Local runners set records at Collegiate Peaks

Take three of four distance titles

It’s that time of year once again as the local endurance runners regroup from winter, lace up the shoes and hit the trails. The endurance trail running race season, at least for the Gunnison Valley contingent, typically opens with the Collegiate Peaks Trail Run (CPTR) in Buena Vista.
The CPTR gives competitors two options: a 25-mile and a 50-mile course that mix in jeep roads and single track and has close to 3,000 feet of vertical relief over the 25 miles.
Oftentimes, the local contingent uses the CPTR as an opening barometer for their training regimen the remainder of the summer as they prepare for other trail runs and ultra marathons, including the Hard Rock and Leadville 100s.
On Saturday, April 28 three Crested Butte runners, Stevie Kremer, Marshall Thomson and Josh Arthur, set the season-opening bar high, winning their respective races and all setting new course records at the 2012 CPTR. Crested Butte runners Ben Dunn and Mary Mahoney had strong races as well. Dunn finished sixth in the 50-mile race and Mahoney placed eighth in the 25-mile race.
Kremer is no stranger to the trail running circuit with numerous top-three finishes and titles to her name, but the first one of any season is always a bit of a mystery.
“I always get nervous before a race,” admits Kremer.
Fortunately, thanks to the mild winter, Kremer put in plenty of miles running as well as uphill skiing.
“I ran all winter long,” says Kremer. “It was a great winter for running, and uphill skiing, which really helps with the climbs.”
Kremer settled into second place overall from the start, first among all women, and cruised to the women’s 25-mile title.
She completed the course in a time of 3:03:27, setting a new women’s record by 21 minutes, previously held by Keri Nelson. It was a time fast enough to place her second overall.
“I saw the course record was 3:24 so I had that in mind but I did not expect to beat it,” says Kremer. “For the most part I felt pretty good and by the end I felt great.”
Arthur, who recently opened a running specific store in town called Run CB, was a collegiate scholarship athlete for both track and field and cross-country but didn’t jump into the trail running realm until last summer.
He closed the 2011 season with a 50-mile race last fall and then opened the 2012 season with the 25-mile CPTR in Buena Vista.
Despite the fact that it was his first race of the season, Arthur set his eyes on the prize heading into the CPTR.
“I wanted to go out and try to run close to the course record,” says Arthur.
Arthur kicked out into the lead from the start and never saw another runner the entire time, finishing the course in a time of 2:48.09, breaking both the “old course” and “new course” records.
Breaking the “old course” record, set by renowned ultra trail runner Dave Mackey, was especially nice for Arthur.
“It made me feel good to beat that,” says Arthur.
Furthermore, Arthur got just what he wanted out of the run itself.
“It’s a fast course and I wanted to get a good test and a hard workout as well,” says Arthur. “My legs got totally beat up so I’m happy about that.”
Thomson cut his teeth on the trail racing circuit for the first time last summer and ran his first 50-miler in Moab last October, where he tied for the win with Pat O’Neill.
He opened the 2012 running season with a bang, winning a 15-mile Xterra race in Colorado Springs and beating a field flush with seasoned talent.
Thomson came into the CPTR with a goal of running the course in under seven hours but fell victim to an upset stomach.
Thomson suffered for the first 25 miles though as he struggled with a stomach bug that had been bothering him the days leading up to the race.
“It started off pretty miserable,” says Thomson. “I had a wicked stomach ache—I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to finish.”
Nevertheless, Thomson used Kremer as a pacer for the first 25 miles to help drag him through until the halfway point, where a quick break turned his day around.
“I took a bathroom break and after the bathroom break I felt like a million bucks,” says Thomson.
 Thomson headed back out for the next 25 miles, unclear of his pace or where he closest competition was.
“I don’t wear a watch so I had no idea what my time was,” says Thomson. “I just kept plugging away. I knew that no one was extremely close.”
Thomson came into the final aid station with five miles left to go and one of the volunteers gave him an update on his time.
“The station guy said, ‘Keep it up, you could beat the record,’” explains Thomson. “I couldn’t decide if the guy was crazy or just being supportive.”
It turns out the “station guy” was being supportive, as Thomson finished with the win in 6:35:28, breaking the course record.
“I felt pretty good,” says Thomson. “I think I could have done better. I was pretty surprised when they told me what my time was.”
All three runners will continue on the trail running circuit, hoping to build off the early season success.
Arthur will head east to run a trail marathon in New York, compete in the San Juan Solstice 50 and peak with the Cascade Crest 100-mile race in August.
Kremer looks to up the ante this summer. She will make a point of competing in certain races that attract some of the top runners from around the nation.
“I’m so excited for the trail running season and hope to continue to do well,” says Kremer. “The truth of it is, I just love trail running.”
Thomson will continue on the Xterra circuit as well as running in the Black Canyon Ascent, “that’s just a quick six-mile punishment uphill,” and the Mt. Evans Ascent. While he admits making the jump to the 100-miler has crossed his mind, he has no specific plans to make the move.
“I’d like to do one and check it out but it’s a long day,” says Thomson. “With the 50-mile race you still have some day left, can hang out, party and have a beer.”