Many competitors at this year’s Teva First Bank of Vail 10 at 10 (10Km at 10,000 feet) trail race remarked about the warm temperatures and bright sunshine at the summit of Vail Mountain where the race was held. “I was surprised how warm it was for the 9:00 start. At 10,000 feet you often think of cool and crisp conditions,” said J’ne Day Lucore of Denver who finished second in the 40-49 age group.
The 10 at 10 on Sunday, June 24, was the first race in the Teva Vail Mountain Trail Running Series which celebrates its 10th running this year. For the past two years, the 10 at 10 started at the base of the mountain due to construction on the mountain as well as heavy snowfall late in the season. Fortunately everyone heeded runner instructions to catch the gondola up the mountain between 8 and 8:30 a.m. for the start at Eagle’s Nest. There was plenty of time for runners to enjoy a drink before the race, or to just plan their pre-race strategy.
This year’s race had a few more finishers than last year (175 versus 171) even though the event was competing for runners with two other events today, one in Eagle, and one in Breckenridge.
“It is always tough going up against other events, but that is the nature of sports in the high country,” said Vail Recreation Sports Director and 10 at 10 director Joel Rabinowitz. “We had a great crowd today and the weather was perfect.”
The course was just shy of 10 kilometers at 6.13 miles (10Km translates to 6.2 miles) with an average elevation of seven percent and 1,172 feet in elevation gain from start to finish. The course started out on a short, flat section, but quickly ascended up a steep incline to another relatively flat section following bright yellow markers throughout the route.
Runners got strung out pretty quickly on the first climb which is typical of events that cater to all ages and ability levels. This event had competitors from age 15 to age 67, runners and walkers alike, many of whom hailed from the flatlands to enjoy a holiday in Vail…and a trail race.
There were two aid stations on course as well as at the start/finish line featuring Gatorade Endurance Formula and water. The first aid station at 2.3 miles was staffed by several very enthusiastic volunteers who greeted the runners shouting out “Gatorade, water,” and every runner who still had some air left after the climb up to the aid station responded with words of thanks to the volunteers.
Last year’s winner Bernie Boettcher, Silt, CO was first to the aid station followed by local Battle Mountain High Schooler Jonny Stevens, a member of the 2005 junior world mountain running team. In third place was local runner Eric Hermann, who works in the summer and winter on Vail Mountain.
For the women, Manitou Springs resident Cindy O’Neill led the field with Megan Boord, Vail, and Katie Mazzia, Eagle in pursuit. O’Neill won the La Sportiva Trifecta in Snowmass Village just last week. The event consisted of two days of running with a five mile trail race and an uphill climb on day one, and a half marathon on day two. Both Boettcher and O’Neill are training for the USA Trail Championships to be held on a seven mile course in Steamboat Springs next week.
Back at the finish line, Vail Recreation District staffers were following the progress of runners across the ridgeline trying to calculate the winning time. Although binoculars would have been an asset, there were glimpses of a watch, or glittering object catching a ray of sunshine indicating the whereabouts of the first runner as he crossed an open stretch between the trees.
Forty two minutes into the race, Boettcher broke out of the trees for the final downhill stretch to the finish. The 44-year-old artist crossed the line in 43:02 more than three minutes ahead of Stevens and Hermann who finished second and third respectively. Boettcher, like O’Neill, competed in last weekend’s Trifecta to finish in second place.
For the women, the margin of victory was smaller with O’Neill posting a 51:15 and Boord and Mazzia finishing second and third within five seconds of each other timed in 52:41 and 52:46. Mazzia put on a last minute surge to the finish line to finish just one second ahead of Bridget Dunn- Kent who finished in 52:47 for fourth place and first in the 30-39 age group.
The top three male and female finishers overall received Teva gift certificates while the top three finishers in each age group 19 and under, 20- 29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60+ also received prizes from Teva. There were no duplicate prizes although all participants were eligible for random prize drawings which included 180s gear, a $50 gift certificate from series sponsor Jointworx, and a race entry into a Steamboat Racing Series event. Among the prize winners was Eagle Mountain Runner Cait Boyd who also was a prize winner in the 30-39 year age group with a second place finish.
In addition to top finisher awards, each participant received a commemorative T-shirt and goody bag at the finish line. The T- shirts were designed by race winner Bernie Boettcher.
The Teva Vail Mountain Trail Running series was named best race series of 2005 by regional magazine Colorado Runner. In order to be scored as a series finisher, participants must complete at least four of the five events. Today’s event will be followed by the 31st Annual Teva Vail HillClimb (7.5 miles) on July 8 which was designated by Colorado Runner as the best trail race in 2006. Following the Hill Climb will be the Teva Vail HalfMarathon on July 22, the Teva Tiga Berry Picker (5k/10k) on August 12 and on September 9, the final event will be held as the Teva Jointworx EverGold 10K. Series awards will be presented at the September 9 event during the race awards ceremony. Last year’s series boasted more than 1100 participants with 25 runners completing all races in the series.
Individual race entry is $25 or $35 on race day. Register online at active.com, print out an entry form at vailrec.com and mail, or fax your completed entry, or stop by Vail Recreation District at 700 South Frontage Road East (the building with the large clock next to the tennis courts). You can register and pick up your runner number for the HillClimb on Saturday, July 7, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. or on race morning in front of Vail’s Mountain Haus. On race morning park at the Vail Village Parking Structure which is free in the summer. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact VRD Sports at (970) 479- 2280.
Series title sponsor Teva footwear recently introduced the Teva Trail Running Tribe and invites everyone to visit the website at teva.com/gorun/ . Series sponsors include First Bank of Vail, Jointworx Physical Therapy, Vail’s Mountain Haus, Tiga Advertising, Howard Head Sports Medicine Centers, Steadman Hawkins, 180s, and Gatorade. For more information including results and press releases from last year’s series, and to view course maps visit vailrec.com.