Gear West Twilight 5K Results

  

Gear West Twilight 5K 2013 - Final Results
Place	Name	Age	Sex	Time		Place	Name	Age	Sex	Time
1	Paul Brauchle	18	M	16:39		43	Rob Kill	49	M	:27:03
2	Alec Schultz	21	M	16:49		44	Stephen Keating	37	M	:27:17
3	John Van Benschoten	18	M	17:01		45	Deb Ukura	60	F	:27:22
4	Brandon Heebink	28	M	18:05		46	Chelsea Kover	26	F	:27:24
5	Brent Schultz	22	M	18:20		47	Anna Healy	13	F	:27:31
6	Josh Surver	18	M	18:41		48	Monica Healy	42	F	:27:32
7	Eric Bakken	17	M	18:48		49	Scott Healy	43	M	:27:33
8	Logan Wikstrom	14	M	19:31		50	Mara McCollor	12	F	:27:39
9	Matt Moris	25	M	19:42		51	Erin Church	21	F	:27:44
10	Deb Gormley	46	F	20:47		52	Derek Arens	26	M	:27:49
11	Lauren McCollor	9	F	20:54		53	Lance First	48	M	:27:52
12	Michael McLachlan	25	M	21:10		54	Mariatta Cady	50	F	:28:09
13	Mario Williams	20	M	21:15		55	Lidia Cornelius	45	F	:28:11
14	Paul Kohls	39	M	21:29		56	Jen Heebink	26	F	:28:22
15	Drew Retterath	26	M	22:23		57	Charles Canodento	64	M	:28:32
16	Kyle Cadwalder	14	M	22:25		58	Anita Trapp	35	F	:28:36
17	Betsy Surver	13	F	22:35		59	Rachel Stepka	26	F	:28:54
18	Rick Cornelius	51	M	22:50		60	Kaylee Strom	22	F	:28:55
19	Meghan Pressing	25	F	23:27		61	Tammy Lambas	47	F	:29:14
20	Bree Simon	37	F	23:33		62	John Hensley	33	M	:29:17
21	Tony Boe	61	M	23:41		63	Ellie Obrien		F	:29:46
22	Jill Steinmetz	45	F	23:42		64	John Obrien		M	:29:46
23	Vern Quast	47	M	:24:06		65	Tessa Cady	22	F	:29:53
24	Rachel Hurley	24	F	:24:20		66	Ben Kill	12	M	:29:54
25	Troy Koltes	43	M	:24:25		67	#148			:30:30
26	Dale Kover	55	M	:24:26		68	Mike Schwartz	32	M	:30:31
27	Sara Schwartz	34	F	:24:35		69	Jill Sunders	45	F	;30:48
28	Holly Bicket	42	F	:24:37		70	Shannan Lindquist	37	F	:30:51
29	Greta Van Benschoten	57	F	:24:45		71	Amy Guerre	30	F	:30:52
30	Danielle Landa	41	F	:24:47		72	Suzette Johnson	51	F	:30:55
31	Noah Steinmetz	13	M	:25:18		73	Amanda Kuchenbecker	27	F	:30:58
32	Joshua Smith	34	M	:25:19		74	Gretchen Erpelding	45	F	:30:59
33	John Toftland	26	M	:25:31		75	Sheila Adams	51	F	:31:05
34	Andrew Carpenter	32	M	:25:40		76	Laura Kivisto	16	F	:31:15
35	Megan Roller	15	F	:25:43		77	Isabella Bakkala	11	F	:31:16
36	Caitlin LaClair	32	F	:25:51		78	Lauren Loegering	8	F	:31:20
37	Danielle Johnson	38	F	:26:19		79	Tina Deitmeyer	36	F	:31:26
38	Lynn Sosnowski	44	F	:26:31		80	Eli Hamer	8	M	:31:31
39	Jeffery Ek	54	M	:26:32		81	Naomi Hamer	38	F	:31:33
40	Tara Cady	13	F	:26:36		82	Chrin Sterhagen	34	M	:31:38
41	Dean Enright	25	M	:26:47		83	Chad Sponsler	35	M	:31:39
42	Laura Lee	27	F	:26:51		84	Geri Scherer	50	F	:31:40
Gear West Twilight 5K 2013 - Final Results
	Name	Age	Sex	Time			Name	Age	Sex	Time
85	#139			:31:41		127	Marilyn Hurley	51	F	:37:24
86	Katie Gjerstad	51	F	:31:50		128	Bethany Anderson	6	F	:37:39
