08/16/2017
August 16, 2017
For Immediate Release
Two Female Ultra-Athletes Set Speed Record on
Mt. Rainier’s Wonderland Trail
Contact: Trasie Phan, Phan Sports Marketing
[email protected], 619-252-8348
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SEATTLE, WA – An exceptionally rugged, 93-mile-long (150 kilometer) trail encircles Mt. Rainier, the highest peak in Washington. People have been hiking all or parts of this trail for 100 years, with a single loop—and its overall elevation gain of 22,000 feet (6,700 meters)—taking 10 to 14 days.
Some people, however, choose to run those rugged miles. On Monday August 14, 2017 at 6:00am PST Allison Macsas, 32, and Mallory Brooks, 32, departed from the Longmire (Junction) trailhead, traveling counter-clockwise with a goal of setting a new women’s speed record for circumnavigating Mount Rainier, via the Wonderland Trail, unsupported--no support crew delivering meals or first aid.
The Wonderland Trail is not without its dangers. The paths are narrow, steep and rocky. Wood planks or suspension bridges span icy-cold rivers. Several days prior to the record attempt, the two received news that a bridge crossing the South Mowich River, approximately 64 miles into the route, had washed away. A new fear set in as the two would be crossing waste high water at night. In anticipation of crossing the fast moving river, Macsas and Brooks took a crash-course in rope belay and swift water rescue, and carried a rope, just in case.
Preparation and attention to detail is essential to Brooks who co-founded Spectrum Trail Running with her husband, Jason. “I am confident that Mallory and Allison are going to break the record. Mallory is well prepared in her training and understanding of the route,” Jason says, “She and Allison have left no stone unturned.”
A group of moral-supporters including Gabe Steger, Macsas’ fiancé, Jason and Paxton Brooks, Brooks’ husband and 5-year old son, Trasie Phan of Phan Sports Marketing, Uli (2-time Boston Marathon Men’s Masters Champion) and Trisha Steidl, and Dave and Dacia Murray, congregated at the junction between the Wonderland Trail and Paradise Valley Road East, 1/8 of a mile north of Longmire, at 10am in anticipation of a finish in under 30 hours. Throughout the day and night, the group hunted around Mount Rainier National Park for a wi-fi connection in order to locate Macsas and Brooks via a GPS-locator that updated every 10 minutes or so.
At 12am, Steger, Phan and (Dave) Murray drove 20 minutes to a wi-fi location at the Gateway Inn at Mount Rainier to verify that Macsas and Brooks had cross the South Mowich River safely. They verified this information with 3 GPS point. One on the South Mowich River at 12:04 am and 2 others that pass that point 47 minutes later. Family, friends and fans from afar were updated on Facebook and were able to locate the women’s whereabouts using the same information provided on the website wonderlandtrailfkt.com/tracker.
Chasing Macsas around the world is part of Steger’s everyday life. “I’m use to watching Allison make crowning achievements. Not just in her running,” he says, “Rogue Expedition, a company he co-founded with Macsas in 2012, is a cross between our love of running and traveling. She is smart, compassionate and driven. I think it’s important for men to be supportive of the women in their lives as they are roll models for young men and women.”
Brooks’ son, Paxton, who turns 5 years old on September 9th waited patiently, collecting rocks, hiking the trail with his father, and camping at Cougar Rock Campgroud, while his mother was out running all day and all night. At 11:12:25 am PST, Tuesday August 15, 2017, Paxton lead his mom, Allison and the band of well-wishers across Paradise Valley Road East to the sign post that marked the start and finish of the record breaking attempt. Brooks and Macsas completed the challenge in an elapsed time of 29 hours, 12 minutes and 25 seconds, breaking the previous record by almost 2 hours. As soon as his mom finished, Paxton congratulated her with a big hug and asked if she would read him a book. Brooks agreed and the two celebrated the achievement by reading The Teacher from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler.
The record the two women bested was set in 2012 by Candice Burt, who covered the Wonderland Trail, also unsupported, in 31 hours, 11 minutes and 57 seconds. Although Candice made a solo effort, there is no category difference made by the Fastest Known Time Pro-board to distinguish between runners who set speed records solo or as a pair, as long as each individual carries their own provisions.
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About Allison Macsas
Allison Macsas, 32, is an accomplished runner who co-founded Rogue Expeditions in 2012 with her fiancé, Gabe Steger. Currently living in an RV anchored in Austin, Texas but they can be found anywhere in the US or the world guiding runners on running expeditions. She has participated in two US Olympic Marathon Trials (2012 and 2016) and has personal bests in the Half Marthon of 1:13:02 and Marathon of 2:39:41. Currently competing for Skechers Performance, she recently won the 2017 Austin Marathon in 2:48:17.
About Mallory Brooks
Mallory Brooks, 32, is the race director and co-founder of Spectrum Trail Racing in Austin, Texas. Best described as an ultra-distance runner and mountaineer, she has completed 6 ultra-marathons and summited Mount Rainier, WA (14,411 feet), Mount Whitney, CA (14,505 feet), and Pico de Orizaba, Mexico (18,491 feet.) She is married to Jason Brooks, co-founder of Spectrum Trail Racing and mother of Paxton, 4. They live in Austin, Texas.
About Phan Sports Marketing
A sports marketing agency working with outdoor companies and ultra-endurance athletes; specializing in record breaking event management, Fastest Known Times or Guinness World Records. Many ultra-endurance athletes seek to find limitless possibilities in their mental and physical abilities. Phan Sports Marketing helps them take their idea from start to completion by securing funds, building a support team, creating media and PR and helping them meet or exceed their record-breaking goal.
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