Texans at Hard Rock 100
Plus a big news roundup, including the capture of Kaitlin Armstrong.
Hello endurance athletes,
Time for another update during my sporadic summer of 2022 newsletter schedule. Things continue apace here, as work, life and training have eaten into the newsletter schedule. Not to worry, we’ll be back at full speed later this summer.
Let’s get right to it.
Hard Rock 100
While Western States Endurance Run is the longest-tenured active 100 in the U.S., the Hard Rock 100, set in Colorado’s San Juan mountains, is perhaps the most exclusive and difficult. With only 140 participants, an average elevation of 11,000 feet, and 33,197 feet of climbing over its 102.5 actual miles, it is not your typical race. Because the race swaps directions each year, there are records for both the clockwise and counter-clockwise results for the looped course.
This year, two living legends won the race, both setting new course records. American Courtney Dauwalter finished in 26:44:36. Stephanie Case, the second place woman, was over 7 hours behind her. Diane Finkel previously held the records for both directions, meaning she held the overall record (27:18:24, 2009) and the clockwise record (28:32, 2010). Courtney now owns both, but she’ll have to come back next year to get the counter-clockwise record. For the men, Spaniard via Norway, Kilian Jornet took the win and the record topping last year’s winner and record holder, Francois D’Haene in 21:36:34 for his fifth win in five HR100s, besting D’Haene’s overall record from last year (21:45:50) and the former clockwise record that Jornet himself held 22:41:33 from 2014.
Moving on to how the Texan crowd performed at the race, Austin’s Steven Moore almost cracked the top 10 males, coming in 11th, about an hour and 15 minutes behind Barkley Marathons finisher John Kelly who took tenth. Moore’s time was 32:42:16. Moore is 54-years-old, very impressive. As a fellow 54-year-old I’m amazed. IRunFar profiled Moore in 2020 as part of their “Age-Old Runners” series. Read it here.
The top Texas woman, and second overall Texan was Lise Plantier, 42, also from Austin. She was 16th among women in 43:30:06. Plantier, a native of France, was profiled about HR100 on the Trail Roots web site. Read that here.
The rest of the Texan participants
John Sharp, M44, Selma, 44:17:35 Sharp ran the Texas Independence Relay solo in 2014
Pompilio Romero, M51, Waco, 45:13:38
Brian Ricketts, M44, San Antonio, Dropped 71.7M (Sherman) Ricketts is the head track coach at Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio.
Gary Horn, M65, Kingwood, Dropped 57.9M (Animas Forks)
Tyler Curiel, M66, San Antonio, Dropped 43.9M (Ouray) Dr. Tyler Curiel, M.D., M.P.H., professor, Daisy M. Skinner President’s Chair in Cancer Immunology, was profiled by the Texas Tribune about his research here.
News roundup
The big news from the last couple of weeks was the capture of Kaitlin Armstrong in the Austin murder of pro cyclist Moriah Wilson. Armstrong had been hiding in Costa Rica where she had changed her appearance and begun working at Don Jon’s Lodge yoga studio, where she was ultimately arrested.
Here’s more information on her time in Costa Rica and how she was captured.
While in Costa Rica, she had a brief relationship with Teal Akerson, a local surf instructor and mushroom enthusiast. Akerson suggested that Armstrong may have had cosmetic surgery.
Lots more coming on this story, to be sure.
Rubik’s Cube genius finishes first in elite TriWaco triathlon
The Tri Waco competitor from Arizona who drew out fans a day before the competition even started as a world record holder for solving Rubik’s cube challenges went home the overall winner of the Elite Olympic distance triathlon.
Simon Shi, 24, was a fan favorite to win but ended up crushing his personal record by nine minutes, finishing the 1,500-meter swim in the Brazos, 25-mile bike ride and 6.2 mile run in one hour and 53 minutes. The second-place finisher was 8 minutes behind that. Read and watch more here
Cyclist with a cause passes through Laredo
One cyclist with a mission passed through the Gateway City this week as she entered the leg of her journey in the United States that started in northern Mexico and will end in Chicago, Illinois.
Ana Guajardo is the co-founder and member of the Centro de Trabajadores Unidos, or Center for United Workers, in southeastern Chicago. She decided to go on a more than 2,503-kilometer journey, or approximately 1,555 miles, from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon to Illinois to raise awareness of her organization and cause, as they are currently constructing their first-ever building in the city that offers help to migrants and minorities. Her first stop in the U.S. was in the Gateway City. Read more here
Ghost bikes in Austin
Rhodney Williams is a retired school teacher with a passion for helping others in Central Texas.
He’s an active volunteer with the Austin Ghost Bike Project, a volunteer-based group that places and maintains white bikes to memorialize cyclist who were fatally struck on the roadways.
