thedrifter
10-14-07, 09:01 AM
Mud? Rain? A perfect day for this race
BY SHELLIE BRANCO, Californian staff writer
e-mail: sbranco@bakersfield.com | Saturday, Oct 13 2007 8:40 PM
Last Updated: Saturday, Oct 13 2007 9:30 PM
Why, oh, why would people subject themselves to this?
"For the mud of it," replied Volkslauf's Sheena Crider.
In clear view of Lerdo Jail, ripped manly men and stick-thin teenagers blasted through mud pits on a cold, rainy Saturday that laughed at the idea of Indian summer. If you wanted a hot cup of coffee and a plush armchair, this was not for you.
As the Marines or Volkslauf coordinators might say, "If you don't like it, smile anyway."
Pain is good, they'll tell you, and more than 1,800 participants in the grueling 11th annual Volkslauf mud run had to be ready for the burn. The obstacle race raises money for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots.
Crider, the event's registration coordinator, said Volkslauf has raised more than $100,000 in its first 10 years.
Runners could choose the 10K or 5K. There are some 70 obstacles that require crawling, climbing or just plain hurtling the body through the mud.
Giovani Perezchica of McFarland won the 10K men's race for the third year in a row. A 24-year-old runner for Cal State Bakersfield and Bakersfield College, he trains year-round for these kinds of races.
"When you have to go in the water, it feels suffocating," he said. " ... When you first go in, you're already tired, you lose your breath."
Those mud pits were popular with onlookers. Andy Rowe and Marshall Pihl got a preview of their fate as runners slogged through dirty water and threw themselves over a wall.
The engineers came from San Luis Obispo to race in the 5K with their company team, Cannon Associates. Their race hadn't started yet.
It was 26-year-old Rowe's first time tearing through such a course.
Scared?
"No," he said with a laugh. "Just tired, that's all."
Pihl, 48, showed more bravado.
"Bring it on," he said.
5K Female
Overall winner: Colleen Nathaus
12-19 age group
1. Mia Anderson
2. MacKenzie Morrison
3. Deborah Salcido
20-29
1. Lisbeth Sanchez
2. Allison Mackenzie
3. Christiane Toledo
30-39
1. Colleen Nathaus
2. Deanna Williams
3. Tami Calderwood
40-49
1. Damon Lykins
2. Pamela Hoyer
3. Patricia Corrigan
50-59
1. Melissa Grahek
2. Louanna Banducci
3. Debbie Brown
5K Male
Overall winner: Mark Phillips
12-19
1. Conner Fisher
2. Shane O’Malley
3. Ethan McEnroe
20-29
1. Ryan Boehning
2. Monte Myers
3. Damon Wilstead
30-39
1. Scott Humr
2. Casey Bishop
3. Grant Sackewitz
40-49
1. Mark Phillips
2. Rodney Lewis
3. Zef Medina
50-59
1. Larry Boydstun
2. Daniel Vauhn
3. Tom Diaz
60-over
1. Allen Butts
2. Ed Hall
3. Leaonard Villaneva
10K Individual Male
1. Giovani Perezchica
2. Fernando Mendoza
3. Shogo Osawa
10K Individual Female
1. Valerie MacKenzie
2. Brittany Grimes
3. Wendy Trochez
Team All Male
1. Javier Amaya team — Down and Dirty
Michael Pitts
William Bear
Juan Flores
2. Damacio Diaz team — Diaz Brothers
Gabriel Diaz
David Diaz
Diego Diaz
3. James Pederson team — Dirty Mambo
Cody Creviston
Guadalupe Molna
Rogelio Reyes
Team Mixed
1. Carol Ramirez team — Smog Bog Diving
Luis Gonzalez
Nestor Ramirez
Juan Alferes
2. Kristin Bucley team — Winning Colors
Kathy Coyers
Craig Gardner
Carl Aamont
3. Mark Witcher team — Tehachapi Mountain
Cory Witcher
Pat Ballard
Johnny Smith
Military
1. Bruce Allphin
Jeff Monroe
Charlie Peters
Jesse Salazar
2. Dave Winnacker
Alex Howard
Hank Weeke
Dave McElliott
3. Jason Mahill
Carlos Palacios
Mr. Saei
Fredy Rodriguez
Ellie
BY SHELLIE BRANCO, Californian staff writer
e-mail: sbranco@bakersfield.com | Saturday, Oct 13 2007 8:40 PM
Last Updated: Saturday, Oct 13 2007 9:30 PM
Why, oh, why would people subject themselves to this?
