Rock/Creek Chronicle's Events & Races Archives

August 25, 2008

Rock/Creek Race Team Wins Flatlanders Division at Wild West Relay

Plane ticket to Denver: $250

30 zip-lock baggies filled with boiled potatoes: $40

20 gallons of water: $25

Rental of a 12-passenger van, aka "The Stank Tank": $800

Participating in the suffer-fest known as The Wild West Relay: Priceless

On Friday, August 1, 120 teams pushed off from Fort Collins, Colorado to begin the 2008 Wild West Relay, a 195-mile, running relay in its fifth year. The race took teams on a northwestern route from Fort Collins up into the Rockies, crossed into Wyoming then headed Southwest over the Continental Divide before finishing in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The nonstop event took teams anywhere from 24 hours to 35 hours to complete and consisted of 36 individual legs or sections. A single member of each team would run one of the legs, tag a teammate at the end of the leg, and hop into the team van to ride to the next exchange zone.

The Wild West Relay welcomes all varieties of teams and we witnessed this on the course - the super competitive (some elite teams averaged close to 6:00 miles), the super ultra (a team of only three completed the entire course), and the teams that painted their faces, wore skirts (both men and women) and wrote crazy sayings on the sides of their team vans.

Our Rock/Creek team consisted of six runners placing us in the ultra division. Each of us had participated in endurance events of some kind before - triathlons, bike racing, ultras, adventure racing, etc. - however, this event presented a few challenges that would new to some of us. Elevation: The elevation during the race ranged from 6,000 ft to 10,000 ft above sea level. Elevation plus lots of running = lots of fun. Although our team was constantly moving, each runner had a couple of hours of "downtime" between each leg. Just enough time for your body to cool off and tighten up before the next run. Minimal sleep: I don't believe anyone got much more than 30 minutes of sleep. For adventure races, this is evidently the norm; however, for several of us, this was a new race addition.

There was also unanticipated (for some of us) fourth element - the heat. Chad Wamack had warned me that "it gets pretty hot in Colorado in July and August." I kept thinking to myself, "but it's a dry heat. That won't affect a Tennessee boy used to suffocating humidity." Well, a dry heat of 102, as it was on Friday afternoon, can affect you. The dry heat sucks the water out of your body exceptionally fast. So, we quickly learned (or at least I did) to get out of the sun and get in plenty of fluids as fast as possible after a stage. I started to run with a "technical" shirt because it retained just enough moisture to help keep my body temperature down.

After our team had gone through a complete rotation (each person running a leg), I believe we all got into our own routine for recovering from a leg, "cleaning up" (consisted of some combination of wiping off with moist "toilettes", changing clothes, hanging up clothes to dry out, etc.), getting in fluids and food, and "warming up" before the next run. As the race wore on, it became a challenge to continue to eat. After throwing down Power Bars, Cliff Bars, Gatorade, Pop Tarts, boiled potatoes, potato chips, and chocolate milk, your stomach just wants a break.

The one constant in the event, the great scenery provided by the Colorado countryside, made staying up well worth it. Covering the distance on foot (and staying awake for over 24 hours) really lets you soak in the landscapes and experience the Colorado outdoors - the mountains, the valleys, the rivers - at all times of the day - sun rise, high noon, sun set, and the pre-dawn, quiet hours.

Definitely a great experience. We finished as the first place flatlanders team (all team members residing below 2,500 feet sea level) and 22nd overall. A continuous relay of this length really made me appreciate taking the post-race shower, the post-race nap, and that I don't regularly live out of a van (aka The Stank Tank).

-Kevin Boucher

2008 Wild West Relay Rock/Creek Team:

Sam "Lightning" Linhoss, Team Captain

Leigh "It never looks like I'm running hard" Linhoss, Team Accountant

Matt "Look me in the eyes when I'm talking to you" Sims, Team Outfitter

Natalie "Everyone Remain Calm, Heat Stroke is a Learning Experience" Sims, Van Decorator

Chad "Captain Lats" Womack

Lisa "Yes, I look at feet every day but even I'm not touching your feet Chad" Womack, Team Podiatrist and Driver

Kevin Boucher, Team Fighter Pilot

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August 20, 2008

Greenway 5 Mile Trail Race Entices New Trail Runners

Saturday August 9th proved to be another beautiful day in the Rock/Creek race series. The cool August morning brought 95 runners to Chattanooga's Greenway Farm to compete on 5 miles of mixed trail that included sections of gravel, grass and paved trail. Though shorter than other races in the Rock/Creek Trail Series, the race was well attended by both beginning and experienced trail runners. Rock/Creek is happy to report that out of 95 total runners 40% were first time trail racers!

Like other races in the Rock/Creek Trail Series, proceeds from this event support the Boonies Wilderness Trail Running Association, a.k.a. The Boonies. The Greenway 5 Mile Trail Race raised money for trail access and future trail races in the Chattanooga area.

Special thanks goes to the City of Chattanooga's Parks and Rec department for allowing Greenway Farm to be the site of the 6th race in the 2008 Rock/Creek Trail Series. The park was the perfect venue for the short, relaxed race. Greenway Farm, part of the North Chick Greenway, is one of Chattanooga's premier green spaces, if you haven't had the opportunity to to spend an afternoon on the park's comfortable trails, Rock/Creek encourages you to do so.

Rock/Creek would like to additionally thank event sponsors Mountain Hardwear, SmartWool, La Sportiva, Hammer Nutrition and Greenlife Grocery. As always, a special thank you goes out to the individuals from the Rock/Creek race team and the Boonies who dedicated their personal time to the event and its preparation.

Chris Heberer was the first male finisher and Jan Gauthier was the first female to cross the finish line. The top 25 finishers are below, entire results and photos from the event can be found at http://www.rockcreek.com/greenway/.

Chris Heberer 33:07:03
Calvin Cofield 33:08:40
Joey Howe 33:45:40
Tom Sell 34:21:14
Matt Gregory 34:40:27
Aaron Saylor 34:45:18
Zach Cowart 35:39:14
Jan Gauthier 35:57:37
Mark Gregory 36:19:21
Mitchell Kohlmann 36:40:90
Samuel Hammonds 36:45:25
Jason Hamrick 37:18:17
Thompson Wells 38:13:58
Katie Hammill 38:19:14
Erin Rayburn 39:18:46
Thomas Demoss 39:22:11
Mike Martin 39:31:00
Sheldon Millican 39:34:08
Sergio Bianchini 39:43:83
Will Hutchinson 39:44:37
Derek Usury 39:45:14
Kurt Lamon 39:57:08
Josh Henderson 40:05:24
Alex Tonsberg 40:06:24
Daniel Gross 40:32:27

Next up is the grand daddy of the Rock/Creek Trail Series; the 8th annual Rock/Creek StumpJump 50k. For those who have run this one in the past you know it's a race that can't be missed. Already about 350 runners from across the country have signed up for this popular event. For runners looking to put in less mileage there is a 11 mile version of the race as well. Both races will take place on October 4th, with a vendor fair and packet pick-up at Rock/Creek's Two North Shore location on October 3rd. Information and registration are online at http://www.rockcreek.com/stumpjump/.

