e-XTRA
e-newsletterJuly 2012
In This Issue
M&B News
Between the Lines
Word on the Street
Talk on the Trail
Subscriber of the Month
Marathon & Beyond
 
Cover 16.4
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Tim Olsen 2012 WS winner Western States 100:
Record-breaking Year  

You can often find some Marathon & Beyond folks where the action is. In June, it was the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run. For more than 20 years, Rich Benyo, M&B editor, and his wife, Rhonda Provost (medical captain), have volunteered at Western States, one of the oldest trail runs in the world. Most of those years have been at Red Star Ridge aid station, mile 16 in the race. According to Rich, this year the weather was "pretty ugly for the volunteers: rainy, windy, cold - but heaven for the runners." The weather (reportedly the coolest in WS history) worked for Timothy Olsen from Ashland, Oregon, who ran 14:46:44 shattering the course record by over 30 minutes. Ellie Greenwood of Banff, Canada, won in 16:47:19, breaking Ann Trason's 18-year-old record by nearly 50 minutes.
Spencer Farrar Between the Lines:
Marathon des Sables

In our 2012 July/August issue, Spencer Farrar wrote
an article entitled "Sahara Grit: Perseverance at the Marathon des Sables." When we asked Spencer to tell us more about his own Marathon des Sables (MDS) adventure, he was sitting in a sweltering tent in Thi�s, Senegal, where he was participating in a military training exercise with various Western African countries.


As a reservist in the Marine Corps, I engage in military training exercises every year - primarily in Sub Saharan Africa, which is my area of specialty and interest. Throughout the years, I have made numerous visits to Africa; and every time I come here, I am struck by how difficult life is here for the people: the heat and humidity are insufferable; malaria and other vector-borne diseases are endemic; medical care is essentially non-existent; and potable water is in short supply (fortunately, the Marines have access to water that has been filtered by high tech reverse osmosis purifiers).

 

As I drive through the streets of this gritty city, I am struck by how cheerful the locals appear. Wherever the Marines amble, we are greeted by hordes of people with broad smiles and greetings muttered in rich blend of broken English, French and Wolof (the local language). The children appear to be the happiest. Oblivious to their fate in life, these youngsters are content to play games with their makeshift toys and just have fun.

 

How it is that people who live in filthy conditions and who possess no material goods can be so content with their lives? This is anathema to the Western way of thinking. By all accounts, these people should just crawl into a corner and give up, right? I think what sustains the Africans is their sense of community. The Senegalese culture, along with many other African belief systems, is one that prizes charitable giving and group effort. For example, if somebody does not have food to eat one day, a neighbor will likely hand over a morsel of rice or meat, even though his own supply may be limited. This kindness is apt to be returned in the future, when the donor, himself, requires reciprocal support. In summary, survival depends upon teamwork.

 

It is this sense of community and teamwork that distinguishes the Marathon des Sables from other ultras. Like the people of Thi�s, MDS runners develop similar support networks to boost their spirits and to survive. At the bivouac sites, runners would voluntarily share supplies whenever a fellow runner needed something. In one notable case, a runner who had just DNF'ed, handed over his shoes to a tent mate whose swollen feet were in dire need of a larger size. I, myself, was a beneficiary of charity multiple times, receiving everything from leftover space ice cream (delicious) to iodine to treat my gnarly blisters.

 

In my travels throughout the continent, I have found Africans to be quite witty and full of humor. I suppose you need to have this attitude in order to cope with the harsh realities of daily life. Likewise, MDS runners are a wacky group of people who use comedy as a tool to deal with the race's rigors. Nobody personified the crazy MDS runner more so than Brian Dowd, a resident of Long Beach who regaled everybody with his brightly-colored beach-like attire and Elton John-style sunglasses. Brian's giant blowup mattress was also the envy of those who did not bring sleeping pads. Unfortunately for Brian, however, his raft was shredded by a thorn as he foolishly attempted to slide down a sand dune at camp one evening.  

 

Going to the bathroom was another comical activity at MDS. Prior to Day One, the French race organizers handed out miniature plastic bags (aptly titled les sacs de caca) for use in the bivouac's makeshift toilets. In order to save weight, however, many runners - myself included - did not grab an adequate number of bags; so for the rest of the week, these folks had to conduct their business in the open. While most runners were considerate enough to take a hike and get out of immediate visual range during their nature breaks, there were inevitably others - usually Speedo-wearing Europeans - who seemed to relish displaying their assets at close range for all to see. Vive la difference!


As with the rest of Africa, Southern Morocco is a transfixing part of the world whose sights and sounds are worth experiencing firsthand. The Marathon des Sables is a great lens through which this part of the world should be seen. While this event is not for the faint of heart, the rewards of participating in this event far outweigh any physical pain that may be encountered.

North Coast 24
Word on the Street
Northcoast 24-Hour Endurance Run
September 22-23, 2012
Cleveland, Ohio


The NorthCoast 24-Hour Endurance Run has only been in existence since 2009, but it is already considered one of the country's premier ultramarathons. The race is set in Cleveland's beautiful Edgewater Park, along the shores of Lake Erie. Runners travel around an asphalt all-purpose trail that is just under one mile in length, completing as many loops as possible within the time period. 


