This past December 7th, my son Ian and I went over to Furnace Creek to run in the Death Valley Borax Marathon (for me) and 10K (for Ian).  These races, plus a simultaneous half-marathon, were put on by Dave and Wendy Horning of Envirosports.  All of the races were out-and-back starting north along Highway 190.  Each race was entirely below sea level.  There were aid stations about every 3 miles, but I was glad to be carrying water—I guess I run too slowly.

The 10K started about 10 minutes after the marathon, so I had the pleasure of watching my son pass me twice—once in each direction.  He did well, coming in first overall to garner a rubber chicken.

My marathon time was about 25 minutes faster than that of the previous year, so I was happy.  If I can shave off another 55 minutes the next time I run this marathon, I’ll be on my way to Boston because the course is certified.

Now, why didn’t we show up at the High Desert Ultra instead?  Well, we have lived in Ridgecrest for only about three years.  After moving here, we kept seeing announcements in the paper for runs sponsored by the “Over the Hill Track Club.”  We never participated in the runs because (1) I was sick of running on tracks after 16 North Dakota winters of running on an indoor track and (2) I didn’t think we were old enough.

About a year and a half ago, I decided that it was about time for me to run a marathon.  The one in Death Valley seemed ideal because it was close, in a non-urban area, and about the easiest-looking marathon in the world.  Another advantage was that there was a 10K race for Ian to run in.  He was a freshman running with the Burroughs cross-country team.  So we signed up for and ran our races in December 2001 and had such a fun time that we decided to make it a tradition.  The December 2002 races were a second annual event for us.
Meanwhile, we have found out that (1) the OTHTC eschews tracks and (2) “OTH” refers to geography, not age.

The friendliest race you’ll ever run.  The day started out to be a great day for running an Ultra in the Mojave Desert.  Cold, crisp, and clear skies.  This was the 17th edition of our very runable, as the winning time would show, course.  The entries for both events surpassed last year’s.  The race has grown each and every year.  Along with the 50K, we have a 30K to introduce runners to trail running and get a taste of what an Ultra is like.  Total number for both events: 301.  Many returning veterans and newbies alike came to enjoy our beautiful desert and our friendly community.  In the 50K, we had 185 starters and 184 finishers.  In the 30K, we had 87 starters and 87 finishers.  This is very typical of our race.  The aid stations were stocked with your basic Ultra goodies, plus S’ Caps donated by Karl King.

The last couple of years, I’ve been giving runners who have finished the Ultra five times a cute three-quarter zip sweatshirt with desert animals dancing in the desert.  Very cute and very popular.  This year, I realized that a few runners would have 10 finishes.  I gave it a lot of thought and decided that I would give the 10-time finishers a top-quality jacket.  I asked Craig Holloway of Patagonia for prices on their top-quality jackets.  He responded with three to choose from.  I picked the top jacket.  I had them embroidered and ready for the 10-time finishers.  This year, we had seven runners who would finish 10 times and many more who would finish five times.  They were very happy to receive the jackets, and they said that they would show them off when they got home.

This year, we had a new venue for our race headquarters where we could distribute race packets and provide the pasta dinner.  Last year, we overwhelmed our local pizza parlor.  So I contacted a local catering business and moved to the Elk’s Lodge--much bigger with lots of room.  So, I thought, the runners almost overwhelmed this place as well.  A fun time was had by all as I raffled a bunch of items donated by some of our great sponsors.  We would also raffle some items on Sunday at the awards ceremony.

I had gotten a phone call two days before the race asking if a couple of runners could sign up on race day.  I said no race-day registration as it states on the entry form.  The caller said but I’m bringing a runner who can win the race and probably will break the course record.  The course record is a very fast 3:22:58.  I asked his name.  I had never heard of him and learned that this would be his first Ultra.  Well, we would see on Sunday what this fellow could do.  I said sorry but can’t do it.  I told him to come on Saturday; we are at race headquarters until 8:00 p. m.  Well, they showed up late, got registered, picked up their goodie bags, and went off to their hotel.