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August 12, 2008

Rock/Creek Race Team Member Finishes 2nd in Wasatch Speedgoat 50k

Rock/Creek race team member John Anderson flew out to Utah for the mountainous Wasatch Speedgoat 50K. John gave an outstanding effort and finished in second, just 3 minutes behind the winner. Below is John's story of the race. If you are interested in John's other accomplishment, and the accomplishments of the entire Rock/Creek Race Team, visit their profiles at http://www.rockcreek.com/raceteam.

The Wasatch Speedgoat 50k is based out of Snowbird, Utah and you get the unique experience of being cheered on by people riding up on the tram. You also get the unique experience of feeling your legs go through pain, then numbness, then pain again, and thankfully back to numbness as the course ascends 10,500 ft and descends the same in 50k. The race is directed by Karl Meltzer (several time winner of the Hardrock 100 who will be attempting to break the AT speed record starting on August 9th), and he puts on a great quad smashing race.

We started the day in the cool Wasatch mountains and headed uphill for the initial 4500' climb. By the time we got halfway up there was a lead pack of 4 runners, and Nate McDowell and I chatted about our kids between trying to catch our breath. Luckily for me Nate's daughter has a longer name than my son so he had to talk more. By the time we got to the top, Nate had a couple minute lead on me, and we came crashing down Mt. Baldy, complete with ropes and spotters from Black Diamond and settled in for a long day in the mountains.

The next several hours were spent climbing and descending the newly designed race course, some of it off trail, some singletrack, some on forest service roads, a short stretch through the ski tunnel that connects Snowbird to Alta at around 10,000 ft, and even a little time rolling around on the ground. The La Sportiva Fireblades performed excellently again--perfect for the technical terrain and the steep descents.

When all was said and done, Nate won in 5:43 and I finished up in second in 5:56. Although I did manage to chuck a snowball at Nate as he climbed above me in the final ascent. My ankles are sore and my lips are chapped, but it was a stellar race with outstanding views (and next time I'll remember the lip balm...)

Gear List for race: Patagonia Airius Top, Patagonia Long Haul Runners, La Sportiva Fireblade shoes, Patagonia Ultra Lightweight Socks, Smith Factor polarized sunglasses, Nathan Quickdraw water bottle, and Nathan 10k Hip Pack.

--John

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July 17, 2008

Running for Kate. Support the Katie Hammontree Whitlow Fund

Running for Kate is trail running team that has been racing to raise donations in the name of a friend lost to Acute Myeloid Leukemia. At the time of her death Kate was 4 months pregnant. Her grandfather, Georgia Senator Dr. Don Thomas set up the fund in her name. Rock/Creek is a corporate sponsor of the Katie Hammontree Whitlow fund. For more information about the fund and how you can donate please visit www.khwfund.org

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July 15, 2008

Florida Native Completes 3-day Circuit at 2008 Stage Race, Participant Entry

Capt. Scott Griffith sent us this narrative after running all three stages of the 2008 Rock/Creek Mountains Stage Race. Enjoy and if you have a story that you would like to submit send it to media@rockcreek.com

Maybe I should have said no.

I received an e-mail from Lisa Purul eleven days before the race. That gave me just enough time to get in my one long run five days out and then start my taper. For those not familiar with this race, it's a three-day, staged trail race. Each day, runners traverse approximately twenty miles on the scenic trails just outside of Chattanooga, TN.

I should have read the description on the website more thoroughly before agreeing to the race. I still don't know how far we really ran, but it was long and more challenging than any of the hills we have around here. The trails were on Lookout Mountain, Raccoon Mountain, and Signal Mountain. From the recurring "mountain" theme, I should have been a little more leery.

I replied to Lisa's e-mail with a "yes," and Lisa, Paul Brannon, and I headed off to Chattanooga. While Lisa and I were planning to run the first two days of the race, Paul planned only to run one of the days.

For being a small race (probably not the largest budget), you could not have asked for more. Chad Wamack, one of the Rock Creek Racing Team members, arranged our heavily-discounted lodging at a very nice hotel in the middle of Chattanooga. Luckily for us, he also agreed to meet us after breakfast each morning so we could follow him to the race sites without getting lost. I've run the Marine Corps, Chicago, and Boston Marathons and never received such an accommodating reception.

After arriving at Lookout Mountain for the first day's race, we met Kris Whorton--inarguably an accomplished runner. She was the official cat-herder for the race, making sure everything went off smoothly. By the start of the race, she already knew everyone's name, proving a keen attention to detail. Her bio can be found at www.rockcreek.com/raceteam/#kris.

Off we went the first day, following a bicycle escort for the first bit of the course until we hit the trails. Chad told me the bike would drop me; so, naturally, I had to stay with it until it turned off. And I did. And I paid for it.

After we hit the trails, I had no idea where we were going. I figured I would just follow the guys in front of me. Bad plan. Apparently, the leaders didn't know the course that well, either, so we took the scenic route. The good news was that the back-tracking was downhill. For those who are wondering, getting lost two miles into a twenty-mile race is not a good start. After that, we were a little more careful and paranoid about following the trail. We continued past the aid station/gummy bear stop (they must have known I was coming) and ran out to Covenant College. When you drive into town, you can see the college perched on top of the mountain, a vantage point that affords it a great view of its surroundings.

Up the mountain, down the mountain, up the mountain, down the mountain.

With .6 miles to go, you hit the one water crossing. You could go around it, but that would be no fun--especially with the photographer sitting there yelling at you to go through it. So I went back and splashed in the water. It probably didn't help the race time, but I had fun.

On day two, Chad led us out to Raccoon Mountain, described as a flat and fast course. In fact, the course was supposed to be so flat that the official course description included no elevation profiles. Never trust a Tennessee designation of the word flat. The course was hilly enough and overgrown enough that the most mileage anyone recorded on their Garmin was 12.6. The trail was eighteen miles long, plus detours. It was, however, faster than the previous day. The highlight of my weekend came on this day, when I passed one of the mountain bikers on an uphill stretch. As day two came to a finish, I waited for Paul and Lisa. Despite his aforementioned plans to run only one of the race days, Paul crossed the finish line. Lisa followed in short order, and both formed a consensus to hang up their shoes for the rest of the race.

For our third day, Chad led us out to Signal Mountain.

Wait a minute...didn't we only plan to run two days?

