Rock/Creek Race Team member and The Boonies board member Matt Sims held onto his 20 minute advantage going into the third stage to take home the overall victory with a 3 day combined time of 8:35:03. Fellow Rock/Creek Team member Jaclyn Greenhill was the first female overall winner with combined time of 9:10:01.

Sal Coll finished as first place master's male finisher with a cumulative time of 9:10:42 for the three days. JoAnna Crooks was the female master's winner with a cumulative time of 12:28:12.

Racers spanned generational boundaries and proved that anyone can complete long distance runs. 18-year old John Wiygul, a Chattanoogan resident, was the youngest finisher and second male overall for the three days in 9:05:23.. At 68 years-young, Randal Whorton, of Westminster, CO, was the oldest individual to complete all three stages.

Chattanoogan.com has posted great recaps of each day. They can be found by following the links below:
Stage 1: Lookout Mountain
Stage 2: Raccoon Mountain
Stage 3: Signal Mountain

The 2008 Stage Race was the first official running of the event after a year of "underground" status proved it to be an event well worth repeating. It was also the first multistage trail race in the Southeast. The historic event could not have been possible without the support of its many sponsors. Rock/Creek would like to thank The Boonies, Greenlife, the Lula Lake Land Trust, Salomon, Hammer Nutrition, Mountain Hardwear, SmartWool, Covenant College and the numerous local volunteers who made the dream a possibility.

Last weekend's stage race was the 3rd event in the 7 event Rock/Creek Trail Series. Information about the trail running race series can be found at www.rockcreek.com/trailseries.

Keen, a vendor member of the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, made the $1200 investment
to Native Energy on behalf of Grassroots in an effort to make the Early Show a more
sustainable event. KEEN and the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance acknowledge that
offsetting travel is not a total solution, and strive each year towards making the Early
Show a more sustainable event.

Native Energy is known for its transparency, and the entire offset purchase amount will
go toward a Native Energy project called "Farmer-owned Distributed Wind Turbines."
This project was chosen because it benefits independent farmers who have been working
family-owned, heritage farmlands for multiple generations. To read about the details of
this project, visit: http://www.nativeenergy.com/projects.html

Native Energy was also selected because of the depth of resources it offers to businesses
of all sizes. The Grassroots Outdoor Alliance and KEEN are actively encouraging the
membership to incorporate other sustainability services from Native Energy into their
retail businesses as well as communities and events, as the organization takes collective
steps toward educating its membership about sustainable business practices. The Early
Show will include an educational overview on Native Energy for its membership to
facilitate this connection.

Grassroots chose to host the event at Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort in Snowbird, Utah
once again this year and has committed to the location into 2011. Snowbird is known for
its sustainability efforts, and was honored by the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA)
in 2007 with its prestigious Golden Eagle Award for Overall Environmental Excellence.
What's more, this spring Snowbird was also honored with the Environmental Protection
Agency's Environmental Achievement Award and the State of Utah's 2007 Earth Day
Award. To read more about Snowbird's environmental platform, click here
http://www.snowbird.com/environment/index.html

About KEEN Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at KEEN encompasses a broad range of activities
from community partnerships, operational and product-related sustainability initiatives, to
managing the expectations of the KEEN Workplace Code of Conduct. The KEEN vision
is to be an outdoor brand that delivers industry-changing, high-quality products for all
outdoor enthusiasts, and to demonstrate integrity and leadership, especially on social and
environmental commitments, while promoting a more inclusive outdoors community.
KEEN is a young company, founded in 2003; its employees are committed to making
CSR integral to the brand, and to being transparent with its customers and stakeholders
along the way. To read more about KEEN and their environmental initiatives, click here
http://www.keenfootwear.com/about.aspx

About Grassroots Outdoors Alliance

The Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is a group of independent outdoor shops dedicated to
the sustainability of specialty outdoor retail, and the quality of the outdoor enthusiast's
experience. We stand together to help facilitate a market for performance-oriented,
revolutionary products, create a unified marketing presence for high quality, local
outdoor specialists, and help protect and sustain the quality and access to the environment
on a local, national and global level.