"For the mud of it," replied Volkslauf's Sheena Crider.
In clear view of Lerdo Jail, ripped manly men and stick-thin teenagers blasted through mud pits on a cold, rainy Saturday that laughed at the idea of Indian summer. If you wanted a hot cup of coffee and a plush armchair, this was not for you.
As the Marines or Volkslauf coordinators might say, "If you don't like it, smile anyway."
Pain is good, they'll tell you, and more than 1,800 participants in the grueling 11th annual Volkslauf mud run had to be ready for the burn. The obstacle race raises money for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots.
Crider, the event's registration coordinator, said Volkslauf has raised more than $100,000 in its first 10 years.
Runners could choose the 10K or 5K. There are some 70 obstacles that require crawling, climbing or just plain hurtling the body through the mud.
Giovani Perezchica of McFarland won the 10K men's race for the third year in a row. A 24-year-old runner for Cal State Bakersfield and Bakersfield College, he trains year-round for these kinds of races.
"When you have to go in the water, it feels suffocating," he said. " ... When you first go in, you're already tired, you lose your breath."
Those mud pits were popular with onlookers. Andy Rowe and Marshall Pihl got a preview of their fate as runners slogged through dirty water and threw themselves over a wall.
The engineers came from San Luis Obispo to race in the 5K with their company team, Cannon Associates. Their race hadn't started yet.
It was 26-year-old Rowe's first time tearing through such a course.
Scared?
"No," he said with a laugh. "Just tired, that's all."
Pihl, 48, showed more bravado.
"Bring it on," he said.
5K Female
Overall winner: Colleen Nathaus
12-19 age group
1. Mia Anderson
2. MacKenzie Morrison
3. Deborah Salcido
20-29
1. Lisbeth Sanchez
2. Allison Mackenzie
3. Christiane Toledo
30-39
1. Colleen Nathaus
2. Deanna Williams
3. Tami Calderwood
40-49
1. Damon Lykins
2. Pamela Hoyer
3. Patricia Corrigan
50-59
1. Melissa Grahek
2. Louanna Banducci
3. Debbie Brown
5K Male
Overall winner: Mark Phillips
12-19
1. Conner Fisher
2. Shane O’Malley
3. Ethan McEnroe
20-29
1. Ryan Boehning
2. Monte Myers
3. Damon Wilstead
30-39
1. Scott Humr
2. Casey Bishop
3. Grant Sackewitz
40-49
1. Mark Phillips
2. Rodney Lewis
3. Zef Medina
50-59
1. Larry Boydstun
2. Daniel Vauhn
3. Tom Diaz
60-over
1. Allen Butts
2. Ed Hall
3. Leaonard Villaneva
10K Individual Male
1. Giovani Perezchica
2. Fernando Mendoza
3. Shogo Osawa
10K Individual Female
1. Valerie MacKenzie
2. Brittany Grimes
3. Wendy Trochez
Team All Male
1. Javier Amaya team — Down and Dirty
Michael Pitts
William Bear
Juan Flores
2. Damacio Diaz team — Diaz Brothers
Gabriel Diaz
David Diaz
Diego Diaz
3. James Pederson team — Dirty Mambo
Cody Creviston
Guadalupe Molna
Rogelio Reyes
Team Mixed
1. Carol Ramirez team — Smog Bog Diving
Luis Gonzalez
Nestor Ramirez
Juan Alferes
2. Kristin Bucley team — Winning Colors
Kathy Coyers
Craig Gardner
Carl Aamont
3. Mark Witcher team — Tehachapi Mountain
Cory Witcher
Pat Ballard
Johnny Smith
Military
1. Bruce Allphin
Jeff Monroe
Charlie Peters
Jesse Salazar
2. Dave Winnacker
Alex Howard
Hank Weeke
Dave McElliott
3. Jason Mahill
Carlos Palacios
Mr. Saei
Fredy Rodriguez
Ellie