Loon Mountain Race Report
June 24, 2006
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Loon Mountain was the second selection race for the Teva US Mountain Running Team, and the fourth event in the La Sportiva GoLite USATF New England Mountain Circuit. The top male finisher automatically qualifies for the Team (there are no automatic places for the women at this event).
Paul Low reports:
It was a decent mens field - Tim Parr, Andy Ames, Kevin Tilton - are all former National Team members, with Tim and Andy sticking around the extra week since Mount Washington.
Andy led out, on the opening flat sections - there wasn't enough mountain to emulate the World Trophy distance or time, so they added some course thru some parking lots before it got going up the mountain. Kind of like the Vail Hill Climb start, but the real estate was a lot more affordable.
I didn't get my 1 mile split, but it must have been close to 5:00 flat. It rolled for about 3 miles, then took a left turn and went straight up - up black diamond runs, on grass, not gravel so there was good traction. I was out front, but could still hear people behind me - you know, when it's that steep you might be a full minute ahead, but still only 50' away!
Kevin pulled away from Tim on this steep section. We reached the gondola top, then ran maybe a half mile down - for an "uphill race" there was downhill. And these were screamin' descents - you could hear your feet slapping on the ground. Then a right turn, and straight up again - like a 20-30%. I'm glad there wasn't anyone near me at that point; it was work. The course actually climbed a bit higher than the finish, then another steep descent before a gradual 100M to the finish - I was standing looking at it after finishing, thinking, "I ran down that?"
It was kind of like Cranmore last year - it might not be the ideal selection race, because of the downhills, but it was loads of fun. Paul and Dave put on a great race.
Paul won by 2:25 over Kevin Tilton; while Paul has already qualified, the automatic selection doesn't get passed down. There may be two instead of one "at large" selections made for the national Team.
The final selection race is the Vail Mountain Trophy Race on July 8; one automatic berth goes to the female and one to the male winner.
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