One race day, many stories as runners hit road for Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Seattle

Seattle Times Newspaper

One race day, many stories as runners hit road for Rock 'n' Roll Marathon
By Nick Perry
Seattle Times staff reporter

Jordan Denmark never planned to enter Saturday's inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon. In fact, he wasn't any kind of runner at all. But then last month his dad, a 64-year-old endurance athlete, died suddenly from a heart attack, and Denmark, using a borrowed bib, decided to run as a tribute.

"It was very surreal," Denmark, 30, said after finishing the half-marathon in about two hours. "It was a way to get in touch with him."

For each of the 25,000 runners who entered Saturday's race, there was a story. There was the woman recovering from gastric-bypass surgery. The man trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon. The person tap-dancing for 13.1 miles.

For most of them, Seattle's largest-ever marathon unfolded with few hitches. The weather was sunny, the route along Lake Washington offered spectacular views, and the event was choreographed with precision. Perhaps the biggest single complaint was snarled traffic on Interstate 5. Some of those trying to make it to the start were delayed for 30 minutes or more.

Because the start was staggered over more than an hour to accommodate everyone, runners who arrived after the 7 a.m. horn were still able to get going. Once on the road, there was plenty to keep runners entertained, from the cheer squads and bands scattered every mile or so, to the views.

"We saw an eagle. It was just gorgeous," said Sarah Coad, 28, of Bellevue. "It was sitting there on a branch looking so majestic as it looked out over the water."

Coad said running over bridges she would normally drive changed her perspective of Seattle: "Somehow you feel like you own the city."

The music on 27 stages — a feature of the Rock 'n' Roll marathons — ranged from reggae and rock to alternative. Perhaps the strangest sounds came from bands playing inside the Mount Baker Tunnel, where the music bounced eerily off the walls as runners raced across the Interstate 90 floating bridge.

The high-school cheer squads vied to outdo each other for cash prizes of up to $1,000. They were judged for their enthusiasm, creativity and outfits.

The Rock 'n' Roll marathons — there likely will be 17 nationwide by next year — are run by a private company, the Competitor Group. The races have become a big business, attracting national sponsors such as Miller brewing. The Seattle Times is a media sponsor. The Competitor Group also has been able to leverage local volunteerism and tax dollars — more than $800,000 in this region over three years.

A number of runners in the Seattle event had run previous Rock 'n' Roll marathons. The Competitor Group offers a series of medals for those who enter multiple races in a single year.

"I want the super-six medal that you get," said Shelley Perkins, 35, of Phoenix, who has now run two Rock 'n' Roll marathons this year and has four more planned. It's a great way to see the country, she said.

Others run to raise money for charity. Harry Flint, 57, of Calgary, said he's run in 26 races since 2005 and raised $60,000 for diabetes causes. He said he suffers from Type 2 diabetes but is able to control the disease through diet and exercise.

For the police keeping an eye on the streets, the main problems were traffic-related, said Seattle police Lt. Clay Monson.

"We've never had a running event anything like this big. It's been going well, with some minor issues," Monson said about five hours into the race. "Traffic has been really slow and heavy, with a quarter-mile or a half-mile of congestion getting onto I-5. But it's moving, slowly."

Dana Vander Houwen, a spokeswoman for the Seattle Fire Department, said about 17 people were transported to area hospitals, either by the department or by private ambulance, for dehydration or over-hydration. None of the health problems appeared life-threatening, she added.

Marathon winner Peter Omae, of Kenya, looked fresh and untroubled as he crossed the finish line after keeping up a pace for 26 miles that few people could manage for even a quarter-mile. For many runners, though, the race took everything out of them.

Buddies Billy Ruiz, 23, and Jordan Ferris, 21, finished the half-marathon drenched in sweat and hobbling. The pair said they'd gone for only a couple of training runs — nothing over six miles — but felt they couldn't miss the first Rock 'n' Roll race here.

"I'm feeling like I've never felt before. I've got cramps, I'm exhausted," Ruiz said. After pausing a minute, he added, "I guess a marathon is the next step."

