Trail Runner: Trophy Series

Diane van Deren and Dale Reicheneder dominate North America's largest trail-running series

OCTOBER 25, 2007, CARBONDALE, COLORADO-Trail Runner magazine, North America's leading publication for off-road running, announced the winners of the Fourth Annual La Sportiva Trail Runner Trophy Series this week on www.trailrunnermag.com. After the series wrapped up on September 30, results from 115 races, ranging from 5K to 150 miles, were collected and points for 21,000 Trophy Series participants tabulated to determine the final standings.

Diane van Deren of Sedalia, Colorado, dominates the Ultramarathon Division standings with 1356 points, with no other competitor (male or female) breaking the 1000-point mark. Van Deren capped off a busy summer, including eight ultras, with the 24 Hours of Frisco in Frisco, Colorado, on September 23. There, she logged 114 miles for the women's victory and 456 Trophy Series points.

Christine Crawford of Whitewater, Wisconsin, is second with 885.8 points after a speedy 4:35:36 second-place performance at the Rock Cut Hobo 50K in Rockford, Illinois, in September. Third is Laurie McGrath, of Baden, Ontario, a fast-rising ultrarunner profiled in the January 2007 issue of Trail Runner, who covered 110 miles at the Dirty Girl 24-Hour ultra in August for the women's victory.

Right behind McGrath at the Dirty Girl 24-Hour race was Jim Orr, also of Ontario, who logged 108.5 miles there, earning enough Trophy Series points to place him at the top of the men's Ultra Division and fourth in overall. Orr also took top honors at the Sulphur Springs 100-miler, in Ancaster, Ontario, with a time of 17:14:53.

Dale Reicheneder topped the Marathon and Shorter Division once again (he was the 2005 champion), after competing in 19 races and scoring five age-group victories. The 41-year-old litigation attorney from Malibu, California, held off defending champion Hugh Davis and Brian Beckort, both from Tell City, Indiana, by only a handful of points to become the 2007 Series champion.

Canadian Janice MacKay of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, capped off her successful racing season, punctuated by three age-group wins at the Keweenaw Trail Running Festival in Copper Harbor, Michigan, with a second-place age-group performance at Mount Hood, Oregon's Timberline Marathon in 4:20:57. MacKay's six impressive trail-race performances kept her ahead of second-place Julie Gerke of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, who won her age group at the Odyssey and Running Fit Trail Marathons, and Donna Gering (Ironwood, Michigan), in third place after four Trophy Series events.

Top male and female winners in the Ultramarathon Division and Marathon-and-Under Division's 10 age group categories will receive prize packages including gifts from Trophy Series sponsors La Sportiva, Injinji, Spenco, Julbo, Mont-Bell, Kahtoola and Petzl.

Mark Tanaka of Castro Valley, California, is winner of the randomly drawn Grand Prize of an honorary position on La Sportiva's Mountain Running Team. Tanaka will receive four pairs of La Sportiva running shoes plus a team-apparel package including socks, headlamp, singlet, running T-shirt, shorts, warm-up jacket and headwear. La Sportiva will offer this same Grand Prize in the 2008 Trail Runner Trophy Series.

Pick up a copy of Trail Runner's January 2008 issue to read more about the male and female division winners. This special Trophy Series issue will also include the 2008 Trophy Series Race Directory, a special Take Your Mark story highlighting three outstanding races belonging to the series and training and nutrition articles to get you primed for race day.

2007 Trophy Series Standings

Top Ultramarathon Women
1. Diane Van Deren, Sedalia, Colorado, 1356 points
2. Christine Crawford, Whitewater, Wisconsin, 885.8 points
3. Laurie McGrath, Baden, Ontario, 840.2 points

Top Ultramarathon Men
1. Jim Orr, Toronto, Ontario, 834 points
2. Karl Meltzer, Sandy, Utah, 800 points
3. Akos Konya, Oceanside, California, 700 points

Marathon and Shorter Age-Group Winners, Men
10-19 years old-Clint Hugie, Salt Lake City, Utah, 107.1 points
20-29 years old-Dan Dehlin, Marquette, Michigan, 285.5 points
30-39 years old-Brian Beckort, Tell City, Indiana, 460.4 points
40-49 years old-Dale Reicheneder, Malibu, California, 683.2 points
50 and over-Heath Hibbard, Montrose, Colorado, 319.1 points

Marathon and Shorter Age-Group Winners, Women
10-19 years old-Alanna Wildman, Milaca, Minnesota, 104.8 points*
20-29 years old-Rachel Post, Plymouth, Michigan, 144.1 points
30-39 years old-Mary White, Kirkwood, Missouri, 166.8 points
40-49 years old-Julie Gerke, Basking Ridge, New Jersey, 209.6 points
50 and over-Janice Mackay, Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario, 346.6 points

*Wildman had the same number of points as several other women in her age group, but was named the winner for logging the fastest marathon time of 4:41:43.

