December 2009
In the Bitterroot Athlete Valley

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Years! Some runners got together for a 7:00 New Year's Eve run followed by a delicious dinner. We took a moment to light some sparklers under the cloud-covered Blue Moon before most took off on an 8.5-mile run on Old Darby Road. I did a "token" 3-mile run on Sleeping Child. I knew drivers had to be wondering "Who the heck would be running alongside the road at night on New Year's Eve?" ...so I was eager to get off the road early. We also had a swim group do a 2010-yard, no-stop swim in the AM, a good healthy way to start 2010.  (Thank you for the courtesy photos: Sparklers Jenn Turner & Pool pic Kristen Weese.)

Local Events - Bart Yasso

December 2nd, Bart Yasso, CRO (Chief Running Officer) of Runner's World Magazine came to Missoula and did a talk entitled: "Never Limit Where Running Can Take You."  He was an endearing speaker confiding in the audience that he basically wrote his own job description.  He said that he had been at Runner's World 23 years and has had five bosses. Whenever a new boss came in and asked for his job description, he wrote it to reflect exactly what he wanted to do since he is the only CRO around.

Bart also announced to a packed room at the Doubletree, that the Missoula Marathon won the Readers First  Choice Award as the best overall marathon in the country. Bart was impressed also that it won over Boston, New York and Chicago, which boast 40,000 runners each.  Missoula's Marathon had 620 racers and 1,258 for the half marathon last year. Bart said that he may have to come and run it. He recommended doing a 16-week plan for a full marathon and a 12-week plan for a half. 

He then went on to speak about highlights of his career in races that he participated in for the magazine.  He did the first Death Valley race, Badwater-146 miles with temperatures up to 124 degrees, when only six people participated in it.  His story put the race on the map.  He did a race in Colorado where everyone had to run with a donkey; a 5K at the Tajmahal arriving via the dignitaries only special gate; the Antarctic Marathon, which Matt Guzik also did; a test run for an official race in Nepal, but there were too many rhinos on the road; and a Bare Buns race, not sure which one as I see there are a number of them online!  He also did seven races in seven days in Iraq with the military and the Kilimanjaro Marathon, which was a funny story. 

Bart was the only white guy racing with all the natives and although he was slender, he felt fat compared to them. When the gun sounded, he barely took two steps and was left in the dust! He said, "There were 12-yr-olds running in sandals that ran faster than me!"  As he ran by spectators, he heard over and over, "Poli poli man jeuli!!" He was happy the people were cheering him on!  He later found out that that meant, "Look at the slow white man!"  He ran one of his fastest marathons at 2:40, but when he came in to the finish line, there was no finish line! They had cleaned up, packed up and left!  He wandered to the nearest water hole and asked what happened. A local friend said that they clean up after the "stragglers" come in at 2:20!!  His friend said that he knew Bart would figure out where to go.

Bart Yasso was an entertaining speaker.  He did the Boston Marathon in 2:40:03 in 1983, a 50 miler in 5:41 and he said the only difference to him between running and jogging is spelling. He said he goes out to jog. Steve Gideon, Seth Garbet and Heather DeMorest were in the audience too. They just did their first workout with the Mountain West Track Club in Missoula.

Como Trails Ski Presentation

A skate ski demo is slated for Sunday, February 7th, check for info at Valley Bike. 

Tony Neaves of Valley Bike held an informational presentation about the new Como Trails at Lake Como for skate and cross country skiers. It was standing room only with over 55 people eager to hear about the new 18+ miles of groomed territory.  The 550 and 550A roads are the main arteries, which is also the Lake Como Triathlon bike route. One of the single tracks is used, but you take off your skies and hike up it or down it in which the "up" is a good workout! 

Parking is at the boat launch parking lot where a comments box can also be found.  (Positive comments are highly encouraged to Forest Service Agent, Erica Strayer-Ellison) Currently, we are hiking through the woods to the 550/550A intersection and walking .7 miles up 550A to put on our skis due to the lack of snow.  But, after that the conditions are excellent. The three times I have been up there, the skate skiers are coming out of the woodwork. I met Megan of Simple Yoga, on the hill and she said that she saw the article about the Como Trails in the Dillon newspaper.  Here is the Ravalli Newspaper article that has reached other newspapers as far away as Bellevue, Washington according to calls that Tony has received. So the word is getting out and there are lots of happy smiling faces getting in good skate ski days so close to home. (Ski photo courtesy of Cory Soulliard)

In the above map, the top red line is Road 13201. The second red line parallel to it is 13200. 550A is the bottom Road off of 550. There is a nice panorama lookout off 13200 and 13201.  The roads WILL have more interesting names. As soon as we get more snow, the horse-camp area will be groomed for beginners to practice the sport. 

The Trails are also one of the few dog-friendly ski areas to get your dog a good workout too.  Clean-up after your dog is requested for track maintenance. 

Tony Neaves and Randy Leavell are grooming the 18+ miles of Forest Service roads with their equipment and are taking donations for gas and maintenance at Valley Bike. Maps and rentals are at Valley Bike and condition updates can be found at MissoulaNordic.org.  The Como Trails Club is in the works also to support the trails. Now all we need is MORE snow!

Saturday Runs

Finally, some space for runners. The Saturday runners are keeping up their winter routine.  December 5th and 12th we met at River Rising and ran 4.6+ miles each time.   The 19th we ran from my place, 5.7 miles and had to get a picture later while we were all watching the Ironman, Kona.  Caroline Yetter made it to the group too while visiting "home."  (She is currently working in Yakima.) On Christmas day morning, Justin, Cory and I all ran a frosty 8:30 AM run to keep Cory company while he continued his 10+ years of this Yule-run tradition.  We gathered again on the 27th for another frosty run off Skalkaho from Jim and Jamie Woods' home.  A few of us did a six-mile loop and others did 7.5.  Stan Doran was visiting and ran with the group. (I can see that the lens was fogged due to the frosty temps.) Mileage is beginning to pick up in anticipation of the Seeley Lake Snow Joke Half Marathon Saturday, Feb. 27th.

A good-bye for now to our good friend and triathlete, Claire Checroun. Her Visa expired and she had to move back to France at least until she finds another research job here.  She loves the Bitterroot.  We will miss you Claire, hurry back!

Thank you and have a great month. Antara Croft

*POWDER HOUND WINTER TRIATHLON

5K Run – 10K Mountain Bike – 5K Nordic Ski.
10:00 AM, Sunday, January 31st – Homestake Lodge, Butte
Discover the Northern Rockies First Winter Triathlon. Be a Powder Hound.
Triathletes, skiers, cyclists, runners, multisport enthusiasts welcome. Beginners, individuals, pairs, teams of three racers welcome, too. $500 Rudy Project shopping spree for #1 male & female finisher. $300 CrossFit 4800 3-month membership for #2 male & female finisher. Registration includes race, lunch, libations courtesy of Big Sky Brewing, and a free ski pass for a full day of Nordic skiing at Homestake Lodge. Race Director Chris Axelson 406-585-8052. chris@homestakelodge.com. Register @ www.active.com. Early bird discount available until 1/16/2010.

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