Wanderers Rise to Trail Challenge

The Wissahickon Wanderers dispatched their amphibious assault team for this year’s Evansburg Challenge 10-mile trail run on October 25. They returned to Philadelphia after the race laden with silverware.

The field conditions encountered included the following: Two crossings of the 30-yard wide Skippack Creek, numerous streams, various bog holes and many mud flats. Wanderers refused to be deterred. They all finished muddy but successful.

Making up the team were Jeff Hayes, Jen Scales, Megan Boyle, Chris Moore, Matt Palombaro and Rock Steady who traveled the 45 minutes to Evansburg State Park in Collegeville for the event.

Jeff grabbed third place overall in a field of almost 300 runners. Jeff was timed in 1:03:59, a mere 40 seconds off the winning time and won first place in the 40-49 age group. Matt finished eigth overall in a time of 1:08:51 and captured fourth in the 20-29 age group. Both received medals for the performances.

Chris finished 33rd in 1:15:35. A gap between Wanderer runners followed with Rock finishing 148th in 1:32:51, followed by Jen in 201st in 1:41:18 and Megan in 213th in 1:43:02.

Lack of experience out on the course might have hurt the Wanderers. Rock when he encountered calf-deep water elected to walk across the Skippack Creek. He paid the price for his caution by being passed by at least four competitors running full tilt across the creek. “I won’t make that mistake again,” Rock commented.

The Evansburg Challenge, because of the demanding course, should become a fixture on the Wanderers race calendar.