post written by Matt & Kerri Stebbins
Sun Mountain 50m/50k course photo by Bill Johnson.
Big thanks to everyone for participating in the Sun Mountain 50m, 50k, 25k, and Kids 1k this past weekend - and an especially big thank-you to our crew of dedicated volunteers! - for helping make the 6th annual Sun Mountain races a stunning success!
Kids 1k Fun Run photo by Glenn Tachiyama.
The course only saw one minor change this year (near the Patterson Aid Station, where the 50M and 50k runners left the Winthrop trail to join the Patterson Mountain Trail and the course's last big climb); though the course hasn't changed much over the years, the level of competition has become increasingly stiff. For comparison: In the inaugural 50k, Justin Yates took third with a 4:35; this year, he won with a course-record 3:42, and 4:35 would have netted him twelfth place!
The biggest change this year? Races on two separate days. With the 25k & Kids 1k on Saturday, and the 50M & 50k on Sunday, we were able to accommodate twice as many runners as in previous years. It also meant some of you got to cheer on two separate days, listen to The Pine Hearts on two separate days, and drink tasty, local beer and lounge in the sun on two separate days. Twice the fun for everyone!
The biggest change this year? Races on two separate days. With the 25k & Kids 1k on Saturday, and the 50M & 50k on Sunday, we were able to accommodate twice as many runners as in previous years. It also meant some of you got to cheer on two separate days, listen to The Pine Hearts on two separate days, and drink tasty, local beer and lounge in the sun on two separate days. Twice the fun for everyone!
25k start. Photo by Glenn Tachiyama.
This weekend, by the numbers:
Runners: 659 [42 in the Kids 1k; 315 in the 25k; 176 in the 50k; 126 in the 50M]
Pizzas: Very, very many. Counting that high is hard.
Volunteers: 93 [34 for the 25k/1k; 59 for the 50M/50k]
Course records: 2 [New records for the men in both the 25k and 50k, with 2 fellas breaking the previous course record in the 25k, and three under the previous time in the 50k.]
Bear sightings: 1 [Mile 10 of the 50-mile course, according to Matt Beard]
Tons of family & friends made the trip this weekend, too, and enjoyed sunshine, beer, pizza, and The Pine Hearts with us. We estimated about 800 people at the finish-line at one point during Saturday's 25k, and we fed over 1500 people!!
Some of you have already told us how your weekend went, but we'd love to hear from more of you! If you have a race report or photos, please share them with us, via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or you can email your links directly to [email protected].
Be sure to check the Sun Mountain 50M/50K and 25k pages, too, for a comprehensive list of all race-related recaps and photos!
Runners: 659 [42 in the Kids 1k; 315 in the 25k; 176 in the 50k; 126 in the 50M]
Pizzas: Very, very many. Counting that high is hard.
Volunteers: 93 [34 for the 25k/1k; 59 for the 50M/50k]
Course records: 2 [New records for the men in both the 25k and 50k, with 2 fellas breaking the previous course record in the 25k, and three under the previous time in the 50k.]
Bear sightings: 1 [Mile 10 of the 50-mile course, according to Matt Beard]
Tons of family & friends made the trip this weekend, too, and enjoyed sunshine, beer, pizza, and The Pine Hearts with us. We estimated about 800 people at the finish-line at one point during Saturday's 25k, and we fed over 1500 people!!
Some of you have already told us how your weekend went, but we'd love to hear from more of you! If you have a race report or photos, please share them with us, via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or you can email your links directly to [email protected].
Be sure to check the Sun Mountain 50M/50K and 25k pages, too, for a comprehensive list of all race-related recaps and photos!
50k runners among the wildflowers. Photo by Kristen Smith.
A quick, short-form, top-line recap of the weekend's races:
In the 25k:
Our top three men were Patrick McAuliffe (1:35:05), Matt Cecill (1:35:59), and Andrew Pape (1:47:50). Both McAuliffe and Cecill ran under the previous course record (1:38:35). For the women, our top three were Darbykai Standrick (1:55:32), Holland Gidney (2:00:03), and Jen Gallant (2:03:37).
In the 50k:
All three top men went under the previous course record of 4:07:02! Justin Yates won (3:42:45), followed by Patrick Murphy (3:53:01) and Shane Ruljancich (4:01:57). For the women, our top three were Janet Lun (4:47:40), Alex Gillett (4:56:29), and Sherry Cote (4:58:46).
