THE STRIDER
In this issue: RIM-ROCK MARATHON & ½ M à MAX ROBINSON & ANGIE LEONHART WIN THE BIG “M”! & Chris Sovacool is 2nd man & Katherine Meyer is 3rd woman! GRETA VAN CALCAR & DAVID CARDENAS pace the Fireman’s Turkey 5k! and … MMS “Financials” !?
Thanks for contributions to this edition – Conrad Cole, Corey Hinman, Larry Ingram, Karla Nephew
Saturday, November 6 Rim Rock Marathon and Half Marathon
70 stalwart people negotiated THE ENTIRE MONUMENT (RimRock Drive, that is) on a good-for-running-weather day, ending in Fruita. Max Robinson (age 28, from Fruita) had almost the same time (2:48) as his 2019 winning effort. Chris Sovacool (33, G.J.) trotted in 14 minutes later (3:02), so Max must have had a lonely experience – except when he started passing some half-marathoners. (Well, Chris was 9 minutes ahead of #3, lonely for him, too – and runner #3 in turn had an 8-minute gap …) Angie Leonhart (39, G.J.) paced the ladies with a creditable 3:45:04. Stephanie Goldcamp (also 39, Lakewood) was about 8 minutes back, and Katherine Meyer (40, master’s winner! Fruita) was 3rd woman. Note the 3rd-place man (an iron-man 2 B sure), winning the over-50 AND men’s Masters! (& also note the runner-up master, in 5th place – & what is this about 51-year-youngs? – note 7th place).
1. Robinson, 2:48:08
2. Sovacool, 3:01:59
3. Larry Smith (51, Leadville), 3:11:23
4. Alec Fleischer (24, Salida), 3:19:56
5. Sean Meissner (48!, Fruita), 3:20:29
7. Edmond Paspali (51, G.J.), 3:26:28
12. Tyler Coleman (33, G.J.), 3:35:45
15. Leonhart, 3:45:04
17. Goldcamp, 3:53:39
19. Meyer, 3:54:47
20. Tim Lopez (29, G.J.), 3:56:57
25. Kendra Eickleberry (22, G.J.), 4:02:03
29. Jim Haraway (G.J.), 4:09:52
30. Deborah Vigil (G.J.), 4:11:20
31. Margeaux Prinster (G.J.), 4:12:53
32. Erik Loyd (G.J.), 4:14:31
34. Clarissa Tofel (G.J.), 4:20:29
249 people ran the 13.1-mile run.Finishers were mostly from Colorado, but also from 21 other states! (10 states were home to Marathon finishers).Watkins Fulk-Gray (30ish, Glenwood) was fastest, 1:13:12 and also must have had a lonely solo-time-trial, as he had an 8-minute margin over runner-up (and fellow Glenwood resident) Danny Whelan.50+ age-group winner Rob Murphy (S.L.C.) was 3rd, followed by Grand Junction resident Lukas Olson in 4th.Lukas is 16-years old – quite a feat regardless of age.Hope we continue to see him towards the front in race results for a long time.Women’s winner was Isabella Grabin, (22, Laramie), who was not too far-ahead of 2nd-place (& women’s master’s winner) Reyna Chavez-Guardado (Highlands Ranch).Joel Kincaid was one of the faster “locals”, as was Dawn Gwin.
1. Fulk-Gray, 1:13:12
2. Whelan (30+), 1:21:26
3. Rob Murphy, 1:23:47
4. Lukas Olson, (16!), 1:25:54
5. Thomas Rossiter (20+, Parker), 1:29:49
7. Grabin, 1:31:31
9. Chavez-Guardado (41), 1:33:23
11. Lydia Dissly (54!, Boulder), 1:33:47
13. Joel Kincaid (53! Fruita), 1:36:52
16. Dawn Gwin (54! Loma), 1:38:16
STRIDER 5 MILE TIME TRIAL Saturday, December 18, 2021
1. Suzie Steel (62 years young), 39:05
1. Bryan Baroffio (63), 39:05
3. Bob Thome (67), 40:47
4.Marshall Steel (61), 46:26
5.Sheryl Douglas (70), 62:29
A small group of long time Striders showed up for a club time trial/run and a chance to for some runner inter-action after a second year of Covid. It was good and all were excited about running events again and catching up on missed stories. The weather cooperated with a cool but okay day with sun but a slight breeze. All ran well, most for their first timed event, except for Sheryl who ran Rim Rock and esp. Bryan who did 20, I think, marathons this year, like usual for him. All look forward for more events this coming year and like all of us hoping this happens after the present variant and surge.
