27,000 trail runners vied for prizes in North America's biggest points-based trail series NOVEMBER 30, 2009, CARBONDALE, CO-The Sixth Annual Trail Runner Trophy Series, presented by GORE-TEX, awarded points to 25,000 runners for participating in 113* trail races throughout the U.S. and Canada. You can read about the male and female winners of each category in the February/March issue Trail Runner magazine. Winners in the Non-Marathon Division (races less than 26 miles) are 51-year-old Brenda Gutmann, 51, Borden, Indiana, and 42-year-old Phil Oreste, of Mill Valley, California. Winners of the Marathon-and-Longer Division (races 26 miles and longer) are 45-year-old Sue Lucas of Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada, and 44-year-old Glen Redpath of New York, New York. Many participants traveled great distances by car and air in an attempt to snag this year's new prize, the Trail Fiend Award, which goes to the man and woman who run the most Trophy Series races. The female winner was Brenda Gutman, who ran 17 races, and 38-year-old Brian McKinney of Woodland, California, who ran an amazing 24 races. Both receive complimentary spots at the all-inclusive Get Your Running Legs On Trail Running Week at Nipika Mountain Lodge in British Columbia, Canada in May 2010. (Registration for the camp is available at www.nipika.com). These overall winners plus the top-three placers in the Marathon-and-Longer Division and age-group winners in the Non-Marathon Division (listed below) will each receive a prize package containing gifts from Trophy Series sponsors Injinji, Julbo, Pro-Tec Athletics, Nuun, Zombie Runner, Kahtoola, Amphipod, Moeben, GoMotion, Wicked Fast Nutrition and Trigger Point Therapy. All participants can find their ranking, points total and other Trophy Series information on Trail Runner's website, www.trailrunnermag.com. Non-Marathon Division 10-19 Age Group Andy O'Grady, 19, Littleton, Colorado, 100 points Codie Barron, 19, Chelsea, Michigan, 85.1 points 20-29 Age Group Dennis Flanagan, Breckenridge, Colorado, 182.5 points Caitlin Smith, Oakland, California, 114.8 points 30-39 Age Group CJ Hitz, 36, Findlay, Ohio, 501 points Joan Matthews, 31, Owen Sound, Ontario, 262.9 points 40-49 Age Group Phil Oreste, 42, Mill Valley, California, 574.6 points Carla Stoner, 47, West Des Moines, Iowa, 417 points 50 and Over Age Group George Aitkin, 57, Cambridge, Ontario, 155 points Brenda Gutmann, 51, Borden, Indiana, 547.2 points Marathon and Longer Division Top-Three Male Glen Redpath, 44, New York, New York, 1209.6 points Patrick McGlade, 20, Richmond, Virginia, 1054 points Zach Gingerich, 29, Aurora, Illinois, 800 points Top-Three Female Sue Lucas, 45, Dauphin, Manitoba, 1321.6 points Iris Cooper, 50, Toronto, Ontario, 948 points Jenny Chow, 45, Long Valley, New Jersey, 900 points (*123 races originally signed up for the Trophy Series, but we were only able to collect results from 101, so only these were counted in the final results. For a list of which races submitted results, click here). Races that did not submit results: Escape From Prison Hill Half Marathon, April 25, Carson City NV Pineland Farms Trail Challenge, May 29, New Gloucester ME Adventure Sports Week , June 7, Coeur d'Alene ID Adventure Sports Week, June 13, Coeur d'Alene ID Kelly Canyon Trail Challenge, July 4, Idaho Falls ID Wildest Run In The West, Soda Springs CA (event cancelled) Original Bare Buns Fun Run, July 26, Loon Lake WA Boulder Marathon, September 20, Boulder CO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Final Scores Being Tallied in the Sixth Annual Trophy Series Oreste widens his lead in the Non-Marathon division; Gingrich, Lucas hold onto Marathon-and-Longer division top spots The Sixth Annual Trail Runner Trophy Series, presented by GORE-TEX, wrapped up on September 26 with California's Big Sur Trail Marathon, Wisconsin's Birkie Trail Run, Relay and Trek, and Virginia's Great Eastern Endurance Runs. Results from 20 races are still pending and overall division winners will be announced at the end of October. 

The top three finishers in the Marathon-and-Longer Division and age-group winners in the Non-Marathon Division will each receive a prize package containing gifts from Trophy Series sponsors Injinji, Julbo, Pro-Tec Athletics, Nuun, Zombie Runner, Kahtoola, Amphipod, Moeben, GoMotion, Wicked Fast and Trigger Point Therapy.