For additional information, please visit: http://www.grassrootsoutdoors.com

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

"I've never worked with a retailer more focused on the conservation and preservation of natural space. Rather than talk about what needs to be done, Rock/Creek puts their money where their mouth is and accomplishes amazing things," said Brian Scranton, Director of Marketing for Chaco Footwear. To date, the sandal purchase program has raised over $20,000 for climbing access, including a $10,000 donation to the Southeastern Climbers Coalition (SCC) in 2007. The 2007 campaign was unexpectedly successful; ultimately three different versions of the sandal were released to meet demand. This year, Rock/Creek and Chaco hope to better last year's unprecedented success. The generated proceeds will again be donated directly the the SCC's efforts to protect climbing access in the southeast.

The initial 2004 campaign raised $3,000 toward the purchase of Laurel Knob, a multi-pitch granite dome in North Carolina. Proceeds from 2005, a total of $8,000, went to closing the note on the Boat Rock bouldering area. Located within Atlanta city limits, Boat Rock provides daily recreational activity for many of Atlanta's urban residents. The area was threatened by development until the SCC purchase was made possible by concerned climbers along with corporate sponsors like Rock/Creek and Chaco.

This year's Chacos are available in two colors: Espresso for men and Blue Ridge for women. They have gone on sale and are currently in stock at Rock/Creek locations in Chattanooga and online at http://www.rockcreek.com/chacos/limited-edition.asp

Rock/Creek and Chaco have a long history of cooperative support for outdoor recreation and conservation. In April, Rock/Creek was approached by Chaco and the Arbor Day Foundation to run a special tree planting campaign. During National Arbor Day weekend, a tree was donated for every pair of Chaco sandals purchased at Rock/Creek. Over 300 trees were planted through Rock/Creek. The promotion, dubbed "Buy One, Get One Tree," ultimately supported the planting of over 800 trees.

This year, Rock/Creek will expand their Triple Crown program to include a Marmot jacket with proceeds benefiting the Triple Crown. The jacket, Marmot's popular DriClime Windshirt, will be embroidered on the sleeve with the Triple Crown Bouldering Series logo and will be offered online at a special price. Like the special edition Chaco Z/2 sandals, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Southeastern Climbers Coalition.

"At the 2007 Triple Crown Bouldering series we offered these jackets to the judges and raffled off a handful" said Chad Wykle, co-founder of the Triple Crown Bouldering series, former Rock/Creek employee, and current Chaco regional rep. "They were immensely popular and many people came up to me after the event asking where they could get one. We figured this was reason enough to test the waters and offer the product to Rock/Creek's loyal customers and create revenue for climbing access"

Only 65 of the jackets are available and in-stock at Rock/Creek's Chattanooga stores. They can be purchased online at http://www.rockcreek.com/marmot/driclime-windshirt.asp. The jacket will be available in four colors; lead/flint or stellar blue/tempest for men and black or blue sky/celestial for women.

About the Triple Crown Bouldering Series:

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.

Rock/Creek and Keen Donate $4,000 for City of Chattanooga Kayak Purchases after Fire
Rock/Creek and Patagonia announce $3100 Grant for LuLa Lake Land Trust
$3300 Raised for the Boonies at 2nd Annual Scenic City Marathon Presented By Rock/Creek and Vasque
Join Rock/Creek And The AHS for National Trails Day June 7 2008
$20,000 Raised For Access At 2007 Triple Crown Bouldering Series
Rock/Creek and Local Outdoor Enthusiasts Improve Sunset Park
$4000 Raised At Rock/Creek Stump Jump
Recycle Your Old Rope

Position: Store Manager
Age: 27
Home town:  Pikeville, TN.

What do you consider your favorite outdoor activities, and what got you started?
My passion for the outdoors started out with my dad who is a hunting and fishing kind of guy.  I went along with him as a kid and found that I was more interested with the hike then the actual activity.  One evening, while I was flipping through one of his magazines, I came across a small backpack and I thought to myself that I must have one.  For Christmas that year I got my first external frame backpack and have been passionate about trekking through the forest ever since.  

