A Weekend of Roses, Backcountry, and Fine Wine
Hard work paid off for Rose City Track Club over Labor Day weekend at the Roses on the River 5K, Backcountry Rise 20 Mile, and the Wine Country Half Marathon.
Liz Anjos after winning the inaugural Roses on the River 5k
On a brisk Saturday morning in Portland, Liz Anjos tested her legs and picked up some awesome swag at the Roses on the River 5K. “I wasn’t feeling very 5K-ready since I’m in the early stages of marathon training,” admitted Anjos, “but it was a fun excuse to get out there, compete, and run fast!” The excuse was worth it – Anjos took home the overall female win in a time of 19:20.
Elise Hall celebrating her Backcountry Rise 20 Miler finish
Meanwhile on the slopes of Mount St. Helens, Elise Hall tested her limits in one of the most challenging and beautiful courses around: the Backcountry Rise 20 Mile. “It was an amazing and humbling day around the mountain,” noted Hall. “Having run Hood to Coast the weekend before, I wasn’t out for any land speed records, and that allowed me to run a lot smarter and enjoy the jaw-dropping views.”
Lauren Barth celebrates her 2nd overall finish
Jaime Musgrave makes a toast to her new PR
Beautiful sites and speedy races continued through Sunday at the Wine Country Half Marathon where Lauren Barth and Jaime Musgrave raced over rolling hills and picturesque vineyards. Barth ran strong and battled it out for 2nd overall female in 1:23:29. “[The female leader] caught me on the gravel section of the course, but I held on and ran strong to finish not too far behind,” she mentioned. “It was my second fastest half marathon time on the most challenging course I’ve run in years!”
For Musgrave, it was her fourth appearance at the Wine Country Half which allowed for some self-reflection. “Over the course of the race, I imagined my teammates by my side. I remembered running behind them on the Fairmont loop, trying to keep up, especially on the hills! I remembered a workout with my coach and chasing down a teammate as I tried to catch runners in the final mile of the race. And I thought about Lauren, who I knew was a few miles ahead of me, killing it in the women’s field,” recalled Musgrave. “All of these experiences helped me to push more during the race and get more out of myself.” Musgrave flew into the finish in 1:41:08, a new personal best.
