April/May 2022 The Strider

Mesa Monument Striders organizes runs on beautiful trails of the western Colorado's desert.
22 Apr, 2022

T h e   s t r i d e r

            In this issue:  RYAN GULDAN 3rd & JOEL HOLMAN 9th @ Canyonlands 13 !

WOMEN RULE @ WIDOWMAKER ! (Megan Ciarlo & Michelle Oberndorf. & Tracy Thelen)

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!
Mesa County School District 51 and Special Olympics Colorado are once again teaming up for a track and field event on May 3rd at Stocker Stadium.  We are in need of timers for the track events, and who better to help with that than a bunch of runners?  If you have never experienced a Special Olympics event before, know that it will be an incredibly fun and rewarding morning!  Volunteer check-in begins at 7:30 and the event will be wrapped up by 2:00 at the latest.  If you are interested in volunteering and/or want more information, please email 
[email protected].

Congratulations to all the MMS runners at Desert Rats this weekend (April 16 & 17). Shout out to Kat Robinson, 2nd place Female and Tracy Thelan, 1st place Masters at the Desert Rats 50k on Saturday and to Ryan Sullivan, 2nd place Male and Michelle Oberndorf, 1st place Female in the 1/2 Marathon in Sunday. Woohoo!  (The MMStrider NL will endeavor to report somewhat more complete results next NL issue).

WIDOWMAKER TRAIL RUNS – APRIL 2

These early-season trail runs have been being, well, run for many years – (I first participated in these either in 2001 or ’01 – and the race had been conducted for some time before that).  We’d start from the bottom (Lunch Loops parking lot), run up, then down – until the start/finish area became “popular” to the general public.  (Not that the MMS is part of the “general public”, are we?)  For several years now the races begin with the downhill first, then back up. 

          This year, the Women “Ruled” – MICHELLE OBERNDORF won the long (9-mile) race, and MEGAN CIARLO was fastest in the 6.

          6-mile:  Megan, (age 30), 62:28   Ernie Langelier (70 already?), 67:56  

Jameson Tade (37), 68:29   Eric Krch (63), 72:20   Donnie Tietsema (37), 75:42

Lauren Dix (46), 75:43, 2nd woman   Courtney Holmes (27) and Lilly Grisafi (26), both 78:58

There were 19 finishers. 

          And, in the longer race … Michelle (29), 1:17:12   Tracy Thelen (42), 1:31:04  

Kyle Stone (53), 1:43:44   Nicolas Andrews (43), 1:47:52   Jina Silva (33), 1:48:20  

Evan Rich (42), 1:53:35   Lori Stone (59), 2:01:23

          MMS Directors meeting, Feb 23: 6 directors in attendance. & Roxie.  Martin reported that there is “almost continual new stuff” on our website.  (Check for yourself!)  Martin and Karla briefly discussed “pika” (or coney?) studies in the LaSal Mountains.  (Hmm … perhaps I’ll visit that area later this year.  Been a while since I’ve been in pika-country).  Briefly discussed and consider what “all inclusive” means (in regards categories of people/members/ attendees at MMS running events).  Again, Martin:  said he’d NEVER been in a “more-inclusive” group than the MMS.  One director expressed concerns about non-drinkers.  Hey!  Non-drinkers are more than welcome at any MMS event – we probably need rational clear-thinkers to balance the, uh, whatever …

          Mr. Ela is undergoing knee surgery and it’ll be a while until he’s hitting the trails – however, as Martin mentioned:  “You don’t have to run to lead” – as Tom still plans to put on group runs, etc. IN PERSON. 

The M M S Directors, currently, are:

KARLA NEPHEW – President (& Jaguar-Timing-System).

ANDY WINNEFELD – Vice-President (& frequent medical insight).

TOM ELA – Membership (among many other things).  ROSCO BETUNADA – Secretary, NL.

LARRY INGRAM -- Calendar, Race Director Consultant.  MARTIN WIESIOLEK -- Web Site &. SHERYL DOUGLAS (former President).  CONRAD COLE – Treasurer & Purchaser of Stuff.

Striders T-shirts are available for $20. Pick one up at a group run or contact Karla at [email protected].

Please note that we are trusting that if you show up for group runs or events, you are either vaccinated or you will adhere to recommended safety protocols of masking and distancing. Thanks for keeping the community healthy!

