Kipngetich and Garcia Meet the Challenge of the Sunset Stampede

By Gary Glancy, reprinted from Runner’s World Website, May 2003

David Kipngetich and Robin Rodgers had heard all about the inaugural Sunset Stampede’s difficult terrain, but it took an actual gallop of their own up the 10-mile course’s two mountains last Saturday in Asheville, NC to fully appreciate the brutality for which they signed on.

“It was much worse than I had ever imagined,” said Rodgers, 34, who in January moved to the equally mountainous town of Boone, NC, about 90 minutes northeast of Asheville, by way of Atlanta.  “It was five miles straight up.”

Rodgers climbed the first half of the race-up Town Mountain Road and over Patton Mountain- with Kipngetich by his side.  But shortly after the five-mile descent began, the Kenyan made a move and pulled away for a 53 second victory in 52:10.  Rodgers was second in 53:03.  Graham Cocksedge of Gastonia, NC, finished third in 54:28, while local standout Bill Baldwin (55:09) and Curtis Gadula (56:43) of Chattanooga, TN, rounded out the top five.

Atlanta’s Donna Garcia, 35, a 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, ran alone the whole way and easily won the women’s race in 1:03:12. 

Kipngetich, who moved to the U.S. in March to race here full-time and now lives in Chapel Hill, NC, made the four-hour drive and arrived three hours before the unique 5 p.m. start.  He saw Rodgers warming up before the start and figured he’d have a battle.

“I tried to stay with (Rodgers going up the two mountains), but then around six miles I tried to push,” Kipngetich said.  “I knew then that there was no problem- it was all downhill.”

“I thought going uphill he was hurting worse than he was,” said Rodgers, a massage therapist working with elite runners at ZAPFitness training center.  “But when we crested the hill and started coming down, I realized he was pretty fresh.

“We were together at the very top, and then he made his move.  He must have thrown in a 4:30 mile or something, and he gapped me immediately by about 150 meters within that mile.”

Still, it was the constant barrage of winding uphills that caused a smile to crease the face of Kipngetich afterward, as he rolled his eyes in describing it.  “I liked the race,” he said.  “The way it was organized-excellent.  But the problem was the course; it was so hard.  Out of all the events that I’ve run, I think this was the toughest.”

So why did he and Garcia and all the others say they would most likely be back next year?

Well, rookie race director Becky Upham, a mother of three, devoted the past year to bringing a first-class event to Asheville, and she delivered in a big way.  The day started with a health fair at downtown’s Grove Arcade, complete with music, belly dancers, and folks donning cowboy hats to go along with the events theme.  Nearly 800 runners-from as far as away as California, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin- signed up for the 10 miler and 4-mile, which began together, and the 1-mile Kid Stampede.

Afterward, three live bands entertained the runners and their families near the finish line at City-County Plaza.  There was also plenty of free food, in addition to a chili cook-off with the $5 donation benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the $3 plastic pint cups of pale ale and amber ale flowed from the super-quality taps of Highland Brewing Co.

It was the kind of event that has drawn Garcia out of competitive inactivity following her bronze medal with the U.S. Cross Country Team at the 2000 World Championships in Portugal.

“I walked away after 2000,” said Garcia, who was burned out from the combination of racing and a full-time position as an account executive with Pepperidge Farm.  “Then this past October I got back out and I haven’t quit since.  I’ve been like, ‘That’s it, I’m going to keep setting different goals.’  I’m having a great time and looking for races like this one where it’s event related, so I’m not just going out and running a race and that’s it.”

Garcia took in Asheville’s herb festival at the huge Farmers Market earlier in the day, and was planning a mountain hike with husband Richard the day after.  She also took home the top prize of $750 for men’s and women’s overall winner.

But, as she said, she earned every penny.

“The course is so hard,” Garcia said.  “We had driven it (by car) and my husband was the lead cyclist and he went out for a test ride.  He came back and said, ‘Donna, the car was one thing, but on the bike it is bad.

“I was thinking I’d be throwing in some 8-minute miles, but I think my slowest mile was like 7:30.”  Terri Bradley, 34, of Fayetteville, NC, was second in 1:06:29, while Asheville’s Patti Frederick-Enloe (1:08:00), Maureen Kavanagh (1:08:51) and Michelle Richardson (1:09:44) went 3-4-5.

“I know I’m not super-fit yet,” Garcia said, “but I mean, 1:03 on this course…I’m totally happy with that.”