Davis Blows Away Record Field at "Tricky" Superior 50KM
Wynn Davis needs no introduction to the Superior trails, winning the Sawtooth 100 race last September. Now he added the spring Superior 50 km victory to his collection by dusting the field, leading at each checkpoint, with a 4:08:09. Wynn sizzled from the start to the Oberg Aid, the toughest mountainous stretch of this race (the first 25% of the distance) in one hour, and ran the return Oberg-to-Finish (last 25%) in only 1:13.
Charles Hubbard's 3:56:09 course record from 2003 lasted Wynn's assault. Manning the Carlton Peak turn-around, Chuck must have been entertained in a deja-vu manner as he watched Wynn (and everyone chasing him) zipping up and back down to start his second half. Joe Ziegenfuss, winner of the recent challenging Chippewa-Moraine 50 km, reached the outbound Oberg aid just three minutes behind Davis' lead but was unable to reel him in. The distance between the two expanded a few more minutes over the course of the race as Joe won second overall in 4:18. Steve Schuder crossed next. Winning first master, he continued his unique four year streak as the third runner to finish the race. Both Joe and Steve also romped the return Oberg-to-Lutsen finish in 1:13.
Steve Schuder is known for his ultra smooth style, a pleasure to witness, but watching Wynn Davis run by coming in as I was going out through the Britton Peak section was a quick course in trail running. Coming around a bend, looking very much like a halfback headed downfield -- arms out like flotation devices, hunched slightly to control his center of gravity over the rocky section -- he kindly passed along a "Looking good, Phillip" before instantly again regaining 100% focus. By running back in the pack, to put it kindly, I am witness on these out-and-back courses to lots of runners and running styles. Wynn's absolute commitment to the trail -- and he does not really run it, he attacks it -- represents three key ingredients I observed and dubbed F.I.A. The acronym means focus, intensity, and aggression. I saw each of those in his face, demeanor, and running style in that brief glimpse when he was in full gallop. These three keys are not the only reason Wynn is dominating races he enters, of course; being 25 years old with probably two percent body fat and training like a superhero comes into play. The point is those chasing him might find clues in F.I.A. that can aid an individual's trail program.
BEST RACE OF THE DAY
Definitely the most exciting competition was the women's class. At the first aid station after clearing Mystery, Moose and Oberg Mountains, Debra Bennett led Janet Findlay by seconds with Staci Gilpin five minutes back. Next, at Britton Peak, Debra runs in first, and Janet is right there behind her following in a couple of ticks. Staci is now four minutes off the pace.
The big change came on the 4.4 mile rock-infested ascension to Carlton Peak and back. On a day where the three year old colt, Big Brown, came roaring from the back to win the Preakness on a Baltimore track, petite Staci raced the superior track and passed both Debra and Janet, checking in at the return to Britton Peak with the lead.
Completing a climb about halfway to the inbound Oberg aid Staci politely managed a "you've got a nice downhill coming" before sprinting away. She won first woman open in 5:09; Janet captured first woman master and Debra, second woman master.
THE QUAD CHOIR
Matthew Patton, setting his p.r. today, termed the course "tricky," an apt description as the normally rocky, rooty, rutty terrain was more technical with a large number of downed trees from heavy winter snow, a wet and windy spring, and a race eve rain. "Classic Superior Hiking Trail," was Wynn Davis' evaluation. "Runners must bring some levitating magic for their feet in order to navigate this. Moose and Mystery were definite quad screamers." Donny Peterson and Bonnie Riley marked a good course along the Superior Hiking Trail around, under, stepping/crawling over trees of all sizes. Julie Berg, fourth woman master, reported falling off a tree as she climbed over . . . and still set her p.r.
A nippy start was accentuated by northwest winds gusting higher, roaring through the thick forest like a freight train. The sun and blue sky unexpectedly popped out, heating the day early on as temperatures reached the early 60's, drying the trail. Late finishers got a chill as cloud cover moved in; winds blew stronger, dramatically cooling things off. In the companion 25km race, starting two hours after the 50km, 115 finishers chased Greg Hexum to a course record 1:45:17, knocking two and a half minutes off his 2004 record.
Gretchen and Mike Perbix concluded their second successful year as race directors. Gretchen exclaimed, "We had a fabulous turnout and the course didn't disappoint -- this course never disappoints." A nice check was donated by the race to the Superior Hiking Trail Association. In addition to the dazzling blaze orange hooded technical jersey for the class medalists, all finishers picked up a medal and a blaze orange bandana emblazoned with an inscription reflecting Mike's humorous bent.