January 2026 THE STRIDER

THE STRIDER

Your news source for the Mesa Monument Striders, Grand Valley running, and beyond.

In this issue: No more sweaty car seats, GJ locals take over Moab Locals 10k, racing in January doesn’t suck when you’ve got races like Bangs and Appleton Freezer, and Lexi gives us a sweet lesson on the surprises of consistency.

Thanks to Kara Roper, Lexi Van Roekel, and Conrad Cole for contributions.

For submissions for upcoming newsletters, feel free to email articles, upcoming events, edits, race results/reports, etc. to Megan and Michelle at [email protected].

Announcements

• We now have Striders-themed seat towel covers! So you can drive in style while also protecting your car seats from salty post-run sweat. On sale from Tom or Karla for $25.
• A Mesa Monument Striders Member Code of Conduct Policy was approved during the October 2025 Board of Directors meeting. Please review it here.
• Striders has acquired an Hypoxico Altitude Training System with an Everest Summit II generator to simulate high altitude atmosphere as you sleep in the tent. Members can contact Tom at [email protected] if you'd like to use it.
• Thanks to our friend Ryan Sullivan, Striders members get $40 of annual credit to The Feed! It’s a great resource for trying new running snacks and gear that you may not be able to find locally. For everything else, make sure to support local businesses!

Race Results and Reports

• Rim Rock Marathon & Half - November 2, 2025 - Colorado National Monument, CO

  Spencer Shellberg won the half marathon outright at 1:06:45. James Roche (1:14:10), Taylor McGaughey (1:18:32), Shane Massey (1:25:51), Chase Rhode (1:28:47), and Chris Sovacool (1:46:25) also repped the Striders with speedy times. 

  Whit Blair likely spooked all the bighorns out of the monument with a winning marathon time of 2:47:48. Deborah Anderson (3:58:08) and Laura Venner (4:26:12) had wonderful performances as well!

• Dead Horse Ultra - November 15, 2025 - Moab, UT

  Spencer Shellberg had an impressive ultra debut, placing 2nd in the 50k with a time of 3:13:22! Karla Nephew (6:19:16) and Nicole Sturrock (8:44:40) also zoomed around the Moab trails.

• Mustache Run with Handlebar Tap House - November 22, 2025 - Grand Junction, CO

  Scott Hollmaier won best in show again with his “broom stache”!

• GJ Fire Fighters Foundation 5k Turkey Trot - November 27, 2026 - GJ, CO 

  As always there was an excellent showing for the Turkey Trot Firefighter’s Foundation 5K (over 2500 runners!). Notable performances are listed below - top 5 for both men’s and women’s categories. 

• Moab Locals 10K - December 6, 2025 - Moab, UT

  Maybe someone should rename it the Grand Junction Locals 10K! :) Top race results are posted below, with Lexi Van Roekel as 1st place women’s finisher and Whit Blair as the 1st place men’s finisher. MMS Striders stood out at this downhill, speedy road race.

• Santa Cause Run 5K - December 13, 2025 - Grand Junction, CO

  Paul Matteson was the 1st place men’s finisher with a time of 18:11 and Susan Oeinck was the 1st place women’s finisher with a time of 22:26. 

  This race also includes excellent Special Division Results: 

  Max and Grinch - 1st place Pat Goodwin and Angel 

  Santa and Helper - 1st place David and Watson Scott 

  Mr. and Mrs. Claus - 1st place Martin and Vicki Wilkey 

• Bangs Canyon World Championships - January 3, 2026 - Grand Junction, CO

[Race recap graciously brought to you by Kara Roper (2026 BCWC women’s champion!)]

Racing in January is always a gamble when it comes to the weather, so that added a level of uncertainty about conditions we might encounter.  Luckily, race morning temperatures were lovely for running.  Early morning fog blanketed the valley, and those sensible enough to stay in their warm beds, but the trailhead was perched in glorious sunshine.

We dipped in and out of the sun’s path and into shady patches as we clicked off the initial miles. I settled into a comfortable pace and watched the lead men drift away. I spent the majority of the race in no-man’s land, though I still had glimpses of the guys until nearing the river bottom.

