Announcing your 2013 USA Mountain Runner of the Year!

News just flew in that I was named the USA Track and Field Mountain Runner of the Year! This award is known as the Lyndon Ellefson Memorial Award. Lyndon was one of the top Mountain Runners in the World back in the 90's primarily in races at high altitude.

"Ellefson and four other people were running on a glacier to prepare for a high altitude marathon. There were also skiers on the glacier. Ellefson was in the lead when he broke through a "snow bridge" and fell 75 feet into water at the bottom of the crevasse. Ellefson had struck his head on a large chunk of ice at the bottom of the crevasse. One of the other runners went to a nearby aid station to summon help, a helicopter arrived and had Ellefson out in 20 minutes. They airlifted him to a Trauma Center in Bern, Switzerland where he was pronounced dead. Ellefson was a well-known and well-liked member of the Vail, Colorado community. Don Cameron, sports editor for the Vail Daily Newspaper, reported on Ellefson's high altitude run in the Fila, Mexico Sky Marathon on November 9, 1997. He called Ellefson one of the top Skyrunners (high altitude runners) in the world" (Family Tree Maker).

Winning this award feels all the more special as I met Lyndon's son, Sylvan earlier this year in October at an event. To be given an award named after such an accomplished man leaves me speechless. This is my 4th time being honored with this award so needless to say I feel a tad lucky to have had such a great season. I couldn't have done it without great support.

I had many friends supporting me the whole way and some even training with me or pacing me to help me prepare for the big shows. SCOTT has supported me with great footwear and gear that has allowed me to stay healthy. Having Behive Massage therapy as well as Joes Body Shop specializing as my massage therapists was also a huge benefit in terms of my physical condition this year. I've also been fortunate to have great nutritional products from Garden of Life which have totally helped me change the way I recover and fuel energy. I look forward to 2014! Thank you to all my readers and supporters, without you this would mean nothing...

Enjoy the article>
http://www.examiner.com/article/usatf-mountain-ultra-trail-council-announces-runners-of-the-year-2013?cid=PROD-redesign-right-next