Monsoonal Rains Make for a Fun 10K The Second Annual Rocky Mountain Orthopaedics Associates’ Thigunawat 10K Trail Run was held at Powderhorn Ski Resort in Mesa, CO on August 7, 2010. Monsoonal rains in the week leading up to the race created much deeper water at the six stream crossings on the course. The course was rugged, yet beautiful, traversing along single track through spruce-fir, aspen glades, and oak scrub. There were 110 finishers in this relatively new event that benefits Powderhorn Racing Club, a non-profit dedicated to teaching kids to ski race. This year’s race included runners from three states and 21 towns in Colorado. The male and female winners were quite different. The men’s race was won by 47-yearold Lenny Staats from Grand Junction, in a new course record time of 45:21. He was followed closely by Austin Germiller of Parachute and Ryan Jordan of Grand Junction. Lenny has won virtually every race on the Western Slope at one time or another. The women’s race was won by 15-year-old Nathalie Anderson of Hotchkiss, CO, also in a new course record time of 52:55. She dethroned last year’s champ, Kelley Griffin of Fruita, who finished second by 1:36. In third place was Brooke Bosman of Broomfield. Young runners dominated the women’s field with three runners under the age of 18 finishing in the top 10. On the male side, 10-year-old Matthew Myers was the youngest runner in the field and impressed with a 26th place overall. The 10K was followed by a kid’s race where all finishers received a free ice cream from Evan’s Downtown Deli. Doctors from title sponsor Rocky Mountain Orthopaedic Associates’ were present to handle any race day knocks picked up from rocks and roots that can reach out and grab runners. Winners received pint glasses and gift certificates from Kannah Creek Brewing Company. Numerous door prizes were give out from area businesses. -Dustin Perkins
110 Finishers - Elevation: Start/Finish = 8,317’ - Course Records: Kevin Martin, 46:02 (2009); Kelly Griffin, 53:40 (2009) Overall Male: 1. Lenny Staats, 47, Grand Junction, CO, 45:21 CR; 2. Austin Germiller, 19, Parachute, CO, 48:39; 3. Ryan Jordan, 31, Grand Junction, CO, 49:26; 4. Mark Williams, 36, Grand Junctions, CO, 50:19; 5. Michael Carrillo, 29, Montrose, CO, 50:44. Overall Female: 1. Natalie Anderson, 15, Hotchkiss, CO, 52:55 CR; 2. Kelly Griffin, 24, Fruita, CO, 54:29; 3. Brooke Bosman, 20, Broomfield, CO, 55:28; 4. Lillian Hoffman, 28, Grand Junction, CO, 57:18; 5. Tara Suplizio, 41, Grand Junction, CO, 58:59.
kelley griffin of fruita on her way to a second place finish.
Autumn Color Provides a Backdrop for Runners
two runners descend in to marble during the lead king loop 25k.
In a flurry of falling leaves and bright sunshine, the 7th Annual Lead King Loop Charity Races have come and gone. A total of 199 participants and 50 volunteers enjoyed a fantastic fall day in Marble on September 19th, joining together to race, hike, and challenge their personal fitness goals and to help raise funds for our two Marble schools – the Crystal Valley Preschool and the Marble Charter School. This event raises $6,000 annually for these schools, helping to fund scholarships for programming, new equipment and materials, and other needs that staff and students agree upon. In the Lead King Loop 25K race, 108 men and women from age 17 to 70 raced, ran and hiked up Daniel’s Hill, around Sheep Mountain, down into Lead King Basin and along the Crystal River and past the famous Crystal Mill, ending on a downhill back into town to finish at the Beaver Lake Lodge. The men’s winner was local favorite Bernie Boettcher, who has participated in the Lead King Loop all seven years. Bernie came close to the course record, missing only by a few minutes with a time of 2:00.09, likely due to the heat and dry air (race temperatures reached into the high 70s). The women’s winner was another local runner, Myriah Blair, who commanded an impressive lead in the women’s race and won in 2:20.52, placing 9th overall. Myriah’s daughter, Joslin, won the Lake Kid’s Loop race in similar fashion,
beating out local Marble Charter School boys Lucas Bensch and Ralph Good in a 2.5K circle around Beaver Lake. In the Quarry Trail Climb, 50 participants raced through the town of Marble, winding around the Marble Mill Site before climbing up the Marble Quarry Road, then turning around and flying back down to finish at Beaver Lake Lodge. The men’s winner was Brian Johnson in a smoking-fast time of 55 minutes, 21 seconds. Brian is a three-time winner of this race, and set a new course record this year, breaking his old mark. The women’s winner was Heidi Vosbeck with an incredible time of 1:01.53 – wow! These times may not sound incredibly fast for 12.5K (a little over 7.5 miles), but the climb up Quarry Road is significantly steep for over two miles, with a vertical climb of over 1,200 feet! Likewise, the climb up to Lead King Basin from Marble is a 4-mile ascent of 2,900 vertical feet. This may sound daunting, but the right training will enable anyone to accomplish either of these races. This year, almost 25 people elected to start early and hike the Loop or Quarry Climb, taking pictures and enjoying the incredible fall colors. Mark your calendars, and we’ll see you next year! -Craig Macek
November/December 2010
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