2006 Post Race News
Posted September 8, 2006
Marathon Virgin No More!
We truly were marathon virgins prior to running this race. As a matter of fact, we were running virgins as well. Neither one of us had run much in the past. This whole running thing started out two years ago as a way to keep Allison (the other marathon virgin) and I motivated with our gym workouts through the long Teton Valley winters; we needed a goal. When we signed up for our first half marathon, it gave us a reason to get out of Teton Valley in May and help us get in shape! After running the Fort Collins Half Marathon, Allison said she'd NEVER run farther than 13.1 miles again. I gave her a little time and asked her if she'd do the marathon up at Targhee with me. True to form, 4 months had elapsed and she had forgotten about her vow to never run farther than 13.1 miles. Throughout Spring and Summer, our miles gradually increased and, as virgins often wonder, we wondered what we had gotten ourselves into! It was too late to quit and we had too much invested in our training. We completed our first marathon on Sunday and it was awesome. The race was organized fantastically and the crowd was extremely supportive and enthusiastic. At one point, at the base area, I asked my husband, "Are they cheering for me?" I couldn't have imagined a better way to become a Marathon Non-Virgin! It was awesome to do a race on my home trails with my best friend (wearing matching outfits with rhinestones!) on a gorgeous day.
--Dusty Hoffman
Editor's Note: Dusty ran this race with a purpose! She has raised over $700 for the National Adrenal Disease Foundation. Dusty has a great website that has a photo gallery from the race and an explanation of her fundraising efforts - definitely have a look.
Deep From the Heart of Texas
I personally would like to thank race directors Lisa, Jay and Zach for their tireless energy and support that each of them displayed during the week before and over race weekend. It was very clear that their direction and volunteer support acted as one team with one goal. That goal being to support and actively make sure that each and every racer was taken care of. The BAR has clearly been raised to a level that many races will fall short of. I would also like to thank Monica Scholz for picking my butt up on Fred's Mountain and giving me the speech about "pieces of my day." I thank you, Monica, for taking the time to care. I will remember those words forever!
--Finlay Woodruff, 50 Mile FINISHER
A Word from Our 50-Miler Winner
I wanted to thank Jay, Lisa, Zach and everyone who helped out for such a fantastic race. The support, encouragement, and help was phenomenal. Having such a beautiful course helped but it was really the people that made this my favorite race I've ever done! I can't say it enough, thanks to everyone who helped out! See you next year. -–Damian Stoy
The Sky was Crystal Clear
with a Half Moon & Billions of Stars
Click HERE
for Rick Sandison’s great race report.
Sweet Lori Bantekas!
Jay, Lisa and Zach, thanks for all your hard work that goes into making this last weekend one of the best trail races. Your encouragement and positive energy was key for so many of us to finish strong. Auggie, thanks for working my cramping quads and icing my legs on Fred's (still squatting). You all deserve 3 days of uninterrupted sleep and hugs from your kids.
Cole, 50 wasn’t enough for you so you paced George to do another 20 and George’s courage goes without saying. I will never forget him bundled in that blue blanket with a beer at the finish. Greg D. your first 50 was a huge success, can’t wait to see your first 100 and hope I am there running with you. Chris L. you not only run fast but you also take out trash, help me find hungry 100 milers, and then drive back to school. White button down (Mike) had to get home and study as well (really consider the belted jean short look next year). Herbert – your lists served you well. Rick S. – it is one mile at a time and then another mile, thanks for encouraging me to go farther. Julie L. you are all heart and guts to finish that 50. Greg P. it was good to see your familiar face on the course and Laurie A. I will always remember the comforting feeling of seeing you ahead of me (the whole time). To every 100 miler, you are my hero for training and startin the race.
To my aid station angels, Lara and Dr. Jim, Sharon, Kim, Mary, Auggie, Laurel, Kris, Dana and all the others whose names I didn’t learn, thanks for being there for us. You have no idea how much your presence and encouragement gets us through as we live from aid station to aid station.
I always feel a little lost after a race weekend. They are akin to summer camp for adults; all your friends are there, you have a lot of fun and push the limits of what you think you can do. Thanks for everything, come and visit the Tetons anytime. You all have a place to stay with me.
The Longer I Go, The Stronger I Get
Teton Valley Resident and Olympic Triathlete Barb Lindquist uses certain mantras to carry her through epic races. Perhaps Michele Jensen heard the echo of one of Barb’s mantras as she raced in Barb’s ‘backyard’ this past weekend. Barb often repeats to herself: The longer I go, the stronger I get!
