2009 XTERRA Trail Running World Championship Preview
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In less than a week, the 2nd annual XTERRA Trail Running World Championship will kick off in beautiful Oahu, Hawaii! The world class race will be held in the majestic Kaaawa Valley at Kualoa Ranch, located on the northeastern side of Oahu. There are over 3,000 feet of elevation gain as the course goes up several steep climbs throughout mountains, open fields and tropical rain forest. Last year, more than 800 runners from 32 states and eight countries participated in the 5, 10, and 21km events. I finished 33rd overall out of 358 runners and am seeking a top 10 finish this year. To add to the excitement, my girlfriend Angel King will also be competing in the World Championship race. This will be my 8th XTERRA event of the season that was highltighted by winning the title of 2009 XTERRA New England Trail Run Series Regional Champion.
Kualoa Ranch
XTERRA Trail Running World Championship Preview:
This year’s race will feature quite a few elite athletes such as Max King (2x XTERRA Trail Running National Champion and 2008 World Champion), Ben Bruce (Runner-up at XTERRA Trail Running National and World Championships), Heather Fur (Ironman World Champion), Cindy Anderson (2008 XTERRA Trail Running World Champion), Melanie McQuaid (3x XTERRA Triathlon World Champion), Richard Burgunder (2009 XTERRA New England Trail Run Series Regional Champion) and many more.
Max King and Ben Bruce
King is a three-time member of the Team USA World Cross Country team and both he and Bruce ran in the 3000 meter steeplechase at the Olympic Trials.
Registration and Packet Pick Up:
The event is open to everyone. Registration will be open until December 5th and all levels of runners are welcome to compete.
Online registration will close and mail-in entries must be received by Wednesday, December 2. Packet pickup and walk-up registration will take place on Saturday, December 5th from 10am to 6pm at the Waikiki Beach Walk. There will also be packet pickup on race day at Kualoa Ranch starting at 7am, sorry no race day registration will be available.
This year we are offering a discount for Active Duty Military. Valid ID must be shown at packet pickup.
The first 900 runners total from all races (5/10/21km) will receive a t-shirt
For more information, contact Emily McIlvaine at XTERRA/Team Unlimited.
XTERRA/TEAM Unlimited
720 Iwilei Road #290
Honolulu, HI 96817
P: (808)792-2611
F: (808)538-0314
emily@xterraplanet.com
www.xterraplanet.com
About the XTERRA Trail Run Series:
XTERRA is on a mission to produce the most recognizable, enjoyable, root slipping, mud hopping, tree ducking, river crossing, hill climbing, dirt on your shirt, sweat in your eye trail runs this side of Grandma’s house!
More than 50 races across the U.S. comprise the XTERRA Trail Run Series and offer age group athletes the opportunity to become regional champions. We’ll also crown National Champions in Bend, Oregon on September 13 and World Champions in Hawaii on December 6.
Along the way XTERRA Trail Runs give back to the community by involving not-for-profits as beneficiaries at our events.
Aw, this was a really quality post. In theory I’d like to write like this too – taking time and real effort to make a good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and never seem to get something done.