Big Tesuque Trail Run Report - 2011

Big Tesuque 2011, Hadji, Eric and Mike lead out the field

Big T baby! Alright, what a fun morning. We had a damn fine group up there on Saturday, terrific weather and a whole lot of blue sky and scenery. From the looks of the pre-race crowd I figured we'd have a larger than normal field of racers but in the end we were about even with previous years. This preserves the ratio of coffee and burritos per racer so no harm done.

Well, it was obvious from the time of the starter's instructions how this thing was going to play out. Bernard Langat had come up to run and was the de facto champion before the gun even sounded. Former champion and trail racing royalty Rachael Cuellar as well as three time Big Tesuque champ Mike Ehrmantraut were in the field so there were the likely women's champ and men's runner-up. Eric Peters was lined up, Joachim Marjon was there, mountain-runner Jacob Waltz, Antonio Lopez, the esteemed Dave Simpson, Matt Dreier, and my ghost from last year Andres Santiago of Flagstaff was back. I talked with ultra-runner Ruthanne Hamrick, Caldera marathon runner-up Whitney Dreier, Erin Sindewald, Mariam Browne, Liz Jaramillo-Lopez, and Erica Micander. Who else showed up to run? You never quite know who's lurking at the start of one of these things.

Dale, supervising registration - photos by Max Mujynya

As for myself, I'd been off my feet a bit coming into the week but had my eyes on crushing the ascent. The downhill section would have to be a wait-and-see type of deal. A steep and technical downhill of pain and uncertain footing was not really going to help with the foot injury I'd been nursing. Last year the descent destroyed me, pretty much ending my running for several months. Ok, well with the gun, off we went. I eased on up the trail and found myself toward the front without much effort. I ran for a bit near Rachael and thought she might just be taking it easy over the first section, but we hit the first mile in 8:22 so it seemed we were both moving well. Feeling good, I just hammered away with my choppy little climbing stride at what felt like 200rpms. After the first couple miles Rachael had set up 50m ahead of me, Joachim was another 80m or so beyond her. The gaps didn't seem to move much the rest of the way up.

Liz Jaramillo-Lopez and William Ek leading a pack of runners at mile 1 - photos by Max Mujynya

Here's one of myself on the escalator lined in gold - photos by Max Mujynya

I was trying to get in a hard workout for the first time in several weeks and for that reason never did glance back to see what was behind me. I know that someone bridged a gap and ran up on my heels at around mile 3. It rankled that I was running slow enough to be caught so I boosted my turnover for a few minutes and the footfalls were gone. It probably took some work for whomever it was to move up onto my hip, and then when he arrived and could get a bit of rest I pressed ahead. That had to have sucked badly for him. However it made me feel like badass Clubber Lang handing out a beating. That happy thought carried me to the top and past the now descending front-runners. Bernard came jogging past near the chairlift. Mike came by at the steep hairpin. Joachim closer to the towers, then Rachel right up near the turn-around.

Assorted wildlife

At the mountain edge my watch stopped at 55m30s, my best climb by 2min. Fantastic except that I didn't think I'd be ahead of so many people at this point. If I could help it I'd rather stay ahead of them all until the finish. Quite the dilemma I'd found myself in. It started to slip away from me fairly quickly though. I lost my legs around mile 8, they just didn't have the miles in them to control the fast decent and I wasn't very confident that they could prevent a stumble or fall. I had to focus pretty keenly on the footfalls and keeping my strides and pace under control. Soon after, Mike Rahmer out of Albuquerque came blazing by with a long powerful stride and just disappeared. I felt an unpleasant bonk coming on and stopped for several cups of gatorade at the water stop at mile 9.5. Jake Lawrence and Andres Santiago sped by together as I stood there like a rube. Back on the trail I closed the gap on those two over the next mile, and then Andres jetted away out of view. As the trail leveled out a bit in the last mile I was able to sprint a few of the flat sections without the worry of falling on my face. I closed pretty well on Jake but ran out of real estate, but so did the guy behind me which I figured had to be Waltz. It was Waltz.

