THREE PERSONAL RESULTS: A 22.5-mile circuit with 2,218.2m of climbing. The Mammoths main lodge has a base elevation at 2,712.7m. This year, racing began at Canyon Lodge at 304.8m. This helps to level the playing field between mountain goats and flatlanders. Marathon riders will still climb to an elevation of 8,265.8m and are gasping for air.
RIDERS TO BE EAT: Chris Eatough, the new NORBA National Mountain Bicycle Series Marathon Champion, certainly brought some power to the event. Jay Henry was Jay’s biggest threat to Chris. During the seven-race NORBA series, Henry had beaten Chris twice.
MIA: Jeremiah Bishop could have pursued the title of marathon champion. He won all three NMBS marathons in this year’s race. Jeremiah was not at the start. Pre-riding the Mount Snow NORBA final course, the Trek-VW rider was struck by a vehicle and crashed. He sustained a moderately severe back injury and will be unable to race for at least a month. Dave Wiens, the U.S. Marathon Champion last year, did not race.
WOMEN TO WIN: Monique Sawicki, the upcoming female NMBS Marathon Champ and NORBA 24-Hour Champ, entered Mammoth. To complete the 2005 NORBA hat-trick by also winning the stars-and stripes jersey, Monique Sawicki would have to defeat Gretchen Reeves, the defending U.S. National Marathon Champ. Gretchen was fresh off her top 10 finish in the World Marathon Championships.
THE DAMA: Jay Henry and Chris Eatough didn’t expect 1999 NORBA XC Champ Travis Brown. Brown, a somewhat retired but active pro, attacked midway through the race to build a small cushion. Brown continued to increase the gap until the finish, even though no one was able to respond.
Brown spent about a lap and a half trying to match the pace set by Jay Henry, Michael McCalla, but Gretchen Reeves jumped in. Her world-class pace was too fast to match.
The Marathon was used, just like last year to lighten the Mammoth racing schedule. An eclectic mix of riders always flock to the early time slot. Marla Streb, a Luna Chix gravity star, was the highlight of the list. Marla Streb is no stranger to endurance running, having recently finished third in the Nova NMBS Marathon. She also participated in Luna Chixs 24 Hours of Adrenalin team victory. Marla didnt finish.
2005 U.S. NATIONAL MARATHON RESULTS
1. Travis BrownTrek -FRS 2. Jay HenryFord-Specializedat 3. Chris EatoughTrek – VW 4. Michael McCallaat 1 5. Nat RossSubaru–Gary Fisher1 6. David YakaitisWTB1 7. Michael LeeTrek VW-JBL2 8. Arlo BuijtenTitus-Schwalbe2 9. Manuel PradoSho-Air 10. James WilliamsSteven Ksat Women
1. Gretchen ReevesRocky Mtn 2. Monique SawickiTeam Mataat 1 3. Mandy EakinsVelo Sport5 4. Shari HausbeckSram-Rockshox 5. Hillary HarrisonKenda