 The Trail Runner Trophy Series is North America's largest off-road trail running series, comprising of 123 races held between March 1 and September 30, 2009. Current standings, point totals and additional Trophy Series information including rules and prize information can be found at www.trailrunnermag.com. Non-Marathon Division Phil Oreste, 42, of Mill Valley, California, has 499 points, widening his lead after winning his age group at the Big Sur Trail Half Marathon on September 26. C.J. Hitz, 36, of Findlay, Ohio, is now in second place after 16 Trophy Series races, giving him 415.6 points for regularly placing in the top three in his age group. Brian McKinney, 37, of Woodland, California, who has 378.3 points, dropped to third place. In the women's division, Brenda Gutmann, 51, of Borden, Indiana, maintains her lead with 541 points, thanks in part to bonus points she earned for winning her age group at the Bays Mountain Trail Race in Kingsport, Tennessee. Carla Stoner, 46, of West Des Moines, Iowa, is still in second with 401.5 points after 15 Trophy Series races, and Joan Matthews, 32, of Owen Sound, Ontario, is third with 262.9 points. McKinney, who has run 22 Trophy Series races, and Guttman, who has run 16, lead the charge to win the first annual Trail Fiend awards. The man and woman completing the most Trophy Series races each receives complimentary attendance at the 2010 Get Your Running Legs On Trail Running Week at Nipika Mountain Resort in the Canadian Rockies. Marathon and Longer Division Zach Gingerich, 29, of Aurora, Illinois, maintains his lead with 800 points after three races including wins at the Kettle Moraine 100, Ice Age 50-Miler and Land Between the Lakes 50-Miler. Victory at Ontario's Haliburton Forest 100-Mile Trail Race on September 12 put Glen Redpath, 44, of New York, New York, into second place with 686.4 points. Now in third place, with 582 points, is Patrick McGlade, 20, of Richmond, Virginia, who won the 24-Hour Adventure Trail Run in Triangle, Virginia. Sue Lucas, 45, of Dauphin, Manitoba, keeps her first-place spot with the 1221.6 points, thanks to her wins at both the Dirty Girls 24-Hour Race in Mansfield, Ontario, and Sulphur Springs 100-Miler in Ancaster, Ontario. Iris Cooper, 50, of Toronto, Ontario, jumps into second place (with 762 points) after winning the Haliburton Forest 100-Mile Trail Race. Jenny Chow, 45, of Long Valley New Jersey moves up to third place with 700 points after completing two races, including a second-place finish at Ohio's Burning River 100. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sixth Annual Trophy Series Wraps up September 30 McKenney, Oreste battle over top Non-Marathon spot; Gingerich, Lucas now lead the Marathon and Longer Division SEPTEMBER 21, 2009, CARBONDALE, COLORADO-As the Sixth Annual Trail Runner Trophy Series, presented by GORE-TEX, comes to a close, division leaders are trying to hold onto their top spots. Results have been tallied from 71 races yet competition is still fierce in the final weeks of the nation's largest trail running series. When the series wraps up on September 30, over 20,000 trail runners will have competed in 123 Trophy Series races in the United State and Canada. Once all the race results have been tabulated in late October, the division winners will be announced and prize packages awarded. Three races remain in this year's series, all on September 26: the Big Sur Trail Marathon in Big Sur, California, Birkie Trail Run, Relay and Trek in Hayward, Wisconsin, and the Great Eastern Endurance Run in Charlottesville, Virginia. Current standings, point totals and additional Trophy Series information including race schedules, rules, and prize information can be found at www.trailrunnermag.com. Non-Marathon Division With just weeks left, the fate of the men's Non-Marathon Division has yet to be sealed. Phil Oreste, 42, of Mill Valley, California, with 274.3 points maintains a slim lead over Brian McKinney, 37, of Woodland, California with 263.9 points. Dan Gooding, 32, of Loveland, Colorado maintains his third place standing with 174.4 points. Brian McKinney, with 17 races to date, maintains his lead for the men's Trail Fiend award. New this year, the Trail Fiend award will be given to the man and woman