Bernard on the descent - photos by Max Mujynya

Rachael a few places back in fourth - photos by Max Mujynya

Whitney Dreier with the aptly named Aspen Peak in the distance - photos by Max Mujynya

Ok, good showing. My foot seemed stable and wasn't all jacked-up. I hadn't fallen hard on a bunch of rocks which is a big plus, and I had climbed strongly and avoided a complete tank on the descent. That's a pretty good hand son, maybe a full house. Mile splits on the way up were something like: 1/ 8:22, 2/ 10:00, 3/ 10:00, 4/ 9:30, 5/ 9:20, 5.9/8:18, descent/ 37:00.

Seeing that Bernard finished in a fast - but not record fast - time of 1hr 21min I asked him if he had been running hard. "No, no," he said (he's been running the trail all summer and reportedly put up a 1hr13m run in that time). He was getting in a workout for upcoming pacing duties at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in two weeks. 81minutes on that trail is quick (the quickest time in the last 10yrs is 78min), and he took home some pottery and a certificate for a free pair of trail shoes from Alpine Sports. Joaquim Marjon moved into second on the downhill section, Mike Ehrmantraut finished third. Rachael ran away with her second women's title in roughly the same time she put up in 2009, 1hr 31min which is near the women's alltime record. The turn-around at the towers has moved a bit since the '09 race adding an extra minute to course times. She also received a trophy and free pair of trail shoes. Albuquerque's Stefanie Tierney held on for second, and Santa Fe's Whitney Dreier closed for third.

There were a number of falls in this year's race and the EMTs had their hands full. I know that Chris Chavez took a tumble, as did Kevin from Carlsbad, as did Vince Hesch, as did about a half a dozen others. No broken bones it seemed but possibly a few scrapes requiring stitches. Hope everyone was feeling a bit better the day after. 

Pete Fant did another standout job directing the event, his 14th straight year, and our fine sponsors provided support, race donations, and awards: Alpine Sports, San Francisco St. Bar & Grill, Santa Fe Screen Printers, Souder Miller Engineering and Survey, Paseo Pottery, The Santa Fe Striders, The Running Hub, Java Joes, and the Santa Fe Baking Company. Race proceeds, as always, benefit WINGS of America running club. Hope to see you all again next year.

Annie McCoy, Melissa Smith, & Mariam Johnston - photos by Max Mujynya

                                        Overall Results - Big Tesuque Trail Run 2011

Finish	Name	Time
1.	Bernard Langat,	1:21:39
2.	Joachim Marjon,	1:27:07
3.	Mike Ehrmantraut,	1:27:48
4.	Mike Rahmer,	1:30:45
5.	Rachael Cuellar (W1)	1:31:21
6.	Andres Santiago,	1:31:42
7.	Jake Lawrence,	1:32:22
8.	Kevin Brennan,	1:32:27
9.	Jacob Waltz,	1:32:49
10.	Hadji Corona	1:33:39
11.	Peter Vigneron	1:34:17
12.	Eric Peters	1:37:13
13.	Matt Dreier	1:38:24
14.	David Schoenwald	1:39:32
15.	Dale Hoskisson	1:40:00
16.	Antonio Lopez	1:40:46
17.	Kyle Dickmen	1:41:32
18.	Dave Simpson	1:41:41
19.	Robert Baker	1:42:06
20.	Vinnie Kelley	1:42:51
21.	Stefanie Tierney (W2)	1:42:54
22.	Herman Agoyo	1:43:11
23.	Chester Tepple	1:45:20
24.	Philippe Muller	1:46:51
25.	Jeremy Milligan	1:48:41
26.	Dan Tallon	1:49:19
27.	Alden Hoskie	1:51:01
28.	Brandon Johnson	1:51:05
29.	John Wilp	1:51:21
30.	Ty Lujan	1:51:39
31.	Whitney Dreier (W3)	1:52:17
32.	Jose Nava	1:52:50
33.	Laura McClellan	1:52:57
34.	Erin Sindewald	1:53:53
35.	Mariam Browne	1:53:58
36.	Shawn Edwards	1:54:00
37.	William Dearholt	1:54:23
38.	Vine Hesch	1:54:56
39.	Luke Washburn	1:55:56
40.	Ruthanne Hamrick	1:55:58

Full results and Max's photo albums can be found here

Waltz has his race report up here:
2011 Big Tesuque Trail Run

Last year's race report can be found here:
Big Tesuque - 2010






View Aspen Vista Trail (Big Tesuque Trail), Santa Fe, NM in a larger map

Imogene Pass Trail Run - Results and Updates

This morning's start in Ouray - photo by Cindy Brown

An obligatory post for today's Imogene Pass Trail Run. Ouray to Telluride via mountain pass through the San Juans. 10mi and 5,000ft of climbing to the 13,000ft pass, 7 steep and crazy-scenic miles with 4,000 feet of descent into the town of Telluride.

