 to 50 in 2007. Rich and I hoped that we had
learned something from our efforts last year and that we could improve our
performance. We were both happy with our results in that we each did one
more lap than we had the year before. Twenty four hours straight ascending
a 1502 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 and warmer than the frigid temperatures we had last year. The night time
lows only reached the low 20's. As with any race of this length, a steady
pace was the key. My mantra for most of the first twelve hours was, 'Go slow,
go slow', and it seemed to work. I was able to keep a steady pace with only
a small amount of slowing during the night.
Luke provide great support keeping Rich and I fueled with food and hot drinks
and even pacing use for a couple of laps during the night. I still seemed
to run out of gas at 4am and took a two hour break. Even after the break,
it was hard to get a good pace again between 7am and the 11am finish.
Just wait until next year. I'm sure at least one more lap is in the cards.
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.
Additional coverage of the race can be found at the web sites:
http://www.futuresnowboarding.com/blog/2007/02/24-hours-of-sunlight-competition
http://www.snowmassvillagesun.com/home.php?content=article&article=2786
http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_5164775
http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_5164871
http://www.skitrax.com/index.php?module=Section&action=viewdetail&item_id=2621&PHPSESSID=d765009fb2a1e95c938df3379e1c8190
Thanks to the sponsors: CW-X, NiteRider, Thorlo, Polar, GoLite, Dermatone,
Hydropel, Camelbak
8 Hour Rogaine
Superior, Arizona
February 11, 2007
http://www.phoenixorienteering.org
Team Santa Fe- Angie Cline and Helen Morell, 8th Place ,Team Division
By Angie Cline
This event was a prefect start to the 2007 season. The weather was warm and it
rained lightly throughout the day. It was a good break from snow! It was my first
ROGAINE event. Around 50 people started. Helen and I "strategized" and
decided to choose the area of the map with highest point values. This of course
meant that it was also the hardest to navigate. We knew it would help us with
navigating during adventure races. I saw people wearing gaiters and boots and
didn't really know why. The race started and we took off trail towards the first
flag. It took a while to get used to the scale of the map and the terrain. I ran into a
huge cactus which went through my running shoe. I sat down to pull it out and
sat on a very sharp plant of some kind! I quickly learned to tread lightly in the
area! And gaiters and boots might have been OK ,too. After we got going, we
found the flags quickly. Helen accidentally punched the wrong place on our card
a couple of times. We managed to get 580 points which was pretty good for
beginners. The folks from the Phoenix Orienteering Club were super nice and put
on a fantastic event. We learned so much and both of us will be going to another
one of these events soon. Oh yeah, ROGAINE means "Rugged Outdoor Group
Activity Involving Navigation and Endurance"…. lots of fun! We are now training
for the Moab Adventure Extreme race in March.
Thank you to Team Santa Fe Sponsors: Litespeed, BTI, Bike & Sport, ThorLo,
GoLite, PokerJunkie.com, Camelbak, Leki, Niterider, Dermatone, CW-X,
Princeton Tec, SofSole, Shain, Polar, Hydropel, Outdoor Research, Suunto,
Polar HRM, Maxxis, E-Caps, Wingnut Gear, Potable Aqua and Bolle.
8th Annual Kona 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo
Tucson, Arizona
February 17 -18, 2007, Noon to Noon
http://www.epicrides.com/twofour/24.htm
Jan Bear and Gary Johnson, male duo, 10th/83 pairs of duo men
Kim Bear and Deb Werenko, female duo, 1st/3 pairs of duo women
By Kim Bear
The 8th Annual Kona 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo hosted over 3,000 participants,
volunteers, and spectators throughout the course. This race was located in the
middle of the desert about one hour northeast of Tucson. People set up camp in
"24-Hour Town" which even had street names so you could easily find your way.
The camp was surrounded by the vistas of the Tortolita, Catalina, and Galiuro
Mountain Ranges. The course was 15.3 miles long. The loop began with quick
hills along a power line called "the Bitches"; it next weaved through a corral and
so was named Corral Trail followed by Rattlesnake Trail, Junebug Trail and then
the major climb on Highpoint Trail. On Highpoint trail, you knew you were almost
finished when neared the summit near a burial cross marked in memory of
"Sassy". The makeshift cross had a finisher's medal on it.