87	Kathryn Zenk	47	F	:31:50		129	Travis Anderson	34	M	:37:40
88	Jeff Thompson	33	M	:31:51		130	Jerrett Loegering	11	M	:37:42
89	Martha Tofteland	33	F	:31:51		131	Sheri Loegering	43	F	:37:42
90	Cole Shipman	14	M	:32:02		132	Anne Keating	37	F	:38:07
91	Darrin Hargreaves	47	M	:32:14		133	Laurie Johnson	49	F	:38:55
92	Carsyn Hargreaves	11	F	:32:14		134	Karen Preston	41	F	:39:40
93	Cori Jensen	29	F	:32:18		135	Toni Cecil	46	F	:39:41
94	Sutton Smith	32	F	:32:22		136	Erin Anderson	33	F	:39:48
95	Katie Williams	55	F	:32:29		137	Olivia Bekkala	9	F	:39:48
96	Christina Korger	23	F	:32:30		138	Teresa Kivisto	44	F	:40:03
97	Rachel Tobias	24	F	:32:31		139	Samantha Olson	11	F	:40:04
98	Krista Vande Vegte	31	F	:32:44		140	Courtney Taylor	38	F	:40:11
99	Zach Berbig	31	M	:32:45		141	Ronda Hague	47	F	:40:57
100	Mary Bonde	32	F	:32:47		142	Mary Sanko	61	F	:41:36
101	Eva Pinske	8	F	:32:48		143	Matt Smith	40	M	:42:54
102	Ned Pinske	51	M	:32:49		144	Jantipa Smith	33	F	:42:56
103	Mary Beth Kivisto	10	F	:32:57		145	Angela Becker	34	F	:45:06
104	Mckenzie Kramer	25	F	:33:20		146	Jeffrey Pickert	11	M	:47:59
105	John Vogt	61	M	:33:23		147	Melissa Pickert	33	F	:47:59
106	Emily Nordstrom	33	F	:33:24		148	Samantha Pickert	9	F	:48:07
107	Kathryn Kozub	48	F	:33:24		149	Patrice Greger	51	F	:48:13
108	Klerissa Church	37	F	:33:26		150	Lisa Bobyak	46	F	:48:35
109	Koke Sponsler	32	F	:33:42		151	Alex Beck	18	M	:48:44
110	#140			:33:43		152	Alexa Bobyak	18	F	:48:45
111	#67			:33:59		153	Vincent Monico	5	M	:52:56
112	#81			:34:11		154	Elizabeth Monico	43	F	:52:57
113	Rory Smith	31	M	:34:14		155	Scott Monico	41	M	:52:59
114	Matt Koltes	11	M	:34:49		156	Cynthia Nelson	46	F	:54:35
115	Morgan Swenson	15	F	:35:28		157	Julia Burke	17	F	:54:37
116	Courtney Pray	28	F	:35:29		158	Lori Shipman	43	F	:59:04
117	Diane Hemstad	61	F	:35:35		159	Sarah Shipman	13	F	:59:04
118	Eleta Donaldson	57	F	:35:36
119	Alice First	15	F	:35:40
120	Amy Miller	15	F	:35:40
121	Tom Corneliessum	53	M	:35:46
122	Steve Harris	41	M	:35:47
123	Paul Johnson	52	M	:35:50
124	Samuel Shipman	11	M	:36:40
125	Carroll Shipman	41	M	:36:40
126	Leah Sternhagen	32	F	:37:09

What It's Like to Run in an Olympian's Shoes

 by Jenny Beckman & Wendi Morin

(Source: Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle)

In my experience as a salesperson, there are two major misconceptions surrounding racing flats. One is that they are used strictly for racing, and the other is that only the super-elites run in them. With the rise of the “minimalism” movement, we are seeing more and more people don light weight shoes. I sat down with Gear West gait analysis expert Wendi Morin and hashed out some answers to the most common questions we hear surrounding these shoes.