There's some significant travel time involved in running this, and it always falls on Fiestas week (Que Viva!!), but this race really should be on every trail runner's list. Everything awesome about trail running taken up to eleven.

So, early results coming in. Flagstaff, AZ continues their dominance in this Four Corners epic - 2010 champ Jason Wolfe out of Flagstaff takes the men's overall in 2hr 17min 23sec, avenging last year's runner up finish and adding a new age-group course record. Flagstaff's Sara Wagner nails down her third consecutive title in 2:48:32, fourth in five years. The feed below ought to capture all Twitter traffic tagged with #imogenepassrun, it should filter race reports and uploaded images from those on the course today.

Full results are now posted

Imogene Pass

New Mexico representation in this year's field includes Santa Fe's Maryann Kos and Ben Fresquez,
Albuquerque's Mark Baker.

A run down on last year's top New Mexican finishers at Imogene below:

William Gardner, Abq, 35th O/A, 2hr 55min 26sec; Peter Falk, Abq, 52nd, 3:00:46; Antonio Lopez, Santa Fe, 65th, 3:07:17; Michael Starr, Abq, 73rd, 3:10:11; Tom Callahan, Santa Fe, 79th, 3:11:48.

On the women's side:  Molly Roberts, Abq, 20th O/A, 3:13:08; Katrin Silva, Las Vegas, 23rd, 3:16:19; Aimee Hoyt, Abq, 52nd, 3:29:43; Lindsey Gardner, Abq, 81st, 3:40:20; Elizabeth Lopez, Santa Fe, 82nd, 3:40:22.

Tweets about "#imogenepassrun"

Related Posts:
  - La Luz Trail Run - Results and Updates
  - Imogene Registration Opens (and Closes)
  - Imogene Pass 2011 Results


View Imogene Pass Trail Run - 17miles in a larger map

Weekend Results - Pajarito Trail Fest, Jaguar XC Races, the Chicago Marathon

A quick look back at the weekend.  We here at HighDesertDirt inexplicably missed the action at the Pajarito Trail Fest, but all the more reason to mark it on the calendar for next year.  Competition in the 10km and 15mi trail racing was stiff, but the Sunday run-bike-run trail duathlon had us tuning up the bike then regretting our no-show.

A review of Sat. podium finishers reads:
10km:   1) Hans Hanson, 50:38  2) Jesse Taylor, 53:49  3) Colin Hemez, 57:22    W1) Amy Lee, 1:04:45  W2) Marta Becvarik, 1:08:22  W3) Kim Katko, 1:10:59

Simpson closes in 4th

15mi:  1) Bill Crooks, 2:09:44  2) Daryl Dagel, 2:16:44  3) David Coblentz, 2:17:56     W1) Ruthanne Hamrick, 2:29:51  2) Sheila Van Cuyk, 2:38:52  3) Lynn Bjorklund, 2:43:36 (Lynn gets extra recognition for being a badass.  She still holds the women's course record in the Pikes Peak Marathon, 4:15:18, 1981).

My Santa Fe training pals blasted the course in 4th, Dave Simpson, 2:19:27, and 7th, Todd Schroeder 2:23:58 (both pictured at left).  Way to give 'em hell fellas -  I owe you two gentlemen a beer. 

A review of Sun. podium finishers reads:
Trail Duathlon:  1) Peter Doane, 1:17:13  2) Mike Slattery, 1:17:42  3) Clay Moseley, 1:17:54   W1) Cara Howell, 1:35:07  W2) Kim Katko, 1:43:03  W3) Jessica Kisiel, 1:45:38

Full results and photos of the weekend can be found here.
A first-hand race report from the Athena Diaries can be found here.

