October 2025 The Strider

THE STRIDER

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

In this issue: $40 to feed your runs, running a 100-miler and giving birth have some things in common, and how to train for the Merkin award at the Bangs Canyon World Championship 30k!

Thanks to Faye R. Tom E., and Conrad C. 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

Thanks to our friend Ryan Sullivan, Striders members now 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

• Lots of Striders were out for the Just Peachy race in Palisade including these age group stars: Marshal and Suzie Steel, Jeannie Grooms, Sheryl Douglas and Ernie Langelier. Here’s how some of our other Striders members did:

10k

Morgan Eaton 57:57

Sari Dennis 1:04:39

Sheryl Douglas 1:30:41

Spencer Shellberg 33:42 (1st in Men’s)

Shane Niksic 35:20 (2nd in Men’s)

Shane Massey 44:16 (9th in Men’s)

Oliver Berg 54:26

Robert Erik Lionberger 59:41

5k 

Leah Ibarra 23:49 (6th in Women’s)

Ian Rogers 19:08 (2nd in Men’s)

Tony Ibarra 23:32

Ernie Langelier 25:50

Full results here.

• Shane Massey placed 7th in the men’s division in the Mt. Sneffels half marathon with a time of 1:34:56!
• At the Ouray Mountain Run, Spencer Shellberg placed 2nd overall with a time of 1:50:46, and Cody Esbenshade placed 8th overall with a time of 2:19:27!
• Women ruled at the Run for Snow on Grand Mesa! Full results here.
• Whit Blair won 1st overall at the Telluride Mountain Run with a time of 4:54:05!
• If you want to know how the 8.5-mile Striders Mary’s Loop Run at Kokopelli Trails felt this year, you can take Ernie's word for it: "G*ddamn that felt good!" Full race writeup here and photo album here.

Mary's Loop Results:

• Fabulous work, Imogeners! Our stalwarts Ernie Langelier and Scott Hollmaier were on the podium for the 70-74 age group. Richard Leclerq was 7th in the 65-69 age group. Top Striders (as far as I [Tom] can detect) were Shane Niksic and Rachel Lawrence. The longtime women's record from 2009 held by Keri Nelson was finally topped but she still holds the record for our Bangs Canyon World Championship.
• Ryan Sullivan pulled a 4th at the Run Rabbit Run 100!
• Laura Venner won her age group at the Lead King Loop 25K!
• At the Moab 240, Deborah Anderson was third woman with a time of 95:08:22, and Kilian Korth was first place man and triple crown winner with a time of 58:45:47!
• Despite heat, humidity, fog, chilly night winds, and a five-hour deluge, Striders member Tracy Thelen finished third woman at the Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd 100-miler in Tahlequah, OK with a time of 27:03:22!
• Run to Whitewater

What started as a training run back in the early 90’s in the Spring and Fall turned into our run offering for the Club about 25 years ago. I didn’t realize that this is one of Karla’s favorite races. She has a nine-year streak going.  A self-imposed cutoff has also resulted in providing an Aid Station at 3 miles from the finish which is a hoot. Offerings included water, beer, tequila and Almond Joy this time around.

Several days of rainy weather really soaked the trails the week before. However, the customary “window” provided a mostly dry running surface with easy to navigate puddles here and there. The first to blow through the station were Spencer and Brian. They didn’t want much and went on to finish within two minutes of the course record set in 2020. First lady was Kate Avery who seemed to be enjoying the good weather. Scott tried to follow closely. Perhaps it was falling down or the beverage that resulted in the gap at the finish. Spirits all around were pretty high!

Thanks to family and friends for the logistics and timing.

-Conrad

1        2:04:24         Spencer Shellberg

2        2:04:25         Brian Glassey

3        2:43:50         Taylor McGaughey

4        3:08:53         Tyler Jones

5        3:41:01         Aleksey Kovtun

6        3:52:43         Richard Leclercq

7        3:55:26         Oliver Berg

8        3:57:49         Kate Avery

9        3:59:12         Scott Hollmaier

10      3:59:29         Ashley Ahlholm

11      4:00:17         Karla Nephew

12      4:18:57         Nicole Sturrock

Newsletter Contributions

Love, and running and mothering

Striders member Faye Rogers wrote a soulful piece about running and motherhood on her Substack. We highly recommend a read! Here’s a beautiful and relatable (even for those of us who aren’t mothers) excerpt:

The physical, emotional, and spiritual intensity of labor, birth, and the early postpartum days felt like they came with a little card from Love that said “you are doing this, and you can do ANYTHING now that you have known these depths and heights.” A gift. A permission slip. An echo of the same message I walked away with after running 100 miles the first time.