Signal Mountain was, by far, the hardest of the trails. Fortunately, everyone was sufficiently well-rested after the flat course the day before. The times were slow, but you don't get to run trails like this in Florida. At one point, the trail dead-ended into a rock face where the trail simply went up. The pace varied from less than a crawl to running full-blast through sticker bushes and thorns where you couldn't see the rocks and roots you were tripping over. By the end of the day, only twenty-six of the thirty-four people that started the race at Signal Mountain finished. About sixty people raced at least one of the races. Paul ran all three races, beating Lisa in only one of the three. He did, however, finish just ahead of her in the overall standings, which made his day. Lisa was second overall woman. And I had fun.

The 2008 Stage Race benefited The Boonies (Wilderness Trail Running Association). Now part of the Rock/Creek Trail Series, this year's stage race was an incredible experience. It was presented by Rock/Creek and sponsored by Mountain Hardwear, SmartWool, and La Sportiva. Participants received a technical Wicked Tee from Mountain Hardwear. Prizes and raffles were provided as well. For more information on the Rock/Creek Trail series and for dates of future events visit. http://www.rockcreek.com/trailseries/default.asp

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June 26, 2008

Scenic City Trail Marathon Video

Our friend Jon over at iMultisport has just posted the Scenic City Trail Marathon video on YouTube. I know some of you had trouble viewing the other videos, so I thought I'd share this one.

For results, photos, and more information on the Scenic City Trail Marathon, visit rockcreek.com/trailmarathon/

Posted by Mark McKnight at 11:18 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

June 16, 2008

Our Youngest Race Team Member, Johanna Gartman

Rock/Creek is proud to announce our latest Race Team member, Johanna Gartman. At only 15 years old, she is also our youngest member. Please join us in welcoming her to the team!

School: Homeschool
Age: 15

Current Team Affiliations:
Scenic City Aquatic Club, USAT Southeast Youth Elite Team

Races/Accomplishments:

2007
Ironkids National Champion (Phoenix,AZ )
USAT National Ranking (Age Group 9th)
USAT Southeast Regional Ranking (Age Group 2nd)
Ironkids Atlanta (1st overall female)
Sports Barn Triathlon (2nd overall female/ age group winner)
River Gorge Trail Run —10k ( 2nd overall female)
Clemson Triathlon SC State Championship (age group winner/9th overall)
Orlando Triathlon (age group winner/6th overall female)
Grandman Triathlon Mobile,AL(age group winner/8th overall female)
Scenic City Triathlon (age group winner/4th overall female)
Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon (age group winner)

2006
USA Triathlon Grand Prix Series National Champion
USAT Youth National Championship (5th place) Wiscconsin Dells, WI

“I would like to gain more experience in trail running, and I feel that being a part of the team could provide insight for maturing that goal. It would be a privilege for me to be a part of a team whose members are such intense endurance athletes.”

Read more about Rock/Creek’s sponsored athletes online >

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June 2, 2008

Scenic City Trail Marathon Videos

Thanks to Jon from iMultisport for this video from the Scenic City Trail Marathon. Enjoy!

Online Videos by Veoh.com

More about the Scenic City Trail Marathon & 1/2 Marathon online, including results, photography, and more >

The Marathon raised over $3000 for the Wilderness Trail Running Association (The Boonies). Read the race report here >

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May 31, 2008

Josh Wheeler Wins Age Group at Florida Ironman 70.3

Rock/Creek Race Team member Josh Wheeler from Signal Mountain, TN won his division at last weekend's Florida Ironman 70.3 Triathlon. Josh, competing in only his second Half Ironman, came in with an impressive 4:30:44. His performance at the race makes him a 2008 Clearwater 70.3 World Championship Qualifier.

After a challenging swim, Josh came out of the water 20th in his age group. He made up some time on the bike and came off the bike in 4th place, then made up nearly four minutes in the run.

Josh blasted across the line after an incredible run, winning the Men's 18-24 age group. He collapsed over the finish line, having given the race everything he had.

Josh came in over a minute before his closest age group competitor, putting him in 28th place overall in a field of nearly 2000 racers. Congrats Josh!

Here's the full story from Josh, with a mile-by-mile breakdown of the run:

Leading into this race all the stars seemed to line up perfectly. Getting down to Florida six days before the race payed off tremendously allowing my body to acclimatize to the heat and humidity plus recover mentally and physically from the last few weeks of school. I knew the course, my taper went well and I remained confident in my fitness.

I woke up about thirty minutes before my alarm was to go off on race morning (3:30am). Showered, shaved and ate my oatmeal breakfast. I drank 16oz of Gu20 before I got in the car. Having packed the night before, we were able to simply walk down stairs and get in the car. I wanted to get to the bus drop off at about 5:40am thinking that would give me enough time to finalize my transition area and get a good warm up in. We stopped for coffee and by the time we got to the bus it was 5:55am. Oh well, I figured I didn't need that long of a warm up anyway. Standing in line, I got to shake hands and talk to Craig Alexander, who wished me good luck in his sexy Australian accent. The bus ride was smooth. Kept sipping on my second bottle of Gu20 as I strolled into the transition area around six o'clock.

I had a great transition spot. I made sure everything was dialed in before I left the transition. My tires were 145-150psi since I thought the road would be hot and the tires might expand on me a little. I made sure all my nutrition was secure and left transition around 6:10am with about twenty minutes left before my wave was scheduled to hit the water. Ran a few above LT pickups to get my heart rate up, stretched and walked down the beach start.

Waiting on my wave to get into the water I ran a few more strides to stay loose until the race announcer called us down. I felt I had a great starting spot. I was on the far outside in line with the first buoy. All the way until the gun went off I really did not get nervous. I simply remained focused on my game plan for the swim and listened for the cannon.

Once the race was underway, I ran as far as I could out into the lake and started to dolphin dive. I think I got in two dolphin dives before I abandoned the notion that I could dolphin dive and started to swim. I did not swim all out to the first buoy as I normally do in a race. I knew it was going to be a long day and I wanted to make sure I got a good position in the swim without having to red line my heart rate too early. On the way out to the first turn buoy I swam alone.

I saw a good pack forming to my right but they were about 30m off the buoy and I was swimming slightly slower than them but in a straight line, buoy to buoy. So I decided to hold my line for now, thinking I would intercept them at the first left hand turn. Once rounding the turn buoy and swimming over the top of a few of the slower swimmers from the previous wave, I found some feet wearing a green swim cap (aka my age-group) and stuck to his hip like glue till we made the second turn. I knew that I only had about 750m left in the swim and at this point felt comfortably uncomfortable.

I put my head down and started to hammer for the shore. The guys' feet I had been drafting off of fell off pace so I left him for open water. To my right once again the same pack of swimmers had formed and they were still about 30m off the buoy line. I made the executive decision to swim diagonally and intercept them thinking that swimming in that pack would save some energy for the bike. However, by the time I bridged over to their group I realized that they were not swimming as efficiently as I would like, so I made the second executive decision to bridge back over to buoy and swim alone for the final 500m.

