The end of summer heralds the IPR, a spectacular 17.1 mile race from Ouray, CO to Telluride, CO. The race climbs Imogene Pass for ten miles and tops out at 13,100'. The 7.1 mile descent drops you into downtown T-ride. Around 1,500 racers pack Main St, Ouray for the 7:30am start. My plan was to run the race with my wife as I hadn't put much effort into training and I'd sprained my ankle 4 weeks prior. That plan was out the door as soon as the starting gun went off. I was in it to race.... The race begins like a 5k with the leaders sprinting off the line. At the turn-off to Imogene Pass I was in 15th place. This is the end of the running and the start of the hiking. I was able to pass 5 racers and reach the summt in 10th place. Strangely, my time was only 1 minute slower then 2012 (when I trained intensively). My lack of training was obvious on the downhill as I was passed by seven racers (The most painful aspect of the race...). I finished in 17th place with a time of 2:45.
Starting Line ~ Ouray, CO
(If my wife looks like she's about to cry/throw-up its because she'd like to....)
Starting Line ~ Ouray, CO
(If my wife looks like she's about to cry/throw-up its because she'd like to....)
Coach Colby telling me to "go to the Pain Cave".
Coach Colby consoles his mom after she finished 10 minutes slower then last year (3:36).
Main St ~ Telluride
Age Group
1 1225 FOLKERTS, Steve FT. COLLINS CO 2:37:05.9 +0:00.0
2 1214 SIMMONS, Scott DURANGO CO 2:45:34.7 +8:28.8
3 1293 MCMILLAN, Greg FLAGSTAFF AZ 2:54:47.7 +17:41.8
4 858 HUGHES, David DURANGO CO 2:56:14.9 +19:09.0
5 1396 HARKEY, Brett FORT COLLINS CO 2:58:22.7 +21:16.8
6 515 LAPERRIERE, Lee SEDALIA CO 3:05:01.1 +27:55.2
7 1626 RACZUK, Michael DENVER CO 3:06:23.7 +29:17.8
8 314 OTTO, Dave SAINT CHARLES MO 3:06:29.0 +29:23.1
9 141 STARR, Michael ALBUQUERQUE NM 3:06:38.0 +29:32.1
10 780 BECKLEY, Daniel ALBUQUERQUE NM 3:07:16.0 +30:10.1
