Sawyer Mt. Trail Run, 27 Miles

July 1, 2001. The Sawyer Mountain Trail Run in the Gila National Forest near Hillsboro NM had 3 starters and 2 finishers. Race director and 2:25 marathoner Mark Dorion of El Paso won in 7:01. I was second in 8:11. The race was at 7000-10,000 ft. altitude, with climbs up 10,000 ft. Hillsboro Peak and 10,000 ft. Sawyer Mountain.

I might have broken 8 hours except that I ran a "bonus mile" near the end. I thought something was wrong when I went down a steep canyon on bad trail and was running toward the afternoon sun when I should have been going north. Oops, get out the map and compass. Mark supplied the maps, which was a good thing because the course was not marked.

Mark Dorion leads the Sawyer Mountain Trail Run, wisely carrying enough water to get through the 5 hours it will take to reach the first aid station (his tent) at 15 miles.