Deb and I did a coin toss for the start which was Le Mans style, meaning a run to
your bike to ride to the start of the trail. I won, so Deb had to make the ½ mile or
so run to her bike for the start. Gary volunteered Jan. At noon the race was off
and Deb had a great lap. I got on my bike and immediately fell on the "Bitches"
which are big hills which have covert ruts towards the top. From there I took off
on the single track through the cactus and to make up time tried to pass some
slower riders. (They were probably being cautious, not just being slower). As I
passed, I nudged a "shrub" with the outside of my leg and to my horror saw
Socorro cactus hanging all over my leg. There must have been about 10 of
those jumping cactus embedded all down my leg. A nice man stopped and
helped me remove them with my cool tool. I just opened up 2 levers on each end
making it like a fork with space. Another nice man stopped and when he tried to
get a better look at the situation, ended up with his shoulder covered in these
cactus as well! Poor guy! I wasn't sure if I could still ride with spines embedded
all down my leg, but it really was not too bad. Off I took and apologetically
handed the baton to Deb to take lap 3. My first lap was done.
Back at camp, Gretel, one of my campmates, removed about 50 cactus spines
and I was ready for next lap. I was anxious to do better. I took off and within ½
mile I got a flat. Luckily, with my tubeless tires I just had to add a squirt of CO2
cartridge, spin it around and it seemed to hold the air. I was getting discouraged
with my luck and Jan had to give me a pep talk. "You love this type of riding", he
said. I answered, "I do????" I guess I did if there weren't so many cacti. On the
next lap, I finally convinced myself that I did like this and began to feel better.
Gary felt like he was struggling on the first couple of laps, and then he bounced
back. He also had an encounter with the jumping cactus as they impaled his
arm. It was quite a day for Team Santa Fe.
Then it turned into night. Our lights went on, I doubled on some laps, Deb
doubled on some laps and we were in second place. The first place team was
16 minutes ahead then 10, and then only 4 minutes separated us. We were
hoping for a lucky break and then I misjudged when Deb would be back and she
had to wait for me. The first place team's lead gained again! I was again getting
discouraged; I stopped looking at the leader board. Deb went out on her last lap
and when she came back in asked what the gap was between 2nd and first. I told
her I had stopped looking and she said why? We were 30 minutes ahead when
she began her last lap. Well, that did it! I took off and didn't let any women pass
me and we came in first. It was a lot of work and we were very happy to earn
that place! There may have been only 3 pairs, but we battled for first. It turned
out that we knew "of" one of the women on the other pair. She had won Leadville
twice, been at La Ruta in Costa Rica with us and placed and is just a great
mountain biker. This made first even more appealing for us.
Jan came in right before noon, making Gary have to do the obligatory lap. (He
had hoped to be done!) They ended up in 10th place out of 83 teams.
We had a good race and felt like this would help us when we do the Cape Epic in
South Africa in March. It was a fun and very well run 24 hour race.
Thank you to Team Santa Fe Sponsors: Litespeed, BTI, Bike & Sport, ThorLo,
GoLite, PokerJunkie.com, Camelbak, Leki, Niterider, Dermatone, CW-X,
Princeton Tec, SofSole, Shain, Polar, Hydropel, Outdoor Research, Suunto,
Polar HRM, Maxxis, E-Caps, Wingnut Gear, Potable Aqua and Bolle.
February New Mexico Orienteers Snowshoe Race
Los Alamos, NM
February 24, 2007
http://www.nmorienteers.org
By Jan Bear
My preparation for this event was lacking, I showed up without a compass, no
gaiters and not the right clothes for the cool weather. Oh well, as usual the New
Mexico Orienteer's put on a great event despite the poor turnout most likely due
to the weather. I chose to do the Long Snowshoe; it included 299 meters of
climbing over the 4.7 KM course. I was counting on the course being only on the
x-country ski trails similar to an event put on by the Nordic Club in Los Alamos
last year, boy was I wrong! First of all the course did not start at the parking lot
you first had to hike about ¼ mile up the first trail to even pick up your map and
then stand there in the cold to plan your route. The first CP was about 700
meters directly uphill in fact about 175 meters up that equals about a 575 foot
climb uphill in the snow, it was steep. The CP was a little difficult to find as there
were several open false summits as the map indicated but it's always a little
harder when the snow is up to your waist in places despite the running
snowshoes. The next two CP's were straight forward, this was followed by a long
downhill following a fence line then on to the x-country ski area for the next 7
CP's. The course took me about an hour and one half. The formal results have
not yet been published but I must have been first or second as only two racers
did the long snowshoe course. I really enjoyed the event, it was both a good
physical and orienteering challenge. The New Mexico Orienteer's always put on
fun challenging events.
