Won the 2007 Lake Tahoe Super Triple Marathon!

Here is a short recap of the race -- a more detailed report will follow. The 3rd leg of the Super Triple (a 72-mile run all around the lake) was run under terrible weather conditions. Sprinkles at 11 p.m. turned into a full-blown snowstorm at midnight (start of the race) that dumped a few inches of snow all around the lake. When the storm died down, it started to freeze, icing up all the roads around the lake until mid afternoon. This changed the race dramatically. Several runners developed acute shin-splints and DNFed, because they had to change their running style to adjust to the conditions.

I started the race out with a nine-minute lead from day 2. However, I am not sure if the second place runner even showed up (it was very dark at the start) but nobody saw him at the start. Due to all the time lost by running on the snow and ice (for example, I could not power-walk for fear I would slip and tear my groin muscle), I missed the chance to run the first 46 miles in 8:30, which would then line you up with the start of the marathon (+ aid stations). I am sure I would have made that this time around if it was not for the weather, but will have to just try that again next year.

Note: Triple next year will be Fri, Sat, and Sun -- with the marathon on Sunday so that Bay Area folks can come up after work easier.

With the help of my crew, I ran a good, conservative race. It was cold all day and I certainly had my ups and downs during the race, but every time I felt bad, we kept focusing on the task at hand (often related to fueling).

Keenan Follis took second place for the day and most likely 2nd overall. I say "likely'" because at the time of this writing, there may still be a few people out on the course and they will be allowed to complete the run.

I made it to the 50-mile mark in 10:10 and was the first Super Triple runner to get there (10th. overall in the 72-miler). Without too much pressure from the rest of the field, and having missed the opportunity to run with the other Triple runners due the crazy road conditions, I finished up the race in (roughly) 15:42, again, as the first Super Triple finisher!

Sean and Rocky completed their first half marathon. They stuck together and ran 2:55 (shared second in their age group). Excellent!