In the 50M:
Six of the top ten 50-mile times ever run at Sun Mountain were run this year, where veterans that ran smart races hung on: 4 of the top 6 finishers were masters. Bucking the trend was Ben Bucklin, this year's winner (6:29:43), followed by our top two masters, Oliver Utting (6:34:23) and Graeme Wilson (6:35:37). Our top women ran a similarly close race, where Rachel Bucklin nabbed the win (7:58:08), followed by Deb Russell (8:02:51), and Selina Danko (8:03:16).
In the 25k:
Our top three men were Patrick McAuliffe (1:35:05), Matt Cecill (1:35:59), and Andrew Pape (1:47:50). Both McAuliffe and Cecill ran under the previous course record (1:38:35). For the women, our top three were Darbykai Standrick (1:55:32), Holland Gidney (2:00:03), and Jen Gallant (2:03:37).
In the 50k:
All three top men went under the previous course record of 4:07:02! Justin Yates won (3:42:45), followed by Patrick Murphy (3:53:01) and Shane Ruljancich (4:01:57). For the women, our top three were Janet Lun (4:47:40), Alex Gillett (4:56:29), and Sherry Cote (4:58:46).
In the 50M:
Six of the top ten 50-mile times ever run at Sun Mountain were run this year, where veterans that ran smart races hung on: 4 of the top 6 finishers were masters. Bucking the trend was Ben Bucklin, this year's winner (6:29:43), followed by our top two masters, Oliver Utting (6:34:23) and Graeme Wilson (6:35:37). Our top women ran a similarly close race, where Rachel Bucklin nabbed the win (7:58:08), followed by Deb Russell (8:02:51), and Selina Danko (8:03:16).
Requisite finish-line high-fives. Photo by Glenn Tachiyama.
Obviously, this race wouldn't have happened without our many volunteers. If you helped out this weekend, thank you, thank you, thank you! We are indebted to you, and hope you'll come back to help out again (Or run! Or both!) next year. A big thank you as well to our fantastic sponsors and partners, highlighted here.
More about the Sun Mountain 50M/50k & 25k elsewhere on our website, and again, if you have a write-up of your own from this past weekend, we'd love to hear about it. Send us the link at info[at]rainshadowrunning[dot]com and we'll make sure it gets added to the website!
More about the Sun Mountain 50M/50k & 25k elsewhere on our website, and again, if you have a write-up of your own from this past weekend, we'd love to hear about it. Send us the link at info[at]rainshadowrunning[dot]com and we'll make sure it gets added to the website!
 The Pine Hearts played live all weekend long. Photo by Glenn Tachiyama. |  Finish line festivities + 7Hills. Photo by Glenn Tachiyama. |
Awesome pictures, ahoy!
If you'd like to purchase a high resolution photograph from any of this year's races, check out Glenn Tachiyama's official race photos from the 25k & Kids 1k, and 50m/50k, or Stephen Mitchell's images from the 25k.
Thanks for your support and enthusiasm in making Sun Mountain another successful Rainshadow weekend! We had a blast, and hope y'all did, too.
And don't forget: Beacon Rock 50k/25k [only 6 spots left!!], Angels Staircase 60k & 35k, Oregon Coast 50k/30k [now officially sold-out; email volunteer[at]rainshadowrunning[dot]com for volunteer opportunities!], and Deception Pass 50k & 25k are all upcoming races with fantastic courses and great, post-race parties in true Rainshadow fashion. Hope to see you at another Rainshadow event soon!
After all, Why run anywhere else?
If you'd like to purchase a high resolution photograph from any of this year's races, check out Glenn Tachiyama's official race photos from the 25k & Kids 1k, and 50m/50k, or Stephen Mitchell's images from the 25k.
Thanks for your support and enthusiasm in making Sun Mountain another successful Rainshadow weekend! We had a blast, and hope y'all did, too.
And don't forget: Beacon Rock 50k/25k [only 6 spots left!!], Angels Staircase 60k & 35k, Oregon Coast 50k/30k [now officially sold-out; email volunteer[at]rainshadowrunning[dot]com for volunteer opportunities!], and Deception Pass 50k & 25k are all upcoming races with fantastic courses and great, post-race parties in true Rainshadow fashion. Hope to see you at another Rainshadow event soon!
After all, Why run anywhere else?
Stunning vistas from the 50m/50k course. Photo by Glenn Tachiyama.
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