75 people compete in second year.
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Plenty of serious and amateur
racers turned out for the short and long
versions of the second annual The Drift, the
backcountry winter race into the Wind River
Mountains that pits bikers, skiers and runners
against each other on groomed trails.
In spite of the competition, local participants
enjoyed the camaraderie and decent weather on
Saturday, March 9, at the Kendall Valley starting
point. Seventy-five entrants signed up by
age, gender and mode of travel – running (R),
biking (B) or skiing (S) – for the 13-mile “Half”
or The Drift 28-mile marathon. The Drift was
created by Keri and Darren Hull, supported by
the Great Outdoor Shop and assisted by many
volunteers and groups.
There is talk of a 100-mile ultra-version next
winter.
Local racers said this year’s race exceeded
expectations, with the marathon’s second half
being incredibly difficult and steep. They commended
everyone who helped put the race together
and pull it off successfully. An awards
ceremony honored the top male and female
skiers, bikers and runners in the 13 and 28-mile
races, in bold below.
Marathon snow runner Ken Konicek of
Pinedale said he wore his regular running shoes
again and noticed others wore shoes with an extra-
wide base. This time he changed his stride,
flattening it out, and to get uphill he took strides
instead of trying to run.
Having run many marathons, Konicek said
his time of 6:04:15 was quite a bit slower than
usual. He came upon a biker who was trying
to push out of a soft spot in the trail and gave
him a hand. He also enjoyed a cup of coffee
and peanut M&Ms at the aid station. He didn’t
feel “like the clock was ticking and you have
to push yourself.”
“That’s the first time I’ve ever eaten peanut
M&Ms while running a marathon,” he said. “If
I hadn’t stood around for so long, I’d have broken
6 hours.”
For champion marathon skate-skier Jason
Ray of Boulder, strategy was important because
the race’s finale is incredibly tough. He
took an early lead during the first half and used
it to rest and prepare for the elevation gains and
low-angle declines.
“The skiers worked for 20 miles before they
got to glide at all,” Ray said. “The last 6 miles
are a lot of really steep ups and downs; those
hills were brutal. It was very neat to challenge
yourself over long periods of terrain. It was an
awesome race.”
His wife Emily Ray of Boulder, who finished
as the half-marathon’s winning female
skier, said it was her first time in The Drift and
their 13-mile trail was much simpler, except
for negotiating “mashed potato” snow that was
softening. She loved everything, from the “gorgeous
weather” (that started at 0º and inched
up to 12º by noon) to the incredible amount of
organization put on by race sponsors and volunteers.
“It was only my second race ever,” she said.
“It had a really nice feel to it. The camaraderie
was wonderful and brought together a really
neat group of people.”
Doc Foster of Pinedale skate-skied his way
to first-place male racer in the half, in an hour
and 51 minutes. He said the 13-mile race is
something most people can enjoy, whether on
skis, bikes or running shoes. “People that are
apprehensive about the long race can do this
one,” he said, noting its “great turnout.”
Foster said, “The neatest thing I saw was
all of these women in groups waiting for each
other to cross the finish line together. It’s pretty
cool that people challenge themselves. The
Drift has the Pinedale soul.”
Any interests in moving from the Half to 28
or even 100 miles of racing?
“Even a half-marathon can be kind of brutal,”
Foster said. “It’s not just a walk in the
park.”
Ray said she would rather “start small” with
the half. “Time will tell…”
Konicek noted that The Drift’s marathon
trail is almost 50 kilometers long and he felt
“good” after running on snow, which is more
forgiving than pavement. He probably would
not go for the 100-mile contest.
“Even to do a half-marathon run on snow is
not easy,” he explained. “The fun part is, everyone
can challenge themselves from where they
are at right now.”
For more, go to www.thedrift100.com.