I have been working for Rock/Creek for the past 4 years and have enjoyed getting to know some really awesome people.   For the most part Rock/Creek got me into climbing, which has since become one of my passions.   I enjoy all disciplines of climbing and  in the past two years I have begun to get into mountaineering.

Top three moments:
Almost getting hit by lighting and enduring quarter size hail on Gregory Bald in the Smokies.            
Oozing across a horrendously steep and very loose scree field on a Colorado fourteen’er.                               
Making my first run out lead at Joshua tree.

Favorite place you have ever been? Why:  Because of the scenery, big climbs, and the great wilderness setting, I must say that Cirque of the Towers in the Wind River Range, WY is my favorite place I have ever been.

What drives you to get outside:  I get outside because I enjoy the freezing nights and thawing mornings.  The easy clips, hard hikes, and the dirt, leaf chalky smell of my climbing gear all give me a sense of freedom. 

“I love getting into the “zone” where my body is working and my mind is relaxing.” 

Other interests:  Biking, music, reading and relaxing.

Best or favorite product you use that Rock/Creek carries:  My Eagles Nest hammock.

Rock/Creek recently decided to bring into our store, the well established and respected Lowe Alpine backpacks. Lowe Alpine has been around as a company since 1967, and started in the Colorado-based shed of well acclaimed climber/mountaineer Greg Lowe. Through innovative, internal frame design ideas that stemmed from Greg and his two brother's experiences, Lowe Alpine packs quickly became an international necessity. Compression straps, stabilizers, plastic buckles and length-adjustable backs are all now considered industry standards, but were first introduced by Lowe Alpine.

With tons of different packs to choose from, the Lowe Alpine line-up consists of day packs that provide ventilation and have padded hipbelts, to high capacity packs that can offer unique fabrics for waterproofness and incredible durability.

One of the top favorite packs is the classic Contour 60+10 Hyperlite backpack. Made with the minimalist design in mind, the Contour is sleek, holds 4300 cu. in. and weighs a mere 1 lb. 11 oz! With plenty of organizational options and a back panel that provides you with plenty of support and comfort while hauling heavy loads over multiple days, the Contour will quickly become the pack of choice for ultra lightweight packing or just long weekend trips.

For me personally as a woman, the TFX Cerro Torre ND 55+15 Backpack is a perfect fit for my size and with Lowe Alpine's attention to detail regarding women's packs, I can carry heavy loads without fatiguing too quickly. Lowe Alpine women's packs are different than others, mostly because they spent the time to research and found two key differences between the way men and women carry packs and weight. First off, men carry loads concentrated high on their back, creating a higher center of gravity, and women carry weight closer to their lower backs. They also found that women prefer to organize their packs differently, so they created women's packs with more creative pockets and organizational systems both internally and externally.

Lowe Alpine continues to innovate, creating packs that specifically fit certain styles of outdoor use. They are also extremely sensitive to gender differences and provide the most support for the heaviest of loads.

Right now Rock/Creek is offering a FREE waterbottle pocket when you purchase any Lowe Alpine pack that is priced above 99$. This bottle pocket slides right onto your hipbelt and will fit any type of water bottle for fast and easy to reach hydration. These packs are awesome and if you haven't looked at them or even heard of them, now is the time to do so.

Sometimes the unexpected happens, and when it does, it is the unexpected partnerships that play an important role in rebuilding a community. Such was the case in April of this year when an electrical fire in the "Red Barn" at Greenway Farms turned into a big loss of outdoor equipment for Outdoor Chattanooga's OutVenture program. The Saturday morning fire set the barn ablaze and with it went Outdoor Chattanooga's OutVenture kayak fleet. When the fire was finally controlled a total of 31 boats plus essential equipment such as paddles, personal flotation devices (PFDs) and helmets, were lost.