So true for Michele, who was the first woman to cross the 100 Mile race finish line with a time of 25:54:54. Not only did Michele win in a field that was very competitive, she still found time to write an e-mail to tell us about her race experience:
“The Grand Teton Race was an incredible experience for me. This was my first 100, and I couldn't ask for a better race. I loved the course and the area, but what made it really special was the people. The support was incredible, and the directors and volunteers put on a great race. I got so much support at every aid station, and I never missed not having pacers or a crew. The energy in the air so high, I was just glad to be a part of it. I may not look too glamorous in my picture, but I was so happy to be at that finish line!”
The Grand Teton Races as an Entry in the Ultra World
Brad Mitchell, of Hailey, Idaho, placed third in the 50 Mile race. Here’s the comment he so generously shared with us:
My first 50 miler - What a way to enter the world of ultras. Beautiful scenery, challenging mountain course, excellent volunteers and aid stations and Race Directors that seem to care about the well being of all that participate. Will definitely plan on going back in 2007. Thanks for a great event.
Looks Like She Made It
Cathy Cramer hired Lisa as her coach just a few short months ago looking to prepare for a marathon that would take place some 12 months later. She never expected that she would be running a 50 mile race just a few short months after signing on with Lisa. But so she did, and she finished winning and age group award. Outstanding! Here’s what Cathy had to say about the race.
This was my first ultra and a great experience all-around. I thought the loop course might make things harder psychologically, but the trail sections were so beautiful I couldn't wait to get back out on them. The event was very well organized and the aid station volunteers were very helpful and encouraging. Nearly every time I arrived at the main aid station my drop bag was already out and waiting for me. The course marking was excellent. I never worried that I might be lost. Great Patagonia race shirts and Injinji socks for all entrants. Very nice prizes for the winners and the raffle.
The Endorphins Were Alive and Kickin'
and Would Last All Day and Beyond!
Paul Lindauer certainly has a way with words! Read his beautiful race report and hear about much he really loves ultra running – not to mention his friends and family! He took in all the course had to offer – during the day and through the night. And what did he think of the night? Paul said, “The stars were out and I could soon see the spine of the Milky Way galaxy - wow!!!” Read his whole race report by clicking HERE.
Posted September 5, 2006
- Weather Near Perfect for the 2006 Grand Teton Races
- Grand Teton Races: How does it feel to be # 1?
- George Velasco Wins Most Determined Award
- Two Couples Recognized for their Shared Achievements
- A Special THANK YOU to Race Volunteers
- Age Group Winner is a Champ for Many Reasons
- What Did It Mean to DNF at this Race?
- Super 6 Slammer Aspirant Runs the Grand Teton 100 Miler
- Can Glamour Invade Ultra Running?
- What About 2007?
Weather Near Perfect for the 2006 Grand Teton Races
Stadiums are for spectators. We runners have nature and that is much better.
--Juha Väätäinen, Finland
The Teton Mountain range served as the ideal backdrop for this past weekend’s trail races. Marathon runners, 50 milers, and 100 mile racers were all blessed with ideal racing weather.
When they registered for the race, there were no guarantees. In fact, mostly, there were battle stories from last year’s race. Held in late September 2005, the race conditions were marked by sleet and snow.
This year, runners had sunshine and temperatures ranging from a high of 85°F and a low of 41°F. There was no sleet, snow, or rain.
The runners were happy and so were their feet – saved from the harsh elements that contribute to painful things like blisters!
Grand Teton Races: How does it feel to be #1?
Just ask these men, who placed first in their respective race distances at the Grand Teton Races this past weekend!
Pictured at right are Chris Lundberg (who won the 26.2 mile trail marathon in a time of 3:49:59), Damian Stoy (who won the 50 mile race with a time of 8:52:36) and Mike Wolfe (who won the 100 mile distance at 24:12:32).
Not only were each of these men recognized as outstanding athletes this past weekend, they were incredibly supportive in making the race experience special for their fellow competitors. Mike greeted other runners at the Main Aid station, cheering them on to their own finish. Damian helped out with scoring & timing, looking so fresh that I failed to recognize him as the 50 mile winner. And Chris rode up on an ATV and ran through the canyons after his race to make sure there were ample supplies for runners still on the course.