“What is a racing flat?”

Racing flats are shoes with very little cushion if any, they typically have a low heel and are lightweight.  When you look at these shoes you can’t help but think “where’s the beef?”  Or if you’re a vegetarian, “where’s the veggie burger?” There is also a category of shoes called racer-trainers that some people might consider racing flats because they are still very light-weight, but this type of shoe has a little more cushion and a little less flexibility. A racer-trainer is a good choice for someone who wants to run longer distances and have more protection from the road.

Asics DS Trainer 17: Same last, more sole

Asics DS Racer 9: Less sole=lighter weight

“Why bother using them? I have a comfy pair of trainers that fits me just fine”

Why should you use them? It's simple. Running in a lighter shoe will result in less fatigue and allow you to go faster over a long distance – with proper training of course. Putting on a pair of light weight flats will not make up for lack of training.

That being said, racing flats should be worn by people that have an efficient running gait and are less prone to injury. If you are unsure about how efficient you are, or want help in becoming more efficient you should consider having a gait analysis.

Wendi Says: “If a runner doesn’t have a real efficient gait, they may find that they actually can run a race faster in a regular running shoe instead of a racing flat because they use less energy being better aligned.”

“If I purchased a pair would I use them strictly for racing?”

No. We recommend that you use the flats when doing any sort of speed work. Log your regular miles in your trainers, and use the flats for speed work such as strides, intervals, or tempo runs. Give your body time to adjust to the shoes, that way when race day rolls around – you'll be ready to rock!

“How long will it take me to get used to them?”

It all depends on the runner. Racing flats are minimal shoes, so we recommend working into them the same way you would with a minimal trainer. Most running experts recommend runners who are new to using flats log 10% of their normal distance in the light weight shoes. For example – “your normal tempo run is 10 miles, wear the flats for 1 mile, and then switch back to your trainers.” says Gear West & The Fix Studio's “Gait Analyzer” Lev Kalemkiarian.

Wendi Says: “Racing flats use more of the small muscles that may not have to work in a less flexible shoe and therefore if they are worn on occasion they can teach your body to recruit more muscle. This will slowly help you to become more efficient as a runner.”

How to choose the right flat for your foot:

Wendi Says: “To choose the right racing flat for you, make sure to consider what has worked for you in a training shoe when choosing a racing flat. A lot of times there are toned-down versions of training shoes that are lighter weight for racing. You want to try on several different brands and see what feels comfortable on your feet. Get an idea of what you like and what you don’t like in terms of weight, amount of cushion, amount of stability, room in the toe box, and color (for some people). Keep in mind what race distance the shoe is best for, and if you have questions ask a Gear West sales person! We are all trained in providing proper fit and can send you on your way with a great fitting pair of shoes.”

 Olympian's Shoes:

Nike Luna Racer+ - Worn by Kara Goucher in the 2012 Olympic Trials Marathon. This shoe is also Jan's weapon of choice. She looks for a shoe with a “close snug fit, like a second skin.”

Asics Hyper Speed - Olympian Ryan Hall in the 2012 Olympic Trails Marathon

Brooks T7 Racer - Desiree Davila 
Source: Brooks Running

My Fairy Tale 1st Birkie by Tom Motzell

My journey began in 1986 when I joined my high school Nordic team. I remember hearing about the Birkebeiner that year and thinking, "That would be something!" The seed was planted.

