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Up and Over the Mountain

Press Release / 29.08.2010

With over 44 miles of running and 10,000 feet of elevation gain during the last two stages, there's no easy way to the finish line of the GORE-TEXâ„¢TransRockies Run. Stage 5 from Red Cliff to Vail was going to be the longest day on the trails of the 2010 TransRockies Run with the most climbing and the hottest temperatures of any day so far this week.

After a great Stage 4 and second night in Camp Hale, the runners packed and dressed for the day's run in cold sub-40 degree temperatures knowing that this would be another hot day as the sun rose in the cloudless deep blue mountain sky. Sure enough, even as the runners started the climb up Shrine Pass they were taking off jackets and armwarmers and stashing them away for the rest of the day.

If Stage 5 was going to be the toughest grind of the week, it would make up for it with superb trails, incredible scenery and the promise of the traditional last camp feast prepared by local favourites Cowboy Catering. It's amazing what athletes will do for food after a few hard days of racing . . .

One of the early casualties of the heat and course was Will Kelsay (Team Timex Multisport) who was the last athlete standing of the three who had signed up to try and become the first to complete the TransRockies Bike/GORE-TEXâ„¢TransRockies Run. Suffering from a flu bug, he gamely tried to get through the stage but was forced to pull out at checkpoint 1. The challenge for 2011 remains in place-who will be the first athlete to complete two TransRockies stage races in two sports with only a week's rest in-between?

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