Continue reading "Josh Wheeler Wins Age Group at Florida Ironman 70.3"

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May 30, 2008

$3300 Raised for The Boonies at 2nd Annual Scenic City Trail Marathon presented by Rock/Creek & Vasque

Chattanooga, TN- Clear skies and the promise of warm temperatures met the 45 marathoners and 147 half marathoners who turned out Saturday morning for the second annual Scenic City Trail Marathon and Half on Raccoon Mountain. The two trail running races, presented by Rock/Creek and Vasque, raised $3300 for The Wilderness Trail Running Association, aka Boonies. Proceeds from both events are used to run trail races, develop new and maintain existing trails in the Chattanooga area.

John Cobbs of Birmingham, Alabama won the event with an impressive time of 3:38:04. Rock/Creek Race Team member Jaclyn Greenhill of Signal Mountain, Tennessee came in less than a minute back to win the women's division with a time of 3:38:49. Sal Coll of Chattanooga, Tennessee finished second male in 3:44:38 and Eric Ashley of Glenrose, Texas finished 3rd male in 3:50:18. Katie Grove from Smryna, Georgia was second female in 4:33:40 and DeDe DuBose from Chattanooga, Tennessee finished third female in 4:47:29.

In the half marathon, Rock/Creek Race Team members Michael Green and Clay Warner finished first and second. Green, of Rocky Face, Georgia finished first in 1:26:57, and Warner, of Ringgold, Georgia, finished second in 1:26:59. 17-year-old Nick Lewis 1:28:49 of Hanceville, Alabama finished third. Sue Kelly from Atlanta, Georgia, was first female in 1:39:46, Hope Hessler from Lookout Mountain, Tennessee was second with a time of 1:57:32 and Ashley Morris from Johnson City, Tennessee with a 2:02:01 finish was 3rd. Full race results are posted online at http://www.rockcreek.com/trailmarathon/

"We couldn't have asked for a better day or a better venue for the run," said race director Jamie Sanders: "Everyone had a great time out there today." Sanders thanked the many volunteers and sponsors, including Rock/Creek, Vasque Footwear, Mountain Hardwear, SmartWool, Black Diamond, Greenlife Grocery, and Hammer Nutrition.

The course is a scenic and rolling, single-track trail created by SORBA (Southeast Off-Road Bicycle Organization). The trail hugs the perimeter of Raccoon Mountain, a TVA pumped-storage facility and is one of the best trail running and mountain biking locations within 25 minutes of downtown Chattanooga.

The Scenic City Trail Marathon is part of the Rock/Creek Trail Series, a year-long trail running race series with 9 race dates and 13 distance options. The next event in the series is the Chattanooga Mountains Stage Race, taking place on June 20, 21 and 22. For more information on the series, visit http://www.rockcreek.com/trailseries/

The race also was a part of Vasque's North American Trail Tour. The Lookout Mountain 100k & 10k on December 20th will also be a part of the Tour.

Photography available online:
http://flickr.com/photos/imultisport/sets/72157605234803616/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockcreek/sets/72157605331055809/

About Rock/Creek:

Rock/Creek, member of the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, is an independent specialty outdoor retailer with over two decades of experience in the Southeast. Along with its online shops, RockCreek.com and ClimbingGear.com, Rock/Creek provides quality outdoor clothing and gear for a host of activities including kayaking, rock climbing, camping, hiking, trail running, and adventure racing. Rock/Creek is committed to making a positive impact on the environment. For this reason, it uses outdoor retail as a platform to encourage outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship and to improve public access to the backcountry. Rock/Creek supports worthy nonprofits such as the Southeastern Climbers' Coalition and the Wilderness Trail Running Association.

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May 19, 2008

Media Alert: Rock/Creek and Vasque Present The Scenic City Trail Marathon & 1/2 Marathon, benefiting The Boonies

Media Alert
May 20, 2008

Contact:
Jamie Sanders, Race Director
423.505.0310 (mobile)
stumpjump50k@rockcreek.com

Mark McKnight, Marketing Director, Rock/Creek
423.643.1528 (office)
423.596.1573 (mobile)
mark@rockcreek.com

Rock/Creek and Vasque Present The Scenic City Trail Marathon & 1/2 Marathon, benefiting The Boonies

What: Scenic City Trail Marathon & 1/2 Marathon presented by Rock/Creek & Vasque, benefiting The Boonies
Where: TVA Raccoon Mountain Pumped Storage Facility
When: Saturday, May 24, 2008, 8:00 a.m race start
Who: Rock/Creek, Vasque Footwear, The Boonies (Wilderness Trail Running Association)

Rock/Creek and Vasque proudly present the second annual Scenic City Trail Marathon & 1/2 Marathon, taking place at TVA's Raccoon Mountain Pumped Storage Facility on the trails developed by SORBA-Chattanooga. Both of these trail runs begin at 8:00 a.m. Race-day registration and check-in will open at 6:45 a.m. The race begins and ends at the Laurel Point Parking Lot.

The Scenic City Trail Marathon will set the bench for a state record in trail running. The trails at Raccoon will be fast and forgiving, making for a great leisurely race for new trail runners or a full-on speed fest for those in the hunt for the first state record for a trail race.

Now part of the Vasque North American Trail Tour, this year's Scenic City Trail Marathon & 1/2 Marathon promises to be an incredible experience. Sponsored by Rock/Creek, Vasque, Mountain Hardwear, and SmartWool. Participants will receive a technical Wicked Tee from Mountain Hardwear. Prizes and raffles will be provided as well.

Proceeds from the race benefit the trail building efforts of the Wilderness Trail Running Association (a.k.a. "The Boonies"). Specifically, the proceeds from this race will help build the trail for the Lookout Mountain 100k, taking place on December 20, 2008 along with a 10k.

For more information visit:
http://www.rockcreek.com/trailmarathon/

Photo Opportunities:
Well over 100 trail runners from around the United States will be competing on a beautiful course with sweeping views of the TN River Gorge and the Raccoon Mountain Reservoir.

Interview Opportunities:
Jamie Sanders, Race Director
Randy Whorton, President, The Boonies

Map to TVA's Raccoon Mountain Pumped Storage Facility (via Google Maps):
http://tinyurl.com/6dh9tu
When you get to the TVA Road, you follow it up to the gates to the facility. From there you will see signs directing you to Laurel Point.

About Rock/Creek:

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May 1, 2008

Rock/Creek Race Team Members Take Southeast Regional Championship Titles

Rock/Creek Race Team Members Take Southeast Regional Championship Titles for Trail Running in 50k & Half Marathon Distances

This past weekend the Rock/Creek Race Team took several podium spots in trail races around the country. The Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) held the southeast regional championship for trail running at the Sweetwater 50k and Half Marathon. Both titles went to Signal Mountain residents and Race Team members this year. Long-time Signal Mountain resident and team member Sheridan Ames took first place in the 50K with an impressive time of 5:01:44. Rock/Creek team captain and new Signal Mountain resident Matt Sims continued the domination by taking first in the half marathon with a time of 1:38:16. Kathy Johns finished as 6th woman overall. She was the 30th overall finisher of the 50k with a time of 6:41.

