Race Reports!

"Ode to the Haag Lake Mud Trail"

WE run through the mud 
We run through the trees
At times on our feet
At times on our head, hands or knees.

WE stuggle for footing up slopes wet and frosty
Then it warms up and the trail gets really nasty
As we're slipping in mud and bogs wet & musty

WE love the insanity - not sure why we must say
As the sun warms us up and the pain finally gives way
We forget the briars and the brambles that stuck  
The roots that took us down all too often today
Where is that paramedic in the truck?

The Finish at last
As we smile - and big hugs & embrace 
The pride on the face of all completing this race

Licking our wounds once we can stand again strait,
Our bodies now fit for one thing --> fish bait!

Thank you Ronda and Stacey
We'd all love to get right out there and do it again
Ah, well next year maybe after we've forgotten the pain.
 
And perhaps in future years we'll be on the Great "Hall of Mud" fame If
at the finish I can by then still remember my name. 
A member of that infamous group too?!
It wouldn't of been possible --if it wasn't for you. 

Thanks for such a Great Day we love these events! 
Now on to that two hour message therapist 
As we lick our wounds & get rid of those body dents.

It was Great Day & Great Fun
And at the finish if you can believe it - hot chicken soup and sun! 
 

Allen R. Boyce, P.E

Located just 25 miles west of Portland, the Hagg Lake 50K/25K offers location and a whole lot more - mud! As the kick-off to the Oregon Ultra Series, Hagg Lake is an opportunity for seasoned ultra runners to shake off the winter hibernation. In addition, Hagg is an excellent "cross-over" event that offers a 25K that draws people from all over the Northwest and gives many pure road runners their first taste of an ultra event exposing them to excellent race organization, friendly volunteers and mud! Many 25K finishers stated they'll be back to Hagg next year, however to run the 50K.

Cool temperatures and good weather greeted the participants and the 50K runners charged off at 0800 up Sain Creek Rd for a quick out-and back section up the steep road prior to doing two laps around scenic Hagg Lake. The out-and back section features the steepest hill and thankfully runners don't have to complete it a second time as the saying goes at Hagg, "The first hill, is the worst hill." In the Men's race, Matt Daniels and Michael Wedemeyer charged off the front dueling throughout the first lap around the lake. Meanwhile, 2004 Masters Runner of the Year, William Emerson bided his time and used his known strategy of walking many sections of the climbs. Bend runners Jeff Browning and Rod Bien paced each other through the first lap not far behind.

In the women's race, Kami Semick of Bend cruised through the first lap in the top 10 overall, however, felt a slight strain in her hip and thought it best not mess with "Mudder Nature" and sat out the second lap. Dawn Sibilia and Wendy Wheeler-Jacobs were running close to each other on the second lap followed by accomplished ultra runner Olga Varlamova.

The 25K runners shot up Sain Creek at 0900, Todd Braje with Team Eugene - with white socks pulled knee high waited until the top of the first climb and then dropped the hammer on the field. Anthony Rinck did a fine job chasing Todd (my socks used to be white) Braje all the way to the finish. However, Todd Braje with socks pulled to his knees all the way to the finish set a new course record of 1:40:54. Anthony Rinck finished second and Masters Runner, Irvin Dartha finished third. In the women's race, Erin Perkin ran an excellent lap around the Lake in just over 2 hours, followed by Emilie Miller, Jennifer Tesmer and first Master's finisher Sandy Miguel all from Portland. One of the highlights of the 25K was the large participation of the lovely ladies of The Portland Running Company, wearing matching green outfits. There may have been guys from the Portland Running Company, however, I only noticed the gals!

In the 50K Matt Daniels held off a late charging William Emerson who had made it up to second place passing Michael Wedemeyer on the second lap. Dawn Sibilia and Wendy Wheeler-Jacobs finished first and second with Olga Varlamova coming in third.

As first year race directors, Stacey Bunton and Ronda Sundermeier did an outstanding job carrying on the Hagg tradition with a very well organized and fun mud filled event for all abilities. There is one thing these race directors know, "Don't Mess with Mudder Nature."

-Cougarbait