completing the most Trophy series races. In the women's division, Brenda Gutmann, 51, of Borden, Indiana, maintains her grip on first place with 388 points. Gutmann also leads the chase for the women's Trail Fiend award after completing 10 races so far. Carla Stoner, 46, of West Des Moines, Iowa, holds onto second place in the Non-Marathon Division with 217 points and Joan Matthews, 32, of Owen Sound, Ontario remains in third place with 198 points. Marathon and Longer Division Zach Gingerich, 29, of Aurora, Illinois, pulls into first place with 800 points. A win at the Dirty Girls 24-Hour Trail Run with 103.9 miles covered puts Rob Gryfe, 43, of Toronto, Ontario, in second place with 546.4 points. Adam Hill, 33, of Orillia, Ontario, is now in third place with 503.8 points. Sue Lucas, 45, from Dauphin, Manitoba moved back up to first place after winning the Dirty Girls 24-Hour Trail run in Mansfield, Ontario. With a victory at the Dances with Dirt-Devil's Lake 50-miler, Julie Treder, 33, of St. Francis, Wisconsin is now in second place with 550 points. Laurie McGrath, 41, of Baden, Ontario is third with 494.5 points --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Canadians rack up big points, and Gutmann and McKinney maintain Trail Fiend leads AUGUST 6, 2009, CARBONDALE, COLORADO-Runners are finding their stride and competition is getting fierce in the Sixth Annual Trail Runner Trophy Series, presented by GORE-TEX. In the past month, an additional 4000 runners entered the Non-Marathon Division and 600 more intrepid souls joined the Marathon and Longer Division ranks, bringing the total to almost 15,000 racers. Canadians are making up for their late racing start and now dominate the Marathon and Longer Division, holding four of the top seven spots (there is a tie for 2nd place in the men's division). Plus, a Canadian female has worked her way to the podium in the Non-Marathon Division. With almost two months of racing action left, all titles are up for grabs. Non-Marathon Division Phil Oreste, 42, of Mill Valley, California, moved into first place with 264.3 points, knocking Brian McKinney, 37, of Woodland, California, to second with 225.4 points. Dan Goding, 32, of Loveland, Colorado, a new face on the podium, is in third place with 174.4 points. The three top contenders competed against one-another at Joe Colton's Off-Road Adventure Race in Rollinsville, Colorado, in June, and the July Evergreen Mountain Trail Race in Denver, Colorado. With 14 races to date, McKinney maintains his lead for the Trail Fiend award. "Each event has its own character and challenges, which make the adventure all the more rewarding," says Oreste. "Next I plan to race in Park City, Utah, at the Jupiter Peak Steeplechase, the Mt. Madonna Challenge in Gilroy, California, and the Moose Mountain Trail Race in Alberta." In the women's division, Brenda Gutmann, 51, of Borden, Indiana, maintained her stronghold on first place with 350 points. Carla Stoner, 46, of West Des Moines, Iowa, remains in second place with 163.2 points, and Joan Mathews, 32, of Owen Sound, Ontario, is new to third place with 124 points. Gutmann topped off her points with a first place age-group win at the July DlNO STooPID Run in Muscatatuck County, Indiana. With eight races recorded to date, she also retains her lead in the women's Trail Fiend award competition Marathon and Longer Division Patrick McGlade, 20, of Richmond, Virginia, maintains his first-place slot with 482 points. Geoff Linton, 47, of Guelph, Ontario, and Zach Gingerich, 29, of Aurora, Illinois are tied for second place with 400 points. New to the top three is Chris GT Downie, 30, of Carmacks, Yukon Territories. He earned his third-place berth and 360 points by finishing first at the Sinister 7 Ultra Marathon in Alberta, Canada, in July. Amy Sproston, 35, of Washington, DC, is first in the women's division. She has 482 points from first-place finishes at the Laurel Highlands Ultra in Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania, in June and the March Bel Monte Endurance Run in Virginia's Sherando Lake Recreation Area. Katherine Zeman, 33, of Toronto, Ontario, is now in second place with 460 points after her women's division win at the Sinister 7 Ultra Marathon in Alberta, Canada. Sue Lucas, 45, of Dauphin, Manitoba, was bumped from first to third place, and has 400 points. David Snipes, 41, of Mechanicsville, Virginia, has run the most Marathon and Longer Division races. To date, he has run five races and logged 252.6 points. These standings represent complete results from 61 races. Full points standings and additional Trophy Series information-including race schedule, rules and prize information (check out the new "Trail Fiend" award, given to the man and woman participating in the most Trophy Series races)-are available at www.trailrunnermag.com. