Mountain Hardwear & Montrail!

2009 TNF Ultra Trail du Mt. Blanc!

Mt. Blanc, the rooftop of Western Europe, 3 countries, 9 mountain villages, 51 nationalities, 2500 trail runners, 104miles, 30,000ft of climbing, rocks, roots, mud, stream crossings, dirt roads, paved roads, single track trails, talus fields, glaciers, and unsurpassed mountain views! The 7th Edition of The North Face Ultra Trail du Mt. Blanc starts on Friday, August 28th at 6:30pm Central European Time in the center of Chamonix, France. Runners will have 46 hours to complete this epic loop around the Mt. Blanc Mountain massif passing through France, Italy, Switzerland, and returning to Chamonix. Every runner starts with the excitement and apprehension of running into the "unknown" and exploring their physical and mental limits. Months and perhaps years of preparation, dedication, and commitment bring this global field of kindred spirits together to embark on a adventure of epic proportions. Each runner will be pushed to their physical capacity and beyond, they will be tested mentally in ways they never thought imaginable, and they will need to dig deep inside their soul to find resolve to make it to the finish line in Chamonix. I applaud every runner who have the courage to take on this challenge and start this epic adventure! Good luck to all of you!

To follow the event live go to: www.ultratrailmb.com and follow the links to the live web-cast. The web-cast site will be in French, but quite easy to navigate.

Topher is running the UTMB race - 104 mile full circle of Mt. Blanc. He is racer number 11
Kim Gaylord is running the TDS race - 66 mile race from Chamonix France to Courmayeur Italy. Start time 5:00AM - Saturday, August 29th. She is racer number 9543.
Randy Gaylord is running the TDS race -66 mile race from Chamonix France to Courmayeur Italy. Start time 5:00AM - Saturday, August 29th. He is racer number 9405.

TDS (Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie) – approx. 105km and 6700m + altitude change; starts Saturday, August 29th at 5:00am from the centre of Chamonix Mont-Blanc.

Thank you to all for your encouragement, energy, and support from around the world! It is greatly appreciated will be a great source of energy during those most challenging moments in the run!

Ragnar Relay - Gaylords by the Dozen!

When times are tough, what do you do? You GO BIG, You RALLY, you FOCUS, you PULL TOGETHER, and GIVE IT EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT! When you come from a family of 10 children, you need a pretty big project to RALLY around. Well the 2009 RAGNAR RELAY - California seemed to have all the right ingredients. 187 miles of running along the California coast from Santa Barbara to Dana Point. 12 "team runners" relay day and night down the California coast as fast as possible. We have assembled the first and only ALL family team, "Gaylords by the Dozen" for this historic run down the California coast. The team includes 7 brothers/sisters, 3 nephews/nieces, 2 spouses, along with a family support team of 3.

Team Roster: Terry Gaylord, Randy Gaylord, Tim Gaylord, Mark Gaylord, Peter Gaylord, Topher Gaylord, Kim Gaylord, Travis Gaylord, Colin Gaylord, Courtney Gaylord, Sarah Gaylord Williams, Ron Williams.

Team Support/Coaching: Laura Gaylord, Marny Gaylord, Tina Graham.

Team Start Time: 12:00pm Friday, April 24th, 2009

Terry as the "most seasoned" member of the team, will lead us out from Santa Barbara and Colin, as the "sprouting bud" member of the team, will bring us home into the finish at Dana Point.


Ragnar was a 9th century Norse King. He was a pirate, a raider, a conqueror, an explorer, and a wild man. The tough, fearless, rugged attributes of this Norse King are shared by all who participate in a Ragnar Relay. In much the same way, a Ragnar Relay provides runners the freedom to roam, to explore - a free-spirited curiosity to get out there and experience outdoor adventure. And as a family, we will RALLY, PULL TOGETHER, FOCUS, and GIVE IT EVERYTHING WE'VE GOT!

Follow the team's progress live on our Twitter feeds posted on our site. You can also see more info on the event at:

http://www.ragnarrelay.com/losangeles/index.php


Long live the Ragnar in us all!

Greatest Snow On Earth!

