91²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Runners Vanquish Ultramarathon
Fifty miles.
Two runners.
A single goal.
Two 91²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ runners accomplished an incredible feat of endurance last weekend, running 50 miles in the American River Ultramarathon.
History major John Young ’15 crossed the finish line in 8:54:52, coming in 114th in a field of 823. John, who hails from The Dalles, Oregon, was the youngest runner to complete the race.
John ran hot on the heels of 91²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ bookstore manager Ueli Stadler, who posted a time of 8:48:51, coming in 102nd in the field.
“Ueli beat me by six minutes (pure vanity led me to think that I might compete with Odysseus),” John wrote after the race. “He put the hammer down somewhere around mile 44. When I put my foot on the gas, nothing happened. I have a lot of experience with that particular phenomenon: my family drives a Geo Metro.”
John and Ueli are both regular members of the 91²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Runners, a ragtag group of students, faculty, staff, and alumni, who can be seen plying trails and paths throughout southeast Portland.
The last couple of years have witnessed a surge of interest in running at 91²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ. Record numbers of 91²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵies have turned out for the Hood-To-Coast Relay and the . 91²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ holds a 5K Odyssey Run in September and there are unconfirmed rumors about a moonlight running group.
As far as we're concerned, the idea of running 50 miles (roughly the distance from the 91²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ canyon to the 91²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ ski cabin) provokes one overriding emotion.
Awe.
Tags: Sports & Adventures