On the starting line - courtesy Google images - Teaboon Hills
As often happens, I found myself at this morning's pre-race. Not so much stretching or warming up - mostly drinking coffee and slowly crushing the donuts at the volunteer table. Saw pretty much everyone else in the local running community prepping for go-time.
The race grows larger and larger each year. Talked briefly with Nike athlete Alvina Begay and race director Joseph Karnes, as well as friends prepping for Chicago, NYC, and Boston. Made me really want to get out for a run! I'll need to substitute afternoon arroyos for Pojoaque and Buffalo Thunder this year.
We'll follow the race via Twitter in the feed below. Use hashtag #runsantafe to post your own pics, comments, results, donut-stories, etc. Best of luck to all today's runners.
The 4th running of the Santa Fe Half is just a few short days away. A fine time to recap the prior year's race, particularly when a timely race report never made it to completion the year before. Previously the Buffalo Thunder Half Marathon, the race has shifted its marketing to highlight our lovely town and the more recognizable name of Santa Fe. Solid decision, the miles need to be run just the same.
Last year was my first view of the course. Started out from town on a perfect fall morning for running - a bit overcast, cool, with rain the night before. I ran with Leigland and friends Dan and his wife Cheyenne who had traveled up from Alamogordo. The gun sent us off, starting with two miles of climbing on Old Taos Highway. We ran these fairly leisurely and I think they split at 8min30 then 8min even. Chatted with folks we knew as we worked through the field. Mile 3 started the descent into the Rio Grande valley which went at 6min flat. My watch might as well have just flashed 'DANGER!'. The old run-like-hell-early-and-control-massive-damage-at-the-end strategy was being penciled into the day's schedule.
At the start - bag check
Cruised down into Tesuque Village at about mile 5, stopped for a photo of the outstanding surprise of Bellydancers, then out past the Pueblo and Camel Rock Casino at about mile 7. The grade flattens out quite a bit at this point and the field had thinned into lonely areas of no-man's-land. I was also now carrying a piano on my back. A runner with a cop mustache and a state police shirt passed me. This impressed me and I told him so. Also, the guy was probably carrying so I wanted to be sure I was on his good side.
Fabulous Mile5 Bellydancers
Miles slowed to 6min50s. Sounds fast-ish but the down-slope was a significant aid. A steady moving runner came up on me and I was fortunate to latch on which then carried me through to mile 11. My man blew-up at this point and disappeared (*poof*), but I was near enough to the runner just up the road that I pressed to catch him and we ran it in together from there. Turns out he was a top age-grouper out of Socorro (John Leeper), finishing 2nd in the 55-59 age group just behind the legendary Senovio Torres. My chip time actually edged Torres even though he finished a good 30sec ahead of me. Good company to be in.
The 12th mile was a faded 7min10s but I might have closed the final mile in around 6min45s. Finshing time just north of 90min. An unexpectedly fun and enjoyable morning. High fives all around, except from my quads which were understandably upset. The race organizers have put together a really solid event that I hope will continue to grow.
Been working on a write-up of last Sunday's Buffalo Thunder Half - but, ahh, slow going. The writing that is, not the racing. To compress the wait folks may want to checkout Will Webber's race profile in Monday's New Mexican.
What's amazing is that last year's course record of 1hr 3min plus was destroyed by the new men's champ Nelson Oyugi. The course is net downhill but 7,000ft of altitude is not an insignificant factor, especially over 13 miles. That is smokin' fast. Like near-world elite fast.
The entertainment arrives when Will describes NM trail running legend Steve Gachupin - delivering general commentary at the finish line to whomever is listening - that Oyugi's performance and record aren't really all that strong. Not compared to the old days anyway.
Aaaaahhhhh, okay.
Coach Gachupin is an all-timer. He's also a a terrific story-teller and regular provider of comedic gold as Will's story can attest. I laughed out loud more than once reading this.
Had the chance to meet and talk with Billy Mills this weekend. The guy is an American running icon primarily for his come-from-nowhere victory at the Tokyo Olympics back in 1964. Mills was the VIP guest at this weekend's Buffalo Thunder Half Marathon along with Jemez Pueblo's Steve Gachupin who was with us as well, and double Olympic Trials qualifier Alvina Begay who wasn't there because she was storming up Old Taos Highway with the rest of the race field.