On the Windmill Climb I started catching the early starters.  In the later stages of the climb I caught a few men from the same race start pack.  We hit the descent just as the sun had been at it long enough to cause some real mischief, and found some muddy, slick conditions. After some close calls and heroic saves, I completely lost footing and took a real good slide. I ended up with mud all down my backside and tore a little skin off both palms. It was meant to be a day of quiet introspection for me, as this is where I lost sight of the boys again. I picked myself up and tried to pick the path of most traction through the rest of the slip and slide.

While I wasn’t super excited to do the final climb out, the reliable footing the rock offered was an improvement and relief.  I got a nice little adrenaline boost once I was within earshot of the cowbells and was greeted by the great Striders crew.  They had a welcoming fire going and an awesome spread of food.  As if the title of “World Champion” was not reward enough, they topped it off with pizza gift cards for the winners.  I highly recommend this event if you enjoy suffering, pretty views and good company!

—Full results here.

• Appleton Freezer 4 Mile - January 17, 2026 - Grand Junction, CO 

It was a sunny and brisk (but not quite freezing) morning for the Appleton Freezer! We had 34 runners line up for this classic Striders 4 mile road race. Nico Sanchez was first place man (21:46) and Kat Robinson was first place woman (28:42), with Max and Billie Robinson winning the Stroller Division. Winners were rewarded with an apple full of (gummy) worms and a $10 gift certificate to Palisade Pourhouse, donated by James and Laura Sanders. DFL runners and raffle winners also got to take home gift cards. Treats and hot drinks were enjoyed by all. 

—Full race results here.

Newsletter Contributions

Faster Than I Thought

[Lexi Van Roekel, January 2026]

About a week before the Moab Local 10K, I was cruising the Yoga V loop with Michelle Oberndorf and Ryan Sullivan, the kind of run where the effort is easy and the conversation drifts into what-ifs. Somewhere along the trail, Ryan casually said he thought I could run sub-40 at MoLo. I laughed it off at first. Could I? Probably not. But then again… why not aim for it? Why not surprise myself?

That question stuck with me. It kept brewing, fueled by confidence from a recent Turkey Trot and something simple I’ve fallen back in love with: adding one weekly speed workout. Nothing fancy. No elaborate spreadsheets. Just committing to one hard session a week and letting consistency do its thing. Some days the win was faster splits. Other days, it was just showing up. Side note: committing to meet a running buddy early in the morning has a magical way of locking in consistency. Shoutout to my staple speed-work homies.

On race morning, Chris Sovacool asked how I was going to run it. I told him I’d decide at the start line…though secretly, my A goal was sub-40. When I arrived, I felt calm. Not nervous. Just ready to go. I started strong and settled into a rhythm that felt sustainable. I gave myself one quick peek at my watch to confirm I was on pace and I was. I didn’t dare look again. If I was too fast, I didn’t want to negotiate doubt. If I was too slow, I didn’t want to apply pressure. Instead, I focused on keeping the effort, rhythm, and staying present.

Somewhere along the course, it clicked that I was leading the women. By the last mile, I was still feeling strong, still curious about what might be possible. Was sub-40 really happening? The watch-checkers among you might be shaking your heads right now. Fair. I don’t have a great explanation, other than I do what works for me.

When I crossed the line and saw 37:36 on the clock, I couldn’t help but smile. High fives from friends at the finish and a big surprise, the best kind. Not because it was flashy, but because it was built consistently, one speed day, one early alarm, one belief stacked on top of another.

If there’s a lesson here, it’s this: showing up consistently has a way of expanding what you think you’re capable of. And sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is give yourself permission to be surprised.

I’m excited to keep the weekly speed sessions, keep running with friends, and keep surprising myself.

Upcoming Events

• Saturday, January 31 at 2:30PM: Striders Beer Mile - Location: 2154 Glenstone Court Grand Junction, CO 81507

  Contact (512) 818-2751 with any questions. Chug a beer, run a quarter mile, repeat 3 more times. One penalty lap for upchucking. Coors Banquet will be provided. Bring a potluck item for afterwards!