We have travelled the world over the years in search of the best snow on the planet. Deep in the Canadian Rockies in BC, California's Sierra Nevadas, Colorado Rockies, The French, Austrian, Swiss, and Italian Alps, The Dolomites, South America, Japan, Russia, etc. we have found tremendous snow, friends, mountain culture, cuisine, glaciers, steep terrain, and some wild stories. However, when it comes to pure snow quality and powder skiing, the Wasatch Mountains in Utah simply deliver "the greatest snow on earth!" Little Cottonwood Canyon, just 25minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport provides two of the world's best ski areas: Snowbird and Alta. With an average of 500inches of annual snowfall, these mountains are a powder skier's paradise! The strong pacific storms pound California's Sierra Nevada with wet "Sierra Cement", then they dry out across the great basin of Nevada's desert, hit the Wasatch, pick up "lake effect" moisture from the Great Salt Lake and drop the lightest, champagne power in world, aaahhhhhh.

We have been enjoying many weekends back at our "home mountains" this year, skiing at Snowbird, Alta, Deer Valley, and the Wasatch backcountry, re-connecting with friends and planning skiing adventures. This year is proving to be another epic year, come experience "the greatest snow on earth" for yourself!

Winter in Santa Monica

Santa Monica in the winter is fantastic. We have been enjoying tremendous weather, with Santa Ana winds, crystal clear skies, and warm dry weather the first few weeks of the new year. Rain is such a novelty in Southern California, when it comes, it is a welcome change, cleaning the city, refreshing the mountains with moisture, and lining the trails with green grass.

We've had some great skiing in the Wasatch Mtns this winter re-connecting with family and friends and getting after "the greatest snow on earth"! Snowbird, Alta, Deer Valley, and the backcountry. We still miss many of the ways of life we left in Cortina during the winters, but there is no replacing the superb snow in Utah.

Living in Southern California has its share of Star sightings on a regular basis, and we have become accustomed to the common spots: Reese Witherspoon at Starbucks, Dennis Quaid and Toph exchanged words out on the trial as Toph came running by Dennis riding his grey quarter horse, Seal and Heidi Klum at Via Veneto, one of our favorite Italian restaurants, and others at the beach and shopping along the streets of Santa Monica.

2009 is shaping up to be a transformational year for everyone around the world as the global economic crisis has created a new paradigm for everyone at every socio-economic level. We have a new president and a change of course for America, which sits at the epicenter of the economic crisis, and the most influential global partner to free market society. In challenging times with such radical changes happening hourly and daily, it can be difficult to remain grounded in life. It is amazing how much we draw upon our ultra-running experiences in the times we are in. In a 100 mile race you live a lifetime, in a single day. You hit multiple walls and manage through extreme duress and multiple crisis'. And when we experience these challenges in running, we do what we know best and put one foot in front of the other and keep moving, but never stop, never give up. We focus on smaller objectives, make it to the tree up ahead, the top of the next hill, the next aid station. And we string these small victories together and push through knowing that if we are moving, we are making progress where we need to go. The elation of completing a 100 mile race is highly emotional as you have spent a day living on the edges of life and exploring the depths of your resolve and what you are really made of, and you feel more alive than ever. Challenge and adversity has a way of making you stronger and feel more alive than ever. Embrace these times we are in, and keep yourself balanced and grounded in what you know, and put one foot in front of the other, then enjoy the ride. Here's to 2009 being one of the greatest years at testing our resolve, it won't be an easy year, but it should be one of the most growing years of our lives!

Magical Orcas Island!

Orcas Island, a geographic gem, located in the heart of the San Juan Islands North of Seattle in Puget Sound. This is one of those rare places in the world when it rains, it warms the soul and just feels right and actually feels like “great weather”! We have had a lot of “great weather” over this Thanksgiving. Our first Thanksgiving Holiday in America in 8 years and we are celebrating with our Orcas Island Gaylords, Randy, Marny, Colin, and Genna, Our Seattle Gaylords, Peter, Lauren, Weston, and Caitlin, along with Laura and Courtney. Kim, Laura, and Topher flew up in a Cessna 172 from Seattle to Eastsound and after a short 45minute flight with great scenic views we arrived onto the Island and the rhythm of Island life.

The weekend has been filled with fantastic memories, amazing Orcas Island home cooked family meals, Dessert parties, daily trail runs, hikes, and shared experiences of adventures around the world.