For submissions for next newsletter:  Email articles to [email protected]

Doesn’t have to be a ‘submission’!  Let me know of O-missions, etc.

or ‘regular’ mail to MMS, c/o Betunada, 230 Sunset Hills, Grand Jct., CO  81503

MESA MONUMENT STRIDERS websitehttp://www.mesamonumentstriders.com

www.facebook.com/pages/Mesa-Monument-Striders/282653486288

C A L E N D A R

(should be somewhat redundant, as our official MMS annual calendar accompanied last issue)

Note: all phone numbers “970” unless indicated otherwise

April 30, Sat., 9 a.m.  Spring into Shape 5k, Delta Rec. Center, Kendra: 874-0923

May 6 – 8:  Fruita Fat Tire Festival (.com)  24th annual!

May 6 – 7:  18 Hours of Fruita (.com) – bike “ultra” – Highline Lake

May 7, 10 a.m.:  Sat., Girls on the Run 5k, Fruita Community Center www.gotrwesterncolorado.org

May 7, 9 a.m.:  Hogback Hustle 5k, New Castle, www.newcastlerec.com  (970) 984-3382

Saturday, May 14, 6:30 a.m. (1/2 M, other runs start later)  Palisade Brews and Shoes Run 5K, 10K, Half marathon   Palisade 

          The Grand Valley Half Marathon by a new name but same great race!

Saturday, May 14, 8 AM   Black Canyon Ascent 6-Mile Uphill   Montrose – sjmr.club  (We couldn’t confirm the starting time – not listed (or hard-to-find) on the SJMR site.  (no raceday registration?)

May 15, Sunday:  Fruita Trail half-Marathon (might be 13.8 mi) – 18 Road vicinity, geminiadventures.com

          Run without pesky boys at this women's only race!
Saturday, May 21, Thelma and Louise Trail Race 15K, Half Marathon, Marathon
Moab  
https://www.madmooseevents.com/

MAY 28, Sat., 8 a.m.  GARFIELD GRUMBLE, ‘prox 5-miles (but it’ll feel like a few miles more than that) – East (Palisade-side) Trail Head.  Conrad 245-4243 or Joe: 245-4382.  “Summit! Then Plummet!”

June 3, Sat., 9 a.m.  21st annual MIKE THE HEADLESS CHICKEN 5k (miketheheadlesschicken.org)

Group training run every Monday, 6 PM   4/25 Pollock Canyon Trailhead, run Flume Canyon Loop   5/2 Pollock Canyon Trailhead, run Pollock Bench Loop
5/9 Mary's Loop Trailhead, I-70 Loma Exit   5/16 Devil's Canyon Trailhead

          We will rotate through these four locations in this order through the season. For all but Mary's Loop, take Colo Hwy 340 south from Fruita across the river and turn right at Kings View Rd. Follow through the subdivision and onto the gravel road. Devil's Canyon parking is soon after on the left, Pollock parking is a couple of miles further on the left.
          We run in all conditions. Like the Thursday night group, this is casual and all abilities are welcome with various distances to choose from.   Tom 970-773-3124  

Group training run every Thursday, 6 PM   Tabeguache Trailhead (“Lunch Loops”) on Monument Road            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. 

Tom 970-773-3124

MORE running websites:

sjmr.club ( SJMR )    San Juan Mountain Runners, 631 S. 2nd Street, Montrose, CO  81401  

West Colorado GIRLS ON THE RUN:  gotrwesterncolorado.org 

Steamboat Springs:  www.runningseries.com – this site should show all you need to know about most (or all!) the Steamboat-area races.  Get on their e-mailing list!

   rrca.org (road runners clubs of america)  and   colorado runner:  www.coloradorunnermag.com  (Jan Frisby still part of national-champion age-group teams)

Support the underwriters / sponsors of the MESA-MONUMENT STRIDERS:

 

The following:  Summit Canyon Mountaineering, ALPINE AUTO-HAUS*, the FOOT SUPPORT GROUP, WEBCREATE.COM, and Dr. Andy Mohler, family practice, have assisted in keeping membership costs lower than they could be.  And:  they support running in the Grand Valley (& elsewhere).  Support them if you can!      

          ALPINE AUTO-HAUS, 539 BOGART LANE – (970) 248-8004

Consider this auto-repair/servicing shop – especially for your Audi or BMW or VW or MINI ~

*recent “re-sponsor(ing) – thanks!

