Friday, July 8, 2005

Get those legs ready for the Backcountry Run


There's just over a week left to prep your legs for the Elephant's Perch Backcountry Run, which turns 25 on Saturday, July 16.

Race director and Perch owner Bob Rosso expects between 300-400 runners in what he calls a "fairly low key, totally fun," event.

Beginning and ending in the Hulen Meadows area north of Ketchum, the Backcountry Run starts at 8 a.m., and offers distances of 10 and 16.5 miles.

"About 80-plus percent [run] the 10-mile distance," Rosso said.

The 10-mile course gains about 1,700 vertical feet, while the longer leg demands 3,600 vertical feet of climbing. Both courses travel along the Adams Gulch and Fox Creek trail systems.

Known as one of the more fun and low-key local's races, Rosso said the majority of participants are actually from out of town.

"We get a strong contingent from the region — Idaho, Montana, Utah, Washington — people plan their vacations around this run," he said. "And we get some really good runners.

"It's a good field and we get good support from the community."

Last year, Ketchum's Johanna Olson, then 25 years old, set a course record in the women's 10-mile division with a time of 1.02:21. The men's 10-mile winner was Jeremy Redding, 32, of Eagle, Idaho in 56:13. The 16.5-mile champs were Kevin Titus, 47, of Whistler, B.C, Canada in 1.55:11 and Joelle Vaught, 29, of Boise, in 2.19:05.

Cori Mooney holds the women's 16.5 mile record, set in 2003, with a time of 1.58:47.

Paul Lowe maintains the men's 16.5-mile record with a time of 1.43:35, while Karl Van Clacar holds the men's 10-mile record of 55:49. Both were set in 1999.

Early registration, which ends Wednesday, July 13 at 6 p.m., is $25 per person. Late entries will be accepted Thursday and Friday, July 14-15 for $35. No race day entries will be taken. Race packets can be picked up all day Friday, July 15 at the Perch, or on race morning before 7:45 a.m.

Food and beverages will be provided at the finish, and prizes will reward the top finishers in each distance. All runners will also be entered in a drawing for additional giveaways.

Dogs are not allowed in the race.




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