The next 25 years presented me with college, kids, career...and roughly 60 additional pounds. Who would have thought this was the fertile soil for a seed to germinate!? Sometime in 2010, I learned of a colleague who regularly skied the Birkie. Sometime in 2011, I asked him if he had time for lunch. And sometime later that afternoon, I registered for the Birkie Skate!

All I needed now was ski's, a place to stay, conditioning and a little snow to practice...that's it! In other words, a small miracle to prepare myself by February 25th. ...I must have invoked the 'Birkie Spirit'.

Three days after registering, I shared news of my commitment with a colleague, Dan. His face lit up as he told me he had done the Birkie the past 11 years! Furthermore, he asked if I would be interested in joining him and his friends. I know had a ride, accommodations, and some training partners!

My second encounter with the 'spirit' was at the Gear West fall sale. I was greeted by Caitlin Gregg upon entering the store. The next two hours would be the best purchasing experience I've ever had. After a 25 year hiatus from the sport, their expertise was essential. (Thank you Gear West and all the experts who assisted me that day!!)

The next ‘gift’ remained a mystery until I saw the sign on the Birkie trail reading; "Elevation 1700 feet". Due to the lack of snow in the Twin Cities, most of my training took place at Hyland and Afton alpine ski hills. As a result, I was prepared for the initial 8 miles of uphill climb!

Finally, February 25th couldn't have been a more beautiful day. I finished the race in 3 hours and 45 minutes...better than I expected for sure!

But the 'spirit' still had more to give! Dazed and confused, I somehow stumbled into the employee entrance of the food tent. I was quickly greeted by one of the volunteers who said, "I'm sorry, this is not an entrance" But my deep (empty) stare into the depth of her soul was enough to quickly adjust the outcome. Her next words were, "Can I get you some soup, ...or real food?", to which I replied, "Soup sounds like real food." Before I left the tent, the ‘Birkie Spirit’ embodied in this volunteer had brought me roles, two bowls a soup and a beer. (I will never forget you.)

Upon leaving the food tent, I was discovered by one of my training buddies, Jed, who escorted me to the Moccasin for a post Birkie celebration.

If you are considering the Birkie for the first time, sign up, and trust in the 'Birkie Spirit'

The Consummate "Professional" By Jennifer Beckman

This was my first Birkie as a college graduate, and let me tell you it was VERY different from my previous experiences. For me, the biggest difference between being a college student athlete and a working girl is as follows - while in school I had all the time in the world and no money, now that I'm working (and coaching) I finally have money, but no time! Previously any free time I had was spent on training for skiing. Upon graduation in May I decided that a year off from training was necessary to recharge myself (both mentally and physically) after 4 years of very intense training, and to acclimate myself to being a full-time employee at Gear West.

I've always been a much stronger classic skier so I registered for my second classic Birkie (I've completed 3 races in total). Unfortunately, I signed up so late that I lost my normal wave seeding and had to start in wave 5. I also worked a grand total of 24 hours at the expo in the 2 days leading up to the race. Needless to say I woke up race morning feeling as if I had already raced 54 kilometers. At this point I was VERY happy to be starting in wave 5.

When I saw Luke (my boyfriend who doubles as my personal race support) for the first time at 21 kilometers into the race I said something along the lines of "I'm so dead right now - I should've done the Korte." Nevertheless I persevered, hip flexors and triceps on fire the entire way through. My skis were absolute rockets with perfect kick throughout the whole race - thanks to Gear West Waxing Crew of Brandan, Kyle, Nate, and Ben for doing such an awesome job! I set myself up for disaster and wound up finishing as the 26th woman overall - not too shabby! I can tell you two things:

1) I will NOT be taking another summer off and

2) I will be registering as soon as I can in June!

