Race the Divide Results

Pete Swenson and Monique Merrill were fastest up and down (and up and down, and up and down, and up and down) Monarch Mountain in Saturday’s Race the Divide, the third of six races in the 2010 Colorado Ski Mountaineering Cup. The “race” course did four laps (red, orange, yellow, and then blue on the map), totaling about 3,500 vertical feet, and three racers finished this delightful tour in under an hour and a half.

Visit the website of Salida Mountain Sports, presenting sponsor of the race, to see the full results.

New Trail Race Near Buffalo Creek

Trail through the Buffalo Creek burn area.

A brand-new trail ultra is planned for the Buffalo Creek area this summer. The North Fork 50 Mile/50K Trail Race will start at Jeffco’s Pine Valley Ranch Park, along the banks of the North Fork of the South Platte River, and climb into Pike National Forest along trails best known for their superb mountain biking. All of the run will be on single-track and double-track trails. Although some of the course passes through areas burned by the Buffalo Creek fire—and thus this could be a sunny, hot race—the area is still beautiful and the trails are smooth and excellent for running. A welcome addition to the midsummer schedule!

Winter Speed Record for Pikes Peak

Steve Bremner on a winter solstice run.

Steve Bremner from Manitou Springs likely set the speed record for the winter ascent of Pikes Peak on January 12, running up the 14,115-foot peak in 3:21:55, from the Barr Trailhead to the summit. Bremner ran down the cog railway to Mountain View, traversed to Barr Camp, and then continued down the Barr Trail, for a round-trip time of 5:35:25, also likely a winter record. … Continue Reading

Trail Race Deadlines

Leadville, 3:50 a.m.

Time to plan your 2010 race season—the deadlines for fast-filling trail races are fast approaching. Here’s a quick rundown of key race dates and deadlines to help your planning:

May 1: Greenland Trail 50K (also 25K and 8 mile). Registration is open (price goes up January 15). Race likely to fill.

May 1: Collegiate Peaks Trail Run (25 and 50 mile). Registration open (fees go up April 1). Unlikely to fill.

June 19: San Juan Solstice 50 Mile Run. Registration opens January 15 at 7 a.m. Speedy registration essential. … Continue Reading

Runners of the Year

Brandy Erholtz

Three Colorado women have been named mountain or ultra Runner of the Year by the Mountain/Ultra/Trail Running Council of USA Track & Field: Brandy Erholtz from Bailey (Mountain Women–Open); Laura Haefeli of Del Norte (Mountain Women–Master); and Anita Ortiz of Eagle (Ultra Women–Master). Read the full story…