Pictured: Female winner, Rebecca Sopp (Photos: Erb)/

By Dr. Mike Dostrow

“We are victorious,” Pheidippides  proclaimed to the king of Greece, following victory over Persia in the battle of Marathon, at which point, legend has it, he died.

Although historians now doubt the veracity of this account, it’s a great story to which any long distance runner can relate.

Indeed, as I crossed the finish line last Sunday at the 32nd Annual Tioga Pass Run at 9,945 feet, I felt a certain kinship to Pheidippides – although thankfully I did not suffer the same fate.

In fact, I would soon be celebrating my little victory over Tioga Pass with a hundred other masochists at Whoa Nellie Deli. The food was great, as usual, and the camaraderie was inspiring. As Alana Levin, the race’s organizer, announced the winners, I felt a certain amount of pride in my accomplishment and astonishment at the superhuman feats of the victors. Eric Lynch came in first with an amazing time of 1:33:24! That’s sub eight-minute miles for 12.4 miles up Tioga Pass … incredible. Only twenty minutes behind him was the female winner, Rebecca Sopp with an impressive time of 1:54:16. The youngest athlete to ever participate, Alek Simpson, 16, came in third place with an outstanding time of 1:39:26. The oldest competitor was, Bill Dickey, 73, on the run for 30 years and is still going strong. Other feats worthy of praise came from a handful of uber-athletes who participated in the Granite man challenge. This superhuman group swam 1 to 2 miles on Friday, rode 100 miles in Saturday’s Fall Century and then ran the Tioga Pass Run on Sunday! 118 participants took part in the run although not everyone finished.

The Tioga Pass Run started in 1980 and is the second longest continuously running event in the Eastern Sierra. It starts in Lee Vining at an elevation of 6,781 ft and ends at Tioga Pass, the Eastern entrance of Yosemite National Park at an elevation of 9,945 ft above sea level. 12.4 miles, 3,200 feet of elevation gain and “only one hill.” Proceeds from this event go to the Mono Lake Committee. The event is dedicated to the memory of Ferdinand Castillo who cheered the brave runners of the Tioga Pass Run for the first 13 years.

One wonders what motivates an individual to want to do this voluntarily? As for me, my recent entry into a fifth decade of life forced me to prove that I still possessed a modicum of vim and vigor. As I broke bread (actually fish tacos) with the other runners I asked a few why they participated in this grueling event. Eric Lynch stated that he lives, works and runs up in Rock Creek and is fueled by fresh air and excellent pie. He told me he normally doesn’t like to pay to run but it was a “great cause”(Mono Lake Committee). Rebecca Sopp has run most of her life. “I love the challenge, I love the scenery and the camaraderie” she told me with an infectious smile on her lovely face. Dr. Will, a local neurologist, told me he simply wanted to “beat Bourne.” He was about five minutes behind Dr. Jonathan Bourne who has better anesthesia and great legs. Two nice ladies who came all the way from Texas quipped that running uphill was nice for a change. No matter what the motivating factors were, running up a hill that my car strains on is a monumental feat and I was proud to have participated with these amazing people. Special thanks and congratulations go out to Alana Levin and the other awesome people who organized and administered this special event, the 32nd annual Tioga Pass Run.

 

 