His friend looked at him.

"I don't know, man."

Rock 'N' Roll Seattle Marathon Photos

Rock 'N' Roll Seattle Marathon Photos from seattlepi.com

Registration opens for 21st Annual Sourwood 5K - Black Mountain, NC - August 8, 2009

2009 marks the 21st running of the Sourwood 5k, a premiere running event that is part of the Black Mountain Sourwood Festival. Also returning is the Cheshire Pump & Run where participants can earn deductions off their 5k time for doing bench presses pre-race. Check out http://www.sourwood5k.com/ for more details and registration information.

Going Green! @ Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon & 1/2 Marathon

Going Green!

The inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon & ½ Marathon is going green! We are working with Athletes for a Fit Planet on a number of initiatives to reduce the event’s environmental impact. Here’s a list of our green efforts and how you can help.
Recycling & Composting
Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle will be the first big city marathon to compost all used cups on the course. Over 500,000 cups will be composted and turned back into usable soil.
We’ll be recycling at the Health & Fitness Expo and from the start to the finish of the race. We expect to divert more than 1 ton of waste from landfill on race day. Please help us reduce our total landfill trash by recycling your plastic bottles, paper, cardboard, aluminum cans, and other recyclable waste in the appropriate bins.
We’ll be collecting empty GU energy gel packs on the course and sending them back to GU as part of their Stash Your Trash program. For every 50 we send back, GU energy gel will donate $5 to charity.
Reducing our Carbon Footprint
We encourage participants to take public transport to the Health & Fitness Expo.King County Metro provides easy access to the Qwest Field Event Center, for more information click here.
If public transportation isn’t an option, share a ride and reduce emissions! We have promoted PickUpPal, a free online rideshare program, to connect drivers and passengers and share rides to the event.
If you must drive or fly to Seattle for race weekend, consider offsetting emissions by purchasing a FitPlanet/NativeEnergy Green Tag. For just $2.50 you can offset 300 lbs, which is equivalent to about 300 miles of driving. Green Tags can be purchased online at FitPlanet online store or at the FitPlanet booth at the Health & Fitness Expo.
Other Green Initiatives
Even our portable toilets are green! Chemicals used in the tanks are non-toxic and the paper is recycled.
We’ve partnered with Carter Subaru in Ballard as the Official Auto Sponsor of the event. Subaru is known for Partial Zero Emission Vehicles (ninety percent less emissions than average new vehicles). Additionally, for each car test-driven at Carter Subaru, one tree will be planted in the Mountains to Sound Greenway, funded by Carter Motors. For each car purchased, three additional trees will be planted.
Discarded clothing at the start line is being donated to a local 501(c) (3) charity, Northwest Center, assisting children and adults with disabilities since 1965. http://www.rnrseattle.com/www.nwcenter.org
Final Information Pamphlets were e-mailed instead of printed and mailed to 25,000 participants.
Powdered Cytomax is mixed and served at all 18 on course aid stations, to significantly reduce plastic bottle waste on the course.
Say thank you to our rockin’ Green Team volunteers on race day for their much appreciated help in greening the inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle!

XTERRA Tahoe City set to return to Commons Beach

SierraSun.com

Expect to see some of the region's top triathletes and mountain bikers compete in the annual XTERRA Tahoe City at Lake Tahoe's North Shore on Saturday.“The venue's hard to beat,” said Race Director Todd Jackson. “It's a triathlon with a view.” The race starts with athletes diving into the brisk waters of Lake Tahoe from Commons Beach for a 1,500-meter swim, followed by a run to the transition area on Grove Street.Cold? Racers are sure to get their blood flowing as they head up a long climb on their mountain bikes to the Burton Creek State Park trail system for two fast “lollipop” laps through the forest and alpine meadows filled with wildflowers in bloom. After a long descent back to the transition area, athletes switch to running shoes and head back into the woods for a challenging and hilly 10-kilometer trail run.The race finish couldn't be more picturesque, with competitors crossing the finish line with “Big Blue” as the backdrop. Followed by a post-race barbecue and beer, it's no wonder racers keep coming back.“The race continues to grow each year,” Jackson said.As for spectators, there's plenty to see and do at the venue.“Commons Beach is the focal point of Tahoe City,” Jackson said. “It's a great place to spend some time.” The event also features a shorter, half-distance off-road triathlon suitable for beginners on Saturday and the Burton Creek Trail Runs the following day featuring a 5K, 10K, half-marathon and marathon. For more information and registration go to bigblueadventure.com.