Reicheneder bounces back; newcomer Konya springs into second place

SEPTEMBER 28, 2007, CARBONDALE, COLORADO-As the La Sportiva Trail Runner Trophy Series comes to a close, strong late-season performances are shaking up the standings. Competition hasn't slowed down for 18 prize packages to be awarded in October to the best trail runners across 10 age-group divisions.

Almost 20,000 trail runners have competed in 115 Trophy Series races ranging from 5K to 150 miles over the past seven months. Full points standings and more Trophy Series information-including race schedule, rules and prize information-is available at www.trailrunnermag.com.

Marathon and Shorter Division

In our last update, Dale Reicheneder reported he was no longer racing this season due to injury, however, a last-minute decision to follow through with his ambitious race schedule generated enough points to squeak him into top spot. Hugh Davis placed second in his age group at the Tahqua Trail Run in Paradise, Michigan, moving him into second place. Unless Davis or third-ranked Brian Beckort run another Trophy Series race in September, Reicheneder will become this division's Trophy Series champion for the second time.

Canadian Janice MacKay catapulted to the top of the women's standings after raking up four age-group victories in July and August. At Copper Harbor, Michigan's Keweenaw Trail Running Festival, MacKay competed the 10K, 25K and Hill Climb, then followed up her performance there with an age-group win at the Tahqua 25K Trail Run.

Men
1. Dale Reicheneder, Malibu, California, 478 points
2. Hugh Davis, Tell City, Indiana, 473.8 points
3. Brian Beckort, Tell City, Indiana, 460.4 points

Women
1. Janice MacKay, Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, 268 points
2. Donna Gering, Ironwood, Michigan, 184 points
3. Mary White, Kirkwood, Missouri, 166.8 points

Ultramarathon Division
Leaderboard newcomer, Akos Konya, of Oceanside, California, sprang into second place in the ultra standings after winning the Lean Horse Hundred-miler on August 25th in Hot Springs, South Dakota, with a time of 15:24:00. The victory netted him a whopping 400 points.

There was no change among female standings, though 100 points was added to Diane Van Deren's total from her third-place finish at the Collegiate Peaks Trail Run in Buena Vista, Colorado last May, moving her closer to top-ranked Christine Crawford of Whitewater, Wisconsin.

Men
1. Karl Meltzer, Sandy Utah, 39, 800
2. Akos Konya, Oceanside, California, 32, 700
3. David Goggins, Chula Vista, California, 32, 631

Women
1. Christine Crawford, Whitewater WI, 37, 792.8
2. Diane Van Deren, Sedalia, CO, 47, 700
3. Anita Fromm, Manitou Springs CO, 35, 509.6

NOTE: Point totals only include races that have submitted results as of September 12th.

DOWN TO THE WIRE
One month left in the Fourth Annual La Sportiva Trail Runner Trophy Series

AUGUST 31, 2007, CARBONDALE, COLORADO-As the La Sportiva Trail Runner Trophy Series enters its final month, early summer point-earners hold firmly onto top positions and only 19 races remain in the 2007 Trophy Series calendar. But with 18 prize packages to be awarded in October to the best-performing trail runners across 10 age-group divisions, the competition hasn't slowed down.

By the end of September, almost 20,000 trail runners will have competed in 115 Trophy Series races ranging from 5K to 150 miles. Full points standings and more Trophy Series information-including race schedule, rules and prize information-is available at www.trailrunnermag.com.

Marathon and Shorter Division

Even though top-ranked Brian Beckort and third-place Hugh Davis haven't earned any new points this month, the overall title remains up for grabs as prolific Trophy Series contender, Dale Reicheneder, became injured. "Although I planned an aggressive September racing schedule, health concerns dictate otherwise. I really wish Brian and Hugh all the best as the top two again [the duo took first and second in 2006]," says Reicheneder.

