Pocatello 50 Mile Trail Run

Paul Losee receiving the coveted Caboose Award

2011 Results

2011 “threaded the needle” when it came to the weather during the race.  Race day, May 28th, could not have been any more perfect!  Due to extremely high snow pack (over 200% of normal) an alternative “snow route” was devised, which privided runners with an equally, if not more, challenging run through the mud, snow, water… and a few beautiful dry trails too.

FULL RESULTS – 20 MILE – 50 KM – 50 MILE

Top three runners in the three different races were as follows:

50 Mile Event (snow route resulted in an actual mileage of 53 miles)

• Women
• 1st – Joelle Vaught – 9:31
• 2nd – Diana Finkel – 11:05
• 3rd – Anny Merrill – 11:18
• Men
• 1st – Dakota Jones – 8:17
• 2nd – Zach Miller – 8:24
• 3rd – Mike Foote – 8:40

2010 Results

Three person relay results

Two person relay results

Solo category results

The 2010 race was cancelled during the event (we officially cut it off at Mink Creek, mile 32) due to horrible weather  and consequently very dangerous conditions at the higher elevations.  The second to last thing that a race director wants to do is cancel their race while it’s in progress.  The last thing that a race director wants to do is attend funeral services for runner(s) who perished while on their course, a scenario that was all too possible on Saturday.  Given how bad it was on the first two legs of the course, the final 20 miles would have been complete survival mode for even the most prepared and fit runners.

As race directors, we learned many things from this experience and want to share our thoughts so others can learn from it.  One of our best improvements in 2010 was the communications infrastructure organized by the Porneuf ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Services).  They worked with us to build a system that ended up working perfectly.  When the seriousness of the situation became apparent, the Bannock County Search and Rescue (S&R) team was assembled, and the Porneuf ARES group quickly expanded their role and became part of the S&R effort.  Without all of their help the situation could have been much worse.  Bottom line is that if you plan to hold an organized race, the first thing you should have setup is a strong communication plan and a contingency plan for the worst possible scenario.

The competition up front was amazingly fierce this year and times through mile 17 and 32 that were mind boggling, especially given the conditions.  It would have been quite a show to continue to see the race unfold over the last leg and course records would likely have gone down in all of our categories (solo male, solo female, 2-person and 3 person relay).

Sunday (day after the race) the skies cleared and temps were in the high 60′s – perfect conditions.  As we ran leg 2 on Sunday to clear our heads, we marveled at the quality of the course.  Will we do it again?  The answer is…. most likely yes.  But, some format changes will be made.

An enormous thanks to all the volunteers who give so much to this event, Mindy Campbell (Jared’s amazing wife!), the Shaver family, the Spurlocks, the crew at Scott’s Ski and Sport, Dr. Sherwin D’Souza, the Portneuf ARES, Travis and Lori VanRum, etc. Also, thanks so much to all the kind emails and “chat” comments we’ve received since Saturday.  Some interesting dialog is sure to arise from this event and the decision to cancel it.  A flavor of it is below

• Missy Berkel’s write-up
• iRunFar’s account
• Luke Nelson’s write-up
• Scott Jaime’s write-up
• Idaho State Journal

climbing up scout mtn

2009 Results

The inaugural race is a success!

• Pictures!
  • BEAUTIFUL photos from Gregg Norrander
• Results!
  • 50 Mile Solo Category
    • 70 starters, 56 finishers, 80% Finishing Rate
    • Women
      • 1st – Krissy Moehl – 10:13
      • 2nd – Darla Askew – 10:58
      • 3rd – Mandy Hosford – 11:29
    • Men
      • 1st – Dave James – 9:16
      • 2nd – Kevin Shilling – 9:24
      • 3rd – Sean Meissner – 9:59
  • 2-Person Relay
    • 1st : Glenn and Anny Merrill in 10:01
    • 2nd : Mark Lehmkuhle and Emina Alibegovic 11:21
    • 3rd : Dana Gershenoff and Shannon O’Grady 11:40
  • 3-Person Relay
    • 1st : Tom Borschel, Pat Bragassit, John Van Orman in 8:07
    • 2nd : Valerie Gill, Sheradon Summers, Dusty Pena 9:41
    • 3rd : Melissa Merrill, Tim Arrington, Jennica Hirrlinger 9:46
  • FYI : Fastest Leg Times
    • Leg 1 : Karl Meltzer – 2:24 (part of a 3-person relay team)
    • Leg 2 : Sheradon Summers – 2:30 (part of a 3-person relay team)
    • Leg 3 : Pat Bragassit – 2:51 (part of a 3-person relay team)