XTERRA TAHOE CITY SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, JUNE 27th

6-7:15 a.m. — Athlete check-in — Commons Beach

6-7:15 a.m. — Transition area open — Lake Tahoe School

7:40 a.m. — Race briefing — Commons Beach

8 a.m. — Race start — Commons Beach

10:15 a.m. — First finisher — Commons Beach

11:30-end — Big Blue BBQ — Commons Beach

1:30 p.m. — Awards/raffle — Commons Beach

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Americans Josiah Middaugh & Shonny Vanlandingham win XTERRA South Central Cup in Heart of Arkansas

North Little Rock, AR (June 20, 2009) - For the first time in 2009 a pair of Americans took the top honors at an XTERRA Cup Championship race as Josiah Middaugh from Vail, Colorado and Shonny Vanlandingham from Durango, Colorado won the men's and women's pro titles on a sweltering hot day at the XTERRA South Central Cup in the Heart of Arkansas.
It's the first win for Middaugh since his XTERRA East title last year, and the first for Vanlandingham since her 2008 Southeast Championship in Alabama. Middaugh and Vanlandingham were the top Americans in the XTERRA U.S. Pro Series last year, and after six-of-eight races in the Cup Series are in the same spot this year - with both sitting in second place behind Conrad Stoltz and Melanie McQuaid, respectively.
The win by Vanlandingham, the most successful mountain biker in NORBA history with 15 national race wins and three Series titles, marks her second XTERRA Championship victory and also snaps McQuaid's five-race win streak. It's the fourth career XTERRA championship crown for Middaugh (who also won the Mountain title and XTERRA Canada championship in 2004).
The managing director of the XTERRA World Tour "Kahuna Dave" Nicholas was at Burns Park in North Little Rock where all the action took place and brings us this story...
It wasn’t easy, but Josiah Middaugh and Shonny Vanlandingham were victorious in very hot Arkansas today. The race started with a pro wave on a one-lap 1500 meter swim in warm – some said hot – water. The swim fractured early with Craig Evans and Christine Jeffrey leading the pack. Somehow Seth Wealing and Dan Hugo got dropped by the leaders early and this helped Middaugh and Nico Lebrun who were able to stay within a reasonable distance. Mike Vine was totally bonked by the hot water and had a miserable start to the race, as did Brian Smith.
Evans was riding his kind of course and while Hugo caught Josiah, they did not see the Tennessee coach until after the first lap.
“We started lapping people about 200 meters into the second lap and while this course is fun single track, it was tough to pass” lamented Hugo.
Halfway through the second lap Hugo was all over Middaughs’ rear wheel while Evans was solid in third with Lebrun coming up fast. On the women’s side Jeffrey was also smoking fast and it took McQuaid a full lap to catch her. Bad luck for the tall Jeffrey ensued, however, as she broke a chain and fell way back. This put Shonny Vanlandingham up into second with Jen Smith riding beautifully in third.
Hugo and Middaugh were literally a couple feet apart coming into T2. Lebrun had passed Evans into 3rd and was only a minute or so behind the leaders.
“Dan and I were pacing ourselves because of the heat when I heard the announcer say that Lebrun was in transition” said Middaugh. “I had some reserve in hand and figured I would spend what I had right there so Nico would never see me. When that guy sees you it’s like he gets into another gear.”
Hugo heard it as well and simply figured “I’m toast”.
Melanie had a good lead at T2 but was feeling ill from some bad food on Friday. Shonny is a native Texan and grew up in the heat and was looking OK, but she’s a poker player and is one you cannot tell much from by looking at her. Sure enough, Mel began to fade and what was a 50-second lead going out on the run turned into a 30-second deficit to Vanlandingham about a mile out from the finish.
The men figured correctly as Nico was coming. “It was so hot I kept going at a training pace.. .everybody was slow today because of the heat” said the Frenchman. His training pace was good enough to get past Hugo and he got within 25-seconds of Josiah but began feeling the heat. “When your mind starts going crazy, it’s time to slow down” laughed Nico. “I could see Josiah, but I had nothing for him.”
Middaugh was able to actually stretch the lead in the last nasty mile known as “the quarry”. Nico was a solid second, Hugo a lonely third, and Mike Vine – hurt by the swim and slowed with a flat on the bike - had the energy on the run to take him into 4th place.
Shonny came home with her first win of the year at the hometown track of her bike sponsor Orbea. Melanie kept it together for second but required a bunch of treatment at the finish. Jen Smith a wonderful third, Rebecca Dussault a career-best 4th and the resilient “nothing can stop me” Jeffrey back up into 5th.
This site is a winner. Lots of places to stay and Little Rock has entertainment galore, great BBQ places, country places, jazz and blues clubs and the very nice Riverfront Walk and Market. The bike course is a bundle of nice single track with some open spots, and the run is tough but goes up and over some high bluffs and cliffs with fantastic views of downtown, the river, and all the way back to the compound.
TOP PRO MEN
Pl Name Age Hometown Time Pts Purse
1 Josiah Middaugh 30 Vail, Colorado 2:06:06 100 $1,800
2 Nico Lebrun 35 Digne-les-Bains, France 2:07:00 90 $1,250
3 Dan Hugo 23 Stellenbosch, South Africa 2:10:52 82 $800
4 Mike Vine 35 Victoria, B.C., Canada 2:13:06 75 $500
5 Brian Smith 33 Gunnison, Colorado 2:15:42 69 $400
6 Craig Evans 31 Spring Hill, Tennessee 2:16:23 63 $300
7 Seth Wealing 30 Boulder, Colorado 2:21:00 58 $200
8 Matt Boobar 36 Stratton Mountain, Vermont 2:28:38 53
9 Will Kelsay 27 Boulder, Colorado 2:45:44 49