Second-place woman, Rachel Post, 27, an employee at Running Fit in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has been battling an IT-band injury since winning her age group at South Dakota's Deadwood Mickelson Marathon in June, but plans to hit the trail again at next month's Lake Superior Shore Run in Negaunee, Michigan. A top-three performance there would put her in contention with division leader Mary White, from Kirkwood, Missouri.

Post shares second place with Belinda Young, who ran 4:49:04 at the Grand Island Trail Marathon in Munising, Michigan, on July 28th. Donna Gering of Ironwood, Michigan, moved into third place after a busy July weekend at the Keweenaw Trail Running Festival in Copper Harbor, Michigan, where she ran the 10K and 3.6-mile races. Two weeks later she snagged an age-group victory at the Grand Island Trail Marathon.

Men
1. Brian Beckort, 34, Tell City, IN, 460.4 points
2. Dale Reicheneder, 41, Malibu, CA, 446.3 points
3. Hugh Davis, 43, Tell City, IN, 427.3 points

Women
1. Mary White, 39, Kirkwood, MO, 166.8 points
2. Rachel Post, 27, Plymouth, MI, 144.1 points
2. (Tied) Belinda Young, 38, Chatsworth, GA, 144.1 points
3. Donna Gering, 42, Ironwood, MI, 131.584 points

Ultramarathon Division
Utah's Karl Meltzer continues to lead the men's ultra division after posting back-to-back wins at the Massanutten Mountain Trail and McNaughton Park Trail 100-milers in the spring. Paul Stofko, of Chesterton, Indiana, a running coach with FastRunnerZ.com, holds onto third place thanks to his 600-point-earning win at the McNaughton Park Trail 150-miler in April.

Top female ultrarunner Christine Crawford of Whitewater, Wisconsin, has enjoyed a successful season, including four ultra wins, despite a foot injury that has forced her to spend much of her time cross training. "I am surprised that I have run so well this year," says Crawford. "I took up aggressive weight training to help my running and am pleased with the results." Plus, speed workouts with local athletes are priming her for the Rock Cut Hobo Run 50K on September 23 in Rockford, Illinois.

Sedalia, Colorado's Diane van Deren is second, just ahead of Anita Fromm, who spent her summer preparing for the Badwater 135-mile Ultramarathon in California, where she finished 10th woman, in 42:53.

Men
1. Karl Meltzer, 39, Sandy, UT, 800 points
2. David Goggins, 32, Chula Vista, CA, 631 points
3. Paul Stofko, 31, Chesterton, IN, 600 points

Women
1. Christine Crawford, 37, Whitewater, WI, 792.8 points
2. Diane van Deren, 47, Sedalia, CO, 600.0 points
3. Anita Fromm, 36, Manitou Springs, CO, 509.6 points

NOTE: Point totals only include races that have submitted results as of August 24th.

THE HEAT IS ON
After 63 races, deepening field pressures Trophy Series point leaders

JULY 20, 2007, CARBONDALE, COLORADO-Two-thirds of the way through the Fourth Annual La Sportiva Trail Runner Trophy Series, the results from 63 trail races across the country (and Canada) have been tallied.

By series' end (September 30) almost 20,000 trail runners will have competed in 115 Trophy Series races ranging from 5K to 100 miles. Full points standings and more Trophy Series information-including race schedule, rules, prize information and registration for the La Sportiva shoe promotion-is available at www.trailrunnermag.com.

Marathon and Shorter Division
While Brian Beckort holds onto first place, Trophy Series 2005 Champion, Dale Reicheneder, of Malibu, California, has tallied 11 races, to edge past Hugh Davis. Reicheneder's results include an age-group category win at the Pilot Hill 25K Trail Run, in Laramie, Wyoming, in a time of 2:06:11.

While women's leader Mary White hasn't raced any Trophy Series events since May, Rachel Post of Plymouth, Michigan's 25-29 age-group victory at South Dakota's Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon (in 3:42:45) bumped her into second place, just ahead of Chatsworth, Georgia's Belinda Young.