Randy led us through some amazing runs on the Island, Cascade Lake, Mountain Lake, Twin lakes, Mt. Constitution, Rosario, Mt. Pickett, and some of the oldest forests on the Island along with streams, waterfalls, and rivers. The colors in the park are out of this world, vivid greens, lush ferns, mossy trails, soft earth, big trees, and loads of single track trails, hills and hidden forest views. If you haven’t been to Orcas, find a way to come explore this wonderful Island. If you have been here, come visit again, it will warm your heart and sooth the soul.

Peter is flying us off the Island tomorrow on his “Beachcraft Bonanza” for a special “Gaylord Airlines” chartered flight. Should be a great way to cap off a perfect weekend!

Wishing all our family and friends around the world a warm start to the Holiday Season!

Pt Mugu 50km - Topher 3rd & Kim 1st in the 30km

We have been hitting the running trails hard since we have moved to Santa Monica. This weekend we drove 45 minutes north up the coast past Mailbu to the Pt Mugu State Park for a trail race. Topher ran the 50km race and I ran the 30km race. It was a beautiful course with some good ups and downs while we enjoyed amazing coastal and ocean views along the way.

After just winning the trail marathon on Catalina the weekend before Topher ran a good race to finish 3rd overall in 4:29. His run had about 5,500 feet of climbing so not a flat run at all.

My 30km race had about 3,400 feet of up and down. I was happy to run it in 2:52 to break the women's course record and finish 4th overall. Wow..I am becoming quite the runner. All I know is trying to keep up with Topher so i guess that helps.

We are off to Orcas Island for Thanksgiving with family and some final training on Mt Constitution before The North Face Endurance Challenge run in San Francisco. Topher will be running the 50 miler an i will do the 50km.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Kim and Topher

Oh today is a little chilly here in Santa Monica....maybe in the 60's...i had to put on a fleece. I also heard there is rain in the forecast. We need it.

Catalina Epic! Topher Wins, Kim 5th woman!

An epic tour of Catalina Island with perfect sunshine and 100degree F temps, and 3600 ft of climbing proved a challenging combo. Competition was fierce at the head of the course with our friend Nicolas Mermoud, from Chamonix France, and Topher running from the front all day. A German runner living in Rodondo Beach was lurking all day just off the pace of the front duo and finished 3rd.

The event was hosted by our dear friend, Dean Karnazes and the event had a special screening of his movie running 50/50/50, the first time we had seen the movie and it provided massive inspiration for the race today for all!

Headed out to the beach to relax and soak in the nice Indian Summer and a nice Dinner tonight with the entire Karno Family.

Best from the California Gaylords!

Kim and Topher

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Indian Summer!

After 8 years living in Europe, we had forgotten the joys of Indian Summer in California. Since we have arrived, every day has been perfect weather with lots of sunshine and great temperatures at the beach. We have explored the trails of the Santa Monica Mountains. The warm off-shore Santa Ana winds have been blowing, creating some truly amazing days, some fires, tremendous sunsets, and one very scary encounter with a big rattle snake!



We are finding adventure in every aspect of living as we "repatriate" into American culture. We find curiosity in the basic tasks of shopping for food and enjoy the tremendous variety available to consumers, the 24/7 rhythm of life, entertainment, sports, building new friendships, establishing new business contacts & networks, and all the different "characters" that make America a diverse and stimulating society.



We have a great Fall/Winter race schedule and are looking forward to running the Catalina Eco-Marathon next weekend on Catalina Island off the coast of Southern California. Our friend Dean Karnazes is hosting the Marathon and the event will be screening his movie of running 50 marathons in 50 US states in 50 days. We are looking forward to enjoying the weekend with the entire Karno Family. Come join us next weekend and catch the energy of this super event!

Life Changes!

Sometimes the best way to expand the mind, learn, stay flexible, adaptable, keep a youthful spirit, and grow is to turn your life upside down and reinvent yourself. Well, we are taking this concept to its fullest. If you are not already aware, after 8 wonderful years living in Europe and Italy, we have returned to California and the "new world". A new opportunity for Topher professionally and a new opportunity for both of us personally. We have relocated to Santa Monica, California and we are temporarily living on the beach with fantastic Pacific Ocean views, great urban culture, superb running and outdoor active lifestyle surroundings. New adventures await in this progressive West Coast environment.