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Action Heats Up in Trophy Series Summer Races McKinney, Gutmann hold onto top Non-Marathon spots; McGlade still leads Marathon and Longer Division JULY 8, 2009, CARBONDALE, COLORADO-Competition in the Sixth Annual Trail Runner Trophy Series, presented by GORE-TEX, is heating up like the mercury in your thermometer. Due to an internal glitch, our statistics are slightly different for our competitor numbers. The Trophy Series has 3,300 competing in the Marathon and Longer division and 6,600 for the Non-Marathon Division title. The standings below represent complete results from 45 races. Full points standings and additional Trophy Series information-including race schedule, rules and prize information (check out the new "Trail Fiend" award, given to the man and woman participating in the most Trophy Series races)-are available at www.trailrunnermag.com. Non-Marathon Division Brian McKinney, 37, of Woodland, California, continues to dominate the men's competition and expanded his lead for the men's Trail Fiend award. McKinney has already run a dozen races in 10 states (from California to Massachusetts with many stops along the way) to secure 190 points. McKinney raced back-to-back events, running the Sage Burner in Gunnison, Colorado, on Saturday, May 23, followed by the Medicine Bow Half Marathon in Laramie, Wyoming, on May 24. "I live in California but work for a software company in Massachusetts," says McKinney when asked how he manages to race across the country. "If I'm interested in a race on the East Coast, I'll arrange my work schedule so I can fly out of Boston, and when racing in the west, I'll schedule a week from home and fly out of Sacramento." Phil Oreste, 42, of Mill Valley, California, men's second-place points leader, joined McKinney in Laramie, Wyoming, for the Medicine Bow Half Marathon. Oreste placed first in his age division and earned a total of 52.4 points. Scott Drum, 38, of Gunnison, Colorado is now in third-place with 121.5 points. Our apologies to Drum and Nick Clark, 35, of Fort Collins, Colorado, for an internal glitch that caused the Non-Marathon points to be misrepresented. Clark is bumped from the Non-Marathon top three-for now, but watch out for a comeback! Brenda Gutmann, 50, of Borden, Indiana, added three more races to her resume to maintain her hold on the women's division with 311 points, and women's Trail Fiend prize, with six races. Her recent accomplishments include age-group wins at the Lake Geneva Euro XC Marathon in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and the Indian/Celina Challenge in Leopold, Indiana. "I'm enjoying seeing the different parts of the Midwest," says Gutmann. "I would like to race out West to experience different footing, altitude and hopefully less humidity." Carla Stone, 46, of West Des Moines, Iowa, bumped Sarah Raitter, 36, of Reno, Nevada, to third place. Stone is in second place for both points and the Trail Fiend prize with 137 points and four races. Marathon and Longer Division Patrick McGlade, 20, of Richmond, Virginia, remained in top spot on the men's leader board with 482 points. Two racers are tied for second with 400 points each. Wins at the Ice Age 50 Mile Solo Run and Land Between the Lakes 50-Miler, earned Zach Gingerich, 29, of Aurora, Illinois, 400 points. Geoff Linton, 47, of Guelph, Ontario, claimed his points by winning the Sulpher Springs 100-Mile Trail race. Next in line, with 336 points, is Sean Andrish, 39, of Leesburg, Virginia. Claiming the women's title at the Sulpher Springs 100-Mile Trail Race, put Sue Lucas, 45, of Dauphin, Manitoba, in the lead, bumping Liz Bauer, 50, of Plainville, Georgia, down to second place with 352 points ahead of Linda Gaudette, 45, of Falls Church, Virginia. There is a tie for the most Marathon and Longer Division races completed so far this season. Eugene Bruckert, 74, of Arlington Heights, Illinois, and Larry Creveling, 56, of Sigel, Pennsylvania, have run four races each. