ALL SMILES
– Wilson Hoogendorn smiles as he approaches the summit of the Anvil Mountain Race Saturday morning.
Seventeen-year-old Tobin Hobbs ran to victory in the 44th edition of the annual Fourth of July Anvil Mountain Run. The 11.25- mile race starts at Nome’s City Hall and runs to the summit of Anvil Mountain, elevation 1,134 feet. It was Hobbs’ fourth running of the race and his first victory. Last year he was second. His winning time was 1:20:08.
The race has been promoted from the beginning by former mayor Leo Rasmussen and his wife Erna. At a pre-race meeting at council chambers, Rasmussen warned the runners to be careful of bears. He detailed the number of musk oxen eaten by bears so far this season as evidence that the hungry alpha predators are in the hood. But in the 44-year history of the run there’s never been even an incident with a bear. “The bears seem to drift off for berries or something else and we’ve been very fortunate over 44 years that we’ve never had any close calls,” said Rasmussen.
“It felt pretty good to be out front,” said Hobbs. He described the hill as “gruesome” and said it was hot. Clouds drifted about near the summit and the runners were in and out of them. Wearing a heart rate monitor gave Hobbs information about how hard he was working. He wanted to avoid working his body too hard on what was supposed to be an easy day in his training cycle. His maximum heart rate later in the season should be around 210 or 211 he said. In the race he stayed in the high 180s. At the finish he said he planned to stay for the street games and have a lot of fun. High school cross country season starts in about six weeks and Tobin should be in good form for it.
This year’s women’s winner was Crystal Toolie, who finished with a respectable 1:52:14. Oliver Hoogendorn, last year’s winner, was second among the men with 1:26:09. “It’s always tough from here to the hill and then once you get to the top it’s more fun,” said Hoogendorn at the finish. At the summit he was smiling as he accepted a drink from Anvil Rock checkpoint monitor John Handeland. His brother Wilson was third with 1:34:11.
According to Leo Rasmussen the biggest ever field for the race was 55 runners. “It was incredible trying to check them in as they finished the race,” he said.
Seven runners started and all finished. There was one dog who was not an official entry who also completed the race.
Results
Men
1. Tobin Hobbs, 1:20:08
2. Oliver Hoogendorn 1:26:09
3. Wilson Hoogendorn 1:34:11
4. Nathaniel Olson 1:56:48
5. Travis McQueen 2:52:56
Women
1. Crystal Toolie 1:52:14
2. Carol Seppilu 2:16:59