After the fire, fears began to surface about having to cancel the 2008 kayaking and canoing programs. That fear was becoming a reality when local business leaders from throughout Chattanooga offered a helping hand. After hearing of the fire, Rock/Creek co-owner Dawson Wheeler contacted Outdoor Chattanooga and offered to donate $2,000 to help replenish the supply of equipment. As the extent of the disaster started to be uncovered, it was clear that Rock/Creek's donation would need to be matched by another company to ensure that the summer's programs could continue. Rock/Creek approached Keen, a footwear company based in Portland, OR, about matching the donation to the program. Joining forces with a footwear company to replenish lost kayaking equipment may seem like an odd partnership, but Keen's staple shoe, the Venice H2 Sandal, is highly popular with many professional boaters. Immediately, Keen agreed to match Rock/Creek's $2,000 donation, increasing the combined donation from the two companies to $4,000. To prevent any loss of time, and with the kayaking season quickly approaching, Rock/Creek also offered to allow Outdoor Chattanooga and OutVenture to borrow their rental kayaks and kayaking equipment.

Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield thanked Rock/Creek and Keen: "The community's response to the loss at Greenway Farms has been overwhelming. On behalf of the City, thank you for the generous donation and continued support of the OutVenture program." Dawson Wheeler echoed the mayor's sentiment, thanking Keen and others from the local community for their help: "While we are happy to do what we can for, more importantly we want to serve as a model for other organizations and individuals who will hopefully find a place in their budget to support low-impact outdoor recreation initiatives such as OutVenture."

Rock/Creek and OutVenture's relationship did not begin with this year's unfortunate incident. Rock/Creek employees have often assisted instructors in kayaking and canoing classes hosted by OutVenture. Classes that teach individuals how to roll an overturned kayak are held on Tuesday nights. For more information, contact Outdoor Chattanooga's OutVenture at (423) 842-6629.

Outdoor Chattanoooga was formed in 2004 after a series of public meetings hosted by the city. The OutVenture program followed shortly after and specializes in community outreach programs that aim to get people active in the local environment. One such program, that was on the verge of being canceled after the fire, is the Rapid Learning Whitewater Kayak Camp that teaches Chattanooga's youth the fundamentals of safe and enjoyable whitewater paddling. OutVenture offers both day and weekend trips. More information about OutVenture's programs can be found at http://www.outdoorchattanooga.com/

Rock/Creek has been working closely with Chattanooga's outdoor community for more than 20 years. In addition to the Company's efforts with public entities such as Outdoor Chattanooga, Rock/Creek has also awarded grants to locally run private groups. Recently, Rock/Creek, in conjunction with Patagonia, donated $3,100 to the Lula Lake Land Trust. This donation supports an expanding trail network that will ultimately link lands protected by the land trust with Cloudland Canyon State Park. Rock/Creek aims to support responsible, minimal impact access to the outdoor world that will help to educate tomorrow's stewards of the planet. Rock/Creek's environmental statement can be read at http://www.rockcreek.com/customer_service/environmental.asp.

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.

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 >

Postion: Rock/Creek Down Under Manager
Age: 33
Home Town: Durham, NC
How Long have you worked at R/C:   4 years  

Any Advice for people getting into this activity:  “Take it slow, don’t get discouraged and remember that it’s supposed to be fun.”  - Chris             

What do you consider your favorite outdoor activities:  As you can see I am an avid kayaker.  I have been doing this for the past five years and love it.  A buddy of mine told me to either buy a boat or a bike; I chose the boat.  Not long after I bought the boat, I bought a bike as well.  Even though I love the water I’m frequently seen hitting the trails on my mountain bike.   

“I am active not only because I enjoy the challenge, but it also gives me somewhere to escape.”

If you can’t find me on the river or in the woods, check the local disco, because I sure do like to cut a rug!

Top three most memorable moments outside:
1.  Running Bear Creek in Northern Georgia. This is a classic Chattanooga class V run.
2.  Running Gorilla, a class V+ rapid on the Green Narrows in Saluda, NC.
3.  A close call while trapped in my kayak 2 years ago.

Favorite place you have ever been? Why:  It would have to be The Green River Narrows in NC. It’s a clean, low consequence Class V that drops almost 400 ft. in just under 3 miles. 

