Sunday, November 8, 2009

Michael Completes Trail Marathon

Michael ran in the Lithia Loop Trail Marathon in Ashland Oregon on Nov. 7. Here's a description taken from the local running club blog.

Runners can expect much more than the standard marathon “bonk” at this year’s USA Track & Field Trail Marathon Championships. Runners will face an initial eight-mile, 3,200-foot ascent through the steep Siskiyou Mountains that shadow the southern Oregon town of Ashland. The trails and fire roads do flatten out for twelve miles in the middle of the race but maintaining pace may become difficult at the oxygen deprived 5,000 foot level. The final six miles and 3,000 feet of descent will test even the strongest of quads as runners descend on technical single track to the race’s finish at Ashland’s town center, Lithia Park.

He finished 59th with a time of 3:57:31. This was great, especially considering:
  • Not much of the race is on paved surface
  • There is a tremendous altitude change
  • Michael was just getting over the flu
Congrats, Michael!


1 comment:

Steph said...

That is incredible, 26.2 on what sounds like some rough terrain and just getting over the flu, wow, impressive!! Congrats to Michael!!!