It was disappointing that the new and younger Strider members didn’t show for a free club event but unfortunately another event got scheduled on top of this long time event. It is hoped that our long time event, Appleton Freezer, that kicks off the local running year gets a large turnout.
Stay safe and enjoy your running. (Ed. Note: perhaps the less-than-usual attendance was influenced by the “Beer Mile” to be held that afternoon?)
MMS Directors meeting, Oct. 26: 6 directors were in attendance. Madame President regaled us with the “happy horror story” of the recent Run 2 Whitewater. Chili beer at the aid station? We learned of an epic/arduous/ultra-type event to be held the following weekend – A bike event from Fruita to Moab (200 miles). Put on by “Team Evergreen”? (desertgravel.com). People could ride solo, or have 4-person teams. The event was to have taken place Hallowe’en weekend (Oct. 30 – 31) and be entirely north of the Interstate on dirt roads, then cross I-70 west of Crescent Junction, then “down” to Moab. No “Turkey Predict” this year. Yes, Fireman’s Turkey 5k at Lincoln Park. Mr. Treasurer announced that the MMS is in “pretty good shape” financially, helped by the $950 for sag-wagoning the Bike Tour of The Moon. We may need a new laptop for the Jaguar timing system. Tom mentioned that the Summit Canyon owner/operator was considering “stepping up” involvement with the local running scene. We reminisced about fast local runners of bygone years (e.g., Bill Aragon, Dan Sauers, Jan Frisby, etc. – and ELVA DRYER). Will some bygone races be “brought back”? – Run in the New Year, Main Street Mile, Downhill 5k …
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 website: http://www.mesamonumentstriders.com –
MESA MONUMENT STRIDERS Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Mesa-Monument-Striders/282653486288
C A L E N D A R
Note: all phone numbers “970” unless indicated otherwise
Saturday, January 29 Arches Ultra 50-Mile, 50K, Half Marathon, 9K
https://www.madmooseevents.com/
Registration is open for lots more races from them through the Spring
Feb. 12, Sat., Fruita “Sweetheart” 5k & 10k. 10:00 a.m. start for 10k, 10:15 for 5k. FRUITA COMMUNITY CENTER, 324 N. Coulson St. 858-0360 x 6425 or 6412. New course(s) this year.
Feb. 19, Sat., MMS (?) “Valentine’s Massacre” 3-mile prediction run. 10 a.m. Start/finish below bottom of Little Park Road where the road ends at the Gunnison River. Entry “fee” is/are 2 containers (cans/bottles) of something to drink – which are re-distributed to those running the closest to their pre-race predicted times. Note: this is 3.0 miles, not 5k.
270-0109 or [email protected]
March 14 – there is a good chance that there will be a “Pi” (π) day run somewhere
This is the first Monday after the Daylight Savings time change so Pi Day Run will be bundled in with our first group trail run of season.
March 19: The Moab “Canyonlands” Half-Marathon (& 5-mile) check madmooseevents.com
Check the MMS website for events – e.g., the “Widowmaker” trail runs are usually in early April.
Group training run every Monday, 6 PM Ongoing - Copper Club in downtown Fruita
153 N Mulberry St across(diagonally) from Hot Tomato. Note: if no tables are available inside for after-run socializing, we will adjourn to Suds on the corner for our beers and chatting.
We run in all conditions. Like the Thursday night group, this is casual and all abilities are welcome with various distances to choose from. Copper Club is family friendly so underage runners are welcome! Tom 970-773-3124
Group training run every Thursday, 6 PM Ongoing - Handlebar, corner of Monument Rd and Broadway 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. Handlebar is family friendly so underage runners are welcome!
Questions: Tom 970-773-3124
Daylight Wasting Time Headlamp Run Every Thursday, 6 PM, Lunch Loops parking For those who want to continue on the trails through the Dark Season, Kirk will continue to host on Thursdays at Lunch Loops. Please text Kirk that you're coming so that he can find you in the dark parking lot to start: 970 349-1185
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!) of the Steamboat-area races. Get on their e-mailing list!