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2009 Trail Runner Trophy Series Shake-Up New names and faces take over most top slots MAY 21, 2009, CARBONDALE, COLORADO--Featuring 122 races, the Sixth Annual Trail Runner Trophy Series, presented by GORE-TEX, the nation's largest off-road trail running series, kicked off March 1. The standings below represent the first 41 races of the season. Full points standings and additional Trophy Series information--including race schedule, rules and prize information (be sure to check out the new "Trail Fiend" award, given to the man and woman participating in the most Trophy Series races)-are available at www.trailrunnermag.com. Non-Marathon Division Running seven races in five states (from Washington to Florida), Brian McKinney, 37, of Woodland, California, is an early season contender for both the male Trail Fiend award and top points slot. A first-place age-group win at the Napa Valley Trail Half Marathon garnered McKinney 52.4 points. I'm typically not a top-three finisher in my age division, so I'm surprised to be in the hunt for the non-marathon points race," says McKinney, whose work travel allows him to race nationwide. "I'm hoping to make the top three in more races." Five other men are tied for second place, all scoring age-group wins at the Collegiate Peaks Trail Run's 25-miler in Buena Vista, Colorado. When we last spoke to early season leader, Brenda Gutmann, 50, of Borden, Indiana, she was on her way to the Babcock Gristmill Grinder in Clifftop, West Virginia. There, she raced hard and increased her Trophy Series lead with a second-place age-group finish. "I've had a lot of fun going to races and traveling to new places, over the past three months-I even enjoy camping now," says Gutmann, who has set her sights on the women's Trail Fiend prize, although she and Linda Gaudette, 45, of Falls Church, Virginia, are currently in a tie, with three Trophy Series races each. Top Men, Non-Marathon Division Brian McKinney, 37, Woodland, CA, 123.2 points Giles Cote, 52, Basalt, CO, 100 points Dennis Flanagan, 27, Breckenridge, CO, 100 points Ken Gordon, 44, Albuquerque, NM, 100 points Kevin Koch, 34, Grand Junction, CO, 100 points Andy O'Grady, 19, Littleton, CO, 100 points Top Women, Non-Marathon Division Brenda Gutmann, 50, Borden, IN, 158.3 points Sarah Raitter, 36, Reno, NV, 114.4 points Jean Herbert, 52, Albuquerque, NM, 100 points Kelli Lusk, 39, Manitou Springs, CO, 100 points Keri Nelson, 27, Gunnison, CO, 100 points Cindy Stonesmith, 45, Louisville, CO, 100 points Marathon & Longer Division Patrick McGlade, 20, of Richmond, Virginia, knocked Glen Redpath to third place in the men's Marathon & Longer Division with a win at the 24-Hour Adventure Trail Run in Triangle, Virginia. McGlade completed 13.5 laps on the eight-mile loop course through Prince William Forest Park. Intermittent rains didn't hinder Thaddeus Meyer, 30, of Laurel, Maryland, who gave McGlade a fierce battle and finished 13 laps, earning him second place in the Trophy Series standings. With first- and second-place finishes, respectively, at the 24-Hour Adventure Trail Run, Liz Bauer, 50, of Plainville, Georgia, and Linda Gaudette, 45, of Falls Church, Virginia, ran to their first- and second-place rankings. Bauer completed 11 laps and Gaudette was close behind with 10. Eugene Bruckert, 73, of Arlington Heights, Illinois, is the oldest racer in the Marathon & Longer Division, and has already run in the Quadhita Trail 50, Land Between the Lakes Marathon and the Rockin K Marathon this season. The youngest participant is Alex O'Donnell, 17, of Wayne, Pennsylvania. Top Men, Marathon & Longer Division Patrick McGlade, 20, Richmond, VA, 482 points Thaddeus Meyer, 30, Laurel, MD, 312 points Glen Redpath, 43, New York, NY, 212 points Top Women, Marathon & Longer Division Liz Bauer, 50, Plainville, GA, 352 points Linda Gaudette, 45, Falls Church, VA, 321 points Michelle Barton, 38, Laguna Niguel, CA, 200 points Jenny Capel, 36, Reno, NV, 200 points Milada Copeland, 45, Draper, UT, 200 points Helen Cospolich, 32, Breckenridge, CO, 200 points Hillary Looney, 35, Little Rock, AR, 200 points Robin Meagher, 28, Atlanta, GA, 200 points Amy Sproston, 35, Washington, DC, 200 points Theresa Wheeler, 41, Wichita, KS, 200 points Racers, please note: the Northstar at Tahoe Nirvana Mountain Trail Run in Truckee, California, scheduled for August 15, 2009, has been cancelled. