Never Summer 2016 Post Race Wrap

Moon above Lake Agnes. (Photo: Erin Bibeau)

Congratulations to all runners who took on the second running of the Never Summer 100km. The goal of the event is to offer a challenging mountain adventure, connecting stunning mountain and lake vistas across a wide range of mountain terrain. And it sounds like adventure was had by all. Reports of bears, moose, and dive-bombing raptors were all overheard in the Gould Community Center post-race. This of course came in addition to the significant challenge of navigating the 64 mile tour of the rugged Never Summer and Medicine Bow Mountains.

Close up view of the Nokhu Crags from the Never Summer 100K course at Lake Agnes. (Photo: Erin Bibeau)

When it was all said and done, 192 of our 273 starters made it back to the Gould Community Center before the 5:30am cutoff – a 70% finisher rate. Of those, 24 joined the Sunset Club by making it home without the use of a headlamp (15.5 hours).

But no matter how far along the course you got, or indeed at what time you finished, we hope you enjoyed your experience in the beautiful mountains of Northern Colorado.

With this being just the second running of the event, many new overall and age group standards were set. In the men’s race, Gabe Joyes from Lander, WY took home top honors in a new course record time of 12:29:21. In an exciting finish, he was followed just a minute later by defending Wasatch 100 champion, Chris Schurk, who’d been nipping at Gabe’s heels from the start of the final climb. Rounding out the men’s podium was Jeff Mogavero (12:51:13), currently also calling Lander home.

Gabe Joyes at Lake Agnes on his way to the win. (Photo: Erin Bibeau)

Alyson Kirk coming off Montgomery Ridge on her way to defending.

In the women’s race, defending champion Alyson Kirk bettered her 2015 time to come home with a second Never Summer 100km title (15:46:43). As last year, Alyson (a peak-bagging dynamo) took control of the race heading up the steepest climb of the day on North Diamond Peak. Nederland resident Keira McMahaon (16:18:57) finished a strong second behind Alyson, and she was followed some 7 minutes later by the ageless Cindy Stonesmith (16:25:51).

We saw new records go down in not only the overall categories, but also many of the age groups. The master’s categories (40-49) were won by Elijah Flenner and Sandra Carpenter. As he did at Quad Rock earlier in the summer, Elijah set a new course record in the masters division, posting an impressive 13:16:47, while Sandra also built on her Quad Rock master’s-record-setting run from May with an impressive sub-17 hour finish (16:56:04). Although officially listed as a podium finisher in the overall standings, Keira McMahon’s time of 16:18:57 sets the new standard for the master’s age group.

In the grandmasters division (50+), it was Marianne Osteen who took home top honors in a time of 20:51:57. As in the master’s category it was podium finisher Cindy Stonesmith setting the new grandmaster’s mark (16:25:51). For the men, it came down to the wire, with Stephen Kukta (16:38:01) from Olympic Valley, CA running down Nebraska’s Todd Nott in the final two miles. Todd’s time and grandmaster’s record from 2015 (15:54:36) was the only mark to remain standing at the end of the day.

Cindy Stonesmith. Third overall and a new grandmaster’s CR. (Photo: Erin Bibeau)

Stephen Kukta on his way to the grandmaster’s win. (Photo: Erin Bibeau)

In recognition of the challenge that the course presents to all runners, we also award a Final Finisher award for the runner that shows the most dogged persistence in being out there the longest. And a new record was set in that division, with Eve Davies from Salt Lake City besting Lynn Hall’s 23:49:14 from 2015 by some four minutes (23:53:51).

Runners exit Lake Agnes down the Michigan Ditch drainage. (Photo: Erin Bibeau)

Results are available here, with full aid station splits on their way.

Bockman Aid Station (Photo: Eric Lee)

The volunteer support that we received for the event was – quite frankly – outstanding, and testimony to the special place the mountains of Northern Colorado hold in the hearts of the local outdoors community. Thanks to each and every one of you. And a special thank you to:

• The Northern Colorado Amateur Radio Club and their team of ham radio operators all of whom went above and beyond in ensuring that we had radio contact from every aid station on course, in addition to between medical and parks staff.
• The Diamond Peaks Ski Patrol for offering up a team of skilled volunteers with first responder training and an intimate knowledge of the Never Summer and Medicine Bow Mountains.
• State Forest State Park (SFSP) and their incredible staff of park rangers. We have received nothing but enthusiasm from SFSP in the years of planning and executing this event, and their welcome and professionalism on race weekend was second to none.
• The Fort Collins Trail Runners. Though completely informal in affiliation, this group of trail running enthusiasts has been the backbone of the Gnar Runners operation from its inception. A continued Thank You to you all.
• Poudre Valley Hospital’s team of medical professionals for going above and beyond in coordinating our emergency medical plans.
• The Gould Community Association for their support and the use of the Gould Community Center.

And to our amazing sponsors, thank you!

Top tier support from:

Contributing support from:

Generous product support from:
VFuel, New Belgium, Mary’s Mountain Cookies, Julbo, Trader Joe’s, Ultimate Direction, Squirrel’s Nut Butter, RAD, and the Great Harvest Bread Company,

For more images from the day, please visit Erin Bibeau Photography. Digital images are available for download starting at 99 cents and print options are available too.

We look forward to seeing you again in 2017 at the same place and approximately the same time. Or even better, we’d love to see you later in the summer at one of our shorter events. On September 10 we’ll be hosting the fourth running of the Black Squirrel Half Marathon in Lory State Park, followed October 2 by the ninth running of the Blue Sky Marathon, Fort Collins original and only Trail Marathon.

Thank you all!

A runner takes a short break at Clear Lake. (Photo: Jessie Wiburn) Bockman Aid Station at night. (Photo: Eric Lee)