Look for news updates to follow!

UTMB Live info and Anti Doping

Here are the steps to follow the live website:

http://www.ultratrailmb.com/

click LIVE

click Fiche Courere

click Dossar - and put 24 (this is tophers number) and will give you his progress. Look at the profile on the top to see where he is.

ALSO to see head of the race:

click LIVE


Click Tete de Course and then highlight Tour Du Mt Balnc - this will list the top 10 runners
We hope for that towards the end and ideally not at the beginning. Better to start slow and finish strong.

I will send updates along the way on the blog so check back.

Toph is resting now after a press conference with 100 members of press from all over the world. This event is huge in all aspects! Just like the tour de France!

Oh and Topher was chosen for anti doping control so they took a blood sample yesterday. 20 top runners were chosen to be tested. No problems (as far as we know). Some even had to do a hair and urine samples but Topher just did blood. Wild huh! Scott Jurek and Nikki Kimball were also tested (fellow Americans running the race).

4 hours until the start,
Kim

The Morning of the Big Race!

A team breakfast against the amazing views of the Mt Blanc. Simone Moro and his wife Barbara will be helping with Topher's support. Also family will be supporting along the way.

Laura, Colin and Lisa are headed out to do the first 8kms of the race course. Laura also did the last hill of the race the beginning of the week so she is really getting a taste of the course.

Beautiful day here!

Kim

UTMB starts Friday 6:30pm in Chamonix - GO Topher!

The Ultra Trail Tour du Mt Blanc run starts friday 6:30pm local time from the center of chamonix. This year the race is 165kms (104 miles) with 9400 meters (30,OOO feet) of up and down. It is the 6th edition and the hardest course yet. The race starts in france and goes to italy, to switzerland then back into france following around the Mt Blanc (the highest mtn in europe) There are 2,500 runners and it is the best and most competitive field of racers ever! There are 50 nations represented. The front of the race will be full of excitement for the men and women. The weather looks great so that is good for everyone - the runners, the organisation and the supports.

I will post updates as I see topher along the way and tell stories of the race at:

www.tophergaylord.blogspot.com

Also follow along on the race website for the LIVE instant timing updates at:

www.ultratrailmb.com

Click LIVE
Then click for timing updates for UTMB 165km race

Topher is number 24

The energy and atmosphere here is like nothing we have ever seen. This really is the biggest utra race in the world. It is fun to be a part of the excitement. Topher should have a good run. He is in super mountain running shape and is capable of a great finish. Just hope it is a good day for him and can keep the energy all the way.

We have some family here to help and enjoy this great event. Laura, Colin and Lisa will be out on the course just soaking in the crowds, music and festivities all night and day. So fun adventures for all.

Send strong thoughts to topher as he charges up and down the big hills of this difficult race!

GO TOPHER!

From chamonix,
Kim


Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Gran Trail Valdigne - 87km with 17,000 feet of up/down and rain

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)

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

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)

Women:
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

Kim takes 2nd!

Kim endured "the most brutal race of my life"......to finish 2nd place just a mere 10 minutes behind 1st place. She finished with tears in her eyes and a big smile. Some short term damage to assess: blisters to the feet and a big toe nail that will be coming off very soon, but no major issues, so "Team Gaylord" is happy!

Full race report to follow.

Thanks to all for your encouragement!

Topher & Kim

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Toph takes 3rd!

In one of the most epic trail races in the world (86km) 54miles, Toph endured brutal conditions including lightning, hail, thunder, hot sun, and the gnarliest trail conditions he could remember. The trail transformed from a technical combination of roots, dirt, rocks, to a river of mud, rocks, and slime. No injuries!

Kim is fighting hard to make it a "Team Gaylord" podium and is currently in 2nd place about 15 min off the lead. She should be finishing shortly. Yes, she is enduring all the exact same conditions! Right on Kimmy, go!

Topher

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Gran Trail Valdigne!

We are in Courmayeur, Italy with a neck stretching view of the south face
of Mt. Blanc. We will be running the Gran Trail Valdigne race today, a calf
and quad busting 86km (54mile) mountain race with over 16,000ft of uphill
and 16,000 ft of downhill.