Men
1. Brian Beckort, 34, Tell City, IN, 460.4 points
2. Dale Reicheneder, 41, Malibu, CA, 437.0 points
3. Hugh Davis, 43, Tell City, IN, 427.3 points

Women
1. Mary White, 39, Kirkwood, MO, 166.8 points
2. Rachel Post, 27, Plymouth, MI, 144.1 points
3. Belinda Young, 38, Chatsworth, GA, 117.9 points

Ultramarathon Division
While 2006 USATF Ultra Trail Runner of the Year, Karl Meltzer, remains firmly in top place with 800 points, 32-year-old David Goggins's fifth-place finish at the Bishop High Sierra 50-miler in Bishop, California (8:45:57), put him in second. Goggins, from Chula-Vista, California, was recently picked up by Injinji's elite ultrarunning team and is a Navy Seal.

Anita Fromm, who is training for a Badwater Double ultramarathon (270 miles through California's Death Valley), was knocked down to third in the overall standings after Christine Crawford, 37, from Whitewater, Wisconsin, was victorious at Wisconsin's Kettle Moraine 100-miler on June 2nd . Crawford's winning time of 19:34:30 was almost five hours ahead of the next woman. In second overall is Diane Van Deren, who with one colossal victory at April's McNaughton Park 150-miler, earned a whopping 600 points in one shot (46 hours 59 minutes).

Men
1. Karl Meltzer, 39, Sandy, UT, 800 points
2. David Goggins, 32, Chula Vista, CA 631 points
3. Paul Stofko, 31, Chesterton, IN, 600 points

Women
1. Christine Crawford, 37, Whitewater, WI, 792.8 points
2. Diane Van Deren, 47, Sedalia, CO, 600.0 points
3. Anita Fromm, 35, Manitou Springs, CO, 509.6 points

NOTE: Point totals only include races that have submitted results as of July 16th.

RECORD-BREAKING RUNS SHUFFLE LEADERBOARD
Beckort, White set course records in Missouri; Meltzer, Kovener victorious at Massanutten.

JUNE 27, 2007, CARBONDALE, COLORADO-Three months into the Fourth Annual La Sportiva Trail Runner Trophy Series, the results from 42 trail races across the country (and Canada) have been tallied to determine the current point leaders.

By series' end (September 30) almost 20,000 trail runners will have competed in 115 Trophy Series races ranging from 5K to 100 miles. Full points standings and more Trophy Series information-including race schedule, rules, prize information and registration for the La Sportiva shoe promotion-is available at www.trailrunnermag.com.

Marathon and Shorter Division
Brian Beckort surpassed Hugh Davis in the overall standings as he continues setting course records. Beckort convincingly won the Berryman Trail Marathon (May 19), setting a course record of 3:11:46 on the trails winding through St. Louis, Missouri's Mark Twain National Forest.

Mary White, 39, of Kirkwood, Missouri, had a great showing at both St. Louis Ultrarunners Group's recent events, setting a women's course record of 2:06:44 at April's Double Chubb 25K trail race. And at the Berryman Trail Marathon, White was second overall and first in her age group with a time of 4:15:24. Behind White in the overall Trophy Series standings, a whopping 18 women share second place, each with 104.8 points.

Men
1. Brian Beckort, 34, Tell City, IN, 460.4 points
2. Dale Reicheneder (Grand Prize winner 2005), 41, Malibu, CA, 437 points
3. Hugh Davis, 43, Tell City, IN, 427.3 points

Women
1. Mary White, 39, Kirkwood, MO, 166.8 points
2. Rachel Post, 27, Plymouth, MI, 144.1 points
3. Belinda Young, 38, Chatsworth, GA, 117.9 points

Ultramarathon Division
Karl Meltzer, of Sandy, Utah, who already had 17 career 100-mile race victories under his belt, clocked another win on May 19 at Virginia's Massanutten Mountain Trails (MMT) 100-miler. It was a sweet win for Meltzer, who had finished third at MMT in 2005 and second last year. His winning time of 20:11:19 was an hour ahead of second-place finisher Todd Walker, earning him enough points to now rank second in the men's Trophy Series ultra standings.

Also at MMT, 42-year-old Marti Koevner of Rockville, Maryland, won in her first-ever 100-miler. Anita Fromm moved up from second to first in the women's ultra standings, thanks to her recent win at the Rocky Mountain Double Marathon in Laramie, Wyoming, with a time of 9:16:06.

