Ninja     Endurance     Racing

Alan Carreno and Alejandro Belmares represented NER during the summer months locally and out of state with some blazing performances.

Alan kicked off his summer racing with back to back events in Durango, Colorado on May 25-26. The first being a 48 mile bicycle race where he placed 8th in the 18-34 age category. The following day, Alan ran the Narrow Gauge 10 mile race that features a mile long climb with an elevation profile of 6% 8 miles into the event. Alan would place second overall in 1:00:35.

Two weeks later at the City Impact Beachfront 10k, Alejandro Belmares would set the course record en route to a 34:44 winning time. Alejandro's time would be 51 seconds faster than the runner up, as well as his second win in the 10k distance this season.

That same weekend Sierra DeGroff competed in the Squaw Peak 50 Mile Trail Race. The race held in Utah would be the host of the 50 mile trail US Championships. Sierra would cover the course in 12:28:22, on a course featuring over 14,000 feet of elevation gain/loss along with 5 climbs that can be as much as 3,000 feet with snow present.

On July 4th, Alan and Alejandro represented NER at the 4th of July 5k Blast. Alann would place second overall in 16:15, shaving off 18 seconds off his old personal best. Alejandro would place 6th overall in 17:18 and capture third place in the 30-39 age group category.

At the Cypