Ten....More....Miles! Challenge

Similar to the One....More....Mile! Challenge that ran through the month of November and was won by Erik Barr of El Paso, TX, Mike Keller is putting on the Ten....More. ...Miles! Challenge.

The Premise: Each month in 2009 you have to increase your long run by 10 miles to stay in the challenge, starting with 10 miles in January. Runs done and posted by midnight (local) of the last day of the month.

The Entry: $10. All proceeds to charity, split (50/50) the same as the One Mile Challenge between the race decided charity and the winner's charity of choice. The One....More....Mile! Challenge winner also received a small prize package from Vertical Runner.

The Entrants: So far Don Baun, Ted Niemann, and Jeff Genova. How about we get some NEO Trail members to sign up (and win it for the club!!)? If you want an entry form just email Mike Keller at mailto:ultragomer@gmail..

New DVD - "The Distance of Truth"

The Badwater Ultramarathon and its participants is the focus of a new documentary on DVD called The Distance of Truth. Ferg Hawke is one of the runners featured in the amazing story. Ferg had been the runner-up in the 135-mile run across Death Valley and returned the year the documentary was filmed to see if he could claim the top spot.

Click Here to listen to a podcast featuring Ferg Hawke as he talks about the film, the race, and what makes people endure such an extreme event.

"The Distance of Truth" can be purchased at www.thedistanceoftruth.com

175 Mile Ragnar Relay

A new event will take place next May in the New York region, from Woodstock to the Bronx. Click here to visit the event website for more details.

One More Mile Challenge Wrap-Up

On November 1st, nine runners embarked on a charitable journey to give a little back to the world in the One.....More.....Mile! Challenge. Organized by NEO Trail member Mike Keller, the Challenge was a fairly simple (yet grueling) exercise of adding one more mile to the daily run each day until the last runner quit. So on Nov. 1 they all ran 1 mile, the 2nd - 2 miles and so on. With runners entered from 5 different states they pressed on day after day until they started dropping out.

With 9 runners and an entry fee of 20 dollars (all money to charity) they had raised 180 dollars. This was then augmented by a donation from Mohican Don Baun to 200 and then Mike and Josh Dillingham threw down the gauntlet that if anyone could make it out of November and make it an ultra, they would double the pot.

On November 29, two runners were still going, Ted Niemann of Columbus, OH and Erik Barr of El Paso, TX. Ted succumbed to shin splints on day 29 and Erik completed day 30, meaning he could pack it in, OR go for day 31 and double the charity pot. He made the ultra day and 400 dollars was split between two charities - Mercy Ministries of Fenton, MO and NAMI Hawaii. Ted was even interviewed by the Columbus NBC affiliate of Channel 4 and made it on the evening news. Erik also received a prize package supplied by the events sponsor Vertical Runner. This challenge will be run every November as long as there is interest and participation.

URINEO FA 50

The 3rd Annual URINEO FA 50 Miler took place today in Mill Creek Park (Youngstown, Ohio). This fun run, organized by the NEO Trail Club, starts at the Lily Pond parking lot and is run on an 8.3 mile loop that is primarily all trail. Click here for more info.

18 total runners showed up today, including the following NEO Trail members - Jim Harris, Frank Dwyer, Bob Combs, Eric Deutsch, Greg Murray, Brian Musick, Jeff Musick, Joe Novicky, Kim Love-Ottobre, Rich Vrboncic, Dave Peterman, Lloyd Thomas, and Bruce McIntosh.

MMT Lottery

Yesterday at 4:00 pm the 2009 MMT 100 lottery took place. NEO Trail members that were chosen to participate in next year's event are Roy Heger, Paul Lefelhocz, Brian Musick, and Lloyd Thomas. Those on the waitlist are Bob Combs, Bill Losey, and Dave Peterman.

Matt Carpenter wins North Face Challenge

Matt Carpenter, one of the best trail runners ever and still running strong at age 44, showed up yesterday at the North Face Challenge 50 mile championship in San Francisco and was able to hold off last year's winner, Uli Steidl, to win the top prize of $10,000 with a time of 6:49:36. Click here for complete results.

6th Annual Tecumseh Trail Marathon Race

This past Saturday, Nick Billock completed the 26.2 mile Tecumseh Trail Race in Yellowwood State Forest in Bloomington, IN. The course provides a scenic and challenging route in Morgan-Monroe and Yellowwood State Forests. A major portion of the Tecumseh Trail is used for the race with surfaces including wide fire roads, gravel, dirt, and paved roads with a total elevation gain of approximately 3500'. This was Nick's 23rd marathon finishing in 4hrs, 28 mins.

Nick's Race Report - Tecumseh Trail Marathon Home Page

MMT Entry Open

The Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 Mile Run entry process is now open. You will have a week to apply for the MMT lottery as of 8:20 Monday morning. There is no need to be the first to apply, but don't put it off and miss the boat. A few NEO Trail members have already signed up for the race.

MMT Entry Page - Applicants List - MMT Home Page