Showing not only tremendous fitness but impressive consistency (not to mention recovery), 58-year-old Flagstaff runner Ted MacMahon won the 50+ division of the six-stage TransRockies Run in Colorado on Saturday by more than four hours. And, overall, he finished ninth against competitors decades younger.
MacMahon’s combined time for the six stages that traversed some major climbs, nearly all at more than 10,000 feet in elevation, was 20 hours 37 minutes 22.8 seconds. He won the 50+ easily in each stage.
Here’s how his six stages broke down:
Stage 1 (18.3 Miles): 3:03.1
Stage 2 (13 Miles): 2:42.18
Stage 3 (24 Miles): 4:00:35.5
Stage 4 (14 Miles): 2:36:30.9
Stage 5 (24.5 Miles): 4:08:55.9
Stage 6 (22.5 Miles): 4:05:32.2
At the end of Saturday’s finale, MacMahon still had enough energy left to reply to FRN’s email asking about his experience. Here’s what he wrote, in part:
“My first TransRockies did not disappoint: 120 miles over six days through the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado. I learned pretty quickly that stage racing is all about riding a fine line of a medium-hard effort followed by being as fresh as you can the next day. It takes both patience and perseverance. It helps being surrounded by hundreds of other runners who are very supportive and grateful to be out there with you.
“Every stage was both picturesque and challenging. Stage 5 might have been the hardest as it started with a 12-mile climb with about 4,000 feet of vert that brought you to about 12,000 feet in altitude. That’s a beastly way to start the day with four tough stages in your legs.
“The race staff and volunteers were nothing short of amazing. There was some cold camping (in the 30s at night) but after every stage, your bag and a pitched tent were waiting for you. The one element that made this one very special for me was that I started the race by dedicating it to my father-in-law, Arthur, whose health was failing. After every mile, I said, ‘That one was for you, Arthur.’ I guess I said that 120 times! By the end of the race, I was running in memory of Arthur. Rest in peace.”
MacMahon said his next race will be the Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stagecoach 100 on Sept. 21.
“In November,” he wrote, “I may go back to Moab and race the U.S. Half Marathon Trail Championships to defend last year’s title.”
— In New Hampshire, at the Baldface Scramble 29K, Flagstaff’s Christopher St. Jean, coming off a recent injury, finished second in 3:25:52, nine minutes behind winner Travis Muhonen, a New Hampshire local.
— The iconic Leadville 100 Mile Run is still in progress as of Saturday night, with Flagstaff’s Pete Kostelnick holding the 79th position after about 60 miles traversed. Flag’s Rob Krar dropped at Mile 23.5, according to Leadville’s website.
— Friday night, at the Falmouth (Mass.) Mile, Hoke NAZ Elite’s Katie Wasserman placed eighth in 4:31.86 in a race won by Puma’s Dorcas Ewoi in a course-record 4:23.11. NAZ Elite’s Abby Nichols did not finish.
In the men’s mile, Under Armour Dark Sky Distance’s Jack Anstey finished fourth in 3:54, followed by teammates Abe Alvarado (eighth in 3:55.6) and Kasey Knevelbaard (3:55.9). Kenya’s Festus Lagat took the win at 3:53.6.
— Sunday morning is the Falmouth Road Race (7 miles), featuring several Flagstaff-based runners, including McKirdy Trained’s Yemane Hailesaillasse, Dani Polerecky and John Raneri, former NAU runner Brian Shrader (now in Boston), Diane Nukuri, and Great Britain’s Phillipa Bowden, who has trained in Flagstaff the past two months.
Leave a Reply