The 7th Year Anniversary Guana River 50K Trail Run and Relay
The 7th running of the Guana River 50K Trail Run took place Saturday, March 28 with the runners hitting the trails at 7:30 AM. Despite the returns you may have seen lately in your 401K a solid number of the trail runners ventured out to the GTM Reserve resulting in a record number of folks completing the event. If you did not know. The GTM Reserve is the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve. The staff’s mission is to oversee the conservation and maintenance of one of the South East’, best kept secrets. I might add the staff does a superb job supporting this event and hopefully we can all look forward to their continued support in the future.
The GTM Reserve might be a secret to many but the word is getting out through the trail runner community about JTC’s Guana River 50km Trail Run, and the wonderful trail systems that help make this event a success. This year the event had 88 registered runners representing 5 states and Sweden with 82 trail runners crossing the finish line.
The early spring weather was almost perfect. Starting temperature about 61 degrees which quickly rose to a warm 78 degrees by mid-afternoon. These conditions along with a cool steady ocean breeze kept everyone comfortable and, at least in the beginning ready to run.
The trail run began promptly at 7:30 AM with the runners heading up Shell Bluff Road and then disappearing into the Guana Loop trail for an out and back into the WMA before looping the outer most Guana trails(“A Hatten route”). The chase pack would trail Joe Ninke from Sebastian all day with Chris Roman and Rick Burleson leading the charge. The female front group was local El Guapo favorite - Britta Fortson, followed by Jen Davis from Princeton, NJ and Jennifer Joy making a rare Florida trail showing. The remaining groups of trail runners eased through the trails at a more comfortable pace with some taking time to observe and photograph the reserves natural beauty or enjoy long breaks at the trailhead chatting it up with friends before heading back out to the trails.
As the hours rolled by, the runners adapted their styles, adjusted their goals, and continued their happy pursuit of the trails looking to notch another successful day in the great outdoors. Joe Ninke took the overall win for the men with a time of 4:24:41 followed by Chris Roman and Rick Burleson. To the roaring approval of the El Guapo supporters Britta Fortson set a female course record with a time of 4:33:50 followed by Jen Davis and Jennifer Joy to wrap up the top spots in the open competition. Also taking place was an exciting dual in the men’s relay between Todd Neville and Chris Calkins challenging Paul McRae teamed with Frederik Swahn who ran couple of 49 minute trail loops but was not enough to over take Todd and Chris’s effort which resulted in a men’s relay record of 3:26:42.
By about 3:30 PM the fantastic Bono’s Bar-B-Q and Hammer Nutrition products had been consumed. The terrific Black Creek Outfitters and The North Face trail shoes winners package had been awarded along with the cool Patagonia active wear runner up awards.
As we’re limited to space and my somewhat abbreviated ramble tends go on and on like some said the trails did, I’ll wrap up here. See results in this issue of “The Starting Line” or online. Special tribute goes to the diligence of the timing crew, the dedication of the trail sweepers and volunteers with special thanks to Joe Butler and Michele Vieira at Black Creek Outfitters, David Buntin of The North Face, Jay Decker with Patagonia and Craig Anderson owner of Merrill Road Bono’s for their sponsorship contributions to this event.
Again, thanks to all the trail runners, sponsors and volunteers who made the 7th running of the Guana River 50 km Trail Run & Relay a superb event. Mark your 2010 calendar next year for the 3rd or 4th weekend in March. I look forward to seeing you then.
Happy Trails Pictures
R.D. Bill Dunn