Thank you to Team Santa Fe Sponsors: Litespeed, BTI, Bike & Sport, ThorLo,
GoLite, PokerJunkie.com, Camelbak, Leki, Niterider, Dermatone, CW-X,
Princeton Tec, SofSole, Shain, Polar, Hydropel, Outdoor Research, Suunto,
Polar HRM, Maxxis, E-Caps, Wingnut Gear, Potable Aqua and Bolle.
2007 Mardi Gras Marathon and Half-marathon
New Orleans, Louisiana
February 25, 2007
http://www.mardigrasmarathon.com
Barb Dutrow, 3:27:13, 8/364 F, 1st 40+ Female
By Barb Dutrow
This was the second running of the Mardi Gras Marathon and Half since
hurricane Katrina devastated the city, the 43rd in history. While the hype didn't
match last year's, 1000 more runners came out to support the rebuilding and
revitalization efforts and to enjoy the day's races, marathon, half, marathon
relay and 5K. For me, it was my first road marathon in over two years.
Barb Dutrow crossing the finish line.
Conditions at race start were anything but optimal; humidity 83% with 6 a.m.
temperatures at 70F with few winds. Beginning in front of the Superdome, the
race was off at 7 am with a mass start of nearly 5000 heading for the French
Quarter. At that hour, the Quarter was silent! We then headed out the oak-lined
streets for City Park - where the crowds were gathered. Running this direction
took us away from the River where flooding was severe and road conditions
deteriorated. Potholes everywhere. Following a canal, brought us to the only
hill on the course - a 60 foot climb over an overpass. Here structural failure
was apparent as an extension fracture created a 3" wide gap with daylight below.
I slowed fearful of catching a toe and falling. This area was badly damaged by
the flooding; blocks and blocks of abandon homes with water marks to the
roof-line. I got distracted looking around and had a slow mile. Heading back by
the cheering few at City Park and on to the Superdome for the half-way point.
Fortunately clouds remained providing some protection from the searing sun for
the first half, then dissipated for a sunny second half.
The pack thinned dramatically as half marathoners finished at the Superdome.
Marathoners continued by circling the entire Superdome and began their way
through the Garden District to Audoban Park, through the park, and back. In
contrast, this area was vibrant, home inhabited, because it lies on the natural
levee and sustained little damage. Although the course is flat, it is not fast.
Running through the rough streets (I rolled my ankle once), over train tracks, a
round 6 hairpin turns, definitely slowed the pace.
New Orleans races always have masses of volunteers, so aid stations are well
stocked, loud, and fun. With the heat and humidity, I took electrolyte tabs and
water only, avoiding the sugar-filled sports drinks. It worked well. My pace
was consistent; 1:43 first half and 1:44 second half. Although this was my
slowest marathon time ever, it was sufficient for 8th overall female and first
masters (and grandmasters).
As is true for all of my runs, Thorlo socks padded my feet and the Polar Heart
Rate System kept me on track. Varsity Sports in Baton Rouge provided
electrolytes.
Training :
Skiing, Whistler/Blackcomb
Whistler British Columbia Canada
February 10 - 21
Carl Gable and friends
A recreation trip to Whistler/Blackcomb turned out as well as we could have
hoped. New snow kept coming the whole time, not in huge amounts but enough
to keep things smooth and soft. Most of the time was lift served but a couple
of days were spent touring the back country and side country such as Spearhead
glacier behind Blackcomb. Fun was had by all.
Additional pictures at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/cwgable/200702WhistlerBlackcombCanada
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