1 Eric Lynch, 24M, 1:33  Rock Creek

2 Ryan Spaukling, 27M 1:39  Bishop 3 Alek Simpson, 16M 1:39  Bass Lake 4 Rick Herr, 45M 1:43  Corona

5 Brian Whitehead, 30M 1:44  Boaz,

6 Brian Forbes, 37M 1:47  Sonora

7 Jon Crowley, 32M 1:49  Mammoth

8 Jason Serda, 34M 1:52

9 Rebecca Sopp, 25F 1:54  Bridgeport

10 Piotr Kaszkur, 31M 1:56  Bishop

11 Dave Miller, 62M 2:00

12 Sean Curry, 44M 2:01  Salinas

13 Russell Mackie, 42M 2:01  San Bruno

14 Matthew Ruiz, 32M 2:03

15 Jonathan Bourne, 56M 2:03  Mammoth

16 Tom Hallenbeck, 53M 2:05  Bishop

17 Travis Rue, 27M 2:05

18 Chad Lawver, 22M 2:07

New Philadelphia, OH

19 Will Douglas, 60M 2:09  Mammoth

20 Matthew DeJong, 34M 2:09  Mammoth

21 Stephen Intram, 51M 2:09  Swall Mdws

22 Rob Simpson, 42M 2:09  Bass Lake

23 Adrian Sears, 49M 2:10  Bishop

24 Fred Dillingham, 50M 2:10  Bridgeport

25 John Gillmore, 46M 2:10  Swall Mdws

26 Brian Ognisty, 33M 2:11  Mammoth

27 Tony Moore, 50M 2:11  Gardnervll

28 Trevor Coolidge, 29M 2:12  So. Tahoe

29 Cassandra Dufek, 27F 2:13  Yosemite

30 Ryan Pintar, 31M 2:13  Berkeley

31 Guy Buckingham, 43M 2:13  U.K.

32 Sarah Roessler, 28F 2:14  Ridgecrest

33 Justin Nalder, 27M 2:15  Gardnervll

34 Celeste Guerrero, 46F 2:18  Santa Cruz

35 McKenzie Scott, 57M 2:18  Orange

36 John Bennett, 36M 2:18  Mammoth

37 Dave Stefanides, 44M 2:18  Laguna Hls

38 Jessica Ogan, 34F 2:18

39 Alex Ertaud, 23M 2:21  Mammoth

40 Tony Phillips, 48M 2:21  Bishop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

41 83 Few Preston 2:23 AM 12.4 Mile Run 38 M June Lake CA United States

42 30 Grah David 2:23 AM 12.4 Mile Run 53 M Bishop CA United States

43 78 McNairy Fred 2:24 AM 12.4 Mile Run 57 M Sanger CA United States

44 38 Burrows Michael 2:25 AM 12.4 Mile Run 38 M Redlands CA United States

45 87 Sullivan Michael 2:25 AM 12.4 Mile Run 35 M Rohnert Park CA United States

46 60 Horn Jessica 2:26 AM 12.4 Mile Run 26 F June Lake CA United States

47 114 Wirken Jeff 2:26 AM 12.4 Mile Run 26 M

48 85 Fear Belinda 2:27 AM 12.4 Mile Run 42 F Conwy UK

49 37 Winderweedle Jeremy 2:28 AM 12.4 Mile Run 38 M Apple Valley CA United States

50 75 Grobler Johan 2:29 AM 12.4 Mile Run 44 M Salinas CA United States G

51 17 Reid Kathie 2:29 AM 12.4 Mile Run 46 F Fresno CA United States

52 113 Campbell Tim 2:30 AM 12.4 Mile Run 50 M Mammoth Lakes CA United States

54 98 Crall Heather 2:30 AM 12.4 Mile Run 33 F Mammoth Lakes CA United States

54 55 Myers Diane 2:31 AM 12.4 Mile Run 54 F bishop CA United States

55 51 Hallman Shelly 2:32 AM 12.4 Mile Run 32 F Mammoth Lakes CA United States

56 14 Silverman Bob 2:33 AM 12.4 Mile Run 64 M Mammoth Lakes CA United States

57 10 Sydner Sandy 2:34 AM 12.4 Mile Run 61 F Apple Valley CA United States

58 122 Kiddoo Arnie 2:36 AM 12.4 Mile Run 64 M Bishop CA United States

59 27 Burnett Jr. Wayne 2:36 AM 12.4 Mile Run 58 M Elverta CA United States

60 88 Schwartz Karen 2:37 AM 12.4 Mile Run 39 F Bishop CA United States

61 50 Mayfield Shelley 2:38 AM 12.4 Mile Run 37 F Mammoth Lakes CA United States

62 6 Praker Brittina 2:38 AM 12.4 Mile Run 48 F Somerset CA United States

63 116 Cancelosi Chad 2:39 AM 12.4 Mile Run 43 M Mammoth Lakes CA United States G

64 61 Zarzana Linda 2:41 AM 12.4 Mile Run 56 F Sacramento CA United States

65 5 Praker Ben 2:43 AM 12.4 Mile Run 49 M Somerset CA United States

66 26 Hower-Colflesh Candy 2:43 AM 12.4 Mile Run 43 F Bishop CA United States

67 53 McVicker Bruce 2:46 AM 12.4 Mile Run 50 M OAK PARK CA United States G

68 39 Broadwater Molly 2:46 AM 12.4 Mile Run 36 F Bishop CA United States

69 125 Freetz Kim 2:48 AM 12.4 Mile Run 49 F

70 44 Schaniel Thomas 2:48 AM 12.4 Mile Run 42 M Bishop CA United States

71 124 Robinette Chris 2:48 AM 12.4 Mile Run 36 F Mammoth Lakes CA United States G

72 119 Larsen Lindsay 2:49 AM 12.4 Mile Run 40 F

73 96 Avritt Joshua 2:52 AM 12.4 Mile Run 26 M Hemet CA United States

74 117 Roses Carmella 2:52 AM 12.4 Mile Run 30 F

75 79 Case Judy 2:52 AM 12.4 Mile Run 60 F Sanger CA United States

76 123 Lynch Joani 2:53 AM 12.4 Mile Run 42 F Mammoth Lakes CA United States G

77 126 Moyer Trisha 2:53 AM 12.4 Mile Run 44 F Bishop CA United States G

78 49 Lonza Pam 2:53 AM 12.4 Mile Run 53 F Mammoth Lakes CA United States

79 29 Deck Jerome 2:54 AM 12.4 Mile Run 48 M Oakland CA United States

80 40 Fuchs Meghan 2:55 AM 12.4 Mile Run 41 F Bishop CA United States

81 53 Holt Julia 2:56 AM 12.4 Mile Run 45 F corona CA United States

82 19 Imthurn Carl 2:57 AM 12.4 Mile Run 55 M Forest Falls CA United States

82 70 Malloy Sarah 3:00 AM 12.4 Mile Run 33 F Bishop CA United States G

83 56 Taylor Julie 3:05 AM 12.4 Mile Run 51 F Bishop CA United States

84 43 Eastwood Raymond 3:09 AM 12.4 Mile Run 70 M Palos Verdes Estates CA United States G

