Sunday, December 30, 2012

Still working on the new web site.  course maps can be viewed in the may 2012 section of the archives

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Vacation is over time to start planning for 2013.  Sign up is up on Ultrasignup http://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=18570

Saturday, August 25, 2012

test runnner needed

Working on a reroute and would like to get some runners to check it out and give their opinion.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

2012 Race Peport

Records Fall at the Grand Mesa Ultra


By Trudy Berghauser, aid station coordinator



60K, 50 mile, and 100 mile trail run

July 28 & 29, 2012

Grand Mesa, Colorado



The temperatures in mid June passed the 100 degree mark. The usually bright blue skies were hazy with the smoke of distant wildfires. Every time our local volunteer fire department zoomed up Highway 65 toward Grand Mesa, race directors Phil Berghauser and Rick Schaefer and their enthusiastic volunteers would wonder if the Third Annual Grand Mesa Ultra would actually take place this year.

But the monsoons arrived early, bringing much needed rain to western Colorado. Race check-in saw runners and staff dodging rain drops and small hail stones. Puddles formed in the parking lot of the Grand Mesa Lodge and the pre-race dinner of pasta salad, Olathe sweet corn, and homemade cookies was consumed amidst the rain and mud.

The weather gods smiled on the event, with partly cloudy skies and cooler temperatures on race day. The usually vicious mosquitoes weren’t even too bad this year. Runners for all three distances headed off into the predawn darkness from the start at the Grand Mesa Lodge. They followed the rocky Crag Crest Trail to the spine of Grand Mesa. Lucky runners caught the sunrise at 11,200 feet. At the first aid station back at the lodge, Alex Johnson and Karl Shadduck were leading the 60K runners with Rick Gregory only minutes behind. Johnson gradually gained a lead throughout the race and would go on to win the 60K in 5:17, a new course record. Shadduck took second at 5:34 and Gregory finishing third at 5:48. Emma Lohr was the top women’s finisher and fifth overall with her women’s record of 6:08.

After leaving the Grand Mesa Lodge Aid Station, the runners journeyed toward Grandby Lakes on a “road” that has been described as “a bunch of rocks with a little dirt thrown in between them”. After the Grandbys, the runners continued on to Flowing Park, the turn-around point for the 60K. The 50 and 100 milers continued on to Indian Point, a 14-mile loop of open meadows with spectacular views of the Gunnison River Valley, the Uncompahgre Plateau, and the San Juan Mountain. In the 50-mile run, Duncan Callahan and Troy Howard ran a close race and were neck-and-neck through Indian Point and Flowing Park. Callahan gained the lead on his way to the finish, winning the 50 with a time of 7:20, a new course record. Howard finished a strong second with 7:35. Melanie Fryar was third overall and the top women’s finisher at 8:20. This is a new women’s record.

While the 60K and 50 milers were headed back to friends, family, comfy chairs, and cold beers at the finish, the 100 milers had many long, rough miles ahead of them. After receiving cheers, refreshments, and free Cds by the David Starr Band (thanks for being a sponsor, David!) at the Carson Lake Aid Station, the runners descended into the heat of Kannah Creek. After a rough nine miles of rocky twists and turns, the runners entered “The Moo-tivation Station” aka Kannah Creek Aid Station. Then came the crux of the race - the 4,000 foot climb back to the top of the Mesa. Following the ascent, the runners caught a break as they traveled the nearly level roads to Land’s End and Anderson Lakes Aid Stations. After a shorter descent to Mesa Lakes and the climb back up “Kill Phil Hill” (yes…it is named for the race director), the trail wound around lakes and through meadows back to Carson Lake and eventually to the finish.

Michael Carson held the lead through the first part of the race. He missed a turn headed to Carson Lake and Jeremy Bradford moved to the front. Bradford extended his lead as the race progressed, finishing at 20:33, shattering the previous course record of 23:26. Carson ran a great race, finishing second with 21:34. Bryce Astill took third with 23:48.

“If you’re looking for a challenge, this is where you’re going to get it,” said Dale Hawkins after completing his second successful finish of the 100 mile course. Out of 22 starters, only 9 racers completed the 100 mile run this year. No women have completed the course (yet!).

When asked more about the race, Hawkins continued, “It was challenging. It was hard. Some of the trails are primitive with some tricky marking. The aid station volunteers were fantastic and went above and beyond. I can’t say enough about the beauty of the course.”

I am fortunate as the aid station coordinator to experience this event with my family and my friends. I get to see amazing things and meet wonderful people. But I think the high point of this year was to see a group of 30 to 40 runners, crew members, and race staff gather together as a community as 72-year old Hans-Dieter Weisshaar crossed the 100-mile finish with a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face. He hugged his wife, Susi, first, but then proceeded to hug everyone else. Hans, you rock!

To all of the runners, crews, and family…it was great to meet you. I hope to see you again.

To all of the volunteers…I love you guys! Couldn’t do it without you.

To our ham radio operators….thanks for keeping everyone safe and smiling!

To my husband, the race director…You are absolutely nuts for doing this. (When’s next year’s race?)

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Photos

As photos come in they are added to the photo stream to the right

Phil

Monday, July 30, 2012

Thanks

Wow what a weekend. I would like to thank every for coming out. I will have results posted by tomorrow night.


For those of you who did not see any bears my wife pick one up a the flowing park aid station.


Sunday, July 29, 2012

Hundred mile Finish

Jeremy Bradford  Finished in 20 hours 33 Minutes
A new course Record

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Hundred mile update

Course record looks to be broken this year Jeremy Bradford is in the lead folowed closely by Michael Carson.