rrca.org (road runners clubs of america)
and colorado runner: www.coloradorunnermag.com
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 ~
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]
Run to Whitewater
10/17/2021
1. Adam Freigh 2:16
2. Edmund Paspali 2:37
3. Tracey Thelen 3:09
4. Evan Rich, 3:22
5. Levi Hamer, 3:29
6. Karla Nephew 3:36
7. Laura Venner and Bandit 3:36
8. Donnie Tietsima 3:47
9. Jina Silva 3:51
10. Scott Hollmaier, 4:00
11. Nikki Sturrock 4:09
12. Kirk Apt 4:55
The weather was a little cool at the beginning, but basically perfect for this year’s run. Trail conditions were said to be perfect except a little soggy up top. We only had 12 participants, down from 27 last year. The weekend was filled with other competing events including spring races postponed due to Covid 19. Kim accommodated a number of different start times and had the ability to sort things out at the other end. Most humorous was Levi locking his keys in his car and had to spend 19 minutes breaking in so it could be moved from the parking lot.
We used to have an in at the Domino’s on Orchard Mesa when Kim’s oldest son owned the joint. Not anymore. Pizzas were not available for pickup until 10:45 under new management. So, our Editor, Roscoe saved the day and picked them up and transported to the finish line. Thank you, Roscoe!
Conrad
Mark Ceglowski was up there with me at the aid station. He helped with preparations
as he did with Garfield.
MM Striders Trail Work Day - Saturday, October 30th - Mica Mine Trail
Thank you to all of our Striders who volunteered their time on Saturday, October 30th for a trail work day at the Mica Mine trail! We had 19 Striders participants and got a ton of trail work done during our half day session.
The Mica Mine trail sustained quite a bit of damage from heavy rains this year. Our work session focused on brush clean up, dead tree removal, rock work and route re-establishment. We completed all of our goals for the session and the group made a huge improvement to the trail with their efforts. We also had a lot of fun in the process!
Thanks again Striders volunteers! Your efforts are appreciated by your fellow Striders, the BLM and all Mica Mine trail users.
Reported by Corey Hinman
And … I wanted to let you know that I will be taking on new volunteer work in 2022 and will no longer be able to help with the organization of trail work days and Grand Valley Trails Alliance participation for the Striders. I really appreciate the opportunity to have been able to be a part of these projects for the group! I had a lot of fun doing it!!
I have always been so impressed with the volunteer spirit of the Striders group and all of those that have participated in the trail work days. Collectively, the group has volunteered hundreds of hours that have gone directly to improving our trails over the years. That is something for all of us Striders to be proud of!
Here is a recap of what the group accomplished:
October 2015 - Pollock Bench - water damage mitigation
April 2016 - Kokopelli Troy Built Trail - trail rerouting, maintenance and water mitigation work
October 2016 - Devils Canyon - sign installation and maintenance work
April 2017 - Kokopelli Wrangler’s Trail - new trail construction
October 2017 - Devils Canyon and Pollock Bench - sign installation and maintenance work
April 2018 - Pollock Bench - sign installation and maintenance work
October 2018 - Palisade Rim - revegetation and trail maintenance work
November 2018 - Devils Canyon - sign installation work
May 2019 - Kodels Canyon - sign installation work
October 2019 - Devils Canyon - D3 water damage mitigation work
May 2021 - Pollock Bench - sign installation and maintenance work
October 2021 - Mica Mine - brush cleanup, dead tree removal, route re-establishment
I am happy to provide BLM and GVTA contact information if any volunteers are interested in organizing trail work days and participating with GVTA going forward.
Thanks again for the opportunity to be a part of this awesome Striders effort!
Corey
Jan. 8, 2022 BANG’S CANYON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (!) 30k results:
1 2:44 Ryan Sullivan* ran an extra 2.5 miles
2. 2:48 James Roche
3 2:50 Luke Metgker
4 2:57 Grant Roper
5 3:03 Tristan Purdy
6 3:11 Kevin Hadfield
7 3:11 Austin Anderson
8 3:49 Shannon Jones
9 3:49 Nelson Jones
10 3:50 Amy Metzger
11 3:54 Sean Meissner
12 3:56 Rich Conners
13 3:57 Cody Klibard
14 4:24 Tracy Thelen
15 4:28 Joe Evans
16 4:30 Jen Stagner
17 4:50 Laura Venner
18 5:07 Dave Tolen
19 5:22 Dawn Gwin
20 5:22 Nikki Sturrock
21 6:06 Kirk Apt * sweep
Thank you to everyone that came out and braved the wintery weather mix to run the 2022 Bang's Canyon World Championships. Despite the rain, snow, ice, and mud on the course, the day ended quite pleasant with sunny skies and campfire shenanigans!