Favorite product you use that Rock/Creek carries:  Other than Dagger kayaks, I would have to say Werner Paddles because they are lightweight. I also like Shred Ready and FNA helmets because they protect the noggin. I go to NRS for my various other gear needs.    

See all Staff Profiles at Rock/Creek >

We will be working on the Bluff Trail near Sunset Rock, restoring the trail to its original location.

Parking is available at Point Park and the Presbyterian Church of Lookout Mountain with shuttles to the Sunset Rock parking lot. We will begin the ½ mile to the trail work area at 9am.

Water, snacks and tools will be provided. We have some gloves available, but please bring a pair if possible. Please wear long pants and sturdy shoes.
RSVP to: Carla Hilling, Volunteer Coordinator for the American Hiking Society chilling@americanhiking.org or 423-266-2507

Hope to see everyone there!

If you're not in the Chattanooga area, check out the American Hiking Society's National Trails Day Web site to find an event in your area >

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 >

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.

I knew I had the fitness, nutrition and race preparation to hammer the bike course. Right from the get go I start to peel back time on my rivals. My plan was to ingest a Gu by mile 8 and finish my first bottle by the first aid station at mile 22. I crushed the first twenty five miles splitting a few minutes under an hour!

The aid station was not at mile 22 like promised-rather it snuck up on me early at mile 15~ no matter though, by mile 15 I had already eaten my Gu and started in my second Gu as well as already finished my first bottle of liquid CHO. I slowed and grabbed a bottle of water and refilled my nutrition before discarding the bottle within the aid station. The long straightaways on the bike course seemed to fly by. I could see my competition ahead and one by one I set my cross hairs on the next man in line and powered towards him.

At the first turn around on the bike course I clocked on my watch that I was around 5-7 minutes down on my main competition. By the second turn around I had put three minutes into them and was now down around four minutes back. Their group looked solid though as they were sharing the pace setting really well. I came up on a decent cyclist around mile 27 or so that I thought could possibly share some of the work with me since once I passed him he re-passed me back.

This pissed me off since I am not used to being behind anyone on a race. I decided to do what I do best and be a front runner. I re attacked and he would then re attack. The hardest portion of the course was the section of the course I was most familiar with. I remember laughing at how easily I was biking up the hills, maintaining around 24mph!

I ate my third Gu right before I came into the second aid station, which unlike the first was at mile 34 where it should have been. At this point I was electric. I started in on my red bull to get some extra sugar and settle my stomach with the carbonation. That is when it started to rain. It only rained a few drops but it must of poured up the road. I felt badly for the other riders but it was their fault for swimming so quickly.

The guy (Harry or Howy from what I could make out on his name tag) kept attacking off the front. He was a big thunder cat so I figured what the hell let the guy have his day because once we get to the run I will skip past him. The only big hill came at mile ~36 and as was planned I simply eased my gearing and cruised up it. Once I got to the top however I put out a big surge to maintain speed and crushed through the next few rollers. At that point Harry ThunderCat was on the side of the road throwing up.

I felt badly for him but he was going way harder than he needed to up the hills. My fitness really took over. I only had good thoughts. I kept my arms loose and my shoulders relaxed. At mile forty I ate my fourth Gu and finished my second water and second bottle of Gu20. I checked my watch and realized that if I maintained 25mph I could get back to transition by 2hours and 30min which would make up for my poor swim.

I put my head down once again and went to work. The miles ticked by. It was misting and I was riding into a decent headwind but I was still holding 25mph at about 95rpms. I was really working hard at this point and made the call to eat my last Gu around mile 48 instead of waiting to mile 50. There was an aid station but I assessed my nutritional needs and decided I was good with what I had and need to not break my rhythm on the bike.

I also turned around and realized that I had a new thundercat drafting off me. I did not react verbally but rather put the throttle down for a mile and turned around to no longer see the him. That made me happy.

Coming into the transition area I was right on target, having maintained the necessary 25mph speed limit for the last 16mi. I only drank water for the last six miles since I knew as soon as I got started onto the run I was going to be ingesting calories. All told I drank two waters (32oz), 2 Gu20 (32oz) and 12oz of Redbull and ate 4.75 Gu's. I clocked 2:23 and some change from my watch.