TIME RESULTS – 13-Mile Half Marathon
20-29 Female
R Leah Yingling, SLC, 2:08:31
B Eva Koplin, Laramie, 2:10:31
B Hailey Harber, Pinedale, 2:16:52
S Amanda Bingham, Pinedale, 4:15:41
30-39 Female
S Emily Ray, Boulder, 2:06:17
S Leah Ritz, Casper, 2:13:29
R Jessica Flandro, SLC, 2:26:02
R Amanda Margrave, Rock Springs, 2:46:40
R Kathleen Martin, Pinedale, 3:09:23
S Valerie Werbelow, Pinedale, 3:29:43
S Michelle Stauthamer, Pinedale, 3:29:47
B Bobbie Terry, Billings, 3:36:25
B Micah Roehr, Arvada, 3:36:30
S Marie McGuire, Pinedale, 4:15:34
S Ryan Farnsworth, Cora, 4:15:37
S Emily Linney, Boulder, 5:01:33
S Kristi White, Pinedale, 5:01:39
30-39 Male
B Jeff Harber, Boulder, 2:05:19
R Danny Bradley, SLC, 2:12:16
B Mayer Rivero, Utah , 2:46:32
R Matt Mau, Utah, 3:03:06
S Sheri Luth, 3:44:33
R Heath Greer, 3:05
40-49 Female
B Julie McFadden, Steamboat, 2:09:40
S Judy Vitolo, Pinedale, 2:22:00
R Katie Mills, Jackson, 2:35:28
B Kylah Bowers, Pinedale, 3:36:20
S Jennifer Zook, Pinedale, 5:01:35
40-49 Male
R Kenneth Roe, Jackson, 3:24:59
S TJ Deeds, Pinedale, 3:28:33
50-59 Male
S Doc Foster, Pinedale, 1:51:04
R Shawn M, Jackson, 2:26:08
60-69 Male
R Steve Gilmore, Jackson, 4:31:16
TIME RESULTS – 28-Mile Marathon
20-29 Female
S Gretchen Loft, N.H., 5:48:04
B Jolee Springman, Pinedale, 6:50:31
R Ahna Vitt, Pinedale, 8:02:21
20-29 Mal e
R Mike McMonagle, SLC, 5:10:05
R Matt Hansen, Wisconsin, 5:45:15
R Noah Kolis, Cora, 6:11:24
S David Rule, Pinedale, 6:48:14
B Brad Ledo, Pinedale, 7:25:14
30-39 Female
S Erin Martin, Moose, 4:44:43
S Gracy Carpenter, Pinedale, 6:54:18
R Johanna Blanchard, Lander, 8:24:19
R Adrienne Vincelette, Pinedale, 8:51:04
30-39 Male
R Gabe Joyes, Lander, 4:55:45
S Guy Litt, Casper, 5:09:39
B Chase Harber, Pinedale, 5:33:39
R Andy Ringholz, Victor, Idaho, 5:37:25
B Andrew Zook, Pinedale, 6:03:49
R Ken Lind, Douglas, 6:24:10
R Kevin Mack, Colorado, 7:29:29
S Luke Schultz, 6:00:00
40-49 Female
R Sylvia Greer, Utah, 7:14:54
R Marie Pontius, Utah, 7:34:57
40-49 Male
S Jason Ray, Boulder, 4:23:50
B Roy Dewitt, Pinedale, 6:18:50
R Scott Griffith, Afton, 6:45:39
B Jon Kowalski, Colorado, 4:38:32
S Todd Morgan, Pinedale, 6:51:10
R Joe Heywood, Bedford, 6:58:39
S Nathan Curry, Pinedale, 7:05:37
B Ben Davis, Pinedale, 7:29:23
R Kirk Rupp, Utah, 7:30:51
50-59 Female
R Pam Reed, Jackson, 7:08:25
50-59 Male
S Scott Kane, Lander, 4:48:23
R Bo Miller, Jackson, 8:14:12
60-69 Male
S Martin Hudson, Pinedale, 5:39:53
R Ken Konicek, Pinedale, 6:04:15
B Don Mueller, Utah, 7:21:26
‘The Drift’
draws the
daring
Emily Ray and Jason Ray meet up at the finish line.
28-mile winners
Runner Male: Gabe Joyes
Runner Female: Pam Read
Biker male: Jon Kowalsky
Biker female: JoLee Springman
Skier male: Jason Ray
Skier female: Erin Martin
13-mile winners
Runner male: Danny Bradley
Runner female: Leah Yingling
Biker male: Jeffrey Harber
Biker female: Julie McFadden
Skier male: Doc Foster
Skier female: Emily Ray