The race started a few minutes after 7:00 a.m.  Off they went through the desert.  I was out checking the course for any vandalism.  Close to the 13-mile aid station, I saw two runners in my rear view mirror.  They were gaining on me, and I could see it was Jorge Pacheco, last year’s winner, and someone I didn’t recognize.  These guys just about caught up to me at about mile 17, another aid station.  Jorge was still in front of the unknown runner.  At this point, I took off and never saw them again until they crossed the finish line.  In the later stages of the race, the unknown runner overtook Jorge and came across the finish line in a time of 3:16:37.  A new course record!  Oh, and by the way, this young fellow’s age is 40.

The unknown runner who won the race is Roberto Leonardo, a 2:45 marathoner, from Los Angeles.  We could be seeing this fellow at other Ultras, I’m sure.  He will be a force to contend with if he continues to run Ultras.  In second place, Jorge Pacheco (35), last year’s winner, came in seven minuets later.  Phil Kiddo (27), last year’s winner of the Bishop High Sierra 50-miler, came in third.  On the women’s side, Sue Zihlman from San Luis Obispo won the Women’s overall title with one of the fastest times for women on our course.  Some 14 minuets later, Kim Gimenez (38) came in for second place. Tracy Bahr (30), exactly one minute behind Kim, came in third.

As is the case for this very runable course, we again had some great performances from all the age group winners.  Always standing out here are our 70-year-young runners.  Larry Gotthart (71) ran a very strong 6:08:05 for the new 70-79 age group record surpassing Robert DeVita’s record of 6:48:43.  Wow!  The first young lady, Yukie Mochida (73), had a good day but was off her record set last year.

We had many Club runners in both events.  The first one across the finish line in the 50K was none other than Karen Smith, Ridgecrest resident transplanted to Tucson, Arizona, 24th overall and 3rd in her age group.  The next one was that fast Joe Oliver in 31st place and 1st in his age group.  Next in 54th place were our friends, Mark McKinney and Eric Kajiwara.  John Shillings, having an off day, was in 64th place.  “Corky” Furnish, who never gives up, was in 94th place.  Curtis Davis, our Adventure racer, followed him in 98th place.  Lisa Bennett came in at 109th place and told me she had a wonderful time out on the course.  She said she wanted to come in under 6 hours, and she did.  The ever-tough Barb Miller was in 118th place.  Randy Klassen cruised across in 143rd place.  Andrew “Mitch” Mitchell finished in 147th place.  Our good friend, Bill Dickey, who lives in Arcadia, was the 149th finisher.  Carol Wolfe was not far behind in 152nd place.  Ultra veteran Jo Kajiwara was next in 156th place.  And Traci McCormick finished in 174th place.

In our accompanying 30K event, the first OTHTC member across the finish line was Dan Goriesky in 23rd place overall.  Shaleen Lambert, always in good shape but who rides more than runs, was in 34th place.  Barbara Harlow came across with Shaleen in 35th place.  Joy Lewis, who normally runs the 50K but opted for the 30K this year, finished in 51st place.  John Anderson, a veteran of many Ultras, was next in 50th place.  Viki Prusia and Mick Benton finished 61st and 62nd.  I heard that Mick had a tough day.  He says he really isn’t a long distance runner, but he proved that he could go that extra mile.  And 76th place went to none other than Oscar Wickliff, who power walks this event.  Hearty congratulations to all the Club members who toed the line for this year’s events.  Race results can be found at our Club’s website, www.othtc.com, and in the January 2003 issue of the Roadrunner.

The day was great.  Under sunny skies, we presented the awards and handed out many more raffle items as well.  We gave out the
5-year sweatshirts and the 10-year Patagonia jackets.  The runners went through a keg of Mojave Red, our local brew.  The awards again were welded metal works of art.  All finishers received a handmade ceramic medal and a RaceReady Coolmax T-shirt.