Schroeder right behind

Closer to Santa Fe, we had the 2nd Annual Jaguar Cross Country Races held in conjunction with the Jaguar Prep Invitational.  In the All-Comers 5K we saw area coaches and assistant coaches battling it out with local racing talent.  Not including the winner and runner-up, the field included a multiple sub-4 minute miler and La Luz champion (D. Maas), an IronMan and international triathlete (L. Sponagle), a 2:30 marathoner and multiple BigT champion (M. Ehrmantraut), a local track/xc/coaching legend (S. Gonzales), and a 2010 Boston marathon runner (M. Dobesh). Not a big surprise then that winner Elijah Wolfe recorded a new Open course record of 16min 57sec.

Podium finishers were:
1) Elijah Wolfe, 16:57  2) Leif Seed, 17:18  3) Sal Gonzales, 17:40
W1) Tanya Collins, 20:19  2) Liz Sponagle, 23:02  3)Shirley Van Slooten, 23:43

Race registration for this sweet local race was $5.  Top three men and women took home gift cards to the Running Hub which was a nice score from such an informal showdown, but it matched the talent of the field.  Grade school winners took home water bottles from the Running Hub, Cliff bars, chocolate, and other goodies.

The grade school division went off like a rocket!, and thankfully we lost zero competitors out on the course. The first four runners came in together.  The last half of the field was awash in drunken sailors weaving wildly in and out of the flagged race route (we're looking at you Helen Desmond).  Winners were as follows: 1) Dominic Roybal, 6:02  2) Beckett Maestas, 6:07  3) Tevin Flowers, 6:10.  G1) Judith Allison, 6:57  2) Hayden Colfax, 7:08  3) T'kyea Romero, 7:09

Full results can be found here or here.

*************

CHICAGO MARATHON - New Mexico Finishers

Lastly, we had several locals racing in Chicago on Sunday, at least five of which were racing under the Elite Development Program.  Albuquerque's Jesse Armijo was the top finisher in 2:26:16 (42nd); Santa Fe's Ben Fletcher was close behind in 2:28:18 (61st); Jacquelyn Gallegos, 2:50:16 (W55); Kris Houghton and Erica Baron both scratched from the race after strong starts.  Other top local finishers included Antonio Lopez, 2:49:10; Liz Jaramillo Lopez, 3:25:50; Myles Fitzgerald, 3:34:46; Harry Barnes, 3:48:23; Khawlah Munshi, 4:18:08; and Katy Fitzgerald, 4:18:18. 

Whoa, nearly forgot about the SFHS Demons.  Not the cross squad, but the football team:  A mercy-rule victory over Espanola Valley at Ivan Head on Friday night, 50-0.  That this actually happened is a testament to the adage that all things are possible.  If one were to look back over twenty years and tally all games in which the Demons either put up 50pts or held the opposing team to zero, this may be the only one.  Demons for the win baby.


Related Posts:
   - Big Tesuque Trail Run - Race Report (10/2)
   - Pike's Peak Ascent - Race Report 
   - 2011 Trail Racing Calendar

2013 Corrida de los Locos - Race Report

Off the line - with horse and Smith & Wesson escort
copyright M. Mujynya, photo album at Smugmug.com

Distance: 5 miles
Location: Santa Fe, south hills

It's hard for me to turn down the opportunity to lace up for a cross-country race, so there I found myself this weekend competing at the annual Corrida de los Locos. I had decided to get out and race not because my training had been going well, but rather because there was no training and there hadn't been any for a few months now and so I reasoned to myself, 'this could be like training'. What better reason to get started? Get out there, mix it up, get the ball rolling for 2013.

Right, well true to any reasonable expectation my race was a classic crash and burn. I fidgeted around most of the way trying to find a comfortable pace knowing full well that I wouldn't find one. There was some fun bursts of racing though. Half mile in I realized I was in no-man's land, running in between the lead pack of five and a group several meters back. Not a great place to be, so I snapped out of it and got myself back onto the tail of the lead pack. From here I could see (or rather hear) that I was working harder than the other five combined. I lost contact over a series of rolling hills and was off the back. At least I was now free and clear of the chase group.

Myself and Herman in the opening stretch. All smiles when the legs are fresh.
copyright M. Mujynya, photo album at Smugmug.com

That first mile was passed in near six minutes, after which I clung dearly to the giant gap of nothing that opened before me over the next four miles. The result was a close approximation of the old high school sprint-and-fade. I was nearly caught from behind by a hard-charging Chad Thompson over the last third of the course which kept me driving on with an honest effort. There's little honor in suffering for several miles only to give it all away in site of the finish line.

