Mike Hogan navigates the single track section on route to 2nd place in the USA national marathon championships -
July 4th 2010
Breckenridge again hosted the USA marathon national championships last weekend at the Firecracker 50. This was the last year for Breck to have the nationals as they are moving to Bend Oregon next year. The weather was perfect with cool, crystal clear skies. The course was dry & very fast this year but as always took a heavy tole on the field. The Firecracker is known for equipment shredding rocks & relentless, recurring climbs at over 10,000 feet.
Ward Baker
The race started very fast as always up the Boreas Pass climb. There was a stiff headwind this year slowing the overall times & making drafting a critical issue. The first flume section was fast & dry providing a fun respite from the over-threshold pace on the first climb. The Iowa Mill climb was smoother than years past but certainly no less steep, reloading the lactate in the legs. A nice fast, loose drop down "nightmare on Baldy" brought the still tight field to the first single track section - fast, twisty & very fun. Little French creek at over 20% grade was the hardest point on the course but fully ride-able this year. We were then treated to the French Creek flume & a fast drop to the short Lincoln Park climb, more fast double track to the Sally Barber climb & the drop to Carter Park through the ever rough Moonstone & the Jedi Forest before repeating the whole thing on lap #2.
Mark Gouge dropping through the switchbacks in Carter Park
Keith Sanders
Drew Geer
Jamie Kilkoyn
The new Titus X Carbons were uber-fast on the rough & twist descents. It was an absolute treat to pilot them past our struggling competitors. They are really quick through the tight turns. The perfect front/back balance allows full speed descending down the steep, loose sections. They are super stable at high speed on the rough rocks thorough the Moonstone section.
Sherri Boltz is having a fantastic season, finishing 2nd in the 2010 Firecracker
Mike Hogan was riding just behind the eventual 40+ winner Pete Webber when he picked up an ill timed nail on the Little French flume. A quick tube put him back in the race & he finished 2nd. Ward Baker was close behind with a 7th place finish. Hank Harris knocked nearly an hour off his last season finish to come in 28th. In the 50+ field, Mark Gouge led Justin's/Titus home with a 2nd place finish, followed by Keith Sanders in 4th.
The ladies also brought home hardware in the 40+ race with Sherri Boltz in 2nd & Coreen Wright in 3rd.
5 podium places
Next up - a big weekend:
USA National XC championships at Sol Vista
The Breck 100
The Leadville Silver Rush
Jack Boltz
Hank Harris
Correen Wright - 3rd place Women's 40+
The Sparkler is the 11 mile junior event featuring the same two initial climbs before dropping down the last descent. This is a difficult, technical course & these kids shined!
Ben Hogan - 1st
Henry Harris - 2nd
Anna Hogan - 1st
Rachel Harris - 2nd
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