Men
1. Karl Meltzer, 39, Sandy, UT, 800 points
2. David Goggins, 32, Cuhla Vista, CA, 631 points
3. Paul Stofko, 31, Chesterton, IN, 600 points

Women
1. Christine Crawford, 37, Whitewater, WI, 792.8 points
2. Diane Van Deren, 47, Sedalia, CO, 600 points
3. Anita Fromm, 35, Manitou Springs, CO, 509.6 points

NOTE: Point totals only include races that have submitted results as of June 6th. Three races are no longer in the 2007 Trophy Series: Angel Fire Ascent (cancelled), Merrimack River Trail Race (April 14) and the USATF New England Trail Championships (June 9).

UP-AND-COMERS DOMINATE TROPHY SERIES STANDINGS
Trophy Series participants contend with ice-slick trails and summer-like heat.

MAY 14, 2007, CARBONDALE, COLORADO-New leaders have emerged as trail runners rack up points in off-road events belonging to the Fourth Annual La Sportiva Trail Runner Trophy Series.

Marathon and Shorter Division
Hugh Davis, from Tell City, Indiana, was the 2006 Trail Runner Trophy Series winner in the Marathon and Shorter division and already tops this year's leader board with 283.2 points. Brian Beckort, 34, also from Tell City, is second in the points standings after setting a new course record of 1:32:18 at the Land Between the Lakes Trail Race 23K. "This series is great because I have seen so many new places," says Beckort. "I coach high-school track so it's hard right now to get in good workouts for myself, but as the summer goes on, I plan to train harder and get stronger."

In third place is 28-year-old Brad Smythe, from Asheville, North Carolina. Brad is gearing up for one of ultrarunning's most prominent events, Colorado's Leadville Trail 100-miler in August. "I've never raced out west so I'm anxious to find out how the big mountains will treat me," he says.

Four women share first place in the Marathon and Shorter Division, each having won their age group at the Land Between the Lakes Marathon on March 10 in Grand Rivers, Kentucky. Trailing by only 0.4 points are another four women who won their respective age categories at Damascus, Maryland's Seneca Creek Greenway Trail Marathon, which at 26.1 miles, is just shy of a full marathon.
Patricia Zerfas, 45, from Kensington, Maryland, was the first female at Seneca Creek in a time of 5:05:41. "A storm a few days before the race resulted in icy conditions for the first 12 miles and heavy mud most of the remaining distance, so I wore spikes and it made the difference between finishing and dropping out," she said.

Men
1. Hugh Davis, 43, Tell City, IN, 283.2 points
2. Brian Beckort, 34, Tell City, IN, 250.8 points
3. Brad Smythe, 28, Asheville NC, 136.4 points

Women
1. Dana Hakman, 41, Mason, IL 104.8 points
1. Lynn Minter, 27, Symsonia, KY 104.8 points
1. Shirley Sirois, 59, Clinton, TN 104.8 points
1. Belinda Young, 37, Chatsworth, GA 104.8 points
2. Catherine Keane, 29, Springfield, VA 104.4 points
2. Cheryl Smoker, 32, Potomac, MD 104.4 points
2. Giovanna Tosato, 57, Bethesda, MD 104.4 points.
2. Patricia Zerfas, 45, Kensington, MD, 104.4 points

Ultramarathon Division
Jeff Andrew, 28, of Terre Haute, Indiana, leads the men's ultra division after placing second at the Clinton Lake 30 in DeWitt, Illinois. Jeff covered the rolling, 30-mile course through Clinton Lake State Recreation Area in 4:33:06. Trailing Jeff by only a few points is Hal Koerner, of Ashland, Oregon, who place third in the male 30 to 39 age group at the Chuckanut Mountain 50K Trail Run in Fairhaven, Washington, on March 17th. Third place is shared by five men, each with 200 points.

Christine Crawford, 37 of Whitewater, Wisconsin notched three ultra wins already this season (Double Chubb 50K, Land Between the Lakes and Clinton Lake Trail Run) to rank first among the ultra women. Among the seven women tied for second is Ann Heaslett, 43, of Madison, Wisconsin, returned to ultrarunning after a two-year hiatus due to chronic injury, posting a win at the Carl Touchstone Memorial Mississippi Trail 50-miler, with a time of 7:33:56. Ann is resuming her triathlon training later this summer, with her sights set on Ironman Wisconsin. "I miss full-time ultrarunning but I am finding that I stay healthier cross-training for triathlon. It's hard to race 50 miles and longer with weekly mileage so low (35 miles per week), but it can be done, just not too often!" she says.