This second annual race took place on Saturday, April 26th. Located right outside of Atlanta, Sweetwater State Park offers a challenging course including steep climbs, gnarly downhills and treacherous creek crossings. This year, team Rock/Creek made their presence known at the race, and they obviously made an impression that will not soon be forgotten. For Sheridan Ames, the 50k title had special significance as his first ever 1st place win. Ames has been to the Ironman World Championships in Kona, has run the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim solo, and has run races for years, so the southeast regional championship was well deserved. Ames reflects on the race, explaining that "the course was very challenging, physically and mentally. The river crossing was particularly interesting. Wading through waist deep cold rushing water while holding onto a rope to keep you from being washed downstream was a new one for me. Sharing the win with fellow team members made the race particularly special, and I'm now looking forward to the Shadow of Giants 50K at the end of the month."

Matt and his wife Natalie Sims as well as Kathy Johns and Sheridan Ames, all Rock/Creek Race Team members, met up at 4:45 a.m. in Chattanooga and arrived at the race about two hours later, ready for a challenge. Matt Sims had to fight for the half marathon title. Since there were 150 runners in the half marathon, he headed out to the front early. Sims maintained his lead throughout most of the race. He says: "As soon as we joined the trail, I was able to get away from [the other runner challenging for the lead] on some technical turns and steep rocky downhills and never saw anyone again until mile 12.5. I thought I pretty much had this one in the bag until I heard the leaves rustling behind me with a younger runner bearing down on me in the last half mile. Miraculously I was able to hold him off and crossed the line with 15 or so seconds to spare."

Several other Rock/Creek Race Team members finished strong this weekend as well. Race team members Johanna Gartman and Stephen Taylor won the overall women's and overall men's titles at Chattanooga's Scenic City Triathlon. Johanna is a new member of the team, and at only 15 years old has already won several races including the 2007 Ironkids National Championship in Phoenix, AZ.

John Anderson, fresh off a win at the Old Pueblo 50 Miler in Arizona, managed another impressive podium finish this weekend. He finished second behind La Sportiva athlete Anton Krupicka at the Zane Grey 50 miler, which takes place on the Highline Trail near Payson, Arizona. John is a Signal Mountain native who currently studies medicine at the University of Colorado. He describes the race course, which "has around 11,000 feet of climbing and the 'trail' consists of downed trees, washed out gullies and tons of loose, ankle-breaking rocks. While the race is billed as the toughest 50 miler in the US, I don't know if it's the most difficult, but it is certainly one of the most technical courses with only a few steps of actual smooth trail."

Rock/Creek and all the race team sponsors congratulate Sheridan, Matt, Johanna, Stephen, and all the race team members for their victory and continued support of the sport of trail running: "These racers continue to blow away our expectations as they have taken the podium in races across the country this Spring. In addition, our race team members have been working on building new trails, organizing and supporting the Rock/Creek Trail Series, and raising money for The Boonies," explains Rock/Creek co-owner Dawson Wheeler: "We're proud to have them associated with Rock/Creek."

For more information about the Rock/Creek Race Team, visit http://www.rockcreek.com/raceteam/

About Rock/Creek:

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April 28, 2008

Rock/Creek Runners Win Sweetwater 50k & Half Marathon

The Rock/Creek Race Team kicked some butt this weekend in Georgia. Check out this race report from Matt Sims, the team captain and a great trail runner who won the Half Marathon this weekend:

The Sweetwater 50K (southeast regional championship) and the Sweetwater Half Marathon, both won by Team members.
http://www.sweeth20races.com/

In short,

62 runners started the 50K.
153 runners started the Half Marathon

This the second annual Sweetwater 50K and the RRCA has named this 50k the Southeast Regional Championship Race.
The race was well done and consists of some pretty technical trails in Sweetwater State Park, just west of Downtown Atlanta.

Myself, Natalie, Kathy Johns, and Sheridan Ames drove down to Lithia Springs, GA early Saturday morning. Met at the Rock/Creek parking lot at 4:45am and got to the race at 6:35am. Both the 50k and the Half Marathon started together and then split off to their repsective distances at about mile 12.

There were over 150 runners in the Half Marathon so I decided I should get away early so that I could get on the trail and not be hampered by slower runners. Myself and one other guy took off from the starting line and ran the first mile on the road together. As soon as we joined the trail, I was able to get away from him on some technical turns and steep rocky downhills and never saw anyone again until mile 12.5. I thought I pretty much had this one in the bag until I heard the leaves rustling behind me with a younger runner bearing down on me in the last half mile. Miraculously, I was able to hold him off and crossed the line with 15 or so seconds to spare.

Matt Sims 1:38:16

Natalie felt the effects of being sick earlier in the week and within 20 minutes of the run, felt her hair stand up on her skin and was having cold chills. Not a great sign when the starting temperature was 67 degrees.

She bailed out at mile 13.

Kathy Johns finished as 6th woman overall. She was the 30 finisher of the 50k with a time of 6:41.

AND THE BIG NEWS...

Sheridan Ames finished 1st place in 5:01:44. Sheridan said the course was brutal. The humidity and the 80 degree temps made the day pretty hard mentally and physically.

-Matt Sims

Posted by Mark McKnight at 10:20 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 14, 2008

Earth Day Celebration Saturday April 19th

Earth-Friendly Food, Fun and Festivities at Two North Shore Saturday April 19th

Contact:
Krista Steere
krista.steere@csassociates.net
423.821.2121

Chattanooga, TN (April, 2008) - Two North Shore and Greenlife Grocery invite the public to an Earth Day festival at 301 Manufacturers Road on Chattanooga's North Shore. The festival will take place Saturday April 19, 2008 from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. There will be an awards ceremony at 1:00 pm and Jeff Cannon of green|spaces will open the ceremony with a quick talk on green building.

This free day of celebration will contain an afternoon of local acoustic music, activities for the young and not so young, a dog training demo from Roddy Reynolds of RODDYDOGS, and much more. Rock/Creek will speak to their environmental stewardship efforts as well as feature environmentally friendly clothing options. Stop by and learn about annually renewable merino wool, organic cotton and the many recycled items Rock/Creek offers. At 3:00 pm, Rock/Creek will host a Leave No Trace community clinic teaching low impact caving, backpacking, and climbing techniques.

The Tennessee Aquarium will be present with live animals. They will be celebrating the Year of the Frog and educating kids and adults alike on the challenges frogs currently face across the world. They will also have information about the new IMAX film, "Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk," brought to Chattanooga locally by Greenlife Grocery and Rock/Creek. The Chattanooga Nature Center will also be present with a live animal.