My Birkie Story By Matthew Liebsch

The 2012 Birkie was one of the deepest and strongest fields in the history of the race. There were elite skiers from France, Switzerland, Finland, Russia, Latvia, Canada and Norway (I think something like 11 Norwegian elites); plus a multitude of strong American skiers. I was trying not to get nervous or catch “Birkie Fever” before the race as my best results always come when I am relaxed. This year it was hard not to get worked up with all the competition and also the fact I had not raced for 3 weeks… the Mora Vasaloppet was canceled this year due to no snow. I watched live results from the weekend before as the European competition skied very strongly in the Madison SuperTour races.

In the 2011 Birkie, the European racers skied very well and took all the podium spots and placed 5 in the top 6. This year, "Team America" had a plan. Brian Gregg and Tad Elliott both shared ideas on how we needed to have the Americans perform better this year. It was discussed that we did too much work at the front of the race last year and that we needed to break things apart before the finish because many of the Europeans have a strong finishing “kick.”

Race morning I was fortunate enough to ride to the start with Santi Ocariz. He was so pumped for the race and he was certain I was going to have a great race. Upon arriving at the start, I tested skis and did the shortest warm-up of my life - about 20 minutes. The snow at the start was slow due to a dusting overnight. I picked a pair of skis that was good, but I was banking on no new snow on the trail south of OO. When I left my cabin outside of Hayward at 6:00 am there was no new snow. I wanted fast skis late in the race.

The start of the race was anticlimactic this year after last years pole explosion. The group stayed together until we entered the woods at 7km. At the time, just like last year, the strong French skier blasted off the front. No one chased initially but a few kilometers later, the strong Canadian racer Graham Nishikawa, bridged to the Frenchman. I watched from 20th place as those two hooked up, trading leads and skiing quickly away from the group.

In past years I would have chased hard and wasted energy. Although both of the skiers off the front were very strong and I was not 100% sure they would come back. I guess I didn’t want to chase as I wasn’t feeling it at the time and I was waiting for faster snow later in the race (unknown to me it had snowed 1/4-1/2 inch of slow sharp crystals on the entire course after I had left Hayward in the morning). Tad Elliott had multiple trips to the back of the pack to ask me to help him chase down the break. I said each time, “No, don’t worry, it will come back.” I was really thinking to myself "… maybe 50/50." At OO Tad was freaking out as we were getting splits that the leaders were a minute up on the group. Again I thought, "wow, this is going to be hard to close." I was still not feeling it and said, “wait until after Gravel Pit road at 31 kilometers and then we will get them.”

On the way, Brian Gregg took a hard pull to reduce the gap. At 33km I gave Tad the nod and I pulled, he pulled, and I pulled once more and we closed the gap in less than 2 kilometers. Finally feeling good, I blasted past the escapees and tired to crack open the race. We were on a gradual downhill portion of the trail so I was unsuccessful in getting away.

As we approached Mosquito Brook road I knew there was only a few hard climbs left on the course, and I also knew attacks were coming. I took the pace up a notch as we climbed Mosquito Brook Hill. As I expected, Tad jumped very hard and I was prepared to jump in behind him. Brian Gregg jumped with Tad and was so close behind him I though they were sharing the same pair of skis! Way to cover the jump Brian! There was a small gap behind Brian and I tried to fit in someplace. That was not a great idea. I managed to place my pole between Lars Flora’s legs. My pole shattered instantly and I skied the rest of the climb with one pole as the entire group raced away.

As I skied along with one pole, it was bleeding time. I asked many spectators, with poles in the woods for a replacement. They did not understand my yells. At last I gave up on yelling and just skied off the trail and grabbed a pole from behind some spectators. I finally had a pole, although it was too tall, heavy, bendy and the strap would not work for me.

My good friend and former CXC teammate, Santi, asked if I wanted his pole. I said “No, I am okay, my Dad has a good pole for me 5km up the trail.” Santi was having a good race and I didn’t want him to ruin his chances at a good finish. We were maybe 30-45 seconds behind Tad.

