Top 3 finishers - Flavio (2nd), Massimo (1st), Topher (3rd)Wow! What can i say.....this was an epic adventure for sure. "Team Gaylord" had great success with Topher having a great race to finish 3rd in a very strong field of runners and Kim to finish 2nd only 10 minutes behind the 1st women. But most importantly no injuries - Kim has some sore muscles but will work thru it by recovering with pasta, fresh salads and vino.
Let me just list some stats of the run...they are impressive:
Length - 87km = 54mile
Up and down - 5,200 meters = 17,000 feet (a lot...just ask my quads how that felt)
Starters - 425
Finishers - 256 (only 20 women)
Time Limit to complete the race - 25 hours
Weather - rain, warm, cold, thunderstorms, ridge top winds, more rain
Trail conditions - steep, muddy, rocky, technical, wet, slippery
GU energy gel count - Topher ate 12 and I ate 11 (all chocolate...our favorite)
Weather - rain, warm, cold, thunderstorms, ridge top winds, more rain
Trail conditions - steep, muddy, rocky, technical, wet, slippery
GU energy gel count - Topher ate 12 and I ate 11 (all chocolate...our favorite)
Blisters - 1 on my hand from gripping and pushing on my poles and 1 on my toe
Toe nails lost - only Kim's big toe
Toe nails lost - only Kim's big toe
Atmosphere - Fantastic
Fun factor - High - We love the beauty of the mountains and the challenge of the trail.
It was the toughest trail race of this distance that we have ever done and most of the competitors would agree. Dura! Hard! That is what everyone was saying while shaking there head like they could not believe what we just completed.....then a smile. We are all crazy but love it!
Results
Men:
1) Tagliaferri Massimo (10.19.26)
2) Gadin Flavio (10.29.08)
3) Gaylord Topher (10.41.52)
1) Tagliaferri Massimo (10.19.26)
2) Gadin Flavio (10.29.08)
3) Gaylord Topher (10.41.52)
Women:
1) Oliveri Virginia (13.11.08)
2) Gaylord Kim (13.20.28) (25th overall)
3) Balsamo Luisa (14.58.16)
1) Oliveri Virginia (13.11.08)
2) Gaylord Kim (13.20.28) (25th overall)
3) Balsamo Luisa (14.58.16)
What's next?
Well, Topher is back hard at work and I am getting us regrouped and organized at home after all of the travel. Then the end of July we do our annual 3 day training around the Mt Blanc trail to prepare for the UTMB race the end of August. It is always a fun 3 days out on the trail with friends.
Thanks again for all the support and notes from family and friends.
Enjoying the runners high while eating lots!
Kim and Topher
3 comments:
Dear Kim and Topher,
well done for this weekend in Valle d'Aosta, I placed myself between both of you in the final ranking.
I'll start to congratulate Kim for this good result!
Topher you did a great race, congratulation for this third place.
I race together with Kim last year on the Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix just after the Champex lake, you had trouble and had to stop often! At the end you did great.
I have a question for Topher, is that right that you said concerning the UTMB in 2007: that the day of the race is not such an important thing. It is the end of months of training. I read that it was from you and it is exactly what I think about ultra-trail running.
All the best for the rest of the season for both of you!
Jérome
Great job, Kim and Topher!
Was nice to see you this morning before we left Chamonix with Scott, Karine, Bruno and Team Lafuma. See my run report and photo album if you are interested.
Topher, I had not realized that I saw you at Miwok, when you passed me, running with Jon Olsen. See you again...
Jean.
Farther Faster
Toph and Kim.
Congrats on another fun weekend. I have spent many a week in that Valley... What a place!
Cheers
Chris Lepley, SF/USA
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