Thanks to the generous sponsors we get every year.  We raffled off many top-quality garments donated by Patagonia, two pairs of Montrail running shoes, supplement drinks donated by Karl King, RaceReady garments, and many other items.  Buff was a new sponsor this year and a big hit with the runners.  Buff donated a bunch of their products and the winners of the products were happy campers, indeed.  All runners received water bottles from Montrail.  Many other fine sponsors were on board again.  Many local merchants donated services or products.  Many, many thanks to our wonderful volunteers.  Thanks to the marking crew, the Race Headquarter crew, the start-finish crew, and the aid station crews.  They show up every year and help make this event one of the best 50Ks around.  And, of course, thanks to the runners who keep coming back and bring along their friends.  Last but not least, thanks to my beautiful wife, Debbie.  Without her, this event would not be The Friendliest Ultra Race around.  She’s a fun lady.

Be ready for yet another great race on December 7, 2003.
 

Over The Hill Track Club High Desert 50Km
Ridgecrest, CA
December 8, 2002
Results from Chris Rios
No.	Name	Age	Time	Group Award		No.	Name	Age	Time	Group Award
1	Roberto Leonardo	40	3:16:37	Overall Winner !		94	Michael Du Priest	46	5:38:20
2	Jorge Pacheco	35	3:23:43	1st. Male 30-39		95	James Corky Furnish	60	5:38:20
3	Hoodo Kiddo	27	3:36:50	1st. Male 20-29		96	Perry Petschar	48	5:38:37
4	Guillermo Medina	28	3:37:01	2nd. Male 20-29		97	Akiko Kimura	37	5:38:37
5	Ed Dardenn-Ankringa	33	3:43:50	2nd. Male 30-39		98	Dan Harshburger	55	5:39:43
6	Adalberto Mendoza	50	3:44:47	1st. Male 50-59		99	Curtis Davis	38	5:41:03
7	Bill Kissell	49	3:50:42	1st. Male 40-49		100	Randy Snyder	53	5:42:15
8	Mike Wilke	38	3:59:29	3rd. Male 30-39		101	Grant Williams	55	5:43:50
9	Rob McNair	48	4:00:29	2nd.Male 40-49		102	Fred Pollard	63	5:44:36
10	Scott McKenzie	48	4:05:19	3rd. Male 40-49		103	Ann Hall	F44	5:44:55
11	Luis Escobar	38	4:06:03			104	Barbara Elia	F58	5:45:22	2nd. Female 50-59
12	Devin Corcoran	45	4:06:12			105	Patrick Clark	57	5:46:50
13	Mike Melkonian	32	4:06:54			106	John Bozung	49	5:48:36
14	Daniel Kelly	55	4:07:18	2nd. Male 50-59		107	Scott Tyler Rice	30	5:49:02
15	Sue Zihlman	F39	4:07:35	1st. Female Overall		108	Elizabeth Kennedy	F39	5:49:18
16	Andy Roth	34	4:08:24			109	Emmett Rahl	31	5:51:52
17	David Melkonian	29	4:08:51	3rd. Male 20-29		110	Lisa Bennett	F40	5:54:19
18	Bobby Bostic	34	4:12:12			111	Cassandra Johnson	F56	5:54:21	3rd. Female 50-59
19	Angel Perez	31	4:12:12			112	Joe Magruder	56	5:54:25
