Locals set for Tahoe Rim Trail run

Nearly 400 runners, including several local area runners, are entered in the Tahoe Rim Trail 50K/50-Mile/100-Mile Endurance Run Saturday at Spooner Lake.

The list of participants includes Carson City's George Ruiz, Steve Roark and Silver Springs resident Grae Van Hooser in the 100-mile race, along with Lisa Schuette of Carson City in the 50-mile race. Stan Heinrichs, Donald Freeman and Leslie Wunder of Carson City, along with Washoe Valley resident Cheryl Surface are entered in the 50K. Kat Wiechert of Gardnerville is entered in the 50K race and Kati Bell of Markleeville is entered in the 100-mile race.

The event's inaugural 100-mile race will start at 5 a.m., while the 50K and 50-mile races start at 6. The 50K race is also serving as the Road Runners Club of America 50K National Championship.

This marks the fifth running of the Tahoe Rim Trail event (the 2004 event was canceled due to a wildfire). This year's event has attracted a total of 381 runners, including entries from New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, Canada and Mexico.

Runners of all ages have entered the event - three are in their 70s, the oldest Dan Baglione, 75, of Foresthill, Calif. - and the youngest is 18-year-old Benjamin Muradyan from Citrus Heights, Calif.

It's a challenging event, as can be seen from the start/finish at Spooner Lake State Park, located at just over 7,000 feet. The highest point in the course is 9,000 feet, north of the Snow Valley Peak Aid Station. The elevation of Snow Valley Peak is 9,214 feet.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Tahoe Rim Trail Association trail maintenance program and the Lake Tahoe Nevada State Parks backcountry mountain bike safety patrol. The event is presented by the Tahoe Mountain Milers and Carson City-based Sagebrush Stompers.