Gore-Tex Trans Rockies Run 2011
A perfect ending to an amazing week in the Rockies
News Release / 27.08.2011
<b>Vail-Beaver Creek
23.6 miles/5000 ft climbing</b>
There's no easy way for runners to get a coveted TransRockies Run finisher's shirt, in fact, it's traditional that the leftover finisher shirts are destroyed each year to ensure that they're only given out to those who crossed the finish line.
As the final test. the last Stage of the TransRockies Run has always been a tough day of running. In 2011, the route got a little tougher and more spectacular due to a course change necessitated by the USA Pro Cycling Challenge which started in downtown Avon around the time TransRockies runners traditionally through town to the base of the final climb up to Beaver Creek.
While the run was tougher, runners were effusive in their praise of the new course which brought them up and over the east shoulder of Beaver Creek Mountain on some of the resort's system of singletrack and down into the Village to finish at the main lift. A superb way to end six fantastic days in the Rockies. The weather cooperated serving up a light cloud cover which kept temperatures down and runners comfortable on a another long day on the trails.
While it was never stated during the week, both members of the leading Run Flagstaff Team were back at the GORE-TEX TransRockies Run in search of some redemption. Mike Smith won the 2009 TransRockies Run with teammate Robert Krar but was unable to really enjoy the experience as he broke fingers on the last stage while Krar was being treated for severe cramps and muscle damage after the event. Wolfe was leading the Open Mixed division in 2009 when his teammate was forced to withdraw due to a death in her family.
With the win in their grasp, Run Flagstaff were in no mood to cruise to the finish and they set a blistering pace on the first climb for the third straight day and dropped the other teams one by one until they were running by themselves winning in a time of 3:10:59, exactly six minutes ahead of Team Bend (Max King/Ryan Bak) who were second on the day and second overall. The British Salomon pair of Tom Owens and Ricky Lightfoot came in 30 seconds later to wrap up their third overall place.
The Open Mixed and Open Women's Divisions saw high drama as the surging third placed overall teams in both categories put in huge final day efforts as the second placed teams struggled to the finish. In the end, one team held on and one succumbed with gaps of less than 20 seconds after six days of racing.
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