TALKING UP XTERRA

For those of you who just can’t get enough of XTERRA, visit our online forum to talk to other XTERRA enthusiasts. Catch up on the latest XTERRA news, post your own questions, help other athletes with your XTERRA knowledge, or simply reminisce about past XTERRA experiences. We regularly check the forums and would love to hear from you.

XTERRA COMMUNITY FORUM

RACE RECAPS

XTERRA Deep South 15K Trail Run
Wiley and Kenney finish first at 2008 XTERRA Georgia Trail Series finale.

Men's Winners
Chris Wiley (Atlanta, GA) - 54:12
Ian McCann (Atlanta, GA) - 56:05
Jason Veclotch (Tyrone, GA) - 58:33

Women's Winners
Samantha Kenney (Atlanta, GA) - 1:10:54
Andrea Valencia (Atlanta, GA) - 1:12:20
Molly Luchetti ( Atlanta, GA) - 1:14:12

Race Results | Race Report

XTERRA Warwick Park Ruckus 5K
XTERRA Warwick Park Ruckus crowns two new winners.

Men's Winners
Jonas Hampton - 18:35
Dan Dix - 19:14
Dan Sullivan - 19:48

Women's Winners
Lorraine Jasper - 23:13
Jerilyn Kucharski - 23:37
Deena Andrus - 23:58

Race Results | Race Report

XTERRA X-Country 8K Trail Run
Doland and Marinangeli cross the finish line first at XTERRA X-Country run.

Men's Winners
Jason Doland (Palatine, IL) - 29:27
Garrett McLinn (Hoffman Estates) - 30:32
Steve Breese (Palatine, IL) - 31:17

Women's Winners
Jean Marinangeli (Arlington Heights, IL) - 32:59
Taylor Penrod (Barrington, IL) - 33:29
Evelyn Wisniewski (Naperville, IL) - 36:44

Race Results | Race Report

XTERRA Wolf Mountain 10K Trail Run
DeVries and Cieslewicz win at XTERRA Wolf Mountain.

Men's Winners
Craig DeVries - 59:59
Matt Campbell - 1:01:33
Kevin Johnson - 1:04:03

Women's Winners
Rachel Cieslewicz - 1:08:06
Holly Ebert - 1:09:47
Angie Beebe - 1:11:47

Race Results | Race Report

 

XTERRA Gwynns Falls 5K/10K Trail Runs
Maryland runners finish strong at XTERRA Gwynns Falls Trail Runs

5K Men's Winners Ryan Handzo(Phoenix, MD) - 18:59 Curtis Henry (Columbia, MD) - 19:56 Justin Scarborough (Arlington, VA) - 20:30

5K Women's Winners Jael Koech ( Lake Wales, FL) - 21:51 Erin Sitera (Owings Mills, MD) - 22:25 Katlynn Coco (Perry Hall, MD) - 24:08

10K Men's Winners Chris Sams (Baltimore, MD) - 37:58 Jesse Albright (Annapolis, MD) - 41:02 Sean Costello (Ellicott City, MD) - 41:28

10K Women's Winners Sun Miner (Ellicott City, MD) - 47:04 Holly Marcum (Annapolis, MD) - 48:15 Heather Federici (Columbia, MD) - 53:48

Race Results | Race Report

 

XTERRA Oak Mountain Trail Runs

Tony Herndon, 39, from Birmingham and Mary Rosser, 33, of Columbiana, won the men’s and women’s divisions of the XTERRA Oak Mountain 21km trail run at Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham, AL.

