2004 – New Women’s 100km course record sets overall record Again
New champions were crowned in the Kettle Moraine 100 Endurance Runs this year, as well as an old one. Alex Swenson, enjoyed his first overall winner of our 100-mile event, after acting as aid station volunteer and pacer during last year’s race. Francesca Conte graced our trail for the first time and won the women’s 100-mile race. The 100 mile field was fairly spread out, but both winners were pushed by the relay teams joining us this year. The out and back course also provides a welcome camaraderie on the trail which makes the dark sections between the aid stations that much more bearable during the night.
Ragan Petrie, repeated as the overall winner of our 100-kilometer race. For the second year in a row, she returned to Wisconsin from Georgia. This time Ragan broke her own overall and women’s course record by almost 20 minutes. This race was hotly contested for the first 40 miles amongst the top 4-5 runners; eventually becoming strung out by the end. It wasn’t until the last 5 miles that Petrie was able to put on a spurt to pass the eventual men’s winner Bob Pokorny.
The top male and female finishers in both events take home handsome copper kettles, which have become our traditional trophies. Smaller-scale kettles are presented to every runner who finishes at least 100 kilometers.
We enjoyed the added spirit and speed brought by runners in our 100-mile relay events. Teams can run legs of 31, 31, 19 and 19 miles. We had more relay teams this year than ever before. A young team, recently out of running in college, made a fast go of the course in record time. We will continue offering the relay option as a way to welcome more runners to trail-running and to the natural beauty of Kettle Moraine State Forest.
Much of our course is on a lovely yet rugged stretch of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. We give our runners a self-guided tour of classic features of glacial geology, often mistaken for hills and valleys. Observant runners can find many interesting rocks and soils as well.
Excellent Wisconsin summer weather helped many runners run well this year. It’s rewarding as ever to see all the smiling faces even when you know there is a physical struggle being waged against the trail. We had 42 finishers in the 100-miler, and 35 completed the 100-kilometer race. We also give credit (and a little kettle) to every 100-mile starter who completes at least 100 kilometers, although their finishes do not count in the official race standings. This allowed another 29 runners to complete their ultra experience that weekend.
A special thanks to all the volunteers who make our jobs so much easier. We look forward to seeing everyone the first full weekend of June next year.
