2008 December - Foolish Gerbil Twelve Hour Trail Run - Results

December 6 - 14 starters

There were not as many participants as in the six hour version of this run.  I'm don't know if that was because of the ridiculously early start time, the weather or perhaps some of the runners in the previous version have simply concluded that running with Fools is not really an experience that they want to repeat.

It was a treat to have some out-of-town friends join us. 

Van "Pigtails" Phan drove up in the morning from Maple Valley, south of Seattle.  For those of you who don't know Van, she is a phenomenally prolific marathon and ultra runner.  In 2006 she ran 53 marathons/ultras and won the 2006 Trail Runner Magazine Ultra Runner Series with 1462 points.  That was 561 points more than her nearest female competitor and 888 more than the nearest male.  In 2006 she also kicked my butt at the Lost Soles 100 Mile Race, taking first place in the women's division and fifth place overall.  She finished 33 minutes ahead of me, a humbling experience.

Lorie Alexander and Barry Hopkins drove from Kelowna, risking their lives on the Coquihalla Highway to join us.  Both of their names appear frequently in Ultra race results.  Lorie recently completed two 100 miler races on consecutive weekends.

Claudia Bullington did 43 K and qualified to become a Marathon Maniacs member.  She joins at least one other CFA member, Gilles Barbeau, in that distinction.  Being a Maniac beats being a Fool I suppose, although Gilles seems to be hedging his bets.

Kirsten Ramage came out and ran 30 K in the morning and returned in the late afternoon to drag one Fool along for the last 20.5 K if his run.  Thanks Kirstin, I really appreciate your help.

Thanks to all who braved the mud and somewhat cold and miserable weather.  Stay tuned for details of the next event in the Foolish Gerbil series, a 24 hour run on the weekend of January 17/18.