• January 31, 2026: Arches Ultra - Moab, UT; “For Arches Ultra, we’ve chosen a lower-elevation course that offers stunning views of the towering Moab cliffs, Arches National Park, and the snow-capped La Sal Mountains. The race takes you along the border of Arches National Park, using the Bar M, Klonzo, and Klondike Trail Systems…”
• February 7, 2026: Sweetheart Run -Fruita, CO; “Choose between a 5K or 10K along the scenic Fruita Trail System. After the race, enjoy some sweet treats and celebrate with us at the post-race party.”
• Saturday, February 14 at 10AM: Striders Valentines Massacre 3-Mile Prediction Run - Grand Junction, CO; Everyone has a chance to win this one! Race start is located on Rosevale Road past the base of Little Park Rd (continue straight past the Little Park turn and past the No Outlet sign). Entry fee is two beverages of your choice. Entrants predict their 3-mile time and those predicting most accurately get a share of those beverages (no watches allowed). Couples division included. When parking, do not block access to private property! No bathroom facilities available!
• February 28, 2026: Red Hot Ultra - Moab, UT; Moab’s Red Hot takes place northwest of Moab, Utah, just west of Arches National Park. “Runners enjoy majestic views of the La Sal Mountains to the southeast and breathtaking panoramas of Canyonlands National Park to the west…With a mix of jeep trails and singletrack, this event is sure to become one of your favorite winter challenges.” madmooseevents.com/arches-ultra
• March 21, 2026: Canyonlands Half - Moab, UT; “The first Canyonlands Half Marathon was run on May 1, 1976 had just 22 finishers, including a dog. Today, thousands of runners come together in March to enjoy the scenic red rock formations and winding Colorado River that Moab has come to be known for! Running parallel to Arches National Park and the mighty river, runners are in for a real treat. madmooseevents.com/canyonlands-half-marathon
• March 28, 2026: Behind the Rocks Ultra - Moab, UT; “Behind the Rocks Ultra starts and finishes at the Behind the Rocks Trail, along the border of the Behind the Rocks Wilderness Study Area. Moab's last hidden gem; its tall standing Navajo Sandstone domes and fins can be seen from many places along the course…With free camping at the start/finish line, you're welcome to spend the weekend. Bring your cooler, stocked with your favorite post race drinks, and stay for the fun!” madmooseevents.com/behind-the-rocks-home
• April 4, 2026 at 8:30AM: Striders Widowmaker - Grand Junction, CO; 6 or 9 mile options; Challenging self-supported single track trail run with considerable downhill in the first half that has to be regained. Down Andys Loop, right up Eagles Wing, left onto High Noon, right up Tabeguache to Holy Cross, bear right up Pre-Nup to Little Park Rd. Cross and descend Little Park Rd 10 yards to Gunny Loop. The courses split at the Gunnector intersection. The short course follows Gunny up to the parking lot finish. The long course follows Gunnector to rejoin Gunny to climb back to the finish.
• April 9-12, 2026: Desert Rats Trail Running Festival by UTMB - Fruita, CO; “Desert RATS Trail Running Festival by UTMB has four unique distances, three days of racing and indescribable views of the desert. There is something for every runner. Enjoy views of the Colorado River as you race through flowy singletrack, climb up the mesa, and take in the vastness of the desert.”

• April 12, 2026: Elevate Kids Fun Run - Grand Junction, CO; “Elevate kids aims to raise awareness and  provide support to help activate kids' minds, bodies & spirits through fundraising, hosting family-centered events and community involvement that helps to advance this cause.”

   

Group Training Runs

***Please note: Daylight Savings Time starts in March, meaning we’ll be switching to trails at that time. Keep an eye out in your email inbox for Tom’s weekly emails with additional information. For now, the following information is accurate for the weekly road runs.

Contact: Tom Ela - (970) 773-3124

Mondays at 6pm - Fruita

Basecamp Provisions (155 N. Mulberry)

Meet at Basecamp Provisions for a road run. Dress in weather-appropriate and high-visibility attire, and bring a light source (i.e. headlamp)!

We run in all conditions. Like the Thursday night group, this is casual and all abilities are welcome with various distances to choose from. 

Thursdays at 6pm - GJ

Handlebar Tap House (417 Monument Rd)

Meet at Handlebar Tap House for a road run. Dress in weather-appropriate and high-visibility attire, and bring a light source (i.e. headlamp)! 

We'll be out there rain or shine. As always, this is casual and all shapes and speeds are welcome with various routes to choose from. We'll look out for you.