Congratulations Chris, Damian, and Mike – well done!
George Velasco Wins Most Determined Award
"Dream barriers look very high until someone climbs them. They are not barriers anymore." - Lasse Viren
As we prepared the awards for the top finishers on Sunday, I came across an award for the Most Determined Runner. I asked Race Director, Jay Batchen, who that award would go to this year. Jay responded, “Nobody.”
Needless to say, I was disappointed because I love awards like that. I have heard runners described as people who run for the finish line even when they know someone else has reached it first. I love awards that recognize that determination characteristic, even when no award is in sight!
But Jay was right, or so I thought. How could he and his fellow race directors, Lisa and Zach, single out one runner among this field? We’d all seen how each runner looked coming through the aid stations – grinning and bearing it, determined to face the next part of the course, relentless in their pursuit of a good day (or two!) on the course.
But as Sunday lingered on, it became very clear that there was one runner who deserved the distinction and recognition, Mr. George Velasco of Bishop, California. George is a family friend of Lisa and Jay and a very active member of the ultra running community. George has an enviable race résumé – including memorable finishes at races like Western States and Angeles Crest.
George has spent a lot of timing crewing for others of late and entering the Grand Teton 100 miler this year was a big step for him. Despite his running accomplishments, it has been five years since he has completed a race of 100 miles. And he looked to this race as being an opportunity to signify to himself that he was truly back on his feet.
George took on the course like a champ. He persevered, bowing to the challenges each 100 miler faced – including the ascent up Fred’s Mountain four times. He took the first three loops solo, and for his fourth loop, I had the privilege of going up Fred’s with him. After that, Cole Hanley (who himself had completed the 50 Miler the day before) joined George for the remaining 20 miles of the course. Cole worked with George to help push his limits and recognize that a finish was indeed possible.
When George crossed the finish line, champagne was pouring, as were the tears. George, thanks for showing us what’s possible. Enjoy your award – you earned it!
Two Couples Recognized for their Shared Achievements
Lisa and Jay, along with their friend, Zach, shared the title of Race Director this past weekend. In the past, Lisa and Jay have also shared the recognition of winning awards as the Top Husband/Wife Couple at running races. Knowing how much fun it has been to earn that award, they were pleased to present two such awards at the Grand Teton Races.
For the 100 mile distance, the award went to Andy and Marie Boyd of Bishop, California. Andy and Marie are frequent participants in ultra distance races, and Marie is the Race Director for a race you should definitely check out: The Bishop High Sierra (http://www.bhs50.com/).
Zahan and Kim Billimoria of Driggs, Idaho won the award as fellow participants in the 26.2 Trail Marathon on Sunday.
What you may not know is that these couples both manage amazing balancing acts… in addition to balancing the demands of training for these distances, they are both parents of young ones: Kim and Zahan share their joy with baby, Aliosha, and Marie and Andy are raising brother and sister puppy dogs – Talisker and Ila.
A Special THANK YOU to Race Volunteers
It is well known that the selection process for volunteers for the Grand Teton Races is painstakingly exclusive. In fact, some might say the race organization goes so far as to make sure volunteers are indoctrinated into the process at the tender age of 2 (see Race Director Zach Barnett’s son at right, two year-old, Bohde).
So, what’s the result of this careful selection process? The ability to boast to participants that when racing in one of the Grand Teton Races, they will be treated like royalty!
A very sincere thanks goes out to each and every race volunteer. I would love to name each person, but right now the comprehensive list escapes me.
Your generosity of time and spirit mean so much. Because of you, the racers now have memories that will last a life time! Whether it was giving a massage, pouring Heed, leading a stretch session, waiting for runners at the top of Fred’s or the bottom of the course… without you, no runner could have made it to the finish line.
Thanks for laboring over Labor Day weekend. We hope to see you again next year, at an aid station or participating on the course!
Age Group Winner is a Champ for Many Reasons
"A lot of people run a race to see who's the fastest.
I run to see who has the most guts."
- Steve Prefontaine
Blessed with near perfect weather conditions, many people still described the Grand Teton Race course as a tough and mighty opponent. There seemed to be certain ways to gain an advantage. Say, having the ability to train at altitude or being blessed with perfect health leading up to the race.
Bob Becker, winner of the 60-69 Age Group for the 50-mile distance, had neither advantage, and yet he persevered and consistently gave us the thumbs’ up coming through the aid stations, crossing the finish line with a big smile and a time that earns him plenty of bragging rights.