All in all a fine day out on the llano, the sizeable Caja del Rio plateau looming to the west. Mike Rahmer took the overall in a time of 29:52, followed closely by Donovan Lucero. Noel Prandoni claimed the womens overall in 34:50, followed by Maureen Nowels in second. Full results can be found at the event webpage.

Overall	Finisher	Time
1	Mike Rahmer	29min 52sec
2	Donovan Lucero	30:12
3	Antonio Lopez	31:03
4	Mike Ehrmantraut	31:29
5	Chester Topple	32:02
6	Kevin Brennan	34:07
7	Chad Thompson	34:11
8	Ken Gordon	34:22
9	Noel Prandoni	34:50
10	Herman Agoyo	35:14
11	Russel Nowels	36:04
12	Zachary Montoya	36:20
13	Maureen Nowels	36:35
14	Richard Iverson	36:40
15	Steve Rogers	36:53
16	Elizabeth Lopez	37:19
17	David Garrett	37:28
18	Jeremy Yang	37:34
19	Tony Gallegos	37:59
20	Amy Gordon	38:19
21	Sheila Van Cuyk	38:31
22	Alden Hoskie	38:53
23	John Holton	39:14
24	Erin Sindewald	39:51
25	Tori Quintana	40:11
26	Ben Allison	40:28
27	John Caskey	40:43
28	Mark Dalten	40:49
29	Stephen Stout	40:50
30	Jan Bear	41:47

A bit more about this fine race and its twenty-eight years:  The first Corrida I ran was way back in 1991. I remember this because I had the shirt for years and years before the Desert Babe established a house rule that running shirts that date back to high school are to be retired. I remember that it was out north of town rather than it's current location and also that I ran in my track spikes that year because I reasoned that it would help in the snow (..and look cool). This was a very poorly thought out and painful decision. Yay for awkward running memories!! Share your own in the comments if you'd like.

Max has posted some terrific images of the race at SmugMug.com here. There's a few hundred action shots to browse, download, or order prints. It cost me $1.49 to download the images above. Revenue from the photos is directed to the Santa Fe Striders Running Club.

Related Links: 
 -  2011 Corrida Race Report
 -  2013 New Mexico Trail Racing Calendar



View Corrida de los Locos in a larger map

Run the Caldera Trail Marathon - Jemez, NM

The 7th annual Valles Caldera Trail Races were run last weekend. The marathon is a race I always have on my calendar but must always sideline due to a myriad of other chores. I watched a bit of last year's race and had intended to writeup a summary and post photos but the Conchas fire swept through the Valles the following week and it no longer seemed appropriate to publish with the course lying  in ashes.

Well, much of what burned in the Valles last year were grasses and undergrowth which have come back, and the races likewise returned for its seventh running. This race is always a bit under the radar but slowly growing. The course is challenging with at least one large climb at steep grade. The footing throughout is solid, it's not a course that emulates the anything goes ethos of a mountain-ultra. Yet, plenty of drama awaits out on the trails of the Valles. Three years ago I was there for the start and watched as the race was delayed for several minutes as brush fire swept through followed by a brigade of Hot Shot fire rangers who gave the ok to start. At the finish a friend told me he'd passed a bear along a section with a creek. All of this sounds like more fun and gonzo-adventure than this race seems to project on the local trail racing scene. I had several friends run in this year's marathon and half marathon and thought I'd give them all, and the race itself, a bit of recognition.

The Valle Grande

Matthew Brake won the overall in 3hrs 27min 45s. This is quick, and good enough for one of the top times over the last seven years. James McIntosh edged out Rio Rancho's Neil Blake for second by a hundred yards, 3:46:02. Ultra-runner and fellow writer Jim Breyfogle of Rio Rancho ran fifth, 4:04:46. Nice showing Jim. Espanola's Tony Gallegos ran 6th, 4:11:42. Tony's been running pretty strong this spring/summer. My sometimes training partner James Nunez ran 15th, 4:35:08, and another sometimes training partner Max Mujynya ran 25th, 4:57:46. Clean pair of heels boys.

The women's race was pretty strong up front. Los Alamos' Erica Baron ran to second overall in a time of 3:36:25 which I believe is a course record (p.r., S. Brozik, 3:39:17, 2006). Albuquerque's Jean Herbert edged out Maryann Kos of Santa Fe for 2nd, 3:58:28. The top three women came across the line in 2nd, 5th, and 7th in the overall placings.

