DESOLATION TRAIL MARATHON
26      SEPTEMBER        2009
    
     It was very nice day for running although a little on the warm side for runners at times on the exposed south ridges.  The color was good but we are a little early this year for the full effect.   John Bartley suggested it was possibly the lack of cold temperatures.  Good point.  Lots of color contrasted with a deeper green background foliage from all the rain this spring is also a bit noticeable this year. 
   September, 2009, must be speed month for Utah.  First,  Geoff Roes broke the course record for the Wasatch Front 100 with an astounding 18:30 and with the most remarkable second place finish time ever, a 19:12 by Karl Meltzer.  Second, Geoff Roes went up to the the Bear 100 and broke another course record with an 18:43.  Third, two women, Betsy Nye and Mandy Hosford had personal bests and received Crimson Cheetahs by running under 24 hours and fourth, Nik Berry showed up at Desolation and executed a very exciting performance running the 2nd fastest time ever for Deso in 3:33.  The course record was set in 1992 by John Alberg with a 3:27.  The previous second fastest was by Karl Meltzer in 2001 with a 3:36. While most of us dream of breaking 5 hours, these speedsters really amaze us all by running times that are way under our target zones.  Previous winner Dan Hall came in over 90 minutes later, then Paul Sysun, followed by John Bartley and Peter Vrolijk. 
    Jill Bohney celebrated another vibrant woman's victory even though she had polished off the Wasatch 100 miler a couple of weeks ago.  Good job Jill.  Putting the "fun into run",  four gals celebrated the day running together and danced down the last of the marathon course finishing in a tie for 11th. They all had a blast sporting colorful feathers in their hair.  Joyful and fun group.  A nice congratulation to all of you.  A big thank you to all who helped put this fun day together.
Irv

      Marathon
1 
  Nik Berry,23
    3:33:01
2
  Dan Hall,41
   5:05:30
3
  Paul Sysun,35   5:35:30
4
  John Bartley,57
 Peter Vrolijk,51
   5:49:15
  5:49:15
6
  Dmitry Pruss,47    5:57:30
7
  Jill Bohney,45
   6:03:30
  8
  Olaf Questereit,41
    6:26:20
  9
   Greg Moellmer,29
    6:36:25
 10
  John Moellmer,64
   6:36:26
 11
  Natalie Bay,35
 Laurel Burr,30
 Holly Merriman,29
 Jenn Watt,31
 7:07:00
7:07:00
7:07:00
7:07:00


                       Sleepy Hollow 24 Miler
 1
   Leigh A. Figge
 6:49:31
2
 Jane H. Pattee,58
 6:55:30

                     Butler Fork West to Finish
Joan Moellmer,60
 7 hours

      Start to Blunder Fork and out at Mill D
John Diroll,52
Bob Henderson,63

Mystery Miles Award
Jeremiah Watt went from the finish back up the trail to escort spouse and gal company down to the finish.
Tough job but someone has to do it.

Blunder Fork Aid Station Kudos
Thanks oodles to:
John Grobben
Claude Grant
Stephanie Davis
Taylor Davis
Tyler Killian
Adam Grobben
Kaden Grobben  
Lexi Kearns
Oh and Mr. Moose (the team had a great time in good weather and spotted a bull moose while on their hike)

DestructoMan Kudos
Thanks to Stan Crane for working on the trail and for carrying up water to the Utley Tree

Thanks to Irv Nielsen for carrying water to the Utley Tree and manning the finish line