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thousands contend for early season top spots CARBONDALE, COLORADO – Featuring 123 races, the Sixth Annual Trail Runner Trophy Series presented by GORE-TEX, the nation's largest off-road trail running series, kicked off on March 1. Last year over 20,000 runners participated, and Trail Runner is predicting an even bigger turnout this year. The series includes races from March 1 to September 30 with distances from 5K to 100 miles. To date, results have been tallied for 13 out of 17 races. March races included 5Ks to 50-milers and almost 3000 Trophy Series participants running from California to Virginia. Trophy Series races in Canada start up May 23 with the Sulphur Springs Trail Races in Ancaster, Ontario. Canadians Ian Hobler and Theresa McGrath are defending the men's and women's Ultramarathon titles, so U.S. racers had better take note. New to this year's Trophy Series is the "Trail Fiend" award, given to the man and woman participating in the greatest number of Trophy Series races. The winners will be awarded a spot at the 2010 Get Your Running Legs On Trail Running Week at Nipika Mountain Resort, located in the Canadian Rockies between Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia and Banff, Alberta. Full point standings and more Trophy Series information–including race schedules, rules and prize information–are available at www.trailrunnermag.com. Non-Marathon Division March results revealed nine men tied for top points, and Brenda Gutmann, 50, of Borden, Indiana, as the current women's division leader. Gutman secured her lead with age-group wins at the Land Between the Lakes Trail Run in Grand Rivers, Kentucky, and the sixth-annual Bel Monte Endurance Run in Charlottesville, Virginia.I heard about the Trophy Series at Land Between the Lakes and signed up for some other races in the series," said Gutmann today en route to Babcock Gristmill Grinder (another Trophy Series event) in Clifftop, West Virginia. "The idea of being able to compete in a national contest as a 50-year-old, middle-of-the-pack runner is really fun." Trophy Series participant James Erickson, 23, of Charlottesville, Virginia, won the Land Between the Lakes 25K race with a time of 2:15:47 amidst a light rain and fog he described as "looking like a fairyland". Top Men, Non-Marathon Division Mark Colby, Payson, Utah Charles Cole, Crozet, Virginia Dune Davis, Saratoga Springs, Utah Andy Dorias, Salt Lake City, Utah James Erickson, Charlottesville, Virginia Jason Laxton, Boone, North Carolina Bryon Oberst, Bend, Oregon Mark Schoenfeld, Boise, Idaho Kevin Tuck, Salt Lake City, Utah Top Women, Non-Marathon Division Brenda Gutmann, Borden, Indiana, 119 points (the following runners have 62 points each) Christine Bauer, Salt Lake City, Utah Biancia Bell, Annapolis, Florida Judy Farris, Draper, Utah Megan Harrold, Edinburg, Virginia Riva Johnson, Carlisle, Pennsylvania Sue Lee, Salt Lake City, Utah Sonja Wilkey, Midlothian, Virginia Marathon Division This division now includes races 26 miles and longer (a change made to improve shorter-distance runners' chances of winning age-group prizes), but 50-milers have been the source of the hottest competition so far in 2009. Glen Redpath, 43, of New York, New York, is the division leader with 212 points thanks to finishing both the 31-mile Seneca Creek Marathon and the 50-mile event at the Bel Monte Endurance Run, while his closest competitors have finished one race each. Zach Gingerich, 29, of Aurora, Illinois, and Robin Meagher, 28, of Atlanta, Georgia, had a tight race in muddy conditions at the Land Between the Lakes 50-miler, both securing wins in the men's and women's divisions. They had finish times of 7:29:02 and 7:45:43 respectively. Top Men, Marathon Division Glen Redpath, New York, New York, 212 Points (the following runners have 200 points each) Zach Gingerich, Aurora, Illinois Ben Hian, Carlsbad, California Thomas McKenna, Lawrence, Kansas Bradley Mongold, Falling Waters, West Virginia Nick