With athletes braving the dreaded indoor track hack, and the rain and wind storms that is Bellingham winter, we wanted to give a little shout out to them and their performances this past month. If you haven’t already caught up with earlier January performances, check out our latest blog highlighting “Nookachamps Winter Runs & the Sandelie Golf Course Mud Run!” We’re really proud of the accomplishments of these athletes, because training to race in the winter and racing in the winter isn’t easy, what with short daylight hours, poor weather, and less than perfect race conditions. Forever inspired. We also want to thank the race organizers and volunteers who brave these very conditions for the sake of the athletes and the community, because their job isn’t easy, and standing in such (in our opinion), is a little bit worse than running in it!
Wednesday, January 17 – Representing BDP in indoor track, Rachel kicked ass mid-month at the Miles in Chiles Mile, at the University of Portland’s Chiles Center in Portland, OR, as she continues her studies. Taking the lead at the 800, she powered on for the W – her only goal to have fun and practice racing tactics. The Miles in Chiles is an indoor track series and all comers meet for high schoolers and up. Races, which include a rolling schedule of 200, 400, 800 and the Mile, will continue rolling on January 31st, February 7th and February 14th.
Saturday, January 20 – In what might be one of the best race names ever, Alex Giebelhaus laid some serious work at the 15th Annual Capitol Peak Mega Fat Ass 50k, taking 5th behind Isaiah Hemmen, Dave Mitchell, Tony Hawkes and the winner, Adam Hewey of Seattle, WA. The finish earns Giebelhaus a shiny new PR at the distance (4:49), taking a near hour off his time from last year, and an hour and a half off his time before that…and this wasn’t exactly a 50k – it was a 34 miler! “The Capitol Peak Mega Fat Ass has two distance options, 17 miles or 34 miles…You will need to be self-supported, so no WHINING!” We want to thank South Puget Sound Search and Rescue (SPSMSAR) for their continued support for Capitol Peak Ultras events. What’s rad about the event is that they request everyone bring either a can of chicken noodle soup or butternut squash soup for a community soup feed.
Full results can be found HERE!
Saturday, January 27 – Female power abounded at Rainshadow Running’s Orcas Island 25k with Scarlett Graham taking 3rd F/13th Overall and Maria Dalzot in 1st/5th Overall. “The Orcas Island 25k is unique in the trail running world, with old-growth forests, tough climbs, and spectacular views of surrounding islands, mountains, and Puget Sound – but what truly sets it apart is the chance to hang out all weekend on a gorgeous island with your trail runner friends. These are the oldest of all the Rainshadow Running raecs – Races that will leave you wondering: Why run anywhere else?” To see the ever-beautiful capture of athletes in their element, check out Tad Davis’ photographs HERE!
Full Results for the Orcas Island 25k can be found HERE!