50 mile and 60 k winners

Duncan Callahan  50 mile  7hr 20 min
Melanie Fryar 50 mile 8hr 20 min

Alex Johnson 60 K 5hr 17 min
Kristi Ehie 7 60 k 7 hr 38 min

photos from first aid station



The first 60k runners reached the turn around at 8:28
Karl Shaddock in the lead

The Race is Underway

The Race has started under cloudy skies.  More updates as the day goes on

Monday, July 23, 2012

Weather Report

Forecast for Saturday morning  low of 48 at start  high of 68 at rand Mesa Lodge.
30%  chance o thunderstorms. or the 100 milers a high of 95 at the Kannah creek aid station.Saturday night a low of 50 . Sunday a high of 68 slight chance of Thunderstorms.

100 mile bib numbers

100 mile bib numbers
Bib No.
Name
1
Long, Tim
2
Astill, Bryce
3
Bouquet, Elizabeth
4
Bradford, Jeremy
5
Buckles, David
6
Bulwith, Lori
7
Burnham, Michael
8
Carson, Michael
9
Castle, Cheryl
10
Demaree, Scott
11
Furtaw, Edwin
12
Hawkins, Dale
13
Madden, Lisa
14
Pearson, Andy
15
Robillard, Jason
16
Robillard, Shelly
17
Rose, Michael
18
Scott, Jesse
19
Weisshaar, Hans-Dieter
20
Whitworth, Elroy
21
Wooderson, Chad
22
Jones, Charlie
99
Squires, Roger

Bib numbers 60k and 50 milers

60 k runners

Bib No.
Name
56
Beutler, Curtis
57
Bjork, Paul
58
Bradley, Marv
59
Ellwein, Jay
60
Fitts, Gary
61
Gregory, Rick
62
Johnson, Alex
63
Ka, Kummi
64
Langsfeld, Cosmo
65
Lottridge, Paul
66
Martin, Zachary
67
McEvoy, Phil
68
Mease, Don
69
Moritz, Ben
70
Shaddock, Karl
71
Vig, Scott
72
Williams, Rebecca
73
Kumari Drapkin, Julia
74
Mahoney, Mary
50 mile runners
Bib No.
Name
In
Out
In
Out
23
Boyd, Shauna
24
Bray, Daniel
25
Callahan, Duncan
26
Chamley, Mark
27
Cogswell, Meghan
28
Coughran, John
29
Depuy, Jon
30
Dhaliwal, Kam
31
Douglas, Tracy
32
Ehle, Kristi
33
Passenti, Brian
34
Fryar, Melanie
35
Hagel, Mike
36
Halladay, Jason
37
Harrison, Jonathan
38
Hill, Brian
39
Howard, Troy
40
Khvasechko, Julia
41
Lohr, Emma
42
Mangrum, Douglas
43
Mangrum, Ryan
44
Mathis, Micah
DROP
45
Mayson, Howard
46
Mueller, Markus
47
Muratori, Brett
48
Nicholls, Lisa
49
Pence, Eric
50
Peterson, Alex
51
Poland, Andrew
52
Rabb, Scott
53
Robinson, Lisa
DROP
54
Santa Teresa, Jc
55
Strattan, Sarah

Monday, July 16, 2012

Trail Marking


We will begin  trail marking on Saturday
If you're in town and want to tag along let me know.


The rain has brought out the wildflowers.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Race Info

Race Info was sent out tonight if you did not receive it .please email me and I will resend it.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Registration is Closed

We would like to thank everyone who signed up. We have reached our race limit . The aid station crews are ready, The Ham radio crews are ready and this year will be doing a live broadcast from Lands End.

Our race Mascot

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Trail day

Rick takes his trail clearing seriously.
Cleared the trees and brush along Coal creek and Switchback trails
and installed the Escalator

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Rain

Canopy sides getting washed in the rain the mesa is somewhere in that gray.
It is the first time since the end of April we have had rain at our house.
The mesa has been getting rain the last 3 days.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

The mesa tonight

Land End
The weather today 104 in the valley
70 on top


Looking towads Indian Point (middle distance) from
Lands End

looking down on the Pine Ridge fire north of the mesa
near  I 70
The fire is about 20 miles away.
Most days there is very little smoke,

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Signup ends Soon

Sign up ends soon July 7 is the last day . Ultrasignup

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

A little trail clearing

A little trail clearng on fathers day

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Some current course Photos

These Photos were takeing last Tuesday and Wensday by Ed & Gail Futaw






Monday, May 21, 2012

Trail Conditions

Went up on the meas this weekend. most of the snow is gone. Crag Crest still has some drifts in the trees.
Lands End road today

Anderson Lake last year The trail was 2' under the lake this year no lake


A little snow in the trees

Solar Eclipse from the top of the mesa

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Anderson lake to Carson lake

This is the last new section for the 100 milers the next two sections are done in reverse of what was done earlier in the run.

You will be going from right to left on the course profile.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

mesa lakes

This section will be a loop this year. I have seen several bears and a couple of moose in this area be alert.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Back on Top

You made it to Lands End. Its dark and the lights of Grand Junction are below you. the next seven miles
are pretty easy follow the main road to the Anderson lake aid Station this section is a gradual climb.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Let the Fun begin!

100 Milers you're at the Kannah Creek aid station mile 50. It's hotter than a volcano belching lava.  There is a crazy lady with cow bells taking care of your water bottles.  Is it a heat-induced hallucinatiion?



All you have to do is get up and climb a little over 4000' in 5.5 miles.