Pedatella, Boulder, Colorado Top Women, Marathon Division (all with 200 points) Michelle Barton, Laguna Niguel, California Milada Copeland, Draper, Utah Robin Meagher, Atlanta, Georgia Amy Sproston, Washington, D.C. Theresa Wheeler, Wichita, Kansas ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Canadian Trail Running Retreat Announced as Trophy Series Grand Prize Most prolific male and female runners to run and rest in eco-luxury at Nipika Mountain Lodge MARCH 19, 2009, CARBONDALE, COLORADO – Trail Runner and Nipika Mountain Resort are offering a new grand prize to this year's Trophy Series' top "trail fiends" (the man and woman who run the greatest number of Trophy Series races in 2009). Each will be awarded a spot at the 2010 Get Your Running Legs On Trail Running Week at Nipika Mountain Resort, located in the Canadian Rockies between Radium Hot Springs, B.C. and Banff, Alberta. The camp takes place May 23 to May 30, 2010 and includes accommodations, meals and exciting daily programs with running experts. Instruction will be offered in running technique, training principles, environmental awareness and safety, yoga, Pilates, shoe fitting and running equipment. Nipika is an eco-resort that operates in harmony with the natural environment, encouraging visitors to enjoy the extensive network of trails in Kootenay National Park through trail running, biking, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. The lodge uses solar, micro-hydro and wind energy and recycles almost all its waste. In addition, salvaged dead wood is used for heat and all the buildings and much of the furniture were built on site by Nipika staff, from Mountain Pine Beetle killed trees. The camp finale is the 3rd Annual Crazy Soles Nipika Trail Run on Saturday, May 29. Runners choose from the 3K, 10K or 25K route, and end the day with a barbeque and awards ceremony at the Nipika Barn. Grand-prize winners are responsible for their own transportation to and from Nipika Mountain Lodge. For more information, go to www.nipika.com. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sixth Annual Trail Runner Trophy Series Begins March 1, 2009 Trail Races in California, Indiana, Texas and Maryland kick off popular race series FEBRUARY 17, 2009, CARBONDALE, COLORADO-The Trail Runner Trophy Series, presented by GORE-TEX, is North America's largest points-based off-road running series, encompassing 123 races held between March 1 and September 30, 2009. Kicking off this year's series on March 1 is the San Luis Mountain Run in San Luis Obispo, California. The racing action intensifies on March 7 with the Foot Pursuit 5K in Valparaiso, Indiana, Old Pueblo 50-Mile Endurance Run in Sonoita, Arizona, Prickly Pear 10-mile & 50K in San Antonio, Texas, and Seneca Creek Greenway Trail Marathon and 50K in Damascus, Maryland. Throughout the series, over 20,000 trail runners will earn points for completing races and bonus points for winning age-group or overall. Runners compete in two divisions: Non-marathon (races less than 26 miles) and Marathon & Longer (over 26 miles). At the series' end, Non-marathon division winners across 10 age groups, the top-three male and female finishers in the Marathon & Longer division and two random draw-prize winners are awarded prize packages containing products from Trigger Point Therapy, Amphipod, Pro-Tec Athletics, Moeben Sleeves, Injinji, Julbo, Kahtoola, Nuun Active Hydration, Wicked Fast Sports Nutrition and Zombie Runner. A Grand Prize trail-running camp or guided trail-running tour will be awarded to the "trail fiend" who runs the greatest number of Trophy Series races. Full details will be announced shortly. All Trophy Series race participants will receive a complimentary "mini" issue of Trail Runner magazine. The first edition contains training tips for running uphill efficiently, how to train for high-altitude races (even if you're a flatlander), plus inspirational profiles of last year's Trophy Series winners and a feature article about The North Face Canadian Death Race. The second "mini" issue-with all new articles-will be distributed at races held between July and September. Monthly updated points standings, a list of Trophy Series races, press releases, race reports, profiles of past winners and details about the prizes can be found at www.trailrunnermag.com.