5 kilometers later as we approached Highway 77 where my my Dad was waiting, I yelled for my spare race pole. He put his hands up in the air. I forgot my poles were with Swix at a different location. I was completely deflated. I thought my chances at the win, a podium, and even a top 6 (the Birkie pays out to the top 6) were over. Before I knew what was going on, skiing close to me ever since I broke my pole, Santi took off his race pole and was giving it to me. I don’t remember what he said, something along the lines of “Go get em” or “Go win this thing” or “Go catch those guys.” It didn’t matter, the mental, spiritual and physical boost (I had a pole I could ski hard on) was all that I needed.

I entered into some race gear not familiar to me… I was floating down the trail, almost out of body. I caught and passed most of the group as we climbed the last big hill on the Birkie Highway 77 climb. As we entered the fields by Wheeler Road I could see Tad up ahead… he had been out of my sight for a while. I was catching him quickly but I was also running out of gas. I sat up and let others pull. We were not making time on him so as we got on the lake I pulled very hard again.

Half way across the lake I was so close to Tad but again was feeling my chase efforts. I knew, if I continued to close the gap, I would have had zero left in the tank for the race up Main Street. Tad wouldn’t have had anything left as he had played his cards already. I knew Lars and Brian were in the group but also some Canadians and Europeans. A worst case scenario was playing out in my head… American catches American, both are tired, and non-American racers sprint down Main Street to take the podium spots.

I pulled up. I said to the others, “we gotta work together to close to Tad.” No one had the energy to chase down the rest of the gap. I think everyone knew it was about conserving what little energy we had left for one more push up Main Street. I went to the back of the chase group with mixed emotions. I was bummed. My chances at a 2nd American Birkebeiner title were over, but I was also thrilled my fellow racer, friend, training partner and American would win the race.

Good friends Matt and Brian Fight to the finish

Somewhere along the last km of the lake, I started to feel good again, both physically and mentally. I told myself, I don’t want to make this a few hundred meter sprint, so I swung wide and jumped very hard with 1 kilometer to go. I knew with the strong headwind, if I could get a gap it might stick. I had a few second gap but as I hit the soft snow on the beach and Main Street my glutes started to cramp. I just keep my head down and pushed as hard as I could. As I skied closer to the line I was almost certain that racers were going to come pouring by me. To my surprise, I held on to wrap up 2nd place! Once I finished I heard from my wife that my great friend, training partner and fellow Minneapolis resident, Brian Gregg, had finished 3rd, out-sprinting a Canadian and Norwegian. I could believe it; the Americans had swept the podium!

Birkie Nostalgia by Jan Guenther

It is hard to describe all the emotions that go into my Birkie experience. For me, the event is so wrapped up into everything I love about the sport of skiing, the three decades (yikes!) worth of skiing friends from Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota and my career of owning a ski business for over 27 years in both Illinois and Minnesota.

I do feel a bit guilty about becoming so immersed in an “event.” But, it is a benchmark of my kid’s growth and their ski interest (thank goodness there is a Barkie Birkie!); of snowfall; of business and the shop energy spiked by enthusiastic skiers; of my fitness and the nostalgia of years gone by. All are mixed together in one big emotional pile.

For the past two years Gear West has added to my “Birkie (retail) Fever” by organizing a now-growing wax service (over 220 skis!) and managing the ever expanding Swix / Gear West Expo wax booth. The fun of enjoying, supporting, educating and laughing with Birkie customers associated with our services fuels my excitement for the weekend and love of this business.

