Big Tesuque Live Results Blog

We'll be posting photos and live results through Twitter this morning. If you have pics or thoughts of your own use the #BigTesuque tag and they should be picked up in the widget below. Cheers to all the folks lining up this morning, and happy running!


Tweets about "#bigtesuque"

Terrific run folks. We believe it was a record day with ~140 finishers. This is up from last year's record turnout of 129 finishers. Both of our champions from prior year successfully held their titles, congratulations to Dustin and Katie. We had a large number of first time runners, congrats for braving the unknown and sending Big T.

*Official* overall results are now posted here, and at santafestriders.org
*Official* age-group results can be found here

There's at least 12 runners missing from these results, it's possible there is an error or two in there. If you've already spoken with the timers about it the errors should be corrected in the official list to be posted later.

Saturday's a Go! - Government or no Government

We've been fielding a few questions about the Government shutdown and how it affects the National Forests, in particular the Santa Fe National Forest. In a general sense we really don't know, but specific to this weekend's race our only casualties are the permanent bathrooms at the trailhead. They'll be locked, so we've made plans to truck a couple portables up there for everyone. Problem solved.

What else should be pondered and planned for as race day draws near? We just happen to have a handy list right here:

 - What to Prepare for on Race Day

Point of Recognition for our Financial Backers

We've updated our Race Sponsor page. Aside from our volunteers and race director these are the folks that make Big T tick, year after year, in many cases for the last twenty years - not a typo. Before we can recognize our new overall and age-group champions on Saturday let's recognize the businesses that lend their support in getting us to race day in good shape.

Cowbells and a big thanks to our sponsors below.

And of course to the race beneficiary, WINGS of America

Race Registration is Building Steadily

A quick report on registration:
Year-to-date we have registrants from 13 cities and 4 states. Only one country just yet (the US), but we do have an entry from outside the Continental US, and that would be Alaska. From the looks of it, we're ahead of last year's trends. The race generally fills a third of all entries in the final week of online registration, then another third in-person on race day.

Below is a nifty report from the backend of our results database that shows participation by city and state for the last thirteen races. In 2012 we had runners representing 23 different cities/towns and 5 states. The largest of course being Santa Fe and Albuquerque. We don't seem to draw well from Rio Rancho for some reason but this could be our year. Las Vegas and Taos are tough draws but they have more of a drive-time to overcome.

On a side note - one can just make out the small course extension on the summit that was instituted in 2010. Average times bump 3-4 minutes from 2009 and prior years. I've found that the added hundred meters on top that now stretch to summit edge (and back), takes me an extra 90sec to cover. It's worth it for the fine view.

Our tech cred on full display - Thirteen years of BigT participation and finishing time data

If you're a club member, sign up early and receive your club discount (only $22!). Get into The Running Hub and drop off your registration flyer (they have extras on hand), or register online at either Active.com or our new listing at newmexicosportsonline if you prefer the local business route.

Big Tesuque Training Run II - Sun. September 8, 8am

A second opportunity to join in a group training run for Big Tesuque. The Striders' Group Run for this coming Sunday will be along the Winsor Trail, through Puerto Nambe to Lake Katherine (just below SF Baldy). If you missed the first group training run then here's your second chance. Climbing, altitude, conversation. 

To carpool meet at Fort Marcy at 730am, or rocket-up to the Ski Area/Winsor Trail trailhead for an 8am-ish departure. Group runs tend to go at a conversational pace, the lead runners periodically circling back or breaking to allow the group to pull together. Cut the run short if you need to get back, or add a few miles if you don't mind the separation anxiety. The full run is approx. 12mi, with maybe 1,800ft of net climbing to the lake. 

Further details here.


View Santa Fe Baldy and Four Peaks, Trail Map - Santa Fe, NM in a larger map

Big Tesuque Training Run - Sun. September 1, 8am

The Striders Group Run for this coming Sunday will be Aspen Vista to the Tesuque Towers, otherwise known as the formidable BigT. Come out and get some climbing miles into those legs and get a feel for the varying levels of oxygen debt along the route.

To carpool meet at Fort Marcy at 730am, or rocket-up to the Aspen Vista Trailhead for an 8am-ish departure. Group runs tend to go at a conversational pace, the lead runners periodically circling back or breaking to allow the group to pull together. Cut the run short if you need to get back, or add a few miles if you don't mind the separation anxiety. The full run is 12mi, 2,000ft of climbing, elevation 10,000ft-12,003 at the towers.

View Aspen Vista Trail (Big Tesuque Trail) - Santa Fe, NM in a larger map

Prepping for October - Looking back at 2012

Vin Kelley - hot dogging on last year's descent,
courtesy of M. Mujynya and Smugmug.com

Organization for this year's race is well under way. We're sorting out a few stellar race-t options as I type this. It seems appropriate then to take a quick glance back at last year's race as October grows nearer.

We had fantastic weather for last year's run and an even better turnout of runners. The best in the twenty-eight year history of the race in fact. For this reason the annual donation to WINGS of America generated from the race was $1,000 - a highwater mark. What made this great confluence of events even more brilliant yet, was the overall victory by Dustin Martin, WINGS' current program director and first WINGS champion up at Big T.

More, you say? We've got more. We had 10 top-ten age group times put up last year, including a big new record in the W50-59 age group by Claudia Bergshon of Albuquerque. Vin Kelley (above) continued his assault on the M60-69 age group alltime list, and we had two new overall champions in Dustin Martin and Katie Gillen of Santa Fe.

Get excited about this fall's Big T. It's approach will be here quicker than a 2,000ft climb to the Sangre de Cristo ridgeline.

Related Information:
  - Prior year Big T results
  - Max's photos from last year's Big T

Registration is Now Open - Big T 2013

Online registration has been setup over at Active.com. Flyers are now available at The Running Hub here in Santa Fe or can be downloaded with that little icon to the left there (<<<<) and mailed in or dropped off with our friends over at The Hub.

Nothing of note has changed from prior year although we expect an even larger turnout than we had for last year's event. Registration fees are unchanged at $25, Striders members receive $3 off. Shirt designs haven't been finalized just yet, but we'll post an image when it comes together.

Remember that access to Aspen Vista is currently closed, but Atalaya remains open during the current trail closures. There's 1,600 feet of vertical there if you begin at the St. John's College trailhead. More if you run laps. Get some.