Runners at 13th Annual Stark Mountain Hill Climb battle nature
Mother Nature tried her best to stop the running of the 13th Annual Stark Mountain Hill Climb held on October 1, 2011, at Mad River Glen, Fayston, Vermont. The event is sponsored by the Stark Mountain Foundation and was a fundraiser this year for the Green Mountain Club's trail work on the Stark Mountain section of the Long Trail. Runners had the option of also competing in the Allen Clark Hill Climb (bike) the following day, which raised funds for Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports. Competitors in both events qualified for duathlete awards.
The event is a one-mile vertical clim to the summit of Stark Mountain. Runners choose their route. This year the wind howled, the rain pelted, temperatures dropped below freezing at the summit, and for the first time the chairlift had to be closed down because of extreme wind gusts. Consequently, the runners were not able to take advantage of a ride down Mad River's historic single chair after their summit bids. Instead, they had to walk or run back to the base. Mad River Ski Patrol came to the rescue and motored clothing to the summit for the runners to wear on their return. Of 29 starters, 26 finished, all reaching the summit in under one hour, despite the weather and slippery conditions.
Both the male and female defending champions returned, as well as the women's current course record holder, Audrey Huffman of Waitsfield, along with Harriott Shea of East Montpelier, who held the women's women record for years before Huffman stole it in 2010 with a time of 29:40:35.
The women's competition was sizzling. Four women placed in the top 10 overall. Huffman and Shea were just one minute apart with last year's second place winner, Laurie Greenberg of Warren, breathing down their necks. Huffman and men's repeat winner Terry Kellogg proceeded to compete in the Allen Clark Hill Climb the next day to defend their titles as top duathletes. Kellogg's winning run time was 28:20.06 and duathlon time was 56:53.00. Huffman's run time of 31:32.48 and duathlon time of 1:03:48.68 placed her third overall amongst five duathlon finishers. The duathlon finishers included Kellogg, Huffman, Patrick Campbell (2nd), Jon Jamieson (4th), and John Himmelsbach (5th).
Awards also went to Mark Smith of Williston, Vermont, as first male Senior, Jon Jamieson of Waitsfield as first male Master, Laura Farrell of Stowe as first female Senior and Alan Villemaire of Windham, NH, for first male Veteran (over 70). Full results are posted here and at www.coolrunning.com, or contact race director Dot Helling, ultradot@myfairpoint.net.
Next year's tentative date for the 14th Annual Stark Mountain Hill Climb is October 6, 2012. Mark your calendars!!
Dot Helling, October 3, 2011.