Skaden defends Tahoe Rim Trail 100-mile title

Moments after the race, Eric (Skaden) appeared in a trance while sitting in the first aid tent sipping coffee and fending off cramps. His happiness was apparent, however, in conversation describing his race.

He said he'd come into the race not expecting to win after running Western States 100 Mile less than a month ago and he didn't feel as if he'd completely recovered.

While never feeling smooth or comfortable during the race, his race plan was "just don't drop out," figuring his fitness was still adequate but also that the tough course and conditions might hurt the other competitors and raise the attrition rate (which turned out to be near 50 percent) and work to his advantage.

After finding himself in sixth place at 20 miles, Eric moved to third by 25 miles and finally into the lead at 43 miles. He cruised into and out of the Spooner Lake aid station (the halfway point) looking smooth and relaxed.

However, he apparently hid the distress he was really feeling as he threw up repeatedly between 50 miles and Hobart aid station (56 miles). But after reaching the 75-mile aid station at Mount Rose, he settled down and his system stabilized and he finally "got the hang of it," allowing him to run hard to the finish.

Eric was a bit surprised because he doesn't consider himself a "heat runner," (the temperature may have reached 100 degrees in places) but he handled the conditions well enough to triumph.

First-time 100-miler Bree Lambert seems to have picked up on the trade quickly, as she bested the next closest woman by just over 30 minutes.

Bree is no stranger to top quality competition, having won the 2007 Quicksilver 50-Mile and finishing second in 2008, finishing second in the 2008 Tahoe Rim Trail 50-Mile, and winning the 2008 Road Runners Club of America 50K Trail Championships, where she was both overall and masters champion. She was also fifth at the 2008 TNF 50 Mile Championship.

After Race Director Dave Cotter spoke at the pre-race briefing on Friday afternoon about the forecast for extreme heat on Saturday, Lambert took his advice and slightly altered her race strategy.

She adjusted her goal pace slightly, being sure to emphasize hydration and fuel and electrolytes.

While eating and drinking in the extreme heat was rough on her stomach, causing some nausea during the hottest portion of the day, she slowed her eating schedule slightly from 50 to 61 miles. As the temperature began to drop, she was able to restart her regular food and fuel intake and "get back in the game."

Cotter was pleased with the race results.

"It was impressive that so many first timers finished so well," he said.

His lament was that there was a near 50-percent dropout rate, as the unusually high temperatures and deceptively hard course took its toll on a huge chunk of the field.

Sharing Cotter's enthusiasm for the event was Assistant Race Director George Ruiz, who said, "This race is challenging across the board for both veterans and beginners alike. All competitors should be proud to have given it their best competing in such a great challenging event."

Rounding out the USATF National Championship competition on the men's side were Robert Evans (Pollock Pines, Calif.), second in 20:45:54, and Brett Rivers (San Francisco), third in 20:50:40. Following Lambert's lead in the women's competition were closely spaced Michele Jensen (Littleton, Calif.), in second 24:14:34, and Roxanne Woodhouse (Weaverville, Calif.), in third 24:14:39.

Winning the men's and women's masters divisions were Robert Evans and Lambert.

Tom Wion of Carson City completed his inaugural 100-miler in 31:03.3, putting him in 41st place.

PLACE NAME TIME AGE SEX

1 Skaden, Erik 20:27.0 37 M

2 Evans, Robert 20:46.5 43 M

3 Rivers, Brett 20:50.4 28 M

4 Torrence, Ian 22:02.5 36 M

5 Couteau, Pierre-Yves 22:12.6 43 M

6 Shebest, Bob 22:44.1 35 M

7 Sarnquist, Bret 23:08.2 30 M

8 Lang, Sean 23:17.4 27 M

9 Doar, Ben 23:25.6 24 M

10 Crew, Benjamin 23:28.6 28 M

11 VanDeWater, Joe 23:30.1 41 M

12 Rogers, Jeffery 23:39.2 47 M

13 Lambert, Bree 23:42.2 41 F

14 Landman, Zachary 23:42.2 22 M

15 Jensen, Michele 24:14.3 38 F

16 Woodhouse, Roxanne 24:14.4 46 F

17 Solis, Adelaido 25:12.4 40 M

18 Crockett,Davy 25:43.5 50 M

19 Sinclair, Jamie 25:59.5 54 M

20 Swenson, Joseph 26:24.3 53 M

21 Ochs, Monica 27:01.1 40 F

22 Resinski, Murray 27:04.0 38 M

23 Bloom, Jerry 28:16.6 56 M

24 Holmes, Gregory 28:17.2 46 M

25 Garcia-Denson, Daniel 28:22.2 40 M

26 Hankins, Kean 28:24.5 43 M

27 Abramowitz, Fred 28:24.6 57 M

28 Jensen, Karl 28:33.1 59 M

29 McCarthy, Ted 564 28:59.6 24 M

30 Santos, Rick 29:09.4 45 M

31 Fancett, Kenneth 29:11.4 59 M

32 Dobrowalski, Jay 29:22.5 30 M

33 Blakney, Charles 29:30.3 46 M

34 Barichievich, Mark 29:40.3 45 M

35 Smith, Mike 29:43.0 51 M

36 Carboni, Grant 29:46.5 38 M

37 Elkerton, Jay 30:10.1 51 M

38 Fairbanks, Chet 30:38.1 36 M

39 Skaggs, James 30:46.4 50M

40 Magill, Jim 30:54.5 62 M

41 Wion, Tom 31:03.3 28 M

42 Waters, Christopher 31:41.6 30 M

43 Jones, Jeff 31:46.5 55 M 44

Sims, Natalie 31:46.5 35 F

45 Zarnetske, Meghan 31:49.6 28 F

46 White, Rich 31:49.6 28 M

47 Gifford, Adam 31:49.6 35 M

48 Hargett, John 31:51.4 52 M

49 Machray, John 32:28.5 56 M

50 Carboni, Leslie 32:31.5 35 F

51 O'Neil, Jimmie 32:33.4 39 M

52 Beiber, David 32:36.3 50 M

53 Miller, Brian 32:38.2 31 M

54 DeGregory, John 32:44.5 40 M

55 White, Nick 32:49.0 27 M

56 Boyd, Andy 33:09.5 67 M

57 Wrinkle, Allen 33:18.2 44 M

58 Corbett, Catra 33:31.4 44 F

59 Kumeda, Andy 33:31.4 41 M

60 Richie, Joe 33:43.5 30 M

61 Goodwin, Paul 33:59.5 29 M

62 Barbeau, Gilles 34:00.4 53 M

63 Stoute, Luis 34:07.4 49 M

34 Thernka, Karen 34:11.1 41 F

For complete results, go to tahoemtnmilers.org.