TOP PRO WOMEN
Pl Name Age Hometown Time Pts Purse
1 Shonny Vanlandingham 39 Durango, Colorado 2:21:24 100 $1,800
2 Melanie McQuaid 35 Victoria, B.C., Canada 2:24:38 90 $1,250
3 Jenny Smith 36 Westport, New Zealand 2:28:48 82 $800
4 Rebecca Dussault 28 Crested Butte, Colorado 2:36:58 75 $500
5 Christine Jeffrey 36 Guelph, Ontario, Canada 2:41:56 69 $400
6 Erin Kummer 24 Boulder, Colorado 2:45:44 63 $300
7 Alexendra Borrelly 33 Digne-les-Bains, France 3:07:46 58 $200
XTERRA CUP SERIES STANDINGS
The top five men remain the same although Middaugh moves past Hugo into 2nd and Nico Lebrun jumps past Mike Vine into 4th. In the women's standings Jenny Smith moves up one to 3rd, and Christine Jeffrey jumps three from seventh to fourth. Pros count their best five scores in the eight races plus their points at the XTERRA USA Championship to determine final standings.
Pl Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 Total
1 Conrad Stoltz 100 100 100 69 100 DNS 469
2 Josiah Middaugh 90 82 90 DNS 90 100 452
3 Dan Hugo 82 75 75 100 69 82 414
4 Nico Lebrun DNF 69 69 90 82 90 400
5 Mike Vine 75 90 82 DNS 75 75 397
6 Craig Evans 49 49 63 63 53 63 291
7 Seth Wealing 37 63 DNS 82 49 58 289
8 Brian Smith 53 58 DNS DNS 63 69 243
9 Branden Rakita 45 53 53 75 DNS DNS 226
10 Will Kelsay 31 31 49 41 49 49 219
11 Matt Boobar DNS 34 45 34 41 53 207
12 Cody Waite 34 41 58 49 DNS DNS 182
13 Jasper Blake 69 DNS DNS 53 DNS DNS 122
14 Ryan DeCook DNP 45 DNS DNS 58 DNS 103
15 Ryan Ignatz 41 DNS DNS 58 DNS DNS 99
16 Steve Larsen 63 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 63
17 Jeff Smith 28 DNS DNS 31 DNS DNS 59
18 Justin Thomas 58 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 58
19 Brendan Halpin DNS DNS DNS 45 DNS DNS 45
20 Scott Gall DNS 37 DNS DNS DNS DNS 37
21 Adam Jensen DNS DNS DNS 37 DNS DNS 37
22 Chris Newell DNS DNS DNS DNS 37 DNS 37
23 Dominic Gillen DNS DNS DNS DNS DNF DNS