Special thanks to Kirk for sweeping the course so I do not have to experience what you all did yesterday. And thanks to Tom, Donnie, Jina, and Nick for making the after party a great success!
(“Local/MMS/friends of MMS”) RESULTS from/of races from “all over the Place”
Sage burner - 10/16/21 Gunnison CO – Joe Evans finished the 50k in 7:19:58.
Mad(d)ness in Moab - 10/30/21 Moab UT – this was a 24-hour “how far can you go?” event. Glenn Fitzgibbons ran 52.46 miles! And Jasmine Fitzgibbons went 22.68 miles ~
Kessel Run - 11/13/21 Fruita CO – there were 4 separate races. Deborah Anderson finished the 50-mile event in 11:25:35 (yes, that’s about 11&1/2 hours). 4 local/MMS runners finished the 60k, led by Nicholas Krueger (8:07:09), then Evan Rich (8:33:54), Amber Heym (9:46:44), and Tracy Thelen (11:06:30). Jordan French (3:44:26) and Lindsey Stansfield (3:48:11) competed in the 20-mile. The 10-mile event was popular, as 14 Grand Valley (&/or friends) finished, paced by Ryan Guldan (1:10:30), followed by Caleb Hardaway (1:14:47), Darin Carville (1:22:26), Ian McDonald (1:37:10), Mara Hardy and Renee Smith (both at 1:50:26), Jen Landini (1:51:30), Nick Jamison (2:01:18), Hannah Kissling (2:03:33), Merilee Slack (2:15:49), Jamie Moats (2:24:03), Ambre Lopez (2:24:51), Katie Skalla (2:29:51), and Louis Villaire (3:03:28).
Dead horse 11/21/21 Moab UT – like the Kessel RunS, this was also a several-race event. Deborah Anderson completed the 50-mile in 10:09:38 – a bit (well, over an hour) faster than she ran a week before! Caleb Van Essen ran the 50k in 4:54:17, with Jen Landini (6:13:40) and Clarissa Tofel (6:22:58) also in the race. Nicholas Krueger (2:33:14 spent the least amount of time enjoying the 30k, followed by Justin Wright (2:50:58). Other finishers included Taylor Bushong (2:51:02), Joshua Remer (2:56:31), Justin Partin (3:03:01), Laura Partin (3:11:53), Jen Hunsicker (3:17:11), Dawn Gwin (3:22:52), and Namie Morton (4:21:40)
Santa Cause 5k, Dec. 11
This festive (yes, many s.claus outfits & such) event had 219 finishers. ALI BENDER (age 32) was 2nd over-all (19:29) as fastest woman. JEFF CUNO (26) must have run a solo time-trial (16:29) to win over-all.
1. Cuno, 16:29
2. Bender, 19:29
3. Brevin Currier (30), 19:45
4. Carter Unfred (15), 19:57
5. Lukas Olson (16), 20:50
8. Rylie Gardner (25, 2nd woman), 22:17
10. Sean Phelps (58, wins Master), 22:24
12. Lauren Geer (17, 3rd woman), 22:32
13. Malissa Squires (49, Master winner), 23:01
ONE-THOUSAND (& SIX) PEOPLE FINISH THE NOV. 25 FIREMAN’S “TURKEY” 5K
Yes. Musta been crowded. Was this race started in BLDR-BLDR-style waves? Probably not. (I ran the BLDR-BLDR many years ago, pre-wave, and noted my watch read 2-minutes when I crossed the start).
Youngsters “ruled”, as David Cardenas is (I think) still 20 or younger, and Greta Van Calcar is just a bit past 20. The fastest 3 men were in that bracket, and James Roche handily won the over-23 with his 4th place. Well, 30-39 women’s age group winner Maggie Kraft was 2nd lady, so the seasoned women runners weren’t absent from the over-all winners.
1. Cardenas, 15:14.8
2. Billy Adams (also 18-23 group), 16:32
3. Hunter Prather (another under-24 entrant), 16:43
4. Roche (30+), 16:47
5. Shane Nicsic (20-29), 16:48
7. VanCalcar, 17:26
8. Kevin Koch (wins masters, 40+), 18:00
21. Maggie Kraft (Alma), 20:29
23. Jessica Black (12-17, Cedaredge) 3rd woman, 20:12
4th woman was Emily Noone (Arvada, 30+), 20:20 – and 5th woman was Sylvia Harris (Loma), 20:45. Women’s master’s winner was Kathy Meyer (Fruita), 22:46. (Also won RimRock marathon Master’s). |
