XTERRA WEST CHAMPIONSHIP THIS WEEKEND

Back in Temecula for the fourth year-in-a-row, XTERRA has put together a weekend packed with adventure with activities for the entire family. The main event features an off-road, extreme triathlon and is accompanied by the half-distance, off-road sport triathlon, off-road duathlon, the Breeder’s Choice XTERRA K9 Challenge, 3 distances of trail runs, a 5K walk for charity, kids’ races and much more. The 5K walk and various distance trail runs are a fun and healthy way to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Inland Empire Chapter. For more incentive, Hawaiian Airlines is rewarding the women’s winner of the 21K Xduro trail run with a free roundtrip flight to Hawaii. So pack up the kids, the dog and the running shoes and head out to Vail Lake for a weekend full of fun. For more information about the weekend’s events, visit www.xterraplanet.com.

RACE RECAPS

XTERRA Warwick Park Revenge Trail Run

Dan Dix of Coatesville, PA and Deena Andrus of Reading, PA won the top prize in their respective divisions at the May 7th XTERRA Warwick Park Revenge 5K in Pottstown, PA. Dix, a local cross country legend, came in first for the men with his time of 19:06, just 40 seconds faster than runner-up, high school student, Matt Herring. For the women, Andrus crossed the finish line in 24:17, only 26 seconds in front of Jerilyn Kucharski. A perfect 80-degree spring evening set the stage for the first of five races in the 2008 XTERRA Philly Trail Run Series. The course was full of steep, calf-screaming hills and even a challenging climb up a looming set of stairs, but after his victory, Dix said, “The course was a blast. I’m looking forward to the rest of the races in the series.” The next race in the Philly series is the XTERRA Hibernia Park Blast Trail Run 5K on May 21 in Coatesville, PA.

XTERRA Malibu Creek Trail Challenge Xduro

Arcadia, CA resident James Timphony, 20, and Heather Fuhr, 40, of Encinitas, CA beat 675 runners from 11 states for the top places at the May 10 XTERRA Malibu Creek Challenge 22K Trail Run.  Fuhr crossed the finish line in 1:48:28, almost 6 minutes ahead of runner-up, 36-year old Anissa Seguin. For the men, Timphony had the fastest time of the day finishing in 1:34:32, almost 5 minutes faster than Jon Clark, 34.

In the 6K race, Beverly Hills resident Lynne Fiedler, 45, crossed the finish line first for the women in 31:08, more than 2 minutes faster than 36-year old Rosa Melendez. In the men’s race, Venice, CA native Nathan Prevendar, 25, and his time of 26:18 merely edged out Chad Walsh, 31, of Los Angeles for the win. The final race in the XTERRA SoCal Series is this weekend at the XTERRA Vail Lake Xduro May 17 in Temecula, CA.

   

 

XTERRA Muddy Moose Xduro

 

Concord local Corey Voilard, 29, and Beverly, MA resident Lyne Bessette, 33, finished first in the 22K race at the XTERRA Muddy Moose Trail Runs on May 11 in Wolfeboro, NH. Voilard crossed the finish line in 1:33:25, more than two minutes ahead of runner-up Andrew Dirt-Baird, 35, of Portland, ME. For the women, Bessette beat Tilton, NH native Aliza LaPierre, 27, by more than two minutes with her time of 1:53:26.

It was a happy Mother’s Day for new mom Elizabeth Corbally, 27, from Alton, NH who won the women’s 6k race just six weeks after giving birth. With her time of 31:33, she beat North Haverhill, NH resident Erin Nielson, 26, by less than a minute. The men’s race was won by hometown hero Brendan Stackhouse, 15, from Wolfeboro who beat Jesse Lush, 17, from Ossipee, NH by under a minute as well as he crossed the finish line in 26:20. Next up for the XTERRA New England Series is the XTERRA STOAKED 16k Trail Run in Hanover, NH on August 9.

For questions about the XTERRA 2008 Trail Run Series, contact emily@xterraplanet.com or visit www.xterratrailrun.com.

RUNNER SPOTLIGHT: TIM VANORDEN - "RUNNING RAW"

XTERRA met Tim VanOrden at the XTERRA Merrimack River Trail Run on April 12. He recently moved to New England to work on a documentary about a raw vegan diet and its effects on athletic performance. We caught up with him after the race to ask him about his experiences on the trails and how nutrition has changed his life.

How long have you been running? When did you start trail running?
I ran in high school and my freshman year in college (1987), but quit due to knee and ankle injuries and exercise induced asthma. I started running again in December of 2005 after switching to a raw vegan diet and experiencing a new level of energy. I was worried that my ankle and knee injuries would come back, so I did most of my runs on the trails and fell in love with trail running. I was quite surprised at how much speed and endurance I had after 17 years off from running, so I decided to make a documentary about a raw vegan diet and its effects on athletic performance. My website is www.runningraw.com.

What is the best part about trail running?
Running through gorgeous environments, seeing animals, endless variety of scenery, challenging trails, the quiet, the amazing thoughts that fill my mind, a sense of peace.

What motivates you to run?
I’m trying to set an example. By demonstrating that one can be a top athlete while eating a raw vegan diet, I’m hoping to inspire other athletes and especially children to change their diets and better their performances and their health.

What advice would you give others just starting in the world of trail running?
Take it slow at first. If you run too hard, you won’t be able to take in the view and see the amazing sights that few people have the opportunity to see. Don’t be a slave to your watch. Get out there and make it an adventure, not a workout. The workout will happen anyways.

What makes up your running schedule?
70 miles a week of 70% trails, 20% roads at a “tempo” pace, and 10% at the gym doing leg strength on a stairmaster.

Where is your favorite place to go trail running?
Southern Vermont. The trail networks are endless. I can run out the door from my house and connect to the Appalachian Trail without ever hitting a paved road. From there I can go forever.

How does trail running help you in other areas of life?
No matter how much stress I may experience in life, a good trail run will completely erase it. I bring a little digital voice recorder with me on all my runs. All of my best ideas come to me as I trail run. My mind relaxes and opens up. The trail is my mobile office.

What XTERRA events have you competed in?
The Malibu Creek Trail Challenge is my favorite. The trail is as challenging as they come. The 2,500 foot vertical climb is relentless, but the views at the top are some of the best in the world. Rock formations that look like they belong on Mars, a view of the Pacific almost 3,000 feet below you on the right, and the rugged mountains of Malibu Creek State Park on your left.
Boney Mountain is a very challenging course with gorgeous views of Boney Mountain, perhaps the prettiest mountain in all of Southern California.
Merrimack River 10 Miler was by far the most competitive and liveliest bunch of runners that I’ve had the pleasure of running with. You can’t beat that New England spirit.

XTERRA trail runs are…?
Something that I look forward to all year. They are milestones in my training and racing schedule.

You can learn more about Tim’s raw vegan diet and its effects on running at www.runningraw.com.

If you would like to nominate someone for the Runner Spotlight, email emily@xterraplanet.com.