2011 Sagebrush Shuffle/ Results & Report
Sagebrush Shuffle (9 Hour Run)
Near Vado, NM Sat. Dec. 3, 2011. Single-track trails, jeep roads, a little pavement. 4,100′-4,410′ altitude.
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1. Steve Kuhn, 41, NM 43.2 miles
2. Bobby Keogh, 62, NM 38.7
3. Mark Dorion, 52, TX 38.5
4. Betsy Kapiloff, 49, NM (1W) 33.85
5. Nicolas Silva, 22, TX 33.85
6. Leo Lavender, 72, TX 33.3
7. Dianna Keogh, 50, NM 27.2
–Max and Amber (Canine winners) 11.6
–Juan Gonzalez, 50, NM 5
Wind gusts of 75-80 MPH tore through the high desert mountains outside El Paso on the two days prior to this run, snapping 40 foot tall pines and palms like toothpicks. Gallon water jugs on the course were sent rolling across the desert. Amazingly, an impressive thatched tepee, hewn from branches and sticks by Amalia (age 11) and Toby (age 6) Dorion, which runners passed every lap, remained intact.
Saturday, the day of the run, turned out to be our only day without snow, sleet or high winds in a week’s span. Albuquerque’s Steve Kuhn took advantage of the good conditions and cruised over the endless small, steep hills and through the wooded arroyos of the route. The only “runners” going his speed were some cottontails dashing back and forth late in the day.
The hundreds of miles of trails in Greater El Paso and Las Cruces probably get less use than those of any other metropolitan area in the USA. The above runners plus three mountain bikers had the whole vast high desert to themselves for 9 hours, a reward not available at most long trail runs. The snow-capped local mountains and distant views up to 50 miles away were added prizes for these adventureseome runners.
Best wishes to all ultrarunners around the globe,
Mark Dorion
