February Handicap
Placitas, NM
Saturday, February 21

Thank you to our hosts, David & Katherine Wilson, and to Handicaps Coordinator Shannon Zanelli for another great event! Congratulations to the winning team of Nick Juskiewicz and Julianna Astrachan -- they were the closest to their predicted time for completing this 3.25 mile course, a difficult trail in the beautiful Sandia foothills in Placitas. 

There were many runners on the trail, but the participant numbers really swelled when it came to the "eating" part of this "Run and Eat Biathlon" event (you all know who you are). Come to run, come to eat - it's all loads of fun at the ARR Handicap Races!

click on photos to enlarge

Photos by G Muirhead

Photos by David Wilson

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DIRECTIONS:
To get to the start of the race, go north on I-25 and get off at exit 242 (the northern of the two Bernalillo exits). Go east (right) toward the mountains. This is Route 165. Go about 5.5 miles, and on the right look for a guardrail, some mailboxes, and a small turning lane onto Camino del Rincon Colorado. There will be some kind of sign indicating the race. Follow the signs to Camino a las Estrellas (#32). You can call us at 554-2337 at any point when you are lost.

Map to the Wilsons' house
32 Camino a las Estrellas 
Placitas, NM

Click on map to open larger pdf version

Report
January 2014 Handicap

David and Katherine Wilson once again hosted the January Handicap in Placitas, their traditional“Run and Eat Biathlon.” This year’s course took us up onto the Crest Trail, requiring some fancy dance steps across several crusted (and slippery) snow patches; then down (yay!) and along paved roads; and finally up and up (boo!) back to the Wilson home, for a total of 3.25 miles.

This was a two-person combined estimated time event (no watches allowed), and several participants got remarkably close to their estimates, made after hearing a description of the course from our host. A few missteps by Alex Gordon put him at a disadvantage in the time department, but his young legs got him caught up and across the finish line ahead of many others. Winning team was Wendy Wiggins and Neil Galvez, with a combined difference of only 1:12 from their predictions. As individuals, both John Farrow's and Ernie Garcia's actual times were a mere 11 seconds off their projections - and both ran faster than expected!

Following the race, everyone enjoyed a lovely brunch, including a delicious French toast casserole from host Katherine Wilson, some wonderful meatballs, yummy breads and cakes and cookies, and everything that makes our Handicaps special! Thanks to all for their contributions to the table.