2016 Winter Title and Course Record Shared

Wellford ties two-day old record with only hours to spare

On Saturday, Jason Fiegl made history.  Monday, history repeated itself!

Trail running specialist and 2013 Patch Sprint Champion Jan Wellford equaled Fiegl's two-day old winter Patch Sprint record of 2:36:11.  Wellford performed a solo, unsupported effort, leaving his car at the base of Pok-O and doing a 41/2 mile "warm-up" jog back to the pillars, prior to starting the attempt.

The run was done in the late afternoon-early evening  Although the first day of spring for 2016 was on Sunday, March 20, the Patch Sprint observes the same rules as the Adirondack 46ers, recognizing any attempt performed between December 21 and March 21 as a winter effort.

"I'd been thinking about a winter sprint for the last couple of weeks, I'd forgotten that the 21st still counts as winter but when I saw the post about Fiegl's run I got motivated and quickly packed my stuff for an evening attempt.  I parked at Pok-O then ran to the pillars as a warm up, starting the clock at5:51pm."

Wellford currently owns records for fastest time for the ADK 46 (3 days, 17 hours)... Fastest unsupported 46 (8 days)... Most 46ers in one day (24).  He previously held the records for fastest traverse of New Hampshire's Presidential Range, and fastest Patch Sprint.

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FIEGL JOINS IN:
Click READ MORE link for details, and additional quotes on Monday's record-tying attempt.

Fiegl (left), Wellford

Here's more from Wellford, who was joined by Jason Fiegl midway through the run:

"I planned to go as hard as I could, but hadn't looked at splits or anything so I was just going by feel. Hamstrings were bothering me from the start from a long run on Saturday, but I think my splits were pretty good for Bare (10:40) and Rattlesnake (31:30).

​"I was on the road near camp when who should I see running toward me but Fiegl! He had seen my post and scrambled to come meet me. It was a huge mental pickup to run with him, and he joined me up Sugarloaf then kindly led the descent as it was getting dark. He headed home at Fiegalley and I continued by headlamp. My Sugarloaf split was 49:00 and I topped out about five minutes ahead of his Saturday time."

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A bit of fatigue, as well as a show of sportsmanship to his friend led Wellford to tie the record in the end.  

"Fiegalley in the dark was tough and I walked a lot, then bonked pretty hard on Pok-O. As I approached the top I could tell my time was going to be almost exactly the same as Jay's, so I looked at my watch and touched the tower at 2:36:11 exactly for a tie. Fiegl is running strong, I pushed hard and didn't have anything left to give!" 

Wellford is registered for the 2016 Patch Sprint, May 28.  He will tune-up for the race at the Boston Marathon in April.

A mild winter has led to great trail conditions, minimal gear (left), and PR's for nearly all of the record eight winter finishers (SEE RECORDS HERE)