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July 31, 2007
Meet our Newest Race Team Members
We have two new race team members to welcome, Matt Karzen and Stephen Taylor. We're proud to have these guys on the Rock/Creek Race Team. If you happen to see Matt at Leadville next month, or if you're subjected to one of Stephen's grueling triathlon training sessions, congratulate them on joining the team.
Stephen Taylor
Occupation: Fitness Trainer and Endurance Coach
Stephen's ultra running highlights:
2007:
72 Mile Appalacian Trail Run in the Smoky Mountains with Jamie Dial
Boston Marathon 2:47 (in a Noreasterner)
Mount Mitchell 3rd
Mountain Mist 3rd
2006:
Stumpjump 50K (my first ultra)
PRs:
Ironman: 9:37
Marathon 2:44
Half Ironman 4:22
Half Marathon 1:17
Stephen Taylor comes from a competitive running and triathlon background. After spending the last few years doing 6 ironman tris, he has found his strongest passion with ultra trail running.
What I like best about running: I like how ultrarunning is an adventure within yourself. Some people travel the world, and ultra racing has taken me to some beautiful places, but the most interesting things I have learned were about my own capabilities.
"I am especially impressed with the cool culture of ultrarunning. I have greatly enjoyed training runs with the Rock/Creek Race Team and I am honored to be involved. The races are so much more chill than triathlons that it is hard to even get motivated to swim and bike."
Tips for other runners: Learn to use your emotions as a source of information and strength. If you are dreading training, then your body is telling you something. If you happen to have a super competitve personality (and I won't name any names) then you better be especially vigilant to hold back early in an ultra. Then when it is time for the 4th quarter smackdown, activate whatever emotions you need to endure the suffering.
I credit Jamie Dial with introducing me to trail ultras. I moved here from Missouri in a bit of a funk after having a bad race in Ironman Arizona. The first weekend I was in town we ran the Fiery Gizzard Trail with Chad Wamack--in the dark. I was instantly hooked. He continues to mentor and push me. I cherish the many 4th Quarter Smackdown workouts we do.
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Matt Karzen
Athens, GA
Age: 40
Raised in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Matt moved to GA in 2002 to be near his wife's family. After working as a professional ski patroller at Steamboat, law school and a decade as a D.A., he became the sole proprietor of a small law practice in Athens.
"I am a big fan of Rock/Creek's outdoor presence in the southeast, particularly their commitment to trail running and preserving our opportunities to get out and get dirty."
"I also think Stump Jump is a killer fun race - well done. I've been running regular and hard for a few years now, after a lengthy hiatus of laziness, early fatherhood and schooling. I have ramped up my mileage over the past few months - currently at about 70-80 per week, in preparation for the Leadville 100, and assuming good health, I am looking to get some good results this fall and winter at the trail 50K and marathon distances."
Races or Other Significant Accomplishments:
2005 Pine Mountain 50 Mile Trail Run (13th);
2006 Oak Mountain 50K (11th); Stump Jump 50K (20th); Pikes Peak Marathon (under 6 hours); Heritage Park Xterra Scramble Trail 5K (3rd, 1st Master)
2007 Black Mountain Marathon (13th); Oak Mountain 50K (7th)
More about the Rock/Creek Race Team >
Sign up for our epic Rock/Creek StumpJump 50K race coming up in October >
Posted by Mark McKnight at 3:35 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 30, 2007
Epic Trail Runs 'R Us
We have a couple new additions to the Rock/Creek Race Team, one of whom wrote a great (short) article about a not so short recent run with Jamie Dial on the AT. More to come on the new racers, but for now check out Stephen Taylor's article and a couple photos on his site.
The 100 mile event he speaks of went off well. I'm waiting to hear back from Jamie with more details on that, but we do have a couple photos from the Tahoe Rim Trail 100 Miler on our flickr site.
More about the Rock/Creek Race Team >
Sign up for our epic Rock/Creek StumpJump 50K race coming up in October >
Posted by Mark McKnight at 3:37 PM | TrackBack
July 13, 2007
Rock/Creek & Patagonia Sponsor Sunset Rock Trail Work
Rock/Creek and Patagonia recently awarded a grant to the SCC for their ongoing trail work at Sunset Rock up on Lookout Mountain. This is the latest of a series of gifts Rock/Creek and Patagonia have been making for years to maintain access to climbing areas and other backcountry resources. At Rock/Creek, we use outdoor retail as a platform to encourage all people to get outside, become active, and enjoy our open spaces. Our charitable giving underscores this message by driving specific, measurable, and lasting progress towards greater accessibility to the backcountry.
From our friends at the Southeastern Climbers' Coalition:
Rock Creek Outfitters of Chattanooga, TN. and Patagonia have teamed up to award a grant of $1,000.00 to help fund upcoming Sunset Rock trail days. Trail work began in the main climbing area in 1993 and continued steadily through the years to minimiize erosion, replant native vegetation and cut off splinter trails.In recent years there has been an upsurge of local climbers working to keep Sunset Rock in good shape. Samantha Christen has stepped up to lead the trail day crews and working directly with Sunset rangers Dennis Curry, John Housch, and Rob Turant, along with students from GPS, McCallie School, and Covenant College). Last years' work included reducing erosion and repairing hot spots at "Jefferson Airplane" and "RJ Gold" as the group added top-soil, native plants and natural sandstone pavers. We greatly appreciate the help of the climbing volunteers and the support of the National Park Service in this effort.
While a large part of our mission is to provide customers with products to keep them safe and comfortable in the outdoors, we at Rock/Creek feel a strong duty to preserve the natural areas where we recreate and reduce our impact on the environment. These issues have always been at the heart of Rock/Creek. We have, therefore, committed ourselves to leadership in the outdoor industry and the larger community, especially with regard to environmental stewardship and improving access for outdoor recreation.
Find out more:
Read our Environmental Statement >
Rock/Creek Honors Chaco with Environmental Stewardship Award >
Rock Creek and Chaco Raise $8000 to Make Boat Rock a Green Space >
Chaco Recycling Initiative Benefits Himalayan Communities >
Posted by Mark McKnight at 1:12 PM | TrackBack
July 11, 2007
Free Rain Cover w/ Gregory Packs
Another great gift with purchase promotion just went live on RockCreek.com today. This one gets you a FREE Gregory Rain Cover with a Z55 or Jade 50 Pack.
| 1) Buy a Gregory Jade 50 or Z55 Pack: |
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2) Get a FREE Rain Cover ($25 Value!) | ||||
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While supplies last buy a Gregory Jade 50 or Z55 Pack and get a free small Rain Cover. Offer expires 7/31/07 and is not applicable to prior purchases. Limit one per household. Thanks!
Posted by Mark McKnight at 5:55 PM | TrackBack
July 9, 2007
Summer Sale is On!
That's right, Rock Creek's summer sale has begun. It's running for only one week, so stop by now and get great deals on everything from shorts and shirts to technical baselayers, rain jackets, shoes, sandals, and more. We have camping equipment from MSR on sale as well as everything from Therm-A-Rest.
We have over 100 products on sale just from Patagonia, like the classic R1 Flash Pullover, which I wear just about every day between the end of August through about February or March. We also have both the current (2007) and last year's Spraymaster Rain Jackets on sale. These are Outside Gear of the Year Award winners, so take this rare opportunity to get one on sale.
We also have some great Trail Running Gear on sale >
See what Paddling Gear we have on Sale >
Shop Backpacking Gear on Sale >
Posted by Mark McKnight at 10:24 AM | TrackBack