The NC24 appeals to all long-distance runners, from elites to novices. The course is designed for top performances. Some of the best ultrarunners in the world have participated, and the race has seen many outstanding runs. At the same time, the NC24 has also been the first ultramarathon for many runners. Runners of all abilities are welcome, and the race committee is committed to making sure all participants are treated with respect and enthusiasm. For runners who are new to ultrarunning, NC24 is a great opportunity to find out how far you can go. 


2012 has seen some exciting changes for NC24. A spring version of the event was added (that race took place on May 5-6, 2012), in addition to the traditional fall event (which will take place on September 22-23, 2012). Spring and fall races will continue to be offered in future years, so you can be sure to find one that fits within your schedule! The other significant change, beginning with this year's fall race, is that a 12-hour option has been added. For more information
, click here to visit our website. 
Frenzy
Talk on the Trail
Foothills 50K Frenzy 
October 20, 2012
Boise, Idaho

The Foothills 50K Frenzy is the only trail ultramarathon in
the scenic foothills of Boise, Idaho. This race features running on the Ridge to Rivers Trail System - one of the best trail networks in the West. This 50K showcases the tremendous natural resources of the Boise foothills for both local runners and visitors.
 
The course contains multiple uphill and downhill sections. The terrain is of moderate difficulty, providing a challenge to experienced runners, but not too hard for first-timers, with the total amount of climbing just under 6,000 feet. The majority of the race is run on well-maintained single-track trails with a couple of sections on forest service roads. In 2011, we had a 98% finish rate.
 
The Foothills 50K Frenzy is one of six events in the Idaho Trail Ultra Series. A portion of the proceeds goes to benefit the Ridge to Rivers Trail System to help maintain the spectacular trails in the Boise foothills. Click here for more information. 
Frank Bozanich Subscriber of the Month:  
Frank Bozanich

 

Long time friend and subscriber of M&B, Frank Bozanich began his athletic career as a sprinter and wrestler in Anacortes, Washington. In his professional life, he taught high school, served in the U.S. Marine Corps for twelve years, and retired from a career in law enforcement. He has run 100+ marathons and 125+ ultras. Frank has won National Championship titles in the 50-mile and 100K. Now 66, he still runs ultra, usually winning his age group.  

   

You started out as a sprinter, moved up to the longer road races, then on to trail ultramarathons. Why did you become an ultrarunner?
I had run several marathons with a best of 2:25 and had made several unsuccessful attempts to run under 2:20. So, I decided to run a 50K. After running a fast 50K and then winning my first two attempts at 50 miles, I decided that ultras might be my ticket to some kind of fame in the sport of running. Ever since my youth, I had always dreamed of someday winning a National Championship, and when I did that in 1976 at 50 miles, I found my niche in the life of a runner. I became known as an ultrarunner, and I embraced that; however, I am not JUST an ultrarunner. I consider myself a "runner" because I still enjoy running all distances from 5Ks to ultras. And, I think running the short road races has helped me to become a great ultrarunner.

  

Many people believe that you can't be both a good road runner and a good trail ultrarunner - that it is an either/or situation. You have clearly proven that is not true. What is your secret to success in both?
Many runners today feel that they can only run trail ultras and do not want to run on the roads. The biggest problem I see in the sport of ultrarunning is that we have too many trail ultras and not enough road or track ultras. If you mention that you run ultras, everyone thinks you are a trail runner.

  

I ran my first trail ultra in 1979 in the WS100 and finished 6th overall. It was a difficult day for me as I had not seen the course before the race and really didn't know the course and how tough the canyons would be. I raced in my typical fashion and went out hard and made the fatal mistake of running down the canyons hard. So when I finally got to Michigan Bluff, my legs were pretty well gone. I was living at sea level in San Diego at the time and training on trails only once in awhile as I was still competing strongly on the roads. After WS100, I continued to train hard on the roads and was still winning. In June of 1980, I was still running the roads and went to Switzerland to run a 100K there with a field of 5000 runners and walkers. I finished 6th overall in the race, and then eight days later, I lined up on the starting line of the Old Dominion 100-mile trail race in Virginia. I went on to win this race in 15:17 (the fastest trail 100 mile time to be run at that time). I proved that a good road runner could also run fast on the trails.

  

After that I continued to train and race on the roads with great success. Although I am old now I still compete in ultras on roads (when I can find one) and trails. I still continue to do most of my training on roads and tracks but do run long on trails as well as on the roads. I think that my success comes from the training I have done on roads.

  

All races are mostly won by the fastest runners, and I have always felt that you cannot get fast by just running trails. Trails are inherently slow just because of the surface of the trail. I do run trails to build strength, but to be fast I need to spend time on the roads and tracks. When I was in my prime, I never feared a trail runner coming to the road and challenging me, but I always felt I could go to the trail and run with the best trail runners.

 

After all the years you have participated in the sport (and still do), you are now "giving back" to the running community by coaching people in everything from the 5K to ultramarathons. Tell us about your coaching.   
I think it is great to see so many new runners in all disciplines, and I really enjoy motivating people to do their best. Some of my greatest joys - even more than my own success - is seeing others succeed. One thing I try to instill in others is that success comes from hard work. You can have all the talent in the world, but if you are not motivated to work hard, you will never reach your goals.
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Here's how...Subscribe to Marathon & Beyond magazine by August 10, 2012, and we'll send you a pair of Marathon & Beyond running socks as our gift to you. Call us toll-free at 877-972-4230 or 217-359-9345, and tell us the magic words: e-Xtra Socks.
Offer expires August 10, 2012