Race Reports!

Please send race reports to and I'll post them here.

Winner's Race Report

It was great to wake up to sunny weather and see lots of familiar faces getting 
ready for the start. Seeing the wild outfits of some of the racers reminded me 
why I like trail running.  No room for running snobs in this crowd.   My 
training had gone well leading up to the race so given the nice weather I 
was optimistic for a good day.  
 

I started the big climb with my training buddy Wayne but quickly Rod Bien passed 
us and set a killer pace.  I was afraid I might be blowing my race in the first 3 
miles but I knew Rod would set a good pace so I decided to try staying with him.   
It was great running with Rod and Wayne for the first few miles and they both 
saved me when I took a wrong turn and they yelled at me to get me back on course.    
 

I felt guilty drafting off Rod and letting him keep up a running conversation 
but his pace was killing me and it was all I could do to stay with him.   
As we caught the early start folks we always got a "great job, keep it up" 
which helped keep me committed to staying with Rod.  At mile 10... Rod had 
to stop and tie his shoe...  so I headed on figuring I'd probably see him 
later in the day when I started dying.   For the next 15 miles my good training 
buddies met me when I'd hit the road and would cheer me on and let me know Rod 
was relentless in his pursuit and not dropping a bit.
 

Everything was great to about mile 22.  Course was great, weather was good and 
I felt great.  But I kind of hit the wall.  My friends advised Rod was closing 
fast and looking strong so I'd better snap out of it.  It helped having them 
cheer me on and then I started thinking about how I was going to have to tell 
my kids I'd lost the lead after 22 miles and it seemed I got a second wind.  
Between my friends pushing me to keep it up and all the friendly people on the 
course who cheered me on... I got going again and other than a hard fall on a 
slick bridge... I finished feeling pretty good.
 

Thanks to all the volunteers who kept us warm and fed at the aid stations and 
the finish line... and thanks to all the people I both knew and many I didn't 
know who cheered me on.
 
Lanny Gower

Darin Swanson's Race Report
Darin Swanson's weblog report.

Oregon Live's Race Report
Kelly's Oregon Live race report.