20	Roger Weingaertner	55	4:16:19	3rd. Male 50-59		113	Drew Pallette	54	5:58:21
21	Al Val Verde	44	4:16:20			114	Bret Bihler	53	5:58:40
22	Brian Drapper	50	4:20:22			115	Bill Griffin	59	5:59:27
23	Kim Gimenez	F38	4:21:22	1st. Female 30-39		116	Victoria Devita Luigi	F49	5:59:36
24	Tracy Bahr	F30	4:24:17	2nd. Female 30-39		117	Elena Sherman	F49	6:00:17
25	Caren Smith	F39	4:27:05	3rd. Female 30-39		118	Harry Otto	45	6:02:50
26	Butch Jackson	41	4:27:05			119	Barb Miller	F49	6:03:11
27	Eric Edmunds	49	4:27:49			120	Scott Cline	63	6:03:40
28	Gregory Harrison	44	4:29:11			121	Larry Gotthardt	71	6:08:05	1st. Male 70-79
29	Shaun Romans	35	4:29:50			122	Andrew Collins	53	6:08:10
30	Sheila Carlson	F38	4:34:24			123	Craig Chambers	57	6:08:10
31	Pete Goldschmidt	39	4:37:03			124	Susan Handing	F47	6:09:25
32	Joe Oliver	61	4:37:49	1st. Male 60-69		125	Karen Tallman	F45	6:09:26
33	Chrissy Weiss	F41	4:42:51	1st. Female 40-49		126	Jan Iocco	F41	6:09:56
34	Scott Sullivan	43	4:42:51			127	Sharlene Andersen	F53	6:09:56
35	Jay Grobeson	42	4:42:52			128	Dan Dempster	56	6:11:20
36	Simon Prince	32	4:43:15			129	David Saine	53	6:11:20
37	Douglas Spencer	44	4:43:25			130	Peter Mireles	63	6:11:20
38	Bob Ulloa	53	4:43:30			131	Ilsebil Wolf	F60	6:11:20	1st. Female 60-69
39	Kim Montgomery	47	4:44:08			132	David Bourne	58	6:11:47
40	Mori Hanneman	37	4:44:27			133	Kathy Kusner	F62	6:13:33	2nd Female 60-69
41	Sena Hoodman	F44	4:45:01	2nd. Female 40-49		134	Gill Gebbie	59	6:13:37
42	Craig Holloway	42	4:45:49			135	Byron Nuthall	56	6:13:40
43	Howard Cohen	44	4:49:16			136	John Ingro	68	6:13:42
44	Rogelio Arron	30	4:49:34			137	Colleen Vinson	F45	6:13:53
45	June Gessner	F49	4:50:08	3rd. Female 40-49		138	Mitsuye Morrissey	F57	6:14:18
46	Richard Fisher	53	4:51:15			139	Garry Galindo	61	6:15:48
47	Jasper Mueller	34	4:52:23			140	J. R. Young	43	6:18:02
48	David Sauld	30	4:52:29			141	Mike Haviland	61	6:18:07
49	Steven Healy	44	4:53:51			142	Craig McClurg	54	6:19:19
50	Hal Chiasson	60	4:53:57	2nd. Male 60-69		143	Patty Landis	F61	6:21:12	3rd. Female 60-69
51	John Radich	48	4:54:10			144	Randy Klassen	49	6:21:52
52	Maria Lemus	F38	4:54:36			145	Delta Carr	F49	6:22:21
53	Mark Kiner	28	4:56:13			146	Garry Miller	65	6:22:46
54	Jerry Zatorski	39	4:58:12			147	Bill Price	70	6:24:35	2nd Male 70-79
55	Mark McKinney	35	4:59:23			148	Andrew Mitchell	51	6:25:40
56	Eric Kajiwara	55	4:59:24			149	Kari Marchant	F44	6:25:56
57	Damon Collier	36	5:01:57			150	Bill Dickey	63	6:25:59
58	Jimmy Fullerton	48	5:03:17			151	Fink Gudrun	F58	6:26:07
59	Rod Nutter	27	5:04:22			152	Carri Du Priest	F45	6:27:09
60	Troy Kuhlman	42	5:04:53			153	Carol Wolfe	F42	6:27:29
