St. Croix, US Virgin Islands –

Registration has begun for the second annual St. Croix Scenic 50 mile ultramarathon to be held on January 23, 2011. The race is organized in cooperation with the Virgin Islands PACE Runners and will be hosted once again by The Buccaneer. With St. Croix’s obvious beauty, challenging terrain, and wonderful community support this homegrown endurance challenge has become an instant classic, making it onto Thoos.com’s list of “Top 100 Ultramarathons” at number 45!

The course will remain the same as last year taking participants from Fort Christiansvaern to Fort Frederik over St. Croix's Scenic Drive revealing many of the island's most breathtaking vistas.  Once in Frederiksted runners will return along the same route and then finish at the Mermaid Beach of The Buccaneer.  The race will begin at 5 a.m., and runners will have until 7:30 p.m. to complete the fifty mile journey. There will be improvements to the event this year, including additional aid stations to accommodate many more runners on a course defined as much by the heat and hills as by its beauty. There are also plans for live music on the course courtesy of local rock band Dick’s Garage whose performance at the 2010 St. Croix Ironman 70.3 race in May was enjoyed by many competitors.

For more information on running in, volunteering for, watching or sponsoring this incredible event go to http://www.stcroix50.com

Since moving to St. Croix, I have expanded my ultrarunning cross training to include triathlon and serve on the board of the Virgin Islands Triathlon Federation.  I recently wrote a few words for our monthly newsletter describing what interests me about endurance sports, and since it relates to ultrarunning I am posting it here also:

Why I Tri

by Matt Halk

The anecdotal answer to why I enjoy triathlons is because of ultrarunning.  Living in Colorado in 2006, I crewed for a runner in the Leadville 100 “Race Across the Sky” and was hooked.  I had to have more of what I had experienced, and two weeks later, I entered the Tenderfoot Triathlon.  It was “Awesome!” followed by “What’s next?”

Next, came two years of running hundreds of miles through the majestic Rocky Mountains followed by move to beautiful St. Croix, which is only twenty some miles at its longest.  Running had yet to go “ultra” on St. Croix, but the triathlon community shared many of the qualities that had drawn me to ultrarunning.  So like many others who are joining the sport, I became a triathlete.

Sure, the sport is growing fast, but what is that “energy” that surrounds endurance events?  For me, the answer is twofold: the competitive physical challenge and the fun!  In a world where we are increasingly stationary and often staring at a screen, I personally need the childish joy of running, riding and splashing my worries away to stay sane.  The disciplines of triathlon promote body awareness and provide a common experience through which I can bond with people from all walks of life, ages and abilities.  I tri… to feel alive and connect with life.  See you out there!