 

21K Men's Winners Tony Herndon (Birmingham, AL) - 1:26:21 Owen Bradley (Birmingham, AL) -  1:30:47 Chris Lollar (Birmingham, AL) - 1:34:13 10K Men's Winners Drake Ott (Birmingham, AL) - 45:08 Joey Bole (Birmingham, AL) -  48:46 Brice Ott (Birmingham, AL) -  49:30 5K Men's Winners Nicholas Craig (Enterprise, AL) - 25:11 Alex Keith (Birmingham, AL) - 27:23 Eddie Lewis (Hanceville, AL) - 28:47

21K Women's Winners Mary Rosser ( Columbiana, AL) - 1:50:23 Dana Overton (Albertville, AL) - 1:52:57 Tiffany Clark (Pensacola, FL) - 2:00:52 10K Women's Winners Amy Mills-Avest  (Victoria, BC) - 52:14 Amy Price (Madison , AL) - 58:15 Kasey Perkins (Hattiesburg, MS) - 1:01:12 5K Women's Winners Emalee Butler (Hoover, AL) - 30:50 Sara Morrow (Birmingham, AL) - 32:22 Melissa Drew (Birmingham, AL) - 32:38

Race Results | Race Report

XTERRA Richmond Xduro

Tommy Greenless, 26, from Walnut Creek, CA and Esther Erb, 22, of Richmond, VA won the men's and women's division's of the XTERRA Richmond Xduro off-road half-marathon trail run.

 

21K Men's Winners Tommy Greenless (Walnut Creek, CA) - 1:23:31 Christopher Bain  (Rockville, MD) - 1:24:20 Marcus Jones (Richmond, VA) - 1:29:59 10K Men's Winners Charlie Hurt (Scottsville, VA) - 35:16 Skeeter Morris (Burkeville, VA) - 36:10 John Sharp (Richmond, VA) - 38:21

21K Women's Winners Esther Erb (Richmond, VA) - 1:36:25 Sophie Bos-Stapley (Montreal, QU) - 1:39:46 Esther Erbe (Springfield, VA) - 1:39:50 10K Women's Winners Lauren Tomory  ( Richmond, VA) - 42:27 Robyn Ritter (Richmond, VA) - 45:06 Jackie Kosakowski (Richmond, VA) - 45:13

Race Results | Race Report

XTERRA Hibernia Park Challenge 8K
Dix and Kucharski Back on top in XTERRA Philly Series at Hibernia Park.

Men's Winners
Dan Dix - 30:33
Dan Sullivan - 31:47
Derek Schultz - 33:20

Women's Winners
Jerilyn Kucharski - 39:35
Alison Gracey - 40:49
Olivia Powell - 41:15

Race Results | Race Report

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

XTERRA'S 4-LEGGED FINISHERS

D.D. WINS A YEAR SUPPLY OF AVODERM DOG FOOD AT XTERRA SOUTHEAST CHAMPIONSHIP K9 CHALLENGE

D.D., a 5-year-old 98-pound Rottweiler and her owner Rose Lehn of Birmingham won the owner-and-dog time Breeder’s Choice XTERRA K9 Challenge time trial race with a perfect run in 16.7 seconds.

“This was a really neat event and so much fun,” said Lehn, who won a year’s supply of AvoDerm Dog Food from the event sponsor. “D.D. is a working dog and she listens really well. She’s so big that the weaving in and out of those tight spaces was tough, but she did great. I’m really proud of her.”

PIPER WINS BREEDER’S CHOICE XTERRA K9 CHALLENGE AT THE XTERRA EAST CHAMPIONSHIP

Piper, a 2-year-old golden retriever, and her owner Janet Velenovsky of Montpelier, VA won the owner-and-dog Breeder’s Choice XTERRA K9 Challenge time trial race with a perfect run in 18.3 seconds at the XTERRA East Championship in Richmond, VA.

“This was great fun, what a wonderful idea,” said Velenovsky, a dog trainer and the President of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.

“This is a great way to build a relationship between dogs and their owners - to get out and play together like this. When you do things like this, owners are amazed at what their dogs can do and of course it’s wonderful exercise for both.”

With the win, Velenovsky also earned a year’s supply of AvoDerm Dog Food from Breeder’s Choice.