Bob is a resident of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which is about as close to sea level as you can get. No altitude training to be found there! He did attend the Teton Ultra Running Camp to test his fitness level the week before the race. Before Lisa could offer him her valuable coaching opinion, the campers made a quick assessment that Bob could toe the start line of the 50 and expect great success. We were right. Lisa seconded our amateur opinion! She coaches Bob and has seen him battle it out before. In 2005, Bob competed in the 135 mile Marathon des Sables stage race in Morocco, Africa, where he suffered a broken femur. Bob ultimately had to drop out of the race, but not before he completed the longest day of the stage race with his broken leg.
Bob dedicated his Marathon des Sables race to a fundraising effort for Georgetown University’s Lombardi Center’s fight against prostate cancer. Then, in the Spring of 2006, Bob himself was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Bob is now in full recovery and in great health, a blessing that must somehow be tied to his generous spirit in helping so many others.
Bob, enjoy the sun of Florida and feel free to tell your Saturday morning training buddies that you beat the Teton Mountains. Way to finish the race!
What Did It Mean to DNF at this Race?
In racing circles, there’s lot of consideration of the acronym DNF (Did Not Finish). When is it noble to fight through the immediate pain and suffering and go for the glory of a finish? And when is it better to call it a day shy of the finish line?
It seems that the first victory in earning a DNF is that you cannot be put into the category of DNS, that’s ‘Did Not Start.’ That’s for people who haven’t dared to toe the start line or imagine going the distance.
Then the next victories are defined by the individual. In speaking with one racer who fell shy of the 50 mile finish line by a mere five miles, I asked if he was disappointed. Braced for a sad response, I was so happy to hear that he optimistically offered to me, “Colleen, the day I am disappointed that I ran 45 miles through the Teton Mountains is the day I quit running.”
Another person who was unable to complete the race because of an infected foot stayed on at the Targhee Resort and wished his fellow racers all the best. And maybe, just maybe, he was staying on to study the course. Why would I suspect that? Because his parting words on Monday morning to the Race Directors were, “I’LL BE BACK.”
Super 6 Slammer Aspirant Runs the Grand Teton 100 Miler
To run a 100 mile race is a feat that few contemplate, let alone accomplish. So imagine accepting the challenge to run six of the toughest 100 mile races the US has to offer in a single summer? One of the Grand Teton 100 Miler racers is doing just that!
Hans-Dieter Weisshaar, age 66, finished the Grand Teton 100 Miler with the impressive time of 31:06:10. Adding to the depth of this accomplishment is the fact that over the previous two weekends, he has completed the Leadville 100 mile race and the Cascade Crest 100 Miler. Additionally, Hans had to preserve himself for the near future. He intends to complete the Wasatch Front, Angeles Crest and The Bear in the next few weeks. Completing this challenge will earn Hans the coveted title of ‘Super 6 Slammer.’
Han commented to Race Director, Jay Batchen, that he loved the course and the fact that the Trail Marathon runners joined him on the course on Sunday as he was doing his fourth and final loop of the course. It's amazing what fresh energy can bring to a racer who is facing his fourth ascent of Fred’s Mountain in a single weekend!
We wish Hans the best of luck in his pursuit of this dream. We know you can do it!
Can Glamour Invade Ultra Running?
Kira Matukaitis doesn’t know if she’s the first person to come up with the idea, but she is enthusiastic about lending her name and efforts to the cause: namely, to put some more glamour into ultrarunning!
Where does Kira think it should all start? Maybe with awards. Kira notes that if more races gave out awards for say, Best Dressed Runner or Runner Able to Keep Make-Up On Without Smearing, we might see a surge in the glamour end of the sport.
Its not that Kira doesn’t take the sport seriously (she earned first place in her age group in the 50 mile distance); it's just that she knows there must be a way to make different worlds come together.
So what do you say – should next year’s award ceremony be a black tie affair? Stay tuned.
What About 2007?
For those of you who are already planning on how you’re going to improve your training or bump up your distance to the next race, good for you!
And for those of you who are feeling a little sore and may be thinking that something like a backyard barbeque sounds like a better way to pass the time in the summer, I leave you with these words from a marathon great:
I'm never going to run this again.
-Grete Waitz after winning her first of nine New York City marathons
Permitted area is located in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest
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