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On Sunday, July 3, the 27th annual Teva Vail Daily Vail Hill Climb was held on a 7.6 mile mostly dirt and gravel uphill route starting in the Vail Village and reaching the summit of Vail Mountain at Eagle's Nest.

With an elevation gain of 2,200 feet starting at just over 8,000 feet it would seem that only the most conditioned athletes would give the course a try. Not so. Of the 388 finishers in the race, there were many first-time trail racers including a couple who drove from California with their five children to enjoy Vail for the fourth of July holiday weekend.

"We drove in last night to spend some time with my parents who vacation here from Florida and they brought the kids up on the gondola. This is our first trail race and it was incredible. We had such a great time," said an enthusiastic Shelby Preusse at the finish line who ran with her husband Richard and the pair finished in 1 hour and 40 minutes earning them 310th and 311th place respectively.

Another duo from the flatlands of Phoenix registered on Friday after some urging from race officials. "I kept saying that the altitude would be too tough and the race official at registration said to intersperse running and walking and enjoy the scenery a bit. We did just that and it was really enjoyable. I even won a raffle prize at the awards ceremony," said Gil Rico who ran a solid 1:38:47 while his son Andrew ran 1:31:10.

Harald and Nancy Jo Fricker of Eagle, CO ran and hiked the course with their children Myles, 9, and Kiah, 11. Bradley Wiese hiked with his three children Jace, 9, Kyleen, 11, and Brianne, 13. "It was great to see all the families hiking and running this year," said Julie Rust, director of the Vail Ski Patrol who volunteers to help with the race each year. "I also don't remember seeing this many younger competitors in past years and it's really great to see them out here on the mountain."

The women's race was won by one by one of the youngest female competitors in recent memory. Although well past her teen years, Stephanie Bylander (left), 22, led the race from start to finish posting a solid 59:38 to earn her first Hill Climb victory. In the past few years the women's winner has been in her late 30s. "Perhaps this is an indication of the talent that is up and coming in our sport," said Nancy Hobbs, manager of the Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team. "It is great to see some newcomers to our sport as well as athletes crossing over from the roads to the trails. Even high school cross-country and track stars are giving our sport a try which bodes well for our junior team."

In fact Jonathan Stevens, 15, who attends Battle Mountain High School in the Vail Valley recently sent in his race resume to be considered for this year's Teva U.S. Mountain Running Junior Team which will compete in the World Mountain Running Trophy Race to be held September 26 in Wellington, New Zealand. Stevens posted a credible 1:04:27 to take second in the under 19 age group. Stevens will learn whether he makes the team in early August.

Local Xterra multi-sport standout and 2004 Teva U.S. Mountain Running team member Lisa Isom, 33, of Vail repeated her second- place finish from last year running a strong 1:02:11. Due to a busy work schedule, Isom missed the Xterra eastern regional championship in Richmond, VA this weekend and opted to run the Hill Climb since it is on her home turf. "We are able to miss one Xterra race in the series, and this is the one I'll miss. Fortunately the Hill Climb is on Sunday and I really enjoy running the race," said Isom a few days before the race.

Lisa Goldsmith (left, #26) finished third and won the masters division in a time of 1:02:57. In fourth place and finishing second masters was Anita Ortiz, 41, of Eagle, CO in 1:05:34. Ortiz, a past Hill Climb winner, is recovering from injury and used the race as a training run. "I started out in the back of the pack today and it was really fun talking with the other athletes and the volunteers at the water station. Usually I'm so focused on racing so this was a bit different for me," said Ortiz at the finish line. "I'm gearing my training toward July 16 (the final women's Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team selection race in Merrimac, WI) where I hope to earn a spot on my fourth team."

Isom is also considering traveling to WI in hopes of making the team. "I have to go to Wisconsin for another race the week after the mountain running qualifier so I haven't made a final decision yet," said Isom prior to the Hill Climb.

Rounding out the top five women was 38-year-old Sarah Pickering running 1:07:32.

Bylander celebrated the men's victory as well since her boyfriend Matt Levassiur, 23, of Alamosa, CO edged out Simon Gutierrez, 39, of Alamosa, CO for the win though both turned in the same finish time of 50:59. Both Levassiur and Gutierrez were on the 2004 Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team and Gutierrez recently earned a berth on the 2005 team with his win at the Northfield Mountain Race on June 25 in Northfield, MA.

The top five men were all Coloradoans with Geoff Williamson, 28 finishing third in 51:57, Seth Demoor, 20, finishing fourth in 53:18 and Bill Fanselow, 38 finishing fifth in a time of 53:50.

Vail resident Ellen Miller, 46 an accomplished mountaineer with a successful summit of Mount Everest to her credit, organizes a local women's running group dubbed the Divas. "We had about 20 Divas running today (including Miller) from first time Hill Climb competitors to those who have logged several efforts on the mountain. It is so inspiring to see these women out here running the race and enjoying the outdoors."

Bernie Boettcher who designs the runner race T-shirts also ran the race finishing 11th overall and third masters runner. Typically Boettcher is in the top five in most every race he enters, but the 42-year-old artist from Silt, CO had run the Leadville Trail Marathon (finishing second in 3:55) yesterday and was visibly a bit tired from the effort. (He would follow this up with a second place finish at the Boogie's Diner Buddy Run 8K in Aspen on Monday, July 4. 3 races in 3 days!)

Second place finisher in the women's 20-29 year-old age division Kelly Smith (below, #156) wore a "runaway bride" sign on her back with a lovely white veil perched atop her head to honor her impending marriage following the Hill Climb. "My mother was initially against my running the race, but I figured that I would run anyway, why not do the Hill Climb," said Smith. Her sister Kimberly won the age group edging out her soon-to-be married sibling by just over one minute in a time of 1:08:20. It was confirmed that Smith made it to the altar at the pre-assigned time of four o'clock and is enjoying her honeymoon.

The Hill Climb is part of Colorado's premier trail running series which runs June through September and includes events from 5k to the half marathon (13.1 mile) distance. The first race in the series was held on June 12 with the Teva First Bank 8K at 8,000 feet. There are three more events to include the Teva Vail Half Marathon on July 24, the Teva Berry Picker (5K/10K) on August 14 and on September 11, the Teva Extremesports.com EverGold 10K. Register for upcoming events by contacting the Vail Recreation District at (970) 479-2280 or Online at www.active.com.

Most noted for its winter sports and Alpine-village atmosphere, the Vail Valley comes alive in summer with glorious blooming wildflowers, chirping picas, and a relaxed mountain atmosphere. It is the ideal time to enjoy the scenery afforded by a trail race up the mountain. The course is well marked with several water stations along the route. Participants are assured accurate results, commemorative T-Shirts, and great prizes.

Awards will be presented to overall and age group winners and new this year will be raffle prize drawings at the race awards ceremony featuring products from area merchants and national companies including Aqx Sports, Lenticular Pictures, Gerber headlamps, Trail Runner magazine, and Colorado Runner magazine.

Series title sponsor Teva footwear introduces their lightweight X1 trail racer available at Boulder Running Company and Christy Sports, both retailers serving as registration points for the series. Series sponsors include First Bank, Extreme Health Care, Vail Daily, Vail's Mountain Haus, Tiga Advertising, Howard Head Sports Medicine Centers, and Gatorade.