Three-peat

PALMER - There are few rewards for the runners in the Alaska Mountain Running Grand Prix series.

Participants test both their physical and mental limitations as they race up and down the mountains around the state. The races also test ones ability to ignore pain. and push aching muscles when they scream out for runners to stop.

&#8220There is usually two high points in a race for participants,” Matanuska Peak Challenge race director Braun Kopsack said. &#8220Getting to the top and crossing the finish line.”

Of all the mountain races in Alaska the Matanuska Peak Challenge, held Saturday, may be the cruelest torture event in the race series.

But unlike the other mountain races in the state, like the Mount Marathon run in Seward, reaching the summit of Lazy Mountain in the Matanuska Peak race just gives you a good view of what lies ahead.

&#8220There is a great view of the valley and Matanuska Peak from the top of the hill,” said Kopsack, a six time winner of the race. &#8220Runners had a chance to plot out their course across the valley and up the next peak.”

After reaching 3,720-foot summit Lazy Mountain, runners race down its backside, then climb the 6,119-foot Matanuska Peak, just to reach the midway point of the race.

Last year Harlow Robinson survived a slippery rain-soaked course for his second straight win. This year he overcame a late departure from his South Anchorage home to register just minutes before the start a get his third-straight victory, finishing in 3 hours, 8 minutes, and 41 seconds.

&#8220Wow, we were running late making arrangements with our two kids this morning and that put us behind,” Robinson said. &#8220I guess you can say the race for me started in Anchorage, with a rush to get out here in time for the start.”

That would make his unofficial time for the race just more than four hours.

Once the race started, Robinson found himself lagging behind the lead pack as they summited Lazy Mountain for the first time. Lead by Barney Griffith, a group of six runners separated themselves from the field to summit the peak in 42 minutes.

&#8220Barney's a great uphill runner. So I wasn't surprised to see him set the pace up the first climb,” Robinson said. &#8220He set a fast pace and I was hurting when I reached the top. I was discouraged and my legs were already tired. Thankfully I was able to recover on the down hill, and the run across the valley to the base of Matanuska.”

Robinson took advantage of his distance racing experience, which helped him win three consecutive Crow Pass Crossing titles, to recover, then pass and separate himself from the other front runners.

His winning time was the fourth-best in race history, behind the record of 3:05:22 set by Brad Precosky in 2000 and Robinson's personal best of 3:06:27 set in 2004. Lance Kopsack has the third best time,

3:07:54.

&#8220I hit the summit of Lazy Mountain at 2:53 on the way back and figured I needed to run down the hill in 12 minutes to have a shot at the record,” Robinson said. &#8220I gave it my best, I guess I didn't have it in me today.”

Second place finisher Geoff Roes surprised everyone when he emerged from the trail for the sprint the finish, across the parking lot at the Lazy Mountain Recreation area. He also surprised himself.

&#8220I can't believe it,” Roes said. &#8220This is the first time I've even seen the trail, so finishing second is a pleasant surprise.”

More surprising was the 15 minute gap between Robinson and Roes, who finished in 3:23.58.

&#8220I just couldn't keep pace with Harlow,” Roes said. &#8220I tired, but he was too strong today.”

Griffith, who lead the race up the first summit, cramped on his way up the back side of Lazy Mountain heading to the finish, forcing him to sit and stretch while several runners went by.

With the victory Robinson kept the list of race winners in the 18 year history of the race to just five names. Braun Kopsack has the most wins with six, followed by his brother Lance who has won the event five times, including a tie with Braun in 1995. Precocky has three wins and Griffith the other two.

Cedar Petrosius, who holds the women's record, added a second victory to her resume in the women's race.

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@

frontiersman.com.