Full 2012 Results can be found here (.pdf).

Place	Name		Overall	A/Grp	Time
Men
1	Matthew	Brake	1	32	3:27:45
2	James	McIntosh	3	50	3:46:02
3	Neil	Blake	4	47	3:46:27
4	Reed	Soehnel	6	23	3:59:07
5	James	Breyfogle	8	30	4:04:46
Women
1	Erica	Baron	2	40	3:36:25
2	Jean	Herbert	5	56	3:58:28
3	Maryann	Kos	7	43	4:02:09
4	Aimee	Hoyt	13	39	4:19:38
5	Leesy	McCorgary	18	33	4:33:06

In the half marathon the Santa Fe crew claimed two of the top four placings - Joachim Marjon 1st overall, 1hr 31min 22s; and Antonio Lopez ran 4th, 1:44:38. In the women's race, Bridget Herron gets the win in 2:02:36; Santa Fe's Liz Lopez ran 19th, 2:19:15; Los Alamos' Tracy Kneisler ran 25th, 2:28:15; Santa Fe's Arianna Trott ran 27th, 2:29:17; and Abiquiu's Hilary Lorenz ran 28th, 2:29:28. Nice race people. Way to get out and get after it.

Hilary put together a fine race report that can be found here - AdventureArtist

Related Posts:
 - Caldera Marathon Called Off due to Fire (2013)
 - Frijoles Canyon in Recovery


View Valles Caldera Trail Marathon - New Mexico in a larger map

Santa Fe's Buffalo Thunder Half Marathon

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 12^th. 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 11^th 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.

Related Posts:
  - 2012 Buffalo Thunder Half - A Brief Meeting with Billy Mills

View Santa Fe to Buffalo Thunder Half Marathon in a larger map

Overall	Name		Finish	Pace
1	Sam	Kosgei	1hr 4m49s	4:57
2	Meshack	Kirwa	1:06:10	5:03
3	Rory	Fraser	1:06:45	5:06
4	Jonathan	Ndambuki	1:08:01	5:12
5	Jacob	Kirwa	1:08:47	5:15
6	Simon	Sawe	1:08:49	5:15
7	Patrick	Kiptum	1:11:08	5:26
8	Josphat	Ndeti	1:11:49	5:29
9	Andrew	Musava	1:15:35	5:46
10	Bernard	Langat	1:15:51	5:47
11	Atalelech	Asfaw	1:15:55	5:48
12	Michael	Ehrmantraut	1:17:22	5:54
13	Eugene	Hogue	1:17:30	5:55
14	Stuart	Gillespie	1:17:46	5:56
15	Kay	Ulrich	1:19:23	6:04
16	Scott	Valdez	1:19:35	6:05
17	Nicholas	Martinez	1:19:53	6:06
18	Emily	Field	1:20:38	6:09
19	Aaron	Padilla	1:21:12	6:12
20	Roy	Collins	1:21:24	6:13

Womens  Overall	Name		Finish	Pace
1	Atalelech	Asfaw	1hr15m55s	5:48
2	Kay	Ulrich	1:19:23	6:04
3	Emily	Field	1:20:38	6:09
4	Tanya	Collins	1:26:01	6:34
5	Sara	Wagner	1:27:21	6:40
6	Linsey	Sandoval	1:27:44	6:42
7	Liz	Turner	1:27:50	6:42
8	Ashley	Quintana	1:31:56	7:01
9	Jennifer	Steketee	1:33:59	7:10
10	Shannon	Zanelli	1:34:24	7:12

Fall Racing Has Arrived - Santa Fe

Last week I'd wanted to post a few upcoming races. I procrastinated and now two of those races have come and gone. I figure I'll post them anyway along with race reports.

1.  So the Taos Up-and-Over 10K Trail Run was run Saturday. Kind of a new race, in its third year and really tough. The race is a good lead in to the major Fall trail events including Pikes Peak, Imogene, and Big Tesuque. Waltz was up there repping Santa Fe, and bettered his previous year finish with a fifth overall placing (his race report). Nicely done sir.

(Update 8/22) Looks like my pal Herman ran the race as well, finishing 18th, 10min back of Jacob. Herman tells me he ran off course at mile 4, had to climb back up to the junction, and ended up five places back. That pretty much bites on a course as tough as that one. 