FOOT SUPPORT GROUP  Foot/gait/orthotics/bracing/modification specialists 

“European Craftsmanship – Biomechanical Design”  3212 F Road, Clifton, CO  81520

888-242-3881     or, in the 970 area code:  434-2727  

Summit Canyon Mountaineering  461 Main Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501   (970) 243-2847 

Dr. Andy Mohler, family practitioner – with the Primary Care Partners PC, 3150 N. 12th (G.J., 81506), 245-1220

WEBCREATE.COM – just as it appears:  need help with your website? [email protected]    

March 19: The Moab “Canyonlands” Half-Marathon (& 5-mile)

This annual rite of spring has (as you know) been conducted for many (40 or more?) years.  In the later 1980’s (or early 1990’s?) a person who wrote/published a regional running newsletter out of Denver asked me what the two biggest races in Grand Junction were.  Without hesitation I answered “Moab and Glenwood Springs.”  Yes, back then those two races (Canyonlands and Strawberry Shortcut) consistently drew well over 100 runners from the G.J. area – whereas local events were rarely that popular.

          Seems for us in the Grand Valley the Canyonlands allure is not as bright – as the Editor scanned the results and saw very few local finishers.  However, RYAN GULDAN was 3rd in the long event, winning his age group (30-39) easily.  JOEL HOLMAN finished 9th over-all, 2nd in the over-40 and 3rd Master over-all. 

          Francis Miraraho (age 21, no home town given) set the course record, 1:07:20, almost 3 minutes ahead of JeshuRUN (caps mine) Small (23, from Golden, CO) – 1:10:15.  Ryan had 1:14:49 of fun, and Joel recorded a 1:19:41.  The women’s race was paced by Summer Deal (28, Colo. Spgs), 1:25:44 and Nicole Valentine (39, Breckenridge), 1:26:45.  755 finished the 13 (of which over 200 were in the 30-39 age group alone).  The courses have been changed, NOT finishing in downtown Moab but a couple miles north of town.

          238 runners were in the 5-mile, won by Devin Hirschi (36, Park City Utah), 30:16; and Mikeala Hansis (21, Firestone CO).  She was 2nd over-all !  Men’s and women’s runners-up were Godard Abel (50, Boulder CO), 35:34 and Natalie Skibine (36, SLC) 35:40.  Natalie was 4th over-all; and coincidentally the next two runners (a man, then woman) were 5th and 6th over-all.  Was there a head-wind?  The editor scanned the results and, yes, probably missed some Grand Valley athletes, but did note that Nicki Huprich (37), 1:47:32 and Deborah Vigil (35), 1:50:55 were locals towards the front of the half-marathon finishers.  Of note in the shorter event, ROBYN JANKOSKI (61, G.J.) won her age group handily with 43:50, and was 2nd over-all in the 60+.   check madmooseevents.com

Below are more Moab area, most ultra, mostly TRAIL (except “Canyonlands”), and most (all?) can be further checked at  https://www.madmooseevents.com/

Amasa 15k – April 9, 2022:  Bernie Boettcher – 1:14:02 Wins Over-all!  He’s ba-a-ack!

Oliver Berg – 2:02:44               Darby Spence – 2:02:46

Behind the Rocks Ultra 50k – March 26:   Chris Wright – 6:22:20

Behind the Rocks Ultra 30k – March 26:   Kirk Blais – 2:44;24

Bubba Blair – 3:51:55              Caleb Hardaway – 2:17:01    Rich Connors – 2:38:22

KcKay Moline – 3:01:59          Carter Smalley – 4:36:24

Canyonlands 5 Mile – March 19:   Robyn Jankoski, 43:50

Tina Bruce – 1:10:56                Bonnie Poulson – 48:43          Ross Bentzler – 54:12

Katie Shell – 54:27                     Abigail Mangum – 54:40        Brenda Pyle – 1:09:20

Darren Spomer – 1:20:32

Canyonlands Half Marathon – March 19:   Ryan Guldan – 1:14:49

Joel Homan – 1:19:41               Nicki Huprich – 1:47:32          Deborah Vigil – 1:50:55

Tia Lopez – 1:54:58                  Shae Peterson – 1:59:35         Vanessa Lichtenberg – 2:00:40

Tegan Woosley – 2:10:42       Katie Richman - 2:23:53         Amy Taylor – 2:28:31

Brielle Thomas – 2:37:28       Chris Thomas – 2:37:29          Jenifer Ramirez -- 2:40:37

Shirley Jackson – 3:00:33       Susie Christianson – 3:12:50               Louis Villaire – 3:13:33

Spencer Miler – 2:13:28

Moab Red Hot Ultra 55k – February 19:   Matt Ozanic – 6:06:48

Moab Red Hot Ultra 33k – February 19:   Ryan Guldan – 2:32:03

Caleb Hardaway – 2:37:52                   Joe Evans – 3:42:36                   Megan Sand – 3:58:52