The 2009 Ice Age Trail 50 had a huge LPTR presence with 20 runners participating on Saturday. Our group placed an amazing 9 runners in the top 25 of the 50 mile. Christine Crawford defended her title, grabbing first place in the women's 50 mile competition and 8th overall in 7:33:42. Julie Treder cracked the top five as well, placing forth in the women's field and first in her age division (41st ov., 9:03:38). Angela Barbara (141st, 10:58:58), Deb Vomhoff (144th, 10:59:39) and Beth Simpson-Hall (153rd, 11:07:13) all finished within 10 minutes of each other, adding yet another race to their long ultra running resumes. Beth added some hardware as well, taking 2nd in her age division.
The men were led by Dave Dehart. Running from behind, Dave methodically moved up through the second half of the race with negative splits. He picked off runners one by one to take 5th overall in 7:20:57.
Two more LPTR men placed in the top ten including Joel Lammers (6th, 7:28:46) and Jim Kirschbaum (9th, 7:44:40). The next three group runners finished under 8 hours. Easily the best looking runner of the group, Kevin Grabowski, (just checking if anyone really reads this...) placed 11th (7:48:59). Robert Wehner took 12th (7:49:54) and Ron Bero was 14th in 7:57:29. Bruce Udell and Jim Ricker notched their first 50 milers taking 20th (8:23:03) & 23rd (8:31:31) respectively.
Competing in more ultras already this year than most people do in a full year, Brad Birkholz knocked out another one (35th, 8:51:09). Jeff Mallach dropped over 50 minutes from last year's time (90th, 10:01:23), Casey Schutte ran 10:02:47 (92nd) and Jim Blanchard finished in 148th, 11:03:23.
In the 50K, Brian Seegert placed 10th overall and second in his age division with a 4:49:03, while Trish Diaz and Jamey Anderson earned their trail ultra-marathoning credentials by completing their first attempts in 6:31:16 (57th) and 6:31:17 (58th).
(Photos from the Ice Age Trail Run by Bill Flaws - RUSA Webmaster)
I said the whole group would beat me. Thanks to Jim, Angela, Deb and Beth for proving me wrong!
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