It’s the humor of the skiers – customers and our very own Gear West folks - that I enjoy so much. Such as our Brian Knutson, Master Ski Selector, Wax Person and Gear West owner who pours his soul onto every kick zone that he prepares for his personal classic race ski customers, or the shoe guy, Speedy, who almost “owned” the 8th wave classic age group due to his early morning diligence of skiing in tiny, continuous circles on the manmade Wirth Park loop. Our wax service bus and mail order guy, Tom Carlson, had the fun of piloting the big ol’‘Barth’ bus transporting hundreds of customer’s skis to Hayward, tearing down the Expo Friday night, recovering from a casted broken thumb, and managed to chop 45 minutes off his previous year’s race. Jenny Beckman, our Marketing Director and Co-Head Coach of Orono High school ski team frantically tried to make the credit card machine work in time for the expo start, and was on her feet selling wax, tools and race enthusiasm to all who needed it for 12 whole hours on both Thursday and Friday. Josh Doebbert, the guy who does the behind the scenes web work while secretly training to beat his boss (me!), yet did not because he lost leg strength on the lake (Josh has not worked at Gear West long enough to develop retail /expo leg muscles. Ari, our quiet but ever so knowledgeable retail sales guy and Hopkins Assistant Ski Coach, now-turned-young-father, encouraged his wife to participate with him in the classic race. Sven, our unflappable mail order man had struggled with thyroid problems in previous years and had concern about it this year, along with the responsibility of making sure the correct waxes left the store and made it to the expo. Finally, my dear friend Lynne Cecil (ancient Birkie winner) who threatened to sabotage my skis, petition me into the second wave, and feed me bad donuts, but I secretly know she would give me the pole off her arm just like CXC's Santi Ocariz did for our Elite, Olympic hopeful employee Matt Liebsch - who continues to break poles and have amazing finishes!


The Birkie makes me appreciate life. It’s the good health and fortunes that we all share, which allow us the time, energy and ability to love, laugh and participate in something that makes us so happy.

From Rick Halling: HOW DOES GEAR WEST GET ITS SKIS

First, the staff of Gear West tests the prototypes and tells the company what to do:

The revisions are tested:

The new ski is produced by hand for Gear West:

Then it gets tested by the International Nordic Director:

Then it gets tested one more time by the dealer:

ABSOLUTELY NO NEED TO FLY TO AUSTRIA TO HAND PICK SKIS.

USATF City of Lakes 25K at Lakes Harriet Race Summary

On Sunday, the Gear West Racing Team competed in their final USATF Team Circuit race of the season, the City of Lakes 25K at Lakes Harriet and Calhoun in Minneapolis. With a couple of injuries, the team was down to only 3 runners but all of them competed well and helped the team to a 4th place finish out of 9 teams. Chad Ernst again led the way, finishing 9th in 1:25:45, a pace of 5:31 per mile. Kyle Donovan ran a great race as well coming in 22nd overall in a time of 1:31:02, a pace of 5:52 per mile. Brandon Heebink rounded out the team coming in 53rd place in a time of 1:40:19, a 6:28 pace. With the team racing season winding down, one big event for the fall remains in Minnesota road racing and that is the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon and TC 10 Mile on Sunday, October 3rd. Gear West will be well represented as Kyle and Brandon will be competing in the full marathon, both looking for new personal best times, while Jason Quarford will be joining in on the fun for the weekend by running the 10 Mile. Be sure to check out the Gear West booth and Barth at the Twin Cities Marathon Expo at the St. Paul Rivercentre on Friday, Oct. 1st and Saturday, Oct. 2nd!

Fundraise for Clean Water Project in Kenya

Team World Vision allows runners to dedicate ANY event they run to raising funds for clean water projects in Kenya. We do not have a minimum fundraising requirement, and you can STILL register for Twin Cities Marathon with us! Simply visit THIS LINK and use the code CHPTWV10M to register. Registration CLOSES FRIDAY, SO HURRY!

Visit www.teamworldvision.org/twincities to set up your fundraising page or find out more about Team World Vision. Contact Bradley Hofbauer at bhofbaue@worldvision.org or 612.217.2723 for more details. See you on October 3rd!

Gear West Minneapolis 13.1 Marathon Race Recap

On Sunday, August 22nd, the inaugural Minneapolis 13.1 Marathon was held. The race ran from St. Anthony Main along the Mississippi River down to the finish at Lake Nokomis. Almost 1,900 runners completed the half marathon on a beautiful morning and the winner of the entire race was Chad Ernst of the Gear West Racing Team. Chad, from Richfield, MN, had a great performance leading nearly the entire race and crossing the finish line in a winning time of 1:13:50, a pace of 5:39 per mile. His time was good enough to win the race by nearly 3 minutes over second place!

