MdS 2009: Stage 4 and Overall Results
April 5, 2009 by Bryon Powell · 15 Comments
Wish I could have posted results earlier, but I missed a small window to post in camp after the Stage 4 results were posted and have been tied up since we arrive back in Ouarzazate yesterday afternoon. Anyway, I finished the full marathon distance Stage 4 in 3:42, which was good enough for 26th on the day. I set a strong, but conservative pace from the start. Such a strategy would maximize my team’s position by minimizing the possibility of my blowing up – it worked. Dreamchasers USA stuck solidly in 3rd place. (Read the race’s article on the Dreamhasers USA team) I also held my overall position of 19th. Quite frankly, I ecstatic with this result. Going into the race, I felt that if I nailed it, I might be able to crack the Top 20. Mission accomplished.
More impressive than the Dreamchasers bringing home the first ever MdS team trophy to the US is Meghan Hicks of California placing 2d overall woman. This is the top placing by an American at the Marathon des Sables since Lisa Smith(-Batchen) won the women’s title in 1999.
The Dreamchaser Team
(l-r: me, Ted Archer, Michael Wardian)
(c) Cimbaly
Related articles:
- MdS 2009: Stage 2 (36k) Stage 2 went well for me, the Dreamchasers, & Meghan. My effort was slightly reduced today – by necessity & design. I started without any major complaint & finished the...
- MdS 2009: Stage 1 (33k) I received an education in dunes today. Completed Dunes 101, 102, & am cramming hard for my 201 final tomorrow. When the difference between running fast or slow in a...
- 2009 MdS: Stage 3 (56 miles) As noted earlier, this MdS is unique in that we have not been made aware of future stages in advance. In the evening after Stage 2 we were told that...
Bryon Powell is the Editor-in-Chief of iRunFar.com, which he founded five years ago. Also the author of Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons and a contributing editor at Trail Runner magazine, he's quickly approaching 10 years as an ultrarunner and 20 years as a trail runner. These days he calls Park City, Utah and its trails home.
All posts by Bryon Powell
We had some wind like that yesterday at Rockin marathon/50mile here in Kansas. Great Job!
Rockin K marathon/ 50 mile..sorry
Good job at MdS!!!!!!!! Congrats to the men’s team. I am looking forward to your full reports and thoughts. You totally rocked it out there.
Congrats!!!!!!
So proud of you and the team! What a great picture! Looking forward to a celebratory drink with you when you’re back in town!
Yahooooooo! Great job, guys! That picture is pretty cool, too :)
Two words: HOLY CRAP!
Great race my friend! And that Meghan girl did pretty good, too!
Byron, Awesome result, despite the unusual conditions it was a great week all round!
Once again, well done on the result.
I’m going back at some point and I’m definately going for a top 100 position… need more a few more years training under my belt though!
Thanks all! It was a great week in the desert!
Mike, keep training and that top 100 spot is yours. :-)
Awesome race, Bryon!
Too busy to post sooner because you were, as you said, “tied up”? Hmm… And where was Meghan??
So proud of you, B (if an inferior can be “proud”).
Thanks, Sara and Dane!
No comment for you Meissner!
it seems like you left out what place meghan finished..?!
Nice catch, Hart.