Continue reading "Earth Day Celebration Saturday April 19th"

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April 7, 2008

$1500 Raised at Rock/Creek River Gorge Trail Race

Chattanooga, TN - (April 3, 2008) � Rock/Creek today presented the Cumberland Trail Conference with a check for $1500. The Chattanooga-based outdoor retailer raised the money at last weekend's Rock/Creek River Gorge Trail Race. Now in its seventh year, the race was well attended as about 300 athletes showed up despite torrential rains before the race. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to building and maintaining over 300 miles of trails on the Cumberland Plateau.

Anthony Hook, General Manager of the Cumberland Trail Conference, shares his gratitude: "This race hosted by Rock/Creek helps support the Cumberland Trail Conference and demonstrates the various recreational pursuits that the Cumberland Trail offers. Races such as the Rock/Creek River Gorge Trail Race provide the challenge that trail runners seek and increases awareness of the Cumberland Trail. This money will be used to support our trail building and maintenance programs in Hamilton and Rhea counties. The CTC appreciates Rock/Creek's continuous support and generosity."

Appropriately, the race takes place on the Cumberland Trail, in Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area. The two distance options, 10.2 mile and 6.5 mile, both used parts of the challenging Mullens Cove Loop. Prentice Cooper is located in Marion County, on top of Suck Creek Mountain, overlooking the Tennessee River Gorge.

Thunderstorms and heavy rain greeted about 300 athletes on Saturday morning, making this one of the largest and certainly the wettest turnouts in the history of the race. "Having a successful turnout like this, despite the rain, made for a fantastic start to the spring trail running season," states race director, Jamie Sanders. "We are excited to see how continued growth of this sport encourages people to come out, rain or shine, every year."

Covered in mud and soaked in rain and sweat, several of these trail runners battled for the finish, making for a winning time almost a minute faster than last year's time. Joseph Goetz finished first with a 1:13:58 in the 10.2 mile. Rock /Creek Race Team member Stephen Taylor from Nashville ran a great race, finishing just behind Joseph in 1:14:39. Several Chattanooga-based Rock/Creek team members fared well: Geno Phillips finished fourth, Matt Sims came in seventh, while Randy Whorton finished 16th. Rock/Creek employee Clay Warner finished fourth with a time of 1:17:43.

In the women's division, Jan Gautier finished first with a time of 1:28:02, placing 18th overall. Heather Stone of Chattanooga finished 2nd; Michelle Meek of Knoxville, TN took third. Chattanooga native Natalie Sims of Team Rock/Creek ran hard and placed fifth in the women's division.

In the 6.5 miler, Zach McElrath of Phoenix, AZ took the podium with a time of 50:25, beating last year's winning time of 51:31. Tom Sell of Chattanooga came in second in the men's category and Cody Carlson from Rock Face, GA came in third, with a time of 51:26. In the women's division, Mary Mingedorff-Lee finished in 1:03:58, taking first. Cathi Cannon, a Chattanooga native and new member of the Rock/Creek Race Team, came in second, while Angela Pewitt, from Birmingham, AL, finished third with a time of 1:09:56.

Rock/Creek co-owner and president, Dawson Wheeler, from Signal Mountain, TN, expresses his gratitude to the sponsors and volunteers: "Without serious financial and time commitments from our sponsors and volunteers, we never could have raised this much money or had such a successful race." Mr. Wheeler also highlighted the importance of environmental stewardship: "Rock/Creek believes in the work of the Cumberland Trail Conference. By supporting what they do, we hope to encourage others to do their part as well. The future of the activities we love depends on protecting our natural resources through the volunteer work we do now as well as our financial commitments to conservation organizations."

SmartWool, Mountain Hardwear, and Patagonia were major sponsors of the event. The North Face, Salomon, Hammer Nutrition, Greenlife Grocery, Larabar, TrailRunner, and The Gear Junkie also sponsored. The Rock/Creek River Gorge Trail Race was the first in the Rock/Creek Trail Series, a new year-long points series with 9 race dates and 13 distance options. The series benefits trail building and maintenance efforts through The Wilderness Trail Running Association (The Boonies). For more information on the series, visit http://www.rockcreek.com/trailseries/ and for more information on The Boonies visit http://www.runintheboonies.org. The Cumberland Trail Conference can be found at http://www.cumberlandtrail.org.

The next race in the Rock/Creek Trail Series will be the Scenic City Marathon & Half Marathon, presented by Vasque, May 24th, 2008. Registration is currently open: http://www.rockcreek.com/trailmarathon/

Videos & Photography Available online:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockcreek/2387669404/in/set-72157604361477847/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockcreek/sets/72157604361477847/
http://rockcreekblog.com/archives/video_photos_from_race_last_weekend.html

About Rock/Creek:

Posted by Mark McKnight at 12:27 PM | TrackBack

April 4, 2008

More Photos from the River Gorge Trail Race

We have a few more photos from this past weekend's Rock/Creek River Gorge Trail Race. Come check them out- there are still more to come when I get a chance, hopefully this weekend.

Don't forget about our next race, the Scenic City Trail Marathon & Half Marathon, coming up on May 24th. The Marathon will set the bench for a state record in trail running. The trails at Raccoon will be fast and forgiving making for a great leisurely race for new trail runners or a full-on speed fest for those in the hunt for the first state record for a trail race. Check out the Scenic City Trail Marathon Web page.

These races are part of the larger Rock/Creek Trail Series, benefiting the Wilderness Trail Running Association (The Boonies).

Posted by Mark McKnight at 9:51 AM | TrackBack

April 1, 2008

Video + Photos from Race Last Weekend

The 2008 Rock/Creek River Gorge Trail Race was a great success, despite torrential rains in the morning before the event. The rain slacked off a bit by the time we started the race, but the course was muddy and the footing unstable all day long. This of course made it a lot of fun for the 260+ trail runners who finished the race.

Check out the photographs from Wilderness Adventure Photography here >

There are also photos from Jon Moss and three videos that he shot at the race:

Thanks to all our sponsors and the volunteers who made this such a great event. We'll have a full race recap this week and will announce the donation for the Cumberland Trail Conference at that time.

For full results and information as it becomes available, visit the race Web site:
http://www.rockcreek.com/rivergorge/

Posted by Mark McKnight at 5:17 PM | TrackBack

March 24, 2008

New Race Team Members, Early Season Victories

John Anderson Wins Old Pueblo 50 Mile Trail Race (cropped)

Rock/Creek celebrates continued success for the 2008 race season, as well as four new additions to the team. The season started off strong with team member Kris Whorton as she took the win at the Black Warrior 50K Trail Race. This race takes place in the Brushy Lake Recreational Area, a part of Alabama's William B. Bankhead National Forest. Kris also had the #7 fastest 100 mile time on UltraRunning magazine's recently released 2007 North American Ultra List. Her Umstead 100 miler time of 18:13 was the fastest trail 100 miler time for a female over 40, as well as the 4th fastest for any female in the world. In addition, Kris won the female masters' division of the Mountain Mist 50k back in January, where she also set a new course record for her division. "I am hoping that some of that talent can start rubbing off on me," her husband and running partner Randy quips.

