Red Rock Fat Ass 2013

The Red Rock Fat Ass is one of the longest lasting running events in Las Vegas. It is an annual celebration where local trail runners get together for one large group run. This year the event was revitalized with as many finishers as we've had starters over the past two years.

Approximately 20 runners came out to run various distances with 10 completing the full 50k distance. Shane Peterson nearly joined a select group to run under 4 hours 30 minutes missing it by less than a minute. Doug Wickert also made it under 5 hours. Long time local runner Dennis Jensen, finished for the first time in several years at the ripe age of 64.

(Photos by Kristin Wilson)

Mt. Taylor 50k

Congratulations to Shane and Josh at the Mt. Taylor 50k today. They both ran great on this high altitude course. They ran together all day, except the last 100 yards, Shane finished 4th and Josh 5th finishing right around 4 hours 50 minutes. Bootlegger course director Ian Torrance also ran the race finishing in 5 hours 15 minutes.

Congrats again, apparently the course scenery is stunning. Race link below for more information

http://mttaylor50k.com/home.php

Bishop High Sierra Ultras

Las Vegas was well represented at the 19th Bishop High Sierra Ultras this past weekend. Casey Harney and Doug Donovan ran the 50 mile while Shad Mickelberry, Matt Koppenheffer, Ashlee Homan, and Paul Daly were running the 50k.

L to R: Casey, Ashlee, Paul, Matt, Shad (photo by Rose Daly)

The races are run on 4x4 roads with constant views of Mt. Tom, Mt. Humphrey's and other peaks to the west of Bishop. After some up and downs for several miles the runners have a 13 mile climb. From there the 50k runners turn around for 15 miles of mostly downhill (50k course is 33.25 miles). The 50 mile runners continue for a couple of loops above 8500' elevation.

 Typical View Heading West (Photo Dr. Ben Jones)

Everyone had a good race with Casey finishing 10th in the 50 mile in 10:09 and Doug finished right behind him in 10:26. Shad won the 50K in 4:48, Matt was third overall in 5:15, Ashlee was 11th overall in 5:59, and Paul finished well in 7:52.

Shad at finish line (Photo Lambert Timmermans)

Matt apparently had some extra energy on climb (Photo Dr. Ben Jones)

Steady Casey (Photo Dr. Ben Jones)

Ashlee enjoying her training run for Bighorn (Photo Dr. Ben Jones)

Paul around mile 11 (Photo Dr. Ben Jones)

Congratulations to everyone on their well run races.

April 21-22 Results

There was a lot of action this weekend with runners racing all over the place.

Matt Koppenheffer placed 9th in the Ouchita Trail 50 miler in Arkansas. He finished in 9 hrs 11 minutes in his first 50 miler.

Josh and Hillary Brimhall were up in Salt Lake City for the Salt Lake Half Marathon. Josh finished in 1:15 minutes and Hillary in 1:41. Josh was sixth overall (nearly 3500 participants) and first out of state taking home some cash.

Paula had a great race at the Labor of Love 50k. She beat her previous 50k PR by an hour finishing in 6:14. Paula felt this was her best race yet.

Ian Torrance finished the Zane Gray 50 miler for the tenth time in 10:53. 

Zion Rim to Rim to Rim

On March 31st Shane Peterson, Matt Koppenheffer, Ashlee Homan, and Shad Mickelberry went up to Zion National Park for an adventure run. The plan was to start from the east entrance and travel the East Rim Trail to main canyon and then take the West Rim Trail to its terminus at Lava Point. 

Normally we would head to Grand Canyon this time of year for a double crossing but I wanted to try something a bit different without the hordes of people. Zion was a natural choice with its combination of lower visitation in the high country, beautiful scenery, and extensive trail system.

We turned around 2-3 miles short than planned because we had a set turn around time and the terrain on that part of the Kolob Plateau wasn't all that scenic. The weather was completely perfect all day and we finished up right at dusk after 13 hours on the trail which included a great deal of picture taking and goofing off.

This sort of trip is best told through pictures. 

Enjoy.

Taking a break near Stave Springs

Slickrock along East Rim Trail

Echo Canyon

Flying down switchbacks to Weeping Rock

Starting up West Rim Trail beneath Angel's Landing

Matt near top of West Rim main climb

Angel's Landing

Jolly Gulch

Aftermath of Telephone Canyon Trail debacle