Lumberjack Days Race Recap - July 24, 2010

Wyatt Doop - Runner/Student/Part-Time Model

This year the annual Lumberjack Days 5K was host to the USATF Minnesota state 5K championship and one of the USATF Minnesota Team Circuit races. The Gear West Racing Team made its debut in the race and performed quite well in its first event. On a cool cloudy morning, times were very fast for everyone in the race.

For Gear West, all 4 runners in the 5K ran new personal best times. Kyle Donovan of River Falls, WI led the team by finishing in 15:38.5 to place 19th overall. Close behind was Matt Liebsch of Orono, MN in a time of 15:40.8 in 21st place. Matt and Kyle went back and forth leading the team throughout the race and both ran their best times by over 40 seconds. Third on the team was Wyatt Doop of Wayzata, MN in a new best time of 15:48.8, good enough for 27th place and the final finisher for the team was Brandon Heebink of Plymouth, MN in a time of 16:43.1 to place 61st overall. In the race there were 1,370 finishers total. The winning time overall was 14:41.4.

Gear West also had one representative in the Lumberjack Days 10 Mile race. Jason Quarford of Rosemount, MN came in with a strong performance of 55:55 to place 6th overall in a race of 1,077 finishers.

The team will be performing next as a full team on Sunday, August 15th at the MDRA 15K in Edina, MN, which is the next race in the USATF Minnesota Team Circuit presented by Twin Cities in Motion. Be on the lookout for the Gear West Racing Team members at this race and at other races throughout the Twin Cities area this summer and fall!

Fargo Marathon by Wendi Pearson

Well, I survived the Fargo Marathon - the hardest and most boring marathon I've ever run. The course is through neighborhoods with great spectators, but you run on concrete streets and turn every two blocks. The half marathon and marathon run into each other twice, causing the police to push the marathoners to the left to make a small opening for the half marathoners, and the only wheelchair athlete worked his way on the opposite side of the street against marathon traffic with a biker leading him.

The marathon started with rain and cool temperatures and ended with steamy, humid, sunny temperatures around 81 and a 30 mph wind. I committed the cardinal sin of marathoning; I went out way too fast for the first 10k, faster than any of my training runs because it felt "easy" at the time. I decided I better slow down at mile 7 and at mile 8 I crashed and burned and was in trouble for the next 18 miles. OUCH!!!! My legs were like cement, my heart rate wouldn't come down, and I tore part of a calf muscle that left blood pooled behind my knee and down my leg. I kept thinking I have to finish this darn thing for two reasons: 1- I don't ever want to have to run this again (I need to do all 50 states), 2- The finishers shirt is great.

Things seemed a little off balance through my eyes as I ran from mile 10 on but I finished with a cute guy on each side of me - and I'm pretty sure they were real, not imagined. A friend and my boyfriend saw my distant eyes when I came across the finish line and thought I should get checked out at the medical tent, but I'm as stubborn as the next gal and decided I was going to be fine. BIG mistake!!!!!! I started getting really nauseous and there was no electrolyte drinks to be found, just food, and I couldn't eat. Menstrual cramps had started throughout the marathon and were roaring now, I felt like throwing up, I was freezing cold, dehydrated, and had to go to the bathroom not sure which end would relieve itself first.

While in the bathroom stall I realized I was too dizzy and sick to move. I tried to call my boyfriend but he didn't hear me. I reached under the stall to wave at the person next to me to let my boyfriend know I need medical help. 5 nurses and my boyfriend hauled me out of the bathroom stall in a wheelchair and from there it was like bodyguards (nurses) shoving crowds of runners to the side to get to the medical tent fast.

I was pale and had a purple nose and lips. I had two bags of I.V fluid; nurses taking rectal temperatures of 94 degrees and more blankets than an entire Bed, Bath, & Beyond probably carry. But Fargo was great!