85 2 Warburg Timothy 3:10 AM 12.4 Mile Run 50 M Moreno Valley CA United States

86 63 Walker Randy 3:11 AM 12.4 Mile Run 57 M Lee Vining CA United States

87 107 Latta Shari 3:11 AM 12.4 Mile Run 53 F

88 81 Lenderking Hollis 3:13 AM 12.4 Mile Run 62 M La Honda CA United States

89 28 Conrado Veronica 3:15 AM 12.4 Mile Run 48 F West Covina CA United States

90 111 Dickey Bill 3:32 AM 12.4 Mile Run 73 M

91 80 Taylor Adam 3:34 AM 12.4 Mile Run 38 M Chalfant CA United States

92 52 Cooke Christine 3:35 AM 12.4 Mile Run 27 F Coleville CA United States

93 127 Echeverria Anna Maria 3:45 AM 12.4 Mile Run 39 F

94 128 Ingram Mark 3:45 AM 12.4 Mile Run 48 M

Karch Mike 2hrs-ish 12.4 Mile Run 40-something M Mammoth Lakes CA United States G

W1 88 Andersen Jill 2:57 AM 12.4 Mile Walk 35 F Reno NV United States

W10 42 Graham Terri 3:31 AM 12.4 Mile Walk 50 F houston TX United States

W11 64 Sterley Alison 3:32 AM 12.4 Mile Walk 58 F Anchorage AK United States

W12 95 McCarthy Connie 3:42 AM 12.4 Mile Walk 54 F Bishop CA United States

W13 110 McMillan Christina 3:44 AM 12.4 Mile Walk 46 F

W14 104 Balasteros Richard 4:20 AM 12.4 Mile Walk 46 M

W15 93 Kinzie Kathie 4:28 AM 12.4 Mile Walk 65 F Philo CA United States

W16 71 Reuter Angie 4:32 AM 12.4 Mile Walk 34 F Yosemite CA United States

W2 12 Markewich Samuel 3:12 AM 12.4 Mile Walk 43 M Oakland CA United States

W3 86 Dostrow Michael 3:18 AM 12.4 Mile Walk 50 M Mammoth Lakes CA United States

W4 62 Snuggs Jean 3:19 AM 12.4 Mile Walk 62 F Sacramento CA United States

W5 97 McDonald Harold 2:58 AM 12.4 Mile Walk 62 M Bishop CA United States

W5 98 Ouellette Tess 3:26 AM 12.4 Mile Walk 51 F Oakland CA United States

W6 97 Hill Jeramy 3:29 AM 12.4 Mile Walk 32 M Yosemite CA United States

W7 99 Hill Sydney 3:29 AM 12.4 Mile Walk 29 F Yosemite CA United States

W8 96 McDonald Betsy 3:30 AM 12.4 Mile Walk 57 F Bishop CA United States

W9 41 Wilkins Janice 3:31 AM 12.4 Mile Walk 55 F Livingston TX United States

64 Reyes Isai DNF 12.4 Mile Run 20 M San Pedro CA United States

80 Thomas Akiko DNF 12.4 Mile Run 21 F San Pedro CA United States

87 Zupan Karen DNF 12.4 Mile Run 45 F simi valley CA United States G

2 Beall Robert DNS 12.4 Mile Run 51 M Laguna Beach CA United States

16 Dalzell Steve DNS 12.4 Mile Run 50 M Simi Valley CA United States

22 Evens Laura DNS 12.4 Mile Run 44 F newhall CA United States

31 Guyer Donald DNS 12.4 Mile Run 30 M Salinas CA United States

41 Kusner Kathy DNS 12.4 Mile Run 72 F Playa Vista CA United States

43 Ledesma Isabel DNS 12.4 Mile Run 40 F bishop CA United States

51 McLaughlin Jessie DNS 12.4 Mile Run 29 F Bishop CA United States

54 Miyakawa Martee DNS 12.4 Mile Run 48 F Los Angeles CA United States

60 Platts Sarah DNS 12.4 Mile Run 28 F San Jose CA United States

66 Sanchez Sandra DNS 12.4 Mile Run 32 F Ontario CA United States

1 Wara Michael DNS 12.4 Mile Run 39 M Mill Valley CA United States