The blood, shit, tears, and vomit of running 100 miles are not so very different from labor, though I thought labor was more painful. The moments of transcendence are also akin. In both the 100 milers that I have run, there are moments when I am taken over by Love- it flows through my chest, shattering my opinions and expectations, showing me how we are all connected, pouring life into me even as my legs are failing.

Read the rest here.

Time to Train for Bangs!

[An unofficial guide, by Megan S., October 2025]

It’s getting colder, fall races are starting to wrap up, and the holidays are suddenly looming. How can one stay motivated to keep running consistently at a time like this?? Well, lucky for us the annual Striders Bangs Canyon World Championship (BCWC) 30k is the first Saturday of January - about 9 weeks away from the time this newsletter will be distributed! If you’ve already got a decent base (I’ll let you decide what that means), that’s a perfect amount of time to train. Just keep in mind that this is a self-supported race (i.e. no aid stations) and a very difficult course. BCWC is known to literally make grown adults cry! Here are a few pointers to keep in mind as you get ready for the winter World Championship:

• If you have no idea what you’re doing in training, hire a coach! There are plenty of Striders members who provide local coaching, including Tracy Thelen at Thelen Coaching, Clayton Nelson at Collecting XP, Brian Glassey and Riley Ceglowski at Classic Running, and Kilian Korth at The Everyday Ultra (though Kilian’s roster is currently full). [PS: if you’re a Striders member and a local coach and you aren’t listed here, reach out to be added to a list that we’ll develop to feature on our website!]

• Do some hill work! The Bangs course starts with a long downhill and ends with a long climb, so training both up and down is essential. If you want to get scientific, you can learn about the “repeated bout effect.”

• Get comfortable with all trail conditions. BCWC is known for its unpredictable conditions - you may find snow, mud, and even ice throughout the course. It’s generally best to avoid damaging trails by running when it’s muddy, but make sure you can at least handle yourself in these various conditions before race day.

• Figure out your snacks and hydration. If you’re like me, you can eat a lot more during winter runs than summer runs. Make sure you practice your fueling ahead of time and bring lots of snacks and hydration with you on training runs as well as the race. Make sure you’ve also got a strategy for keeping your hydration from freezing if the temps are really low. If you’re unsure what food/drink/gear to try, check out what’s available at local outdoors stores and/or utilize the Striders discount at the Feed.

• Learn the course. You can study the map and even do some training runs on part of the course. If you aren’t familiar with the area, it’s always best to scope it out with someone who is. The Striders club on Strava could be a good place to connect with folks who might be up for training together. Just make sure to be smart - have a fully charged cell phone, a paper map as backup, a GPS device if you have one, and only go out on long runs with folks who are trustworthy and self-sufficient.

• Be prepared with the right gear. It might be cold. It might be warm. Who really knows at this point. But you might want to ask for some good running layers for holiday gifts this year.

• Start each day with a visualization exercise: you’ve finished the 18ish miles, you’re getting warm and cozy by the fire, and you’re rocking the fuzzy underwear cause you’ve just won the famous Merkin award.

