It Didn’t Take Long

It didn’t take long for Nick Whited (Raven, VA) to start tasting success. Nick won the Mountain Masters 16 Mile Trail Run in Harlan, Kentucky last Saturday. Nick took the early lead and held through 9.5 miles when another runner pulled alongside and tried on several occasions to surge and drop Nick. Nick responded by matching the surges while still maintaining his composure and gearing for the finish. The other runner attempted yet another move on a mile long stretch that gained 800 feet of altitude, but again Nick matched the move. At mile 14.5, the two were side by side on to just 150 meters from the finish when the other runner began his kick. Nick had a trump card in his hand and unleashed a kick of his own that couldn’t be matched that day. Nick collapsed as he crossed the finish line with a time of 1:52:47 ( a near two minute PR) on the brutal mountain trail course.

End of a Successful Season

Anne and Mark Lundblad (Swannanoa, NC) were at it again last weekend at JFK 50 Miler, America’s oldest and most prestigious ultra marathon. In the 45^th running, over 1400 runners toed the line at one of the two (5:00AM or 7:00AM) starts. The race is held in Boonesboro, MD. Both Mark and Anne put the finishing touches on near story-book successful seasons.

Mark ran 6:09:17 for 4^th place and a near 11 minute PR. After coming off the Appalachian Trail (approximately mile 17) Mark was in 7^th, but steadily chugged away to catch and pass several runners who struggled from going out too aggressively. Coming off the tow path (mile 42), Mark was in 4^th, but appeared as if he and the third place runner may have been able to overtake the current second place runner. However, when the three runners could smell the finish line, they all found additional strength and the gap between the three remained nearly the same for the last 8 mile stretch on the road.

In the women’s race, Anne came across the Appalachian Trail section relaxed and in control and emerged from the trail about one minute down on first place. The gap was quickly whittled as Anne’s superiority on the flat, fast tow path surface took control. Anne’s lead continued to grow down the 26 miles of the tow path and final 8 mile stretch on the road, and her only competition seemed to be from the top 10-men’s field. Anne’s time of 6:42:50 was a new Master’s course record by 37 minutes 22 seconds and was 3^rd fastest all-time.