Van Deren goes extra mile at 24 hours of Frisco

FRISCO - Most 24 Hours of Frisco competitors had already departed from the fourth annual trail race by the time women's winner Diane Van Deren crossed the finish line Sunday morning.

Van Deren, who finished with a time of 24 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds, tied the Frisco peninsula course record of 19 laps set by Eric Pence in 2004. She ran 114 miles.

Van Deren, a pro runner from Sedalia, had the race won after 18 laps, but 24 hours hadn't elapsed quite yet, so she opted for a final six-mile go around.

"I figured, 'Why not?'" she said. "And I thought of Michael."

Michael is Van Deren's son and he's a marine serving in Iraq.

"All my racing this year is for him," said Van Deren, who has competed in eight ultra-distance races this season. "When I talk to him, I tell him to put one foot in front of the other and stay in the moment. That's what I do with my racing - I don't get ahead of myself."

Van Deren, now a motivational speaker, underwent brain surgery about a decade ago, which liberated her from chronic seizures caused by epilepsy.

"Every time I cross the finish line, I feel very fortunate," she said.

Sunday's front runner was joined on the 24-hour-solo-female podium by Summit locals Denise Fair (17 laps) and Laura Pless (13).

Fair was supported by fellow Summit County Rescue Group members, who were on hand to address the event's medical needs and to compete as one of two eight-person teams (they finished second behind Recoverin' Endurance addicts).

"I wanted to see how far I could go in 24 hours," said Fair, who logged 102 miles. "I couldn't have done it without my teammates. They kept my packs hydrated, made me sandwiches and wrapped my twisted ankles."

Fair seemed more fired up than fatigued Sunday morning after completing more laps then everyone but Van Deren.

"I'm always ramped up after I work out," she said. "But by 6 p.m., I probably won't be too happy."

Local runner Brian Muellner ran 11 laps to win the men's solo race. He was followed by Granby's Robert Kanieski, who completed the same mileage, but did it nearly 19 minutes slower than Muellner. Ken Greenberg was the fastest of three male runners who completed 10 laps (Allen Gerstenberger and Silverthorne's William Linfield were the others).

"I didn't sleep," said Muellner, who didn't realize he'd won until he was handed a medal after the race. "I just kept going all night long and that's the only reason I won. I was in fourth when everyone decided to go to sleep."

Muellner said he wasn't sure if he'd be able to make it to his rec hockey game scheduled for Sunday night.

"Even though you're jogging pretty slow, your joints get completely beat," Muellner said. "I've never felt this way before. It's bad, but first place makes it all worth it."

Team Go Fast won the 3-4 person coed competition with 26 laps.

In the six-hour solo race, Jeff Beuche won the men's division with seven laps and Dillon's Jennifer Hurley was the first woman to finish six.

Rolf Wuethrich won Saturday's six-mile men's race in 33:44 and local Shannon Galpin was the fastest female (37:07).

The face (and duration) of 24 hours of Frisco, will change next year, according to race director Mike Heaston.

"Next year we'll have a six-mile, a 12-mile, a six-hour and a 12-hour," Heaston said. "24 hours is just hard on people. (The event) was modeled after a mountain bike race, but it's easier to ride than to run for that long. We're hoping to hit a happy medium with 12 hours."



Adam Boffey can be contacted at (970) 668-4634, or a aboffey@summitdaily.com.