The Epic Provisions Stage 5 was aptly named - it was indeed epic! With over 4100' of gain over the 24 miles of the stage, the ruggedness of the course was surpassed only by the early morning storm that pelted the runners with drenching rain and cold winds. Crew, spectators and photographers all pitched in to keep the field motivated and moving all the way to the finish line at the Vail athletic fields.
Things got a little moist out there today.
Tessa Chesser (Pete & Gerry's Organics) remained in control of the Run 6 Women's Open field with a commanding 4:04 run today. Monique Van den Boogart was just a few minutes back in 4:10 with Brianna Sacks cracking the top 3 with an authoritative 4:15.
Cody Reed (Under Armour/Coconino Cowboys) stayed calm, cool and collected on top of the Run 6 Men's Open leaderboard with a 3:24. Michael Sullivan of Seattle made his way onto the podium with a 3:33 run and Matthew Cavanaugh landed in third with a 3:37.
Plastic bags, garbage bags and duct tape...
anything to stay dry and warm.
In the Run 6 50+ category, Luanne Park took the top women's spot in 5:08, with Vicky Oswald (Gu) close behind in 5:10. Julie Ungerleider snagged the final spot on the podium with a solid 5:25 run.
Thomas Wood moved up a few places in the Run 6 men's category, finishing first with a strong 4:28. Chris Hill took second in 4:35 and Wilhelm Von Frenckell landed in third place with a 4:51 run.
Photos courtesy of Myke Hermsmeyer, Phillipp Reiter and Sportograf.
Beaver Creek Stage 6 Schedule:
5:30-6:30 AM - Breakfast at Vail Athletic Fields
6:40 AM - Call to Start
7:00 AM - Race Start
10:00 AM - First finishers arrive in Beaver Creek
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM - TRR Duffle bag and extra luggage pickup in front of Beaver Creek Chophouse
4:00 PM - Final finishers arrive at Beaver Creek
5:30 PM - Doors open for dinner at Park Hyatt Hotel
Beaver Creek Stage 6 Know Before You Go:
Today's start will be in the same place as yesterday's finish, at the Vail Athletic Fields
Drop bags will be accepted at the start
At the finish line you will be provided with a finisher's belt buckle (anyone crossing the line) and a finisher's t-shirt (for those who have completed all 6 stages)
Athlete luggage will be located in front of Beaver Creek Chophouse
The resort offers free shuttles to all hotels in the complex - look for the green vans at the Centennial Bus Stop
The final banquet will be located in the McCoy Peak Room of the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, just a few hundred feet from the finish line
The Race Office Sprinter Van will be parked in the Centennial Bus Station loop for any questions
Beaver Creek Stage 6 Preview:
22.4 miles / 36.1 kilometers
5,250 ft/1600 meters of elevation gain
Three Checkpoints at miles 7.6, 15.3 and 18.1
Stage 6 features a route from Vail to Beaver Creek with 5,250 feet of elevation gain. This route runs from the start in Vail Village on pavement, uses an overpass to cross the Interstate, and shortly enters the singletrack of Vail's North Trail. From there, it's a steady climb up the Buffehr Creek Trail and Red and White Mountain. Then a long descent down the shaded Buck Creek will bring runners into the town of Avon before the final climb into Beaver Creek, and a short downhill to the ultimate finish line.
Weather Forecast:
Partly cloudy skies in the morning will become overcast in the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High of 71 degrees with a low of 41 overnight. Winds out of the east at 10 mph with 56% humidity.
GU Mountain Heroes of the Day
Today we honor Lu Cox as our GU Mountain Hero of the Day. Lu is TRR's number one cheerleader. Day in and day out, she cheers her heart out from checkpoints along the course. An experienced runner/ mountain biker from Brazil, Lu knows exactly how to keep athletes motivated. Our Gu Straw Hats are off to you Lu!
Our second Mountain Hero of the Day Award goes to Marco Kollepel of Sportograf. He consistently strives to get the best photos, but today he really went above and beyond, assisting several runners on the course during a challenging storm. Well done, Marco and thank you!