61	Daniel Byars	23	5:05:25			154	Kathy Harshburger	F52	6:31:57
62	Carlos Diaz	47	5:06:10			155	Maureen Moran	F44	6:31:57
63	Jeff Brettier	41	5:07:21			156	Michael Turon	55	6:33:35
64	Bruce Kocka	56	5:07:22			157	Jo Kajiwara	F56	6:33:35
65	John Shillings	47	5:08:56			158	Yukie Mochida	F73	6:37:33	1st. Female 70-79
66	Anastasia Christman	F35	5:09:06			159	Debra Jorgensen	F44	6:38:49
67	Rob Harris	36	5:09:06			160	Charles Cutting	65	6:41:21
68	Kevin Lutz	45	5:09:54			161	Ross Johnson	45	6:44:51
69	Kim Brettier	F38	5:10:12			162	Deborah Newman	F50	6:46:32
70	Larry Dervin	66	5:11:09	3rd. Male 60-69		163	Lorna Tansey	F45	6:47:53
71	Dennis Jenson	54	5:14:29			164	Adele Williams	F54	6:49:02
72	Dorsh Sanders	59	5:17:18			165	Kerry Collins	F54	6:49:03
73	Ernie Rambo	F45	5:19:36			166	Terri Hayes	F59	6:50:43
74	Wendy Young	F46	5:21:57			167	Brenda Thomason	F50	6:54:36
75	Nancy Shura	F52	5:23:48	1st. Female 50-59		168	Gabriela Martinez	F30	6:55:19
76	Kenneth Hart	59	5:24:46			169	Jose Ruben Herrera	31	6:55:19
77	Saundra Whitehead	F49	5:25:57			170	Marlene Henry	F50	7:07:44
78	Julie Wuhsieh	F28	5:26:17	1st. Female 20-29		171	Ken Glenn	46	7:07:52
79	Gary Inouye	49	5:26:17			172	Brenda Kobermusz	F33	7:15:22
80	Steve Morris	34	5:26:46			173	Sher Davis	F36	7:21:36
81	Nancy Aguilar	F41	5:27:11			174	Traci McCormick	F34	7:21:36
82	Robert Gravette	36	5:27:56			175	Michael Luigui	49	7:22:47
83	Jeff Robbins	35	5:29:24			176	Dan Baglione	72	7:27:56	3rd. Male 70-79
84	Mark Driscoll	56	5:29:53			177	Ester Castro	F46	7:34:44
85	David Francel	50	5:30:31			178	Luis Gomez	31	7:34:44
86	Steve Bean	59	5:31:05			179	John Lodarski	75	7:49:33
87	Brent Blue	28	5:32:00			180	Pat De Vita	F68	7:55:37
88	Greg Power	51	5:32:35			181	Mark Davis	53	8:09:34
89	Mark Ryne	48	5:34:14			182	Sharlene Wills	F54	8:09:34
90	Michael Kogutek	53	5:34:24			183	Julie Espinosa	F43	8:09:34
91	Sue Flannagan	F33	5:36:24			184	Diana Fredlund	F62	8:25:22
92	Sean Mullins	36	5:36:24			185	Jane Cutting	F62	8:41:10
93	Jose Luis Barrera	35	5:38:08
! denotes course record
186 started 1 DNF
Over The Hill Track Club High Desert 30Km
Ridgecrest, CA
December 8, 2002
Results from Chris Rios
No.	Name	Age	Time	Group Award		No.	Name	Age	Time	Group Award
1	Emilo Martinez	32	2:05:53	Over All Winner		44	Shari Nicholls	F53	3:32:50	3rd. Female 50-59
2	Jim Reish	39	2:06:10	1st. Male 30-39		45	Sue Dietz	F45	3:37:01	3rd. Female 40-49
3	Rick Allan	55	2:26:11	1st. Male 50-59		46	Adam Hagan	40	3:37:30
4	Anthony Saglembeni	40	2:26:55	1st. Male 40-49		47	Anita Marie Fromm	F31	3:37:31
5	Linda Jannelli	F47	2:30:15	Over All Winner Female		48	Anita Kuhlman	F42	3:38:00