As for meeting Mills, I mostly just wanted to shake the guy's hand and tell him that it was an honor to have him visit Santa Fe, but with Steve standing there I mentioned that the two of them had some history since they raced each other in the 1968 Olympic Marathon Trials in Alamosa. This was the correct thing to say and it started Mr. Mills off on a story about how he had run the Trials only to pace George Young to victory. Knowing that Young was from New Mexico I found this story more than a little compelling. Apparently it was Young's first marathon and he kept wanting to press the pace. As Mills tells it, he repeatedly advised George to hold back then sent him on his way at mile 20. George won the race and competed later that summer in Mexico City running 16th. Mills mailed in the rest of his Trials race, abandoning soon after 20mi, Gachupin claimed bragger's rights with a 15th place showing.
1968 Marathon Trials - Gachupin at left, Kenny Moore of Oregon, George Young of Silver City (10), Billy Mills at right
Mills went on to say that he never ran another marathon, the distance was too grueling especially since he had a hypoglycemic condition that made things difficult. I noted that he had pretty good credentials for a guy that couldn't run a marathon, running to 14th place at the Tokyo Games in '64. He answered that it was just as grueling then even though he had been in the shape of his life, by his estimations he was in 3:56 mile shape at the time. He continued his story saying that there were no water stations along the route in Tokyo. Runners were allowed to set one bottle out on the course and his had only water in it. He had asked the other runners what he should be adding to his bottle (sugar, salt) and apparently they wouldn't give him the time of day, even the Americans. Not because of strategy or gamesmanship, but rather as Mills explained, because it was 'a different time'. Kinda like how the color of the Olympic medal Mills wore around his neck on the flight home was a bit 'different', I'd imagine. Golden rays of Olympic immortality different.
Here's some video of Mills wrecking dudes on a cinder track in Tokyo. Olympic and American record, a PR by 50 seconds, and the making of an American legend.
Last fall was the inaugural running of the Buffalo ThunderHalf Marathon, the first large professionally sponsored road race to come to
northern New Mexico
in some time. The race is the brainchild of Santa Fe attorney Joseph Karnes, financial
advisor Antonio Lopez, and educator Abraham Kosgei - all decorated runners and
marathoners in their own right. The goal is to establish a destination running
event in Santa Fe,
possibly growing to the marathon distance race over the long term. Karnes has
experience helping with the organization of the California International and
Big Sur Marathons in California and he sees no
reason why the same type of event can't be built here in Santa Fe with all the city has to offer as a
vacation destination and sweet outdoor play-land.
As might be expected, I'm fairly keyed-up about this new
development. Just as Santa Fe's
trails system is really coming together as a first-rate network it looks like
we've suddenly landed a first-rate racing event on the roads. The timing is uncanny. Perhaps not coincidentally, IMBA has taken notice and will be hosting this year's Mountain BikeWorld Summit here in town. That sound you hear - is my face exploding.
So, we're psyched. But does the race show promise? I think
it does. Last year's race drew a significant amount of interest and a sizable turnout
of 700+ finishers. The organizing team hopes to double that number this year. Prize
money and an active recruiting effort of local elites resulted in a stacked
field up front. Champion Sam Kosgei ran to a wicked-fast time of 1:04:49 at
6500ft altitude. That is remarkably fast. It's no surprise that it is
believed to be the fastest half marathon ever run in New Mexico. Meshak Kirwa ran second, and UNM All-American Rory Fraser
finished two minutes back in third. The remaining top ten was rounded out by
local road racing pros including Pat Kiptum, Bernard Langat, and three time
Quad Cities Marathon champ Andrew Musava. Super-Mike Ehrmantraut held on for
top trail-runner's honor in 12th. Hi-fives for my man Mike.
Kosgei at the line - courtesy of Max Mujynya
Ashley Quintana out on the course - Max Mujynya
In the womens race, champ Atalelech Asfaw blazed to a
1:15:55 finish, over three minutes clear of the womens field and good enough
for 11th overall. Former NCAA star Kay Ulrich of Los
Alamos claimed runner-up honors in 1:19:23. San Francisco Marathon champ Emily Field of Nambe grabbed the final podium spot a minute back.
Emily is coached by race founder Abraham Kosgei.
The fleet-footed Uffe Schwender lights up near the finish - Max Mujynya
Dr. Joe Vigil presenting an award to the indomitable Vin Kelley - Max Mujynya
What then can be expected in the event's sophomore year? A lot more awesomeness apparently. Early planning for the September 2012 race includes a
Saturday Athletes Expo at the Convention Center, the involvement and corporate financial
backing of Nike N7 and Whole Foods Market, appearances from VIP guest and 1964 Olympic
10,000m Champion Billy Mills as well as Nike-sponsored pro Alvina Begay of the
Navajo Nation. I've been told to look for the half-page race advertisement in the upcoming May
issue of Runners World Magazine. It will be exciting to watch this event get off the ground.