“It always puts me in a solemn mood, like you’re about to walk up to something that represents the death of someone,” said Williams. Read more here
Payson McElveen’s single-track mind – how the pro cyclist stays active
You could say that Texas-born Payson McElveen has a bit of a one-track mind when it comes to staying active. But the versatility he shows in his sport more than makes up for it. The thing that each discipline he participates in has in common is that it’s all cycling based endurance. Read more here
Bike MS: Cactus and Crude Sets Off for Lubbock
Riders from across West Texas set off early Saturday morning to take part in the National Multiple Slerosis Society’s two-day 150 mile fundraiser ride, the Bike MS: Cactus and Crude Ride. Approximately 100 riders took part in the Saturday morning event, which according to the National Multiple Slerosis Society’s website, raised $222,863 for the West Texas leg of the nationwide event that draws nearly 75,000 cyclists and 6,000 teams annually. Riders spend Saturday night in Lamesa before setting off early the next morning to finish the trek to Lubbock. Read more here
Plano cyclist says too many drivers ignore red lights
An avid cyclist who's had close calls at this trail says it's only a matter of time before someone is injured or worse. Watch video report here
Friend of cyclist who was hit, killed in hit-and-run offering $50K to find driver responsible
Keith Culver was killed after being hit by a driver while he was cycling. The driver fled the scene and now his friend wants justice to be served. Watch the video report here
Breakaway Brewing spinning new beer, biking concept for San Antonio's Government Hill
Bikes and brews will share a lane this fall when Breakaway Brewing opens in Government Hill. The upcoming themed brewery will raise a toast to the love of cycling and craft beer. Read more here
Volunteers work through East Texas heat to maintain Whitehouse trails for hikers, cyclists
What was once a storage area for the city of Whitehouse has been rebuilt into a hiking and biking trail.
The heat couldn’t keep volunteers away from working on projects that aimed to keep the Blackhawk Creek Trail maintained. Justin Brown is one of the trail stewards and said it’s close to three miles, for both hikers and cyclists.
“We’re doing trimming, most of the trail just needs to be trimmed. Then we’re also going back in and kind of putting some wood in certain spots where we’re going to build either small bridges, little walking paths,” Brown said. “Then we’re also building berms, if you wanna say, for the bikes to be able to get through and it’s not as off camber.” Read more here
Kids Stay Cool Under Competition at ‘Tri My Best Triathlon' in Fort Worth
Dozens of kids competed in the "Tri My Best Triathlon" in Fort Worth Saturday, which was held virtually for the past two years.
It was hosted by Cook Children's Rehabilitation Services and the Fort Worth Fire Department.
The kids competing at the Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex have already overcome some of life’s biggest challenges. Watch the video report here
San Antonio cyclists share their favorite trails in, around the city
When it comes to being outside, many are trying to avoid it thanks to the Texas heat. However, cycling has its perks and you can create your own breeze while still enjoying the outdoors.
In San Antonio, I asked some cyclists in Facebook groups where they like to bike in San Antonio. It can be for shade, scenery, or a challenge. Below are their responses: Read more here
Meme of the Week
Featured Events
TriWaco Triathlon | Sprint, Olympic triathlons, relays | Waco | July 10
Cypress Tris & Trails Fest | Tris, trail runs, MTB, youth and doggie splash and dash | Cypress | July 23-24, 30
Blazin’ Saddle 75 | 75M, 100K, 40M, 20M ride | Granbury | August 6
WRATH 24/48 Texas Endurance Runs | 24 / 48 Hour timed run | Forth Worth | August 12-14
Habanero Hundred | 100M, 100K, 50K, 30K, 20K, 10K and relay | 7IL Ranch | August 20-21
Hotter’N Hell 100 | 100M ride, crits, gravel, MTB, more | Wichita Falls | August 26-29
Rock Dallas Triathlon | Olympic Tri | Flower Mound | September 10
El Camino 205 | Gravel grinder, multiple distances, from 35 to 108 both days | Palestine | Sept. 24-25
Texas City Tri | Sprint tri, Du, Aqua-Bike | Texas City | October 1
Snapping Tortuga | 5K, 2.5K and 1,250M OWS | Lake Conroe | October 1
The Trailway Trail Race | 26.2, 13.1, 10K, 5K, kids run | Lake Somerville State Park | Oct 7-8
Ironman Waco | Full Ironman triathlon | Waco | October 15
Ironman 70.3 Waco | 70.3 Ironman triathlon | Waco | October 16
Oilman | 70.3 triathlon | Conroe | November
Odyssey SwimRun Austin | Long and short course swimrun | Pace Bend Park | November
Get Out There
One of my favorite bikepacking content creators reads some Baudelaire. I highly recommend Jethro Jessop’s channel for good advice, philosophy and verse. Plus he has excellent taste in bikes.