Saturday was all about hitting the trail as more than 500 runners competed in five events hosted at Meadows. It all kicked off at 5 AM when 70 ultra trail race athletes took off on a 100k journey, wearing the required headlamp pre-sunrise which some would need again that evening before completing the grueling course. 100k is more than sixty miles, and the up and down nature of the out and back course across surveyors ridge with a turn around at Rim Rock featured a total climb of 11,600 feet - the equivalent of climbing Mt. Hood from sea level!
The 50K (the second year this event has been run uphill with a finish at Meadows) started at Rim Rock and ran the uphill leg of the 100k, with over 250 long distance trail runners on the course at one time.
Meanwhile, the largest field ran a half-marathon - a 13.1 mile “lollipop” loop almost entirely on Meadows permit area, showing how diverse and magnificent the trail system at Meadows really is. Many of the athletes ran in awe of the beauty surrounding them.
Daybreak Racing Wy'east Howl Results
Two shorter events were presented - the annual Uphill Challenge from the Meadows main parking lot to the top of Stadium - a 621 foot vertical climb over 1.2 miles. Mike Allen bested the course record he set last year by eight seconds with a time of 9:24. Megan Flamgan had the fastest woman time of the day at 12:15. Both received a $250 award, and all category winners received Meadows custom awards.
There were seven other course records set in different age categories besides Allen’s, including:
- Eliza Hafer - 28:26 (girls ages 0 - 4)
- Sage Borschel - 14:59 (girls ages 10 - 14)
- Sarah Holmes - 14:20 (women ages 40 - 44)
- Alexandria Marine - 25:09 (women ages 45 - 49)
- Jill Trulsen - 23:14 (women ages 65 - 69)
- Daniel Sealand - 10:20 (men ages 15 - 19)
- Wesley Sealand - 13:05 (men ages 55 - 59)
In the second running of the 5K course, Chris Colvin set the pace with a time of 35:25 and Chelsea Feinberg won the women’s race in a time of 42:49. The 5k followed the uphill challenge course to Stadium, then cut across to the Timberline Trail before descending into the base area of Meadows.
Uphill Challenge and 5K Results
Congratulations to all who ran, walked, celebrated and struggled to their personal achievements Saturday at Meadows. We stand in awe of your accomplishment and the mountain that inspires all of us!