The Cheaha 50k trail race, held on February 27,2008 continued the winning streak for Team Rock/Creek. Husband and wife team members Jamie Dial and Wendi Parker-Dial, of Nashville, took first place in the mens and women's divisions, respectively. Jamie's time broke the course record by 20 minutes. Another husband and wife team, Matt and Natalie Sims, both placed 5th in their respective categories. Kathy Johns finished 9th in her division.

On March 8th, Josh Wheeler won Chattanooga's Scenic City Half Marathon. Josh is a returning Rock/Creek team member, cancer survivor, long time resident of Signal Mountain and former student of The McCallie School. Josh's time of 1:14:56 put him on the podium with another inspiring victory.

Team Rock/Creek's most recent victory is credited to new comer John Anderson. John is originally from Signal Mountain and a former student of The Baylor School. On March 10, 2008 John took the podium at the Old Pueblo 50 Miler Trail Run, located in Arizona. This race consists of loops of forest service roads and trails that are located along the south eastern part of the Santa Rita Mountains (part of the Arizona Mountains). John came in with a time of 7:20:45.

"We're excited to sponsor such a talented group of athletes," explains Dawson Wheeler, co-owner and President of Rock/Creek: "Our Race Team represents us in everything from 5 mile to 100+ mile races across the world. The Whortons are running stage races in Europe while Josh is winning a half marathon right here in downtown Chattanooga. The dedication and the diversity of interests- both athletically and in terms of volunteer and professional work- makes me proud to have these men and women associated with Rock/Creek. They are great role models to other runners as well as environmental stewards working to improve the trail systems in our state and national forest lands."

Rock/Creek proudly introduces this year's new team members:

John Anderson, Medical Student, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Boulder CO
Cathi Cannon, Graphic Designer, Chattanooga, TN
Jaclyn Greenhill, Pediatric ER Nurse, Chattanooga, TN
Kathy Jones, Medical Assistant, Chattanooga, TN

Returning this year:

Sheridan Ames, Hudson Construction project manager, Chattanooga, TN
Jamie Dial, Activities Coordinator, Vanderbilt University Outdoor Program, Nashville, TN
Wendi Parker-Dial, Artist, Art Teacher, Nashville, TN
Michael Green, High School Cross Country/Track Coach, Spray Tech (Golf Course), Chattanooga, TN
Matt Karzen, Laywer, Athens, GA
Geno Phillips, History Teacher, Chattanooga, TN
Matt Sims, Patagonia Sales Rep., Chattanooga, TN
Natalie Sims, Interior Designer, Chattanooga, TN
Stephen Taylor, Fitness Trainer and Endurance Coach, Nashville, TN
Chad Wamack, Commercial Real Estate Brokerage & Development, Chattanooga, TN
Josh Wheeler, Student at Appalachian State University Exercise Physiology program, Signal Mountain, TN
Kris Whorton, UTC English Professor, Chattanooga, TN
Randy Whorton, Environmental business owner/operator, Chattanooga, TN

Rock/Creek would like to thank the Race Team sponsors: Patagonia, La Sportiva, and Vasque.

For more information and individual team profiles, visit http://www.rockcreek.com/raceteam/

About Rock/Creek
Rock/Creek, member of the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, is an independent specialty outdoor retailer with over two decades of experience in the Southeast. Along with its online shops, http://www.RockCreek.com and http://www.ClimbingGear.com, Rock/Creek provides quality outdoor clothing and gear for a host of activities including kayaking, rock climbing, camping, hiking, trail running, travel, and adventure racing. Rock/Creek is committed to making a positive impact on the environment. For this reason, it uses outdoor retail as a platform to encourage outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship and to improve public access to the backcountry. Rock/Creek supports worthy nonprofits such as the Southeastern Climbers Coalition and the Wilderness Trail Running Association.

RELATED ARTICLES:

John Anderson Wins Old Pueblo 50 Miler
Wheeler Wins Half Marathon, Continuing Rock/Creek Race Team's Winning Streak
Race Team Dominates Mt. Cheaha 50k
Black Warrior Race Report
Strong Finishes at Mountain Mist 50k
$4000 Raised at Rock/Creek StumpJump
Leadville 100: Race Team Report
Life is (Not Always) An Adventure Race: The StumpJump 50K
There's no 'I' in Adventure Race Team
Why I Love Adventure Racing...
How to Train for a 50K
Cotton vs Synthetic

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March 19, 2008

It's Not Too Late for the Rock/Creek River Gorge Trail Race

On Saturday March 27, 2008 Prentice Cooper Wilderness Management Area will open its gate for the 2008 River Gorge Race, a 10.2 mile and 6.5 mile race that will challenge running enthusiasts of all ages. The course is designed to cover the Mullins Cove Loop. The longer 10.2 mile run is all single track running with the race beginning at 8:30 am. The challenging 6.5 mile run starts at 9:00 am and contains a mixture of single track and Jeep Roads that will keep you on your toes.

Registration is still open, so lace up your kicks and join us for a Saturday that the whole family can enjoy.

It is not too late to sign up. Online registration closes on March 24,2008 at 10:00 pm. Click on the link below for full race details.

Proceeds from this race as well as all of the Rock/Creek Trail Series benefits the The Wilderness Trail Running Association,
a.k.a. "The Boonies"

Click here for full race details and to sign up today >

Posted by Mark McKnight at 9:32 AM | TrackBack

March 13, 2008

Video: Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk Trailer

Rock/Creek and Greenlife Grocery are proud to present a new IMAX film at the Tennessee Aquarium in downtown Chattanooga, TN. The film, "Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk," has a strong conservation message, explaining in clear terms how intensely our water resources are being strained by the demands of population growth. Robert Redford narrates and the Dave Matthews Band provides the soundtrack. Robert F. Kennedy, founder of the Riverkeepers, as well as anthropologist and author Wade Davis travel down the river on a rafting trip with their daughters and Shana Watahomigie, a member of the Havasupai tribe and the first Native American to become a National Park Ranger and river guide.

The film opened today for a limited audience of local school children and the media. I attended the preview and have to say that the movie was well worth watching. I didn't realize how drastically world population growth has effected our water resources. The Colorado River, in fact, no longer reaches the delta. One of the most striking images from the film shows a cracked and completely dry river bed where the Colorado used to flow. I'll post photos from the event tomorrow. The movie opens Saturday the 15th, and will run for several months. Be sure to stop by the Aquarium IMAX and check it out.

We're also running a $300 Gift Card giveaway on our Web site in connection with the sponsorship. Sign up today!

