Sisters athletes shine in Pole Pedal Paddle

PPP Athletes (left-right): Aubyn Geser, Anna Morton, Rebecca Morton, Karen Mansker, Kelly Morton, Jaqui Zenck, Sue Burck, Elizabeth Dale, Maren Burck, Marigrace Marshall and Cathy Marshall. Photo provided

Sisters athletes left a mark on the winners' board at Pole Pedal Paddle on Saturday, May 17.

The Sisters Trail Runners -- a team of women who run together regularly from a base in Buck Run -- won their age 40-44 division in the six-event race with a time of 2:17.

Perhaps more satisfying, they also beat the time accumulated by a team composed mostly of their teenage daughters. The girls also did well, placing second in their age division with a 2:32 time.

Elise Gourguechon and Danni Supplee of team Las Pistoleras celebrate their victory. Photo provided

The Nugget's own Elise Gourguechon and her racing partner Danni Supplee -- Las Pistoleras -- won the women's pairs 24-35 division with a time of 2:41:14.

They didn't enter the race with any expectations other than doing the best they could.

"We're just surprised -- dumbfounded, really," Gourguechon said.

Rebecca Morton said the Sisters Trail Runners "had a really fantastic day."

Morton, Sue Burck, Karen Mansker, Cathy Marshall, Jaqui Zenck and Maureen Lewis each have different athletic interests and skills, Morton said.

"We figured together we'd make a pretty strong team," she said.

The event involves six distinct endeavors: alpine and nordic skiing, bicycling, running, kayaking and sprinting. Complete teams divide the event into one discipline apiece; pairs trade off.

Renee Perin of Sisters entered the race as an individual, tackling all the disciplines singlehandedly.

Mini PPP winners...

The fourth grade Little Outlaws took top honors in a field of 42 teams in the Kids' Mini Pole, Pedal Paddle on Sunday, May 18. (Back l-r): Austin Williams, Scott Everson, Chelsie McConville. (Front): Scotty Bowen, Colby Gilmore, Marcus Arends. Photo provided

The event attracts elite athletes and regular folks alike.

Supplee, for example, never thought of herself as an athlete.

"I was anti-athletic," she said. "I wasn't good at anything."

She started bicycling and running for fitness, not with competition in mind.

"I just wanted to be in the best shape I could be," she said.

Gourguechon said she has been bitten by the racing bug and wants to do more.

"I definitely like the racing atmosphere and the excitement in the air, being around a lot of people trying to perform to their personal best," she said.

"Mostly we had a really good time doing it," Gourguechon said. "That's the most important thing -- it was fun and exciting."