Sher Davis, Traci McCormick and I ran in the Death Valley marathon this weekend, only it ended up being far different than any of us would have guessed. The course was supposed to go up and over the beautiful Titus Canyon, only snow made it impossible for the support crews to get in there. So, when we arrived at Death Valley we were greeted with the surprise that the course was now a flat out and back. How hideous. We got on a flat road (Badwater road, I think?) ran out 13 miles, then turned around and ran back. You could see the aid stations from miles away, and like a bad dream where you're trying to run underwater, those aid stations just became impossible to ever reach. I had my worst day running ever. I was in just about last place. The only person I beat was a guy who had lost a bet with a friend, which required him to run a marathon while! carrying a very large rock - it looked like it weighed a good 30 pounds. Hooo-rah for me :)

Sher and Traci completed the run in just over 6 hours and I was a few minutes behind them. No matter how much I think about it, I just can't figure out why I could complete the somewhat hilly Hi Desert Ultra (32 miles) in less time than a flat 26 miler. Somebody, please call the Waaaaambulance for me....

Sher adds:

Yeah I thought I'd have a much better time, but with the boring scenery, the either stones or rutted trail, I guess not.  It was definitely not a run I want to do again!!  We also found out someone with a GPS clocked the course and it was 27 miles!!!!  It's that last mile that kills you!!

Traci McCormick   6:07:19 Sher Davis              6:07:19 Carol Wolfe            6:14:44

Me & My Dawg 5K Walk/Run
 February 28, 2004
by Chris Rios

Thanks to all the participants, all the dawgies and all of the volunteers who came out and played this past Saturday.  On a cool and crisp morning, Jared Zurn and dawg & Sue Faris and dawg took first in the 5k running event and Randy Klassen and dawg & Kathy Martin and dawg took first in the walking event.  The event surpassed last years numbers with 125 folks entering this year.  That's great support from our running and walking community.

Debbie thanks you and I thank you.  Plus of course the animal shelter thanks you,