Read the TN Aquarium's Press Release on the movie >

Posted by Mark McKnight at 12:43 PM | TrackBack

March 11, 2008

Jaclyn Greenhill Joins Rock/Creek Race Team

We're happy to welcome Jaclyn Greenhill to the Rock/Creek Race Team. Jaclyn lives in Chattanooga and has been running with several of our race team members for years. Here she talks a bit about what motivates her to run, gives a few top finishes from the past, and outlines her projected 2008 race schedule. If you see her at a race, be sure to introduce yourself! Welcome Jaclyn!

Occupation: Pediatric ER Nurse
Age: 30

Favorite Run: Mesa Trail at Chautaqua Park in Co; Prentice Cooper. There really is not a trail I have run that does not contribute to my overall growing passion for trail running. Each trail provides a different beauty that I cannot find many other places in life. So with that said, all trails are
pretty much my favorite.

What I love most about running:

There is a simplicity to trail running that you cannot really get with any other sport. You put your running shoes on, drive, or run to that special trail and go. A few seconds later you realize that all of the stresses and worries you had before are no longer there.
It is just you and the trail.

Check our flickr page for more of Jaclyn's photos >

Races/ Significant Accomplishments:
Atlanta Marathon 2003 -2nd place
Efix Adventure race 2004- 2nd place
Blue Ridge Adventure race 2003,2004- 6th place
Iceland half Marathon 2005 -2nd age division
Cohutta 100 mile mt bike race 2005
Carrboro 50K 2006- 2nd female
Holiday Lake 50K 2006- 5th female
Goblin Valley ultra 2006- 3rd in division
Twin Falls ultra 40 miler 2006- 3rd female
Fort Yargo adventure race 2007- 1st all female team
Stump Jump 2007- 3rd female
+ several other adventure races, triathlons

Upcoming races 2008:
Dirty Spokes 12 hr mountain bike race
Oak Mountain 50 K
Rock/Creek River George Trail Race
Scenic City Trail Marathon
Pikes Peak Marathon-?
Transalps stage race-?
Rock/Creek StumpJump 50k

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Posted by Mark McKnight at 10:21 AM | TrackBack

March 10, 2008

John Anderson Wins Old Pueblo 50 Miler

The winning streak continues for the Rock/Creek Race Team. John Anderson took first place in the Old Pueblo 50 Mile Endurance Run in Sonoita, Arizona. John, originally of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, currently lives in Boulder, Colorado where he studies medicine at the University of Colorado. He joined the team this year. Here's his race report from this weekend:

I've been going to the Old Pueblo 50 Mile trail race for 3 years now and it's always a well run event. It takes place in the mountains outside of Tucson and the course climbs about 7500 ft throughout the race. If you see a helicopter it's not because ESPN 8 is filming the race--it's close to the Mexican border so the area is fairly heavily patrolled. I didn't see any Border Patrol during the race but driving to and from the start/finish I saw several government trucks.

The first half of the course is a mix of singletrack on the AZ trail, 4WD roads, desert gullies, and about 4-5 miles of gravel road. The next half is mostly single track as well as some 4WD roads. Along the course there are plenty of yucca, cacti, and amazing desert views. There are even a few creek crossing, but I'm pretty sure that even the smallest playboat wouldn't fit.

This year was definitely the hottest one I remembered and the hottest that the race director, Duane Arter, remembered as well. The day started off in the mid 40s and was somewhere around 80 by the time I finished.

The morning was clear and the moon was still bright enough to run without a headlamp, so off we went trying to get some miles in before the sun came out blazing. I was feeling a bit under-heat trained, but as luck would have it so were Sean (Team Inov-8 runner) and Nate (Team LaSportiva runner). Anyway, The three of us went out pretty hard as we knew that it would be hot soon. Sean dropped back on the climb up Gunsight Pass (mile 17ish), but then Nate left me around mile 25 on the way up to California Gulch.

I caught Nate at mile 33 and we ran together for the next 3-4 miles, and then Nate started having some ankle and hydration problems (by the time he finished his ankle was beat up pretty badly from the loose grapefruit sized rocks and steep downhills).

Not really knowing where these guys were, but knowing that they were both strong finishers (Sean has won Mt Masochist and this event in the past and Nate had the CR at Wasatch for several years) I tried to push a little bit on the way out of the aid station at mile 40. Also, I knew that Matt Sims might cover me in fish oil and let his cat Roscoe chase me if I got passed in the last few miles.

My calf started to cramp up and I was starting to lose the hydration battle, but I smelled the barn (or was it my own body odor?) and headed to the finish. The mile long meadow at the end seemed to take forever but I did blow by a few trees like they were standing still. Anyway, it was a fun weekend and I managed to convince a few folks from VA to check out the StumpJump in the future.

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Posted by Mark McKnight at 12:39 PM | TrackBack

March 7, 2008

Wheeler Wins Half Marathon, Continuing Rock/Creek Race Team's Winning Streak

Rock/Creek Race Team member Josh Wheeler won last weekend's Scenic City Half Marathon here in Chattanooga, TN, with a time of 1 hour, 14 minutes and 56 seconds. Congratulations Josh! He continues the Race Team's winning streak this season with this incredible run. Josh, a twenty-year-old runner from Chattanooga, is currently a student at Appalachian State University.

Josh won the race ahead of two strong seniors from Bryan College's running program. With his usual self-deprecating humility, he describes the battle:

While he seemed to win with ease, the 5-foot-5 Wheeler said that was not the case.
"I was absolutely running scared," he said, smiling. "Those guys behind me were running well. I'm definitely not built to be a runner. I'm short and stocky, not like those long drinks of water chasing me." [Chattanooga Times-Free Press, click the image to the left to view full article]

Josh has an incredible story. He was already a great athlete in high school at The McCallie School. He was on his way to being a national champion in wrestling when a brain tumor ended his wrestling days. Josh became a triathlete immediately after recovering from the multiple surgeries, and became a source of hope and a role model for many. He has raised many thousands of dollars for cancer research and was inducted into the Tennessee chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame last year.

Josh continues to train for his current focus on the sport of triathlon. Saturday's Half Marathon was training for the Florida Half Ironman triathlon. You can read more about Josh's philosophy and see his top finishes on his Rock/Creek Race Team profile.

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Posted by Mark McKnight at 10:29 AM | TrackBack

March 3, 2008

More Photos of Mt. Cheaha 50k

We have a few more images that just came in from last weekend's Mount Cheaha 50k. Check them out on flickr (click the photo to browse):

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Posted by Mark McKnight at 12:54 PM | TrackBack

February 27, 2008

Race Team Dominates Cheaha 50k

Rock/Creek's Race Team continues to bring home the glory in ultramarathons across the Southeast this winter. Husband and wife team members Jamie Dial and Wendi Parker-Dial took first place in the mens' and womens' divisions, respectively. Jamie's time broke the course record by 20 minutes. Another husband and wife pair from the team fared well: Matt Sims placed 5th and his wife Natalie placed 5th female. Kathy Johns finished 9th female. Great job guys!

Here's what Jamie had to say about the course on The Boonies forum:

The course is really