6	A. J. Shaka	44	2:31:36	2nd. Male 40-49		49	Jim Stevens	64	3:40:50
7	Chris Anderson	25	2:32:04	1st. Male 20-29		50	Judy Stevens	F62	3:42:24	1st. Female 60-69
8	Joel Titcomb	44	2:32:34	3rd. Male 40-49		51	Joy Lewis	F41	3:44:52
9	Michelle Jacob	F25	2:36:39	1st. Female 20-29		52	Mitcchell Grobeson	43	3:47:24
10	Mark Marcelli	43	2:39:14			53	Chris Moody	F54	3:48:31
11	Bruce Bornhurst	46	2:39:27			54	John Anderson	68	3:50:26
12	Susan Tsang	F29	2:40:53	2nd. Female 20-29		55	Brigid Makiei	F57	3:56:02
13	Peter Frankudakis	38	2:41:27	2nd. Male 30-39		56	June Saruwatari	F40	3:56:02
14	Garbanzo McFuddlebum	54	2:44:29	2nd. Male 50-59		57	Alan Newman	47	3:57:06
15	Jamie Finn	F37	2:51:43	1st. Female 30-39		58	Susan Lucas	F58	3:58:39
16	Doug Tobias	40	2:51:44			59	Carole Pinker	F64	4:01:32	2nd. Female 60-69
17	Don Haas	61	2:58:49	1st. Male 60-69		60	Viki Prusia	F42	4:02:42
18	Paul Daniel	36	3:00:01	3rd. Male 30-39		61	Mick Benton	48	4:02:42
19	Nicolas Aguirre	50	3:01:14	3rd. Male 50-59		62	Helga Jessen	F58	4:04:29
20	Wendy Spurlin	F33	3:01:45	2nd. Female 30-39		63	Jane Hubbard	F55	4:07:45
21	Mike See	54	3:01:50			64	Ollie Biedermna	70	4:10:50	1st. Male 70-79
22	Thomas Higley	50	3:03:16			65	Marvin Powers	74	4:10:50	2nd. Male 70-79
23	Dan Goriesky	46	3:03:57			66	Lorraine Westhafer	F53	4:11:03
24	Imelda Julian	F38	3:08:01	3rd. Female 30-39		67	Carla Wolf	F52	4:11:47
25	Bob Bacon	51	3:08:11			68	Melissa Friedman	F36	4:26:05
26	Dennis Iocco	52	3:08:56			69	Andrea Cooper	F28	4:26:06
27	Rob Rich	42	3:09:21			70	Charles Del Hiero	62	4:26:31
28	Jan Gnass	52	3:11:34			71	Julia Jones	F74	4:29:22	1st. Female 70-79
29	Don Barkley	40	3:12:51			72	Richard Gilmore	65	4:31:53
30	Beth Epstein	F48	3:12:52	1st. Female 40-49		73	Tom O'Hara	60	4:34:19
31	John Howard	56	3:13:28			74	Oscar Wickliff	56	4:37:18
32	Bud Moody	55	3:14:35			75	Robert Vanglider	54	4:43:51
33	Allyson Albert	F28	3:15:53	3rd. Female 20-29		76	Dragana Dragas	F26	4:43:51
34	Shaleen Lambert	F34	3:17:36			77	Maria Vanglider	F49	4:43:51
35	Barbara Harlow	F42	3:17:37	2nd. Female 40-49		78	Nancy Gilmore	F58	4:44:51
36	Dick Warren	63	3:19:46	2nd. Male 60-69		79	Ruth Carter	F63	5:00:55
37	Thomas Carr	54	3:20:35			80	Rich Bellante	50	5:00:55
38	Ruby Dison	F35	3:21:45			81	Rosalin Bellante	F50	5:01:33
39	Jennifer Gunnarsson	F37	3:23:38			82	Marguie Whitrow	F76	5:10:23	2nd.Female 70-79
40	Gary Kalina	53	3:24:26			83	Dorothy Houston	F44	5:19:34
41	Pamela Penland	F54	3:26:04	1st. Female 50-59		84	Fred Alexander	63	5:20:48
42	Gallena Quinally	F53	3:28:06	2nd. Female 50-59		85	Howard Hoodman	72	5:38:53	3rd. Male 70-79
43	John Swallow	61	3:30:51	3rd. Male 60-69		86	Mike Hoodman	48	5:38:54