Upcoming Events

• November 2 (Sun), 2025: Rim Rock Marathon and Half Marathon - Colorado National Monument, CO; “The Rim Rock Marathon and Half Marathon course follows the famous Rim Rock Drive through the Colorado National Monument, giving runners beautiful views of the Grand Valley. The views along the race course are unmatched and perfect for runners looking for something MONUMENTAL.” Use code MMS15 to get 15% off your entry fee!
• November 8 (Sat), 2025: Run For Rivers 5k and Kids 1k Fun Run - Grand Junction, CO; “Join us for the first-ever Run for Rivers, a family-friendly fundraiser supporting the new Confluence Center of Colorado! Celebrate our rivers and community while enjoying a scenic run along the Colorado Riverfront, with the start and finish line right at the Confluence Center.”
• November 8 (Sat), 2025: Kessel Run Ultra - Fruita, CO; Mad Moose event featuring 10mi, 20mi, 50k, 40mi, and 50mi distances. “All distances begin on fast, flowing singletrack and work their way to the steep ups and downs of the Zippity-Do-Da Trail. If you love perfect running weather and stunning views, this race is for you!” Also a great opportunity to volunteer at a local ultra!
• November 8 (Sat) and 9 (Sun), 2025: Moab Trail Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k Adventure Run, and Kids 1k - Moab, UT; “An unforgettable voyage through some of the world's most scenic and unique lands. Try it.”
• November 15 (Sat), 2025: Dead Horse Ultra - Moab, UT; “Hosted in Moab, Utah, this desert trail event is our biggest and most popular race of the year! A beautiful course on world class trails, with expansive views.”
• November 22 (Sat), 2025: Mustache Run with Handlebar Tap House - Grand Junction, CO; “Join a Movember themed 5k run/walk to support men’s cancer awareness!” Kids 12 and under run free.
• November 22 (Sat), 2025: Tom Turkey 6-Mile Prediction Run - Grand Junction, CO; “Guess your finish time for this flat-ish 6-mile road run. Those with the most accurate predictions win a turkey! No watches allowed.” Contact: Larry Ingram (970) 270-0774.
• November 27 (Thu; Thanksgiving Day), 2025: Grand Junction Fire Fighters Foundation 5k GJ Turkey Trot & Little Gobbler Kids Run - Grand Junction, CO; “Join over 2,500 people that have made the GJ Turkey Trot part of their Thanksgiving tradition. Come out and run, jog or walk through over 3 miles of beautiful Downtown Grand Junction. This is a family event so load your kids in the stroller and bring them along.”
• December 6 (Sat), 2025: Moab Locals (aka MOLO) 10k - Moab, UT; “Fun and festive road running event starting at the Moab Golf Course and finishing at Moab Regional Hospital.”
• December 20 (Sat), 2025: Ugly Sweater Run with Copper Club - Fruita, CO; “Wear your most festive or ugliest holiday gear and get ready for some magical winter fun! After a social 5k fun run enjoy seasonal brews, hot chocolate, music and a big ugly sweater contest benefiting Girls on the Run.”

Group Training Runs

Contact: Tom Ela - (970) 773-3124

Mondays at 6pm - Fruita

Basecamp Provisions (155 N. Mulberry)

Starting November 3, we will be meeting 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)

Starting November 6, we will be meeting 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. 

Club Info

The MMS Directors are:

KARLA NEPHEW - President [term: current-May 2026]

NICOLE STURROCK - Vice President [term: June 2025-May 2027]

MICHELLE OBERNDORF - Secretary (and Newsletter Co-Editor) [term: June 2025-May 2027]

CONRAD COLE – Treasurer [term: current-May 2026]

TOM ELA – At-Large (and Membership) [term: current-May 2027]

MARTIN WIESIOLEK - At-Large [term: current-May 2027]

MEGAN SAND - At-Large (and Newsletter Co-Editor) [term: current-May 2026]

RYAN SULLIVAN - At-Large [term: June 2025-May 2027]

Email the board: [email protected]

Interested in being more actively involved? The MMS Board is looking to start up some committees, especially centered around social media engagement, community partnerships, and event organizing. Please reach out if you’re interested in starting or joining a committee.

Come to a board meeting! These are generally on a Tuesday evening at 6pm at the REI Community Room. Dates and times of upcoming meetings will be posted on our social media pages and announced in the weekly Strider email (the next one won’t be determined until after this newsletter is printed). If you can’t make it, feel free to review the meeting minutes posted on the website.

More Striders info, pictures and posts: 

Website: mesamonumentstriders.com
Facebook: facebook.com/mesamonumentstriders

Instagram: instagram.com/mesamonumentstriders

Strava club: strava.com/clubs/131841

Weekly emails: to subscribe/unsubscribe, email [email protected]   

Additional running websites/resources:

San Juan Mountain Runners (SJMR): sanjuanmountainrunners.com

West Colorado Girls on the Run: gotrwesterncolorado.org 

Steamboat Springs Running Series: runningseries.com

Road Runners Club of America (RRCA): rrca.org

Colorado Runner Mag: coloradorunnermag.com

MMS Sponsors

These amazing businesses, orgs and individuals have assisted in keeping membership costs lower than they could be. And: they support running in the Grand Valley and beyond. Support them if you can! 

• Foot Support Group - 3212 F Road, Clifton, CO 81520; (888) 242-3881 or (970) 434-2727; Foot/gait/orthotics/bracing/modification specialists; “European Craftsmanship – Biomechanical Design”

• Dr. Andy Mohler - While he isn't currently accepting new patients, we'd still like to give him a shoutout for his contribution to the club!

• Webcreate.com - Need help with your website? Contact Martin: [email protected]

• Zealios - Body and hair care products for athletes and adventurers; teamzealios.com