Pl Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 Total
1 Melanie McQuaid 100 100 100 100 100 90 500
2 Shonny Vanlandingham 90 75 75 DNS 90 100 430
3 Jenny Smith 53 69 63 DNS 75 82 342
4 Christine Jeffrey 69 82 DNS 82 DNS 69 302
5 Danelle Kabush 49 DNS 58 90 82 DNS 279
6 Erin Kummer DNS 49 49 53 58 63 272
7 Emma Garrard 63 58 69 69 DNS DNS 259
8 Rebecca Dussault 58 DNS DNS 63 63 75 259
9 Alexandra Borrelly 31 53 45 49 53 58 258
10 Renata Bucher 75 90 82 DNS DNS DNS 247
11 Lesley Paterson 82 DNS 90 DNS DNS DNS 172
12 Jari Kirkland 28 63 DNS 41 DNS DNS 132
13 Jenny Tobin 45 DNS DNS 75 DNS DNS 120
14 Sari Anderson 37 DNS DNS DNS 69 DNS 106
15 Tracy Thelen 34 DNS DNS 58 DNS DNS 92
16 Kristy Lanier DNS DNS 53 DNS DNF DNS 53
17 Jennifer Luebke DNS DNS DNS 45 DNS DNS 45
18 Ingrid Rolles 41 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 41

1 = Loews XTERRA West Cup - May 2
2 = XTERRA Midwest Cup - May 17
3 = XTERRA Southeast Cup - May 23
4 = XTERRA Northwest Cup - June 6
5 = XTERRA Atlantic Cup - June 14
6 = XTERRA South Central Cup - June 20
The XTERRA South Central Cup was the sixth of eight big XTERRA Cup championship races in the nationwide XTERRA America Tour that boasts 60 races in 32 states, and culminates in Utah for the XTERRA USA Championship on Sept. 26.
AMATEUR RACE: Omar Fraser of Birmingham, Alabama and Jocelyn Wood of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma won the amateur overall titles in 2:27:19 and 2:51:10, respectively. A complete list of age group champions and Maui qualifiers will be released in this week's XTERRA News.

Next up: XTERRA Northeast Cup on July 12 at Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vermont.
The 2009 XTERRA South Central Cup is presented by Paul Mitchell, and XTERRA.TV. National sponsors include GU, XTERRAGear.com, Rodale, Zorrel, Gatorade, Choice Hotels, and the Utah Sports Commission. Local sponsors include the Heart of Arkansas, Orbea, North Little Rock Advertising and Promotion Commission, North Little Rock Parks and Recreation, The Ride bike shop, Lewis and Clark Outfitters, Hippie-Tech Suspension, and Road ID.

XTERRA.TV - 24/7 WEB TV NETWORK
Check out XTERRA.TV to watch a wide variety of XTERRA programming right now. Available content, which is updated weekly, features everything from the Maui show to adventures in Saipan.

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