Rim Rock Run Record Falls

Grand Junction (Nov 8, 2008) - Timmy Parr had a number in mind: 2:14.29. That’s the age-group record for men ages 25-29 in the Rim Rock Run. As he ran the final few yards of the course Saturday morning that winds up, over and down the Colorado National Monument, he was hoping he would hear a number below that.

He did — 2:06.51.

Not only did Parr shatter Greg Shabron’s four-year-old age-group mark, he shaved 17 seconds off the men’s overall course record of 2 hours, 7 minutes, 8 seconds, a mark set by Paul Rosser in 1996.

“I went out hoping to run an age-group record and ended up running 2:06,” he said. “I thought I was at 2:13, 2:14. It was a little surprising. It was a great day out there, just fantastic.”

The race directors dangled a $100 bonus for the first male and female runner to reach Cold Shivers Point, a little more than four miles into the 22.5-mile (37 kilometers) race. Parr picked that up, as did the women’s overall winner, Keri Nelson.

Nelson won her third straight women’s title and plans to be back to try for an unprecedented fourth women’s title next year.

She was a late entrant, wearing No. 195 because of a bicycle accident that left her with an injured shoulder. There was never a doubt she would run, though.

“I was planning on doing it since last year,” she said after finishing in 2:35.36, a bit off her pace last year, 2:34.14 and well off Leanne Whitesides’ age-group record of 2:28.52 for women ages 25-29. Whitesides won back-to-back women’s titles in 1999 and 2000 and is a three-time winner, winning again in 2004.

Parr said the Cold Shivers bonus helped set the pace. He and Austin Vigil, a former Fruita Monument runner who now lives in Fort Collins, were pushing one another for that bonus.

From the Grand Junction Sentinel - Click here to read the rest of the story.

Women's winner Keri Nelson strides to the finish.

Women's winner Keri Nelson and new course record holder Tim Parr after the race.

Marty Wacker (15th) checks his watch at the line.

Beth Rintz (3rd woman) leaves the pounding downhill behind her.

Long shadows lead the way to the finish.

Anna Lieb finishes as the fourth female in 3:00:12.

All photos by Bernie Boettcher