Swain Mountain. The mere mention of the name has been known to send even seasoned racers into throes of terror and delayed-onset muscle soreness. Although relatively short at only 6.5 miles, this race manages to pack more elevation gain than the rest of the USATF races combined, by a long shot. Usually, only the very brave or blissfully ignorant participate in this race. I myself have always been far too cowardly to even attempt it (although my wife Ashlie tells me it’s a very well-done event and has done it several times).
This year, we knew we had to show up in force to keep our places in the series standings. Showing that RKR is no team of cowards (except me), we fielded four full teams, and came away with points for all! In no particular order, here are how the teams fared:
Open Women: 1st (14 points)
Open Men: 2nd (9 points)
Masters Men : 2nd (9 points)
Masters Women: 3rd (5 points)
Believe me, you all have my respect and admiration. Just having watched this race, I have an inkling of how brutally tough it can be, and we still found 20+ racers willing to tackle it in the name of team spirit and competition. You all rock, and I am proud to be on a team that doesn’t shy away from challenges like this!
Check out these highlights from the race, and visit Goat Factory Media for more great shots!