Jane Larkindale, 31, of Tucson, Arizona, ran a blazing 9:40 at the Old Pueblo 50-Mile Endurance Run in Sonoita, Arizona, despite going into the race with a goal time of 13 hours. An adventure racer and molecular biologist at the University of Arizona, Jane plans to exploit her running prowess in addition to adventure racing. "I want to do another ultra-I just haven't decided which one yet. After the Old Pueblo, I'm curious about 100-milers!"

Men
1. Jeff Andrew, 28, Terre Haute, IN, 238.8 points
2. Hal Koerner, 31, Ashland, OR, 231 points
3. Thomas McKenna, 27, Salina, KS, 200 points
3. Dan Ripka, 50, Naples, FL, 200 points
3. Joel Sather, 35, Noxon, MT, 200 points
3. Erik Storheim, 34, Salt Lake City, UT, 200 points
3. Paul Zani, 39, Franklin, TN, 200 points

Women
1. Christine Crawford, 37, Whitewater, WI, 392.8 points
2. Amy Costa, 44, Jacksonville, FL, 200 points
2. Anita From, 35, Manitou Springs, CO, 200 points
2. Cynthia Heady, 45, Finchville, KY, 200 points
2. Ann Heaslett, 43, Madison, WI, 200 points
2. Birgitta Johnson, 30, Salt Lake City, UT, 200 points
2. Jane Larkindale, 31, Tucson, AZ, 200 points
2. Theresa Wheeler, 40, Wichita, KS, 200 points

NOTE: Point totals only include races that have submitted results as of May 4th.

Trail Runner Announces 2007 Trophy Series Preliminary Standings
Trophy Series participants contend with ice-slick trails and summer-like heat

APRIL 10, 2007, CARBONDALE, COLORADO-The fourth annual Trail Runner Trophy Series, the world's biggest off-road running series kicked off last month. With a total of 115 races on this year's Trophy Series calendar, 20,000 trail runners from coast-to-coast will have plenty of opportunities to participate in events ranging from 5K to 100 miles.

So far, we have tabulated results from seven races: The Foot Pursuit 5K, Old Pueblo 50-miler, Carl Touchstone Memorial Mississippi 50, Land Between the Lakes, Trout Creek, Crown King Scramble and Prickly Pear trail runs.

Full points standings and more Trophy Series information-including race schedule, rules, prize information and registration for the La Sportiva shoe promotion-is available at www.trailrunnermag.com.

Non-Ultra Division
New to this year's Trophy Series was the Foot Pursuit 5K in Valparaiso, Indiana, sponsored by the Porter County Sheriff's Department. On the morning of March 3rd, 250 trail runners, many of them police and fire representatives from Lake and Porter counties and Chicago, braved freezing temperatures and snow squalls to pound the often ice-covered dirt. Overall winners were Jeffrey Day, 31, from Walkerton, Indiana, in a time of 19:04, and 27-year-old Sommer Watts, from Chesterton, Indiana in 23:42.

The Land Between the Lakes Trail Runs, in Grand Rivers, Kentucky, enjoyed a record 330 participants this year across four race distances, 23K, 26.2K, 60K and 50M. In the marathon, four men and four women each enough age-group points to tie for top position in the Trophy Series' non-ultra division.

Top 8 Trophy Series Marathon & Shorter Points Standings (with 104.8 points each)
Stephen Smith, 26, Soddy Daisy, Tennessee
Brian Beckort, 34, Tell City, Indiana
Brian Parker, 40, Morrison, Illinois
Kenneth Sirois, 60, Clinton, Tennessee
Lynn Minter, 27, Symsonia, Kentucky
Belinda Young, 37, Chatsworth, Georgia
Dana Hakman, 41, Mason, Illinois
Shirley Sirois, 59, Clinton, Tennessee

Ultramarathon Division
While runners in the northern states battled icy courses and below-freezing race day temperatures, trail racers in Arizona and Mississippi enjoyed warm (in the case of the Carl Touchstone Memorial race, almost too hot) conditions and fast, dry courses.

