Joe Marchand Monarch HS traverses the course of the inaugural Solepepper Ekiden in Louisville. Photo by Jim Lewis.
You know, it's called Ekiden. Okay, maybe you didn't know; I didn't either. Wikipedia helped me out.
Ekiden is more or less a Japanese take on cross country with a little bit of the relay concept thrown in from track and field for added interest. Informally, it's a cross country relay.
And, on August 1 of this year, former CU distance running great Alan Culpepper had a bunch of high school athletes from in or around Boulder County competing in an Ekiden, practically in his own backyard. In all, about 35 high school students from nine (!) different schools participated.
The course was a 1K loop, negotiated twice on each leg for a total of 8K. The course featured a water obstacle and was contested entirely over grasses and dirt.
For those familiar with what the various teams are bringing to the table this year, it will come as no surprise to learn that Boulder HS dominated the women's race and Monarch HS put the hurt on the field in the men's race.
Maybe this is an idea whose time has come as an early season race alternative?
I have only one thing to say about this start photo: I hope the "homecoming royalty" sashes were strictly ornamental and that the runners got to discard them shortly after the photo was taken. That, and it looks like the runner from Monarch has his starting technique in mid-season form already. Photo by Jim Lewis (I believe that would be Sam Lewis of Boulder HS on the far left).