10K AND 5K "MUD RUNS" ARE FUN ALTERNATIVE AT XTERRA EVENT
Oak Mountain Trail Runs will also include 42K and 21K courses
Leigh Collins will never forget her first experience at the XTERRA Oak Mountain Trail Runs. There are pictures to prove it.
Collins, a resident of Birmingham, Alabama, had so much fun during the 10K race at last year's XTERRA Oak Mountain Trail Runs that she signed up to do it again this year.
"I loved it," she said. "It's a totally different feel from a 10K road race. It seems to be a little more laid back and about enjoying the experience."
This year's event is scheduled for Sunday, May 20, at Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham, Alabama. It is open to runners of all ages and skill levels, and there will be four courses available to accommodate the various levels of runners: a 42-kilometer full-marathon, a 21K half-marathon, and the 10K and 5K "mud runs."
The full-marathon and half-marathon courses get much of the media attention, and rightfully so. Most of the elite runners in the field enter either the full-marathon or half-marathon.
(Leigh Collins is the runner on the right in the photo, courtesy XTERRA Photos)
But as Collins will attest, the 10K and 5K courses are challenging adventures for runners who may not want to run longer distances, and the trails are called "mud runs" for a reason. Collins and a fellow runner were photographed with smiles on their faces as they sloshed through one of the deeper mud pits along the course last year.
"I remember it so well because I had new shoes on, and just before it started, some guy said 'oh boy, you got new shoes on - watch out' and I had no idea," she said. "I just ran. At the very end of the course, there was that one big puddle and I went straight into it and it was about waist deep. It was hysterical, and I guess the look on my face said it all because I remember everybody else around there laughing."
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SEVIER, COLBURN WIN SOCAL SERIES SEASON FINALE
The XTERRA Malibu Creek Trail Run provided a run of redemption for Michael Sevier and Mary Colburn.
Sevier was the overall winner of the 22-kilometer long course, finishing with a time of 1 hour, 35 minutes, 50 seconds. Colburn was the top female, finishing with a time of 1:50:07. Both runners missed the XTERRA Trail Run racing season in 2011 due to injuries.
Here is the complete RACE RECAP.
For complete results, CLICK HERE. To view photos from the race, please visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/xterrarun.
Because the Malibu Creek Trail Run was the final event of the 2012 season, the age-group champions from the series were crowned after the race. Each age-group champ received a free entry to represent SoCal at the 2012 XTERRA Trail Run National Championship in Utah this September. To view the final standings for the 2012 SoCal Series, CLICK HERE.
"THROUGH SICKNESS AND HEALTH"
The XTERRA Malibu Creek Trail Run draws more than 600 runners each year, so it makes sense that some of those runners would consider it their favorite race.
Jim Roth and Staci Schilling-Roth - who reside in Thousand Oaks, California - might be "middle of the pack" runners, but the XTERRA Malibu Creek Trail Run will always be their favorite. The latest edition of the race, which was completed on April 29 at Malibu Creek State Park, only added to their fairy tale from the trail.
It all started at the Malibu Creek Trail Run in 2003. Jim and Staci had never met each other, but apparently shared the same running pace. They were side-by-side at the top of a ridgeline during that 2003 race when they struck up a conversation.
They started dating shortly after and got married in 2008. Since that meeting at the Malibu Creek Trail Run, they have run together at the race every year.
"We do some other XTERRA races in the (Southern California) area, but this is the one race that we never miss," Staci said. "And this year's race was the 10th anniversary of the day we met, so we had even more reason to celebrate."
(Jim Roth and Staci Schilling-Roth pictured, courtesy www.supersportsphoto.com)
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DOS EQUIS IS A WINNER WITH SOCAL RUNNERS
The post-race party for the XTERRA Malibu Creek Trail Run was not just about medals and awards. Dos Equis beer made its initial appearance as a sponsor of the XTERRA SoCal Trail Run Series.
Thanks to a new sponsorship agreement, Dos Equis beer was served on tap after the race to runners of legal drinking age. The Dos Equis Beer Garden – featuring TEAM Unlimited/XTERRA CEO Tom Kiely as a guest server – was a hit with the crowd throughout the post-race festivities.
In addition, Dos Equis offered digital “Finisher” badges for all competitors through Facebook.
Dos Equis will continue its partnership with the XTERRA SoCal Trail Run Series in the 2012-13 season, so runners can continue to “Stay Thirsty.”
GUZMAN, DUNN PREVAIL AT XTERRA CLAW
The XTERRA Claw Trail Run has developed a reputation as one of the most challenging races in the Sunshine State, and the latest edition did not disappoint.
Hector Guzman of Bradenton, Florida, was the overall winner, completing the 10-mile long course in 1 hour, 18 minutes, 58 seconds. Kandis Dunn of Odessa, Florida, capped an undefeated season in the women’s division. She placed fifth overall and was the top female with a time of 1:21:59.
Here is the complete RACE RECAP.
For complete results, CLICK HERE. To view a photo gallery from the race, please visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/xterrarun.
Because the XTERRA Claw Trail Run was the final event of the 2012 XTERRA Florida Trail Run Series, the overall age-group winners for the series were crowned. To view the final standings for the 2012 Florida Series, CLICK HERE
EXCITING FINISH AT POCONO SERIES OPENER
The 2012 XTERRA Pocono Trail Run Series opened in exciting fashion last weekend. The XTERRA Big Pocono Trail Run was the first race of the season, and James Ryan won it with a "sprint to the finish."
The Big Pocono Trail Run was a 5-kilometer race completed on May 5 at Big Pocono State Park in Tannersville, Pennsylvania. It was the first of five races in the 2012 XTERRA Pocono Trail Run Series.
"It was extremely rocky and windy - I had to watch every step I took," Ryan said. "Challenging hills were also a factor. There was this hill that I thought was never going to end, it was probably a half-mile long. But it was nice out that day. Perfect running weather; not too hot or too cold."
Ryan completed the course in 27 minutes, 25 seconds. He was in second or third place for much of the course, but won it with a dash to the finish line down the stretch. Brian Hess placed second with a time of 27:28 - three seconds behind Ryan.
"I paced myself off (Hess) for the majority of the race; he was a very strong runner," Ryan said. "I took the lead with an intense sprint to the finish, only beating the man by three seconds."
(Big Pocono race photo courtesy Bob Guzenski / www.wilkesbarreracing.com)
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CONTACT THE XTERRA TRAIL RUN SERIES
Toll-free: 877-XTERRA-1 (877-983-7721)
emily@xterraplanet.com
www.xterratrailrun.com
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Twitter: XTERRAoffroad