One hundred and thirty runners departed Kentucky Camp at the start of the Old Pueblo 50-Mile Endurance Run in Sonoita, Arizona, on March 3rd. Hal Koerner, 31, from Ashland, Oregon, topped the men's field in a blazing 7:15:58, followed by John Anderson, 28, from Colorado in 7:29:10, and Californian David Goggins, 32, in 7:44:49. Leading the ladies at Old Pueblo was Jane Larkindale, 31, who finished first in 9:40:17, followed by Jody Chase, 38, in 10:05:09, and Michelle Schwartz, 38, in 10:13:12.

The only ultrarunner to complete two Trophy Series races so far this season is Anita Fromm, 35, from Manitou Springs, Colorado, who finished 11th woman at Old Pueblo, but at the Carl Touchstone Memorial Mississippi 50-Mile Trail Race was second only to Ann Heaslett, posting an impressive time of 8:33:48.

The Carl Touchstone race was back this year after being "Katrina'd" in 2006, boasting its biggest turnout ever. Joel Sather, a forest ranger from Montana working in Mississippi's Desoto National Forest, took the early lead and by lap three began to feel the heat, but hung on to win in 7:02:22.

Top 7 Trophy Series Ultra Distance Points Standings (with 200 points each)
Hal Koerner, 31, Ashland, Oregon
Joel Sather, 35, Noxon, Montana
Paul Zani, 39, Franklin, Tennessee
Anita Fromm, 35, Manitou Springs, Colorado
Cynthia Heady, 45, Finchville, Kentucky
Ann Heaslett, 43, Madison, Wisconsin
Jane Larkindale, 31, Tuscon, Arizona

Fourth Annual Trail Runner Trophy Series Kicks Off
New website www.TrailRunnermag.com houses Series news and highlights

MARCH 9, 2007, CARBONDALE, COLORADO--Sponsored by La Sportiva, the Trail Runner Trophy Series, the world's largest off-road running series, got underway on March 3 with four races in Indiana, Arizona and Maryland. Now in its fourth year, the 2007 Series encompasses over 115 races from March 1 to September 30. Over 20,000 Trophy Series participants earn points for completing events as well as bonus points for top age-group or overall placing. Runners clash in two divisions: (1) marathon and shorter and (2) ultramarathon (including any races longer than 26.2 miles-the marathon distance).

Trophy Series participants compete for valuable prizes from sponsors, such as credits towards trail-running shoes from La Sportiva and a chance to become an honorary member of the La Sportiva Mountain Running Team. The winner of this honorary position will receive four pairs of La Sportiva trail-running shoes and a team apparel package including socks, headlamp, singlet, t-shirt, shorts, warm-up jacket and headwear.

Goodie bags filled with great products and coupons from Injinji, Julbo, Kahtoola, Mont-Bell, Spenco and Petzl are awarded to the top male and female finishers in each age group. The season's male and female Trail Runners of the Year in the marathon-and-under and ultramarathon categories will be featured in Trail Runner's December issue.

To serve the 20,000 Trophy Series participants and growing trail-running community at large, Trail Runner magazine launched a new website earlier this month. A digital supplement to the seven-year-old publication, the new www.trailrunnermag.com is a one-stop shop for trail running enthusiasts, competitive trail runners, trail-race directors and running-store retailers. A dedicated section of the website will host Series overall point standings, monthly news reports and prizes.

As the leading publication for one of North America's fastest growing sports (40 million participants according to the Outdoor Industry Foundation's 2006 report), Trail Runner features in-depth editorial and compelling photography that informs, entertains and inspires readers of all ages and abilities to enjoy the outdoors and improve their health and fitness through the sports of trail running, adventure racing and snowshoeing. With paid circulation growing 125% in four years, a new website dedicated to all facets of the sport was the next logical step in Trail Runner's continued support of the trail running community.

For nearly 80 years, La Sportiva has been leading in technical outdoor-footwear innovation and design. We do this because we believe. We believe your trail-running shoes should never come between you and the planet-they should ground you to it. La Sportiva is always inventing, always rethinking, always dreaming. Trail runners ourselves, we recognize the thin line between dream and belief. And then we erase it by designing the best shoes on the planet. www.sportiva.com.

For more information about the La Sportiva Trail Runner Trophy Series, contact Elinor Fish, Associate editor at 970-704-1442, extension 12, or email: efish@bigstonepub.com. For more information about La Sportiva, contact Kristin Carpenter-Ogden of Verde PR at 970-259-3555 or email: kco@verdepr.com.