  2.  Sunday was the inaugural running of the Pecos Giddy-Up. The folks out there put on a half-marathon, 10K, and 5K. I was excited about the half but apparently not excited enough to properly set my alarm. Race report follows below.

  3.  Coming up this weekend, Sat. Aug 20th is the 37th Annual Los Alamos Triathlon. I thought maybe I'd sneak into this since I didn't run the Santa Fe Triathlon in July, but it's not going to happen for me, (this might as well be my mantra for this summer's racing season).

  4.  The Old Santa Fe Trail Run 10K/5K is scheduled for Labor Day Weekend, Mon. Sep. 5^th Sun. Sep. 4th. A nice, heavily attended run starting and finishing at the State Capitol Bldg here in Santa Fe. The course runs out and back on Old Santa Fe Trail and is not a trail run. I may run this if I'm in town. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be in town though.

   5.  The inaugural Buffalo Thunder Half Marathon, 10K/5K  is scheduled for Sun. Sep. 18^th. This race ought to be great, a legitimate destination event right here in town. Top area runner Antonio Lopez, Joseph Karnes ('96 Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier, and former Big Sur Marathon board member), and Pojoaque's Abraham Kosgei, have put this race together with a large budget, corporate sponsors, cash awards, billboard advertising, and the works. How can you not jump into this race just to say you ran the first year? I need this half-marathon as a tune-up for November so I'm in. Sign-up is $50 through 8/30. $60 afterward to race day.

   6.  The 26^th Annual Big Tesuque Trail Run is Sat. Oct. 1^st. This race is awesome and is Santa Fe's home trail running course. I will be there rocking face, re-telling unsubstantiated tales of glory, and re-living questionable brushes with death. This year my goal will be not to get beat down by 48yr old dudes from Los Alamos.

  7.  Lastly, Pajarito Trail Fest in Los Alamos. I don't know whether this race is planned to be on this year or not with the surrounding fire damage from Los Conchas. But if it's a go it is scheduled for the 8th and 9th of October.

Alright, regarding the above mentioned Pecos Giddy-Up:  I had planned to run the half, but woke up about thirty minutes late (or like an hour late). In a huff, I drove out there and managed to *just* get myself into the 10K. I actually missed the start by a couple minutes and watched everyone run by as I pinned my bib onto my shorts. Then, because I primarily wanted to know what kind of shape I'm in, I ran 300m back to the starting line, clicked the timer on my watch, and one-eighty-ed back onto the course to chase everyone down. I've been running tempos on the track so the speed and turnover over the first couple miles felt not-too-bad. Usually these things hurt like hell. I caught all but the top four guys by the turn-around at 5K. I had to involuntarily cut the turn-around short by about 20m because of a couple pissed off Pecos dogs that had determined that that extra 20m was to be invite only. 

The pace up till then felt hard but controlled and I eventually caught my friend Chris Chavez and chatted with him about next week's Pikes Peak Marathon. Chris is a regular on both the Sat. Pikes Ascent and the Sun. PPMarathon - which means he is a stone-cold badass. I was telling Chris that I don't know how he completes that annual double without getting hurt, let alone on the marathon descent itself. That thing is treacherous. As I was saying this I put my foot through the loop of my other set of shoelaces and abruptly disappeared from the conversation (poof!), eating pavement on a perfectly level, paved road. Well I recovered from that hiccup, fixed my damn laces, and then eventually hammered home the last mile for a 40min 5sec finish. That's five seconds short of my first sub 40min 10K in probably 10 years, (plus or minus 40meters).

What grated on me was that because I slept-in I was going to have to get out and put in another 12miles later in the afternoon to get in the equivalent of my Sunday long run. Thankfully Nunez agreed to swing by the house and tow me along for part of his long run. I don't know if a weird double like that is a smart or acceptable way to get in your weekly long run, but I can tell you that it made me reeeeally sore.

And with that, my current block of marathon training is in full effect.

Weekly training mileage:

61mi, with 3 workouts (including the 10K), 3 doubles, 1 rest day, and a long run of 12mi.

Previous week's mileage was;  69mi, with 2 workouts, 2 doubles, long runs of 12mi and 17mi.

Fall Marathon Training Log  

Related Post:  Fall Marathon Training I