Both competitions were playful and downright fun to watch with all kinds of different breeds taking part in the event including dachshunds, Chihuahuas, terriers, German shepherds, Australian cattle dogs, Dobermans, Belgium schipperkes, and others.

The courses started with a quick sprint to a log step-over, then a crossing over a wooden plank, into a three fire-hydrant swerving shuffle, then the option of a speed-crawl through a five-foot long narrow tunnel or a three box climb (owner’s choice), and ended with a teeter-totter cross and two log step-overs.

These made-for-fun events do not require any specialized training, so all are welcome to come out and join in the fun.

The next chance to compete in the Breeder’s Choice XTERRA K9 Challenge will be at the XTERRA Mountain Championship on August 15 in Ogden, UT. For more information, visit www.xterraplanet.com.

RUNNER SPOTLIGHT: TONY HERNDON

Tony Herndon, husband and father of three from Birmingham, Alabama, came in first place at the June 7th XTERRA Oak Mountain Xduro. The run was part of a series of races benefitting Children’s Hospital of Alabama at the XTERRA Southeast Championship. Being a Pediatric Urologic Surgeon at Children’s, these races were particularly special to Tony. We caught up with the 21k winner after his victory where talked to us about his life as a doctor and as a trail runner.

How long have you been running? When did you start trail running?
I have been running since high school. I still hold the high school 2-mile record at 9:42, but I swam in college at the University of North Carolina. I quit after my freshman year and have been running since. I have mostly done marathons, but since moving to Birmingham 5-years ago, I have really gotten into trail running.

What is the best part about trail running?
The best part about trail running is there is no traffic! It is also always great to be one with nature. The scenery is always different even when you are running the same trail.

What motivates you to run?
It has always been a part of my everyday routine. Running keeps me focused, alert and helps maintain a healthy state of mind.

What advice would you give others just starting in the world of trail running?
Stay in the moment and don’t get ahead of yourself. You will need to watch directly in front of you for foot placement as opposed to running on the road. Run with a buddy and invest in a nice pair of trail shoes.

What makes up your running schedule?
Currently my coach Kevin Purcell (www.coachkp.com) is a tremendous resource for me. He allows me to focus on my key sessions for the week without the worry of figuring out what I need to do each day.

Where is your favorite place to trail run?
Oak Mountain State Park – Red Trail in Pelham, Alabama

How does trail running help you in other areas of life?
Like I said before, it helps me to stay focused and alert. It also motivates me to excel in other aspects of my life such as family and academia.

What XTERRA events have you competed in?
Last year I won the XTERRA Oak Mountain 10K, which was on a very hot evening. The course at Oak Mountain is extremely difficult with 8 ascents and descents which can be very technical when trying to maintain speed on a downhill.

What is your favorite XTERRA memory?
Hanging out with my buddies like Omar Fraser and Casey Fannin after they won their respective age groups at last year’s XTERRA Southeast Championship.

What XTERRA event are you training for now?
If I get my wife’s approval, I intend on showing up in Hawaii to toe the line for the XTERRA World Championship Xduro 21K on December 7.

Why are the XTERRA Oak Mountain Trail Runs so important to you?
Children’s Hospital of Alabama was the beneficiary of this year’s 5K and 10K trail run events. Children’s is one of only about 65 free-standing pediatric hospitals in the country. Over the years, we have outgrown our facilities, this year we have embarked on building a state of the art hospital in the next several years. Our new CEO, John Warren, has been very instrumental in encouraging and obtaining significant contributions from the community in support of this endeavor. Events such as the XTERRA Trail Runs bring great exposure to this process in addition to the financial benefit.

Personally, Children’s Hospital of Alabama means a great deal to me. From top to bottom and across all specialties, they excel at a national level. To be part of this process brings great fulfillment to me and more than compensates for the sacrifice it took through the 8 years of post medical school training to have the opportunity to help the children of Alabama.

Thank you Tony and congratulations on your victory at the XTERRA Oak Mountain Xduro. Hopefully we will see you in Hawaii.

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