THE RUN, RABBIT, RUN 50 AND 100 MILE ENDURANCE RUNS, presented by Altra, in addition to attracting some of our best established ultrarunners (Geoff Roes, Timmy Olsen, Nikki Kimball, Rob Krar, Emma Roca, Karl Meltzer, Lizzie Hawker...), has also served as the coming out party for future ultra stars (Jason Schlarb and Michele Yates). This year was no exception, as two very fast rabbits – Alex Nichols and Courtney Dauwalter, both 30, and both of Colorado – took home ultra trail running’s richest prize, 12,000 smackeroos, for winning the Fifth Annual Run, Rabbit, Run. Both will be heard from again. Yup, September 16, 2016, was another glorious day in bunnyland, with Steamboat’s spectacular fall colors in dazzling array as a full field of tortoises and hares set off on their merry way. A stellar field hip-hopped through the mountains. Nichols, Sage Canaday, Dustin Simoens, Jesse Haynes, Tommy Rivers, Jacob Puzey, Bob Shebest, Dan Metzger and Germany’s Marco Sturm led the field early, but by mile 30 Nichols had assumed command, and the blistering early pace began to take its toll. Carnage was rampant. Nichols ended up winning by over an hour in 17:57. Mark Hammond of Utah took second in 19:19, and Kyle Curtin took third in 19:27. They took home $5,000 and $3,500, respectively. Ever patient Jeff Browning of Oregon was fourth in 19:36 and also took home the masters money, for a total of $3,500. On the women’s side, Dauwalter was at or near the lead from the outset, ultimately leaving a top notch field, including Nikki Kimball, Amanda Basham, Alissa St Laurent, Nicole Kalogeropoulus (formerly Studer), Anita Ortiz and Denise Bourassa in her wake. She also won by over an hour in 21:23 (eighth overall). St Laurent ($5,000) held for second in 22:28, and Kalogeropoulos ($3,500) was third in 23:10. Becky Kirschenmann was fourth and top
masters in 24:36 and also won $3,500. Prize money for both men and women went seven deep. Run, Rabbit, Run features separate starts for hares and tortoises, with the tortoises getting a four-hour head start. In the tortoise division, Colorado’s Kevin Sturmer ran a hare-like 22:12 while Bailey Eppard, just 20, ran 26:40 to take the tortoise win. Josh Golden (24:55) and Scheri Nagaraj (28:55) were top masters. Drew Meyer of Texas, at age 68, was our oldest finisher, in 34:55. All female finishers over 50 and all male finishers over 60 get free entry into next year’s race. In the 50-miler, Timmy Parr continued his fabulous summers of racing and defended his title, running 7:26 for the win, while Blair Doney ran 9:18 to capture the women’s title. Second and third places were Dillon Gotshall and our very own Amber Sachs, and 17-year-old Patrick McIlroy and Christy Vecchio. Ryan Van Ness (8:52 and fourth overall) was top male master, while Kristi Anderson, at 53, was top over-40 female in a terrific 10:29. Our oldest finisher was Dave Hensleigh, 66, of Illinois. He’s the guy who brought the
Tarahumaras to Steamboat, and America, five years ago. Richard Iverson of New Mexico and Steamboat’s Mike Hlavacek earned their 500-mile buckles. Next year’s races are scheduled for September 8 and 9, 2017. Entries will open January 8, 2017. See you next year!
OPPOSITE: Beautiful views from the top of the first climb at Run Rabbit Run. [
Paul Nelson]
ABOVE: Britt Dick and Nikki Kimball cruising side by side. [ Paul Nelson] BELOW: Top three women and men show off their prize money. [
JAN/FEB 2017
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Paul Nelson]
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