We had a somewhat sleepless night of downpouring rain, lightning, and big
thunder. The trail is sure to pose some really gnarly challenges with tough
conditions today. First challenge is a 4600ft climb up out of Courmayeur, a
climb so steep, you are clawing your way to the top with all "fours"!

Keep tuned for updates!

Topher & Kim

Cortina at it's best!!

We are so fortunate to have the Dolomite's in our backyard. It is a great escape only 2 hours form our house in Montebelluna and it is so refreshing. The summers can be hot and humid by our house so to escape to the fresh mountain air is reviving.

The trails are great for running and hiking. We plan out really fun loops that pass by mountain huts that we can stop for a pasta or an apple strudle. It is so nice and all you need are a few euros in your pocket and not a big heavy pack. Love that!

The wild flowers are spectacular right now. As a tradition we always take some photos of the flowers. So i have attached a few for you to see.

Best from Cortina - the Queen of the Dolomites,

Kim

Topher Survives the Cro-Magnon and takes 6th overall!

Race & Monte Carlo Photos

An epic day of adventure for Kim and Topher as we traversed the Mercantour Mtns from North to South finishing on the beaches of Monte Carlo!

The day started out brutal, 3degrees (C) and 4 inches of fresh snow overnight lined all the course above 1800mtrs (about 20 miles worth of snow on the course).

Topher along with about 400 other runners took the start with one of the most competitive fields in the event's history. 100km of pure mountain joy/torture lay ahead. The race started at 6:30am and went straight up Limone ski area. Toph and the lead runners all took off running the switchbacks up the mountain (the official course). About half way up the first climb, it all broke loose and it was an chinese uphill (anything goes and everyone finding every possible short cut they can to get to the top first). In what is clearly a European norm, finding the shortest line between check points seems to be accepted, so Topher along with all the other runners started forging straight up and down the race course where they could. (We don't like this style, but if you don't adapt you end up running a longer race!).

Topher was running in the lead with Dawa Sherpa for the first 20km, when they entered a section of woods and another chinese downhill and poor trail markings found Topher totally lost and running in the wrong direction. He eventually popped out and found his way back onto the course having run an additional 2-3km. Very frustrating!

35km into the race found Toph make yet another wrong turn due to missing trail markings. He ended up running an additional 5km this time loosing another 20-25minutes. When he reconnected to the course, he was in 25-30th position. So he spent most of the day trying in Vain to bridge back to the leading pack.

The run was epic, running across mtns upto 2500mtrs (8000ft) snow covered and literally scrambling up and down the peaks and contouring the mtns on goat tracks. An extremely technical and tedious course. The highlight was a 7000ft descent off the peak into the 70km aid station. Toph's Quads and knees were ready for the uphill that followed.

Kim spent all day traversing the mtns in proud support finding Toph in the most remote sections of the course. She was "4-wheelin'" her way through mud bogs, snow fields, and dirt roads.

Toph clawed his way back throughout the day to finish 6th place in 10hrs 24min. Had he recovered that 30minutes he had getting lost he perhaps could have taken 2nd. A great day for all, super competition, a gnarly course, the nicest race director, Pietro who hosted us at the event, and a cool city to end in! Monte Carlo!

Best to all around the world. Thanks for following our adventures, we love sharing them with all of you. And thank you for your comments, emails, text messages of encouragement!

Kim & Topher

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

The Cromagnon is ON!!!

The race will start with a few modifications along the way to deal with the snow at high elevations.
It should be quiet the challenge with the snow, mud and water for the runners. Not like it is easy with 18,000 feet of up and 21,000 feet of down. Yikes in 100km. Only the strong and brave will finish this race.

There are many good european runners starting. My pick to win is Marco Olmo. He has won here before and is strong- even at 60 years old! But Dawa Sherpa will not make it an easy win for him. Not sure who is in better form for the big mountains. We will see.

Topher for sure has the leg speed but we will see how he is on the big hills. The goal is a good solid run with no injuries and to enjoy a new place. It will be perfect training for the UTMB (mt blanc race) the end of august.

So follow here LIVE. The race starts at 6am Saturday in Italy then finishes on the beach in Monte Carlo. Ahhhhh!

Should be another fun adventure!

Go Topher!
Kim


Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile