Continental Divide Trail Race/USATF 10K Trail Championships

For the second year in a row we traveled to Laurel Springs, NC for the Continental Divide Trail Race which for the fourth consecutive year served as the USATF 10k Trail Championship.  This is one of the most demanding courses we have ever come across.  Laurel Springs provides a challenging course that varies between wide open mountain meadows to the narrowest single track you can imagine, topped off with a rocky 45 degree scramble a little over a quarter mile from the finish...

The overall men’s and women’s champions were David Roche and Megan Kimmel, both winning by clear margins.  Our friend Amber Moran took second place women's overall. The men’s master title went to Jason Bryant while Alicia Parr took the women’s master top spot.

Back in the pack where the age group titles were being decided Bart found himself with a solid group of five runners that stayed together for the greater part of the first of two laps before the steep climbs and descents began taking its toll and it was eventually only Bart and Chuck Landry running together as they steadily caught up to and passed runners who were finding the course more demanding than anticipated.  (Eve actually saw one male runner nearly crying as he asked on the way by “how much further is it?”) Bart came into the finish with a time that won a silver medal in his age division in the USATF Championships (65-69) and held up for third place in the Continental Divide Trail Race age group 60-69.  He was also awarded a nice bloody hole in his left arm given him by a solid pine tree that refused to move off a muddy section of the trail during the early going.

We want to congratulate all the runners who competed in this tough event.  In particular we would like to congratulate Lauren Henderson who is 11 years old and Joyce Hodges-Hite who is 75 years young and to every runner in between these ages, you are all an inspiration to us!

One final note of interest: The host of the event Jason and Alison Bryant also participated in their respective races.  Jason picked up a solid sixth place in the men’s open race and first in the masters division while Alison placed fifth in the women’s open race.  What we find interesting is that the week before the CDTR, Jason, teamed with another local top trail runner Scott Williams, placed fifth in the 6 day Transrockies 120 mile team competition, while Alison placed ninth overall and third place woman in the Waldo 100km ultra that took place in the Oregon Cascade mountains!  Tough competitors

For complete results visit http://www.continentaldividetrailrace.com/Results.html

Happy trails to you... until we meet again,

Eve & Bart

Start of the men's race

The course was very well marked

Photo courtesy of Dan Ravasio

Heading down toward the lake

If you can't figure which way to go, just refer to the map! :-)

Amber Moran 

Starting to run around the lake

Bart climbing over one of several trees that had fallen over the trail

Last 200 yards of the race... very steep climb!

Home stretch to the finish at the top of the hill!

Almost there!

Bart and our new friend Kevin Ravasio showing their battle wounds.  They both were attacked by a tree.

photo courtesy of Dan Ravasio

Double take

After race refreshments!

Top 3 male winners age group 65-69 = 3 bad asses!