My second transition was the best of the year. I came off the bike around 15 or 16mph right behind one of my main rivals. I was stoked having made up almost seven minutes on him during the bike ride. I slipped on my shoes, grabbed my fuel belt and started the 13.1 death march.

Mi.1 - 5:37
I really really tried to run the first mile conservatively and since it was on pavement it felt super slow. I ate my Gu as planned but the aid station was not at mile one like promised so I drank from my fuel belt.

Mi.2 - 6:25
Since the first mile was fast I knew I had some time so I stopped and used the bathroom. I was severely dehydrated. I couldn't believe it since I felt like I was not sweating on the bike and I had ingested over a gallon of liquid. My left knee/quad started to cramp so I drank some Red bull for the simple sugars. I threw water from the aid stations to try to cool myself but I was starting to overheat a little.

Mi.3 - 6:14
This was a good split for me. I even stopped and stretched my lower back. My stride did not feel rushed. I knew I was running slower than I wanted but I was passing the Pro's so I figured everyone was running slowly. I simply did not panic and kept a good efficient foot strike. I ate my second Gu at mile three.

Mi.4 - 6:25
Coming into this mile it must have rained because I entered into a sauna. I really started to hurt right then. I had some bad thoughts about having two more laps like this left but I knew I couldn't focus on those. I got the time split that I was still four minutes down. I did the math and knew I needed a mile a minute to get him on this lap. No problem.

Mi.5 - 6:29
Craig Alexander dropped out. Kinda of a buzz kill since he was one of my favorite triathletes. I was stuffing my jersey full of ice as my GI tract was shutting down. I knew I was not digesting fluid or CHO at this point so I made the call to keep my core temp regulated the best I could and make every effort to get to the line.

Mi.6 - 6:24
Heat was really really making my low back and feet cramp. I got in my third Gu but it took me till about mile seven to fully get it down. I think I had finished the water/red bull in my fuel belt at this point and decided to throw away the bottles since they were extra weight.

Mi.7 - 6:36
I was making up time on my competitors and I knew it. I started to think positive thoughts. I knew I only had one more lap left but it was such a bummer running by the finishing shoot a second time. I still was regulating my core temp with all the ice I had stuffed down my jersey. I knew I was cool since the ice was not melting at that point.

Mi.8 - 6:38
Cardiovascular drift started to set in and I had some trouble regulating my heart rate. At this point I focused on the fact that if I was feeling this badly I knew my competition whether in front of me or behind me was feeling even worse.

Mi.9 - 6:46
Last Gu. Choked it down. My left side started to go limp for some reason and I was leaning heavily on left leg. I kept trying to straighten myself up the muscles on my left side were just seemingly shutting down. I focused on technique and keeping a good working foot strike. I shut my mind down at this point. I just turned it off and told to do what I needed to do to get to the finish line.

Mi.10 - 6:59
I don't remember this mile.

Mi.11 - 6:56
I don't remember this mile.

Mi.12 - 7:27
Last aid station, my left side finally gave way and I collapsed. I knew it was coming for quite some time but when it did I just hit the dirt. Annoying. I remember the medical people trying to help me but I yelled at them because I was afraid of getting disqualified. I willed myself up and went chasing after my Clearwater spot. There was a guy with a 23 written on his leg and I was really scared that he was ahead of me because I knew I could not sprint. I tucked in behind him and as we rounded the final bend he turned right to start his third lap and I turned left toward the finishing tape.

Mi.13.1 - 7:32
It was surreal. I remember collapsing across the finishing tape. My legs were giving way about 50m out from the finishing line and finally gave fully out once I hit the line. I left it all out there and on that day it was good enough for a first place finish.

16th overall, 1st 18-24 Age-Group
2008 Clearwater 70.3 World Championship Qualifier

See the full (preliminary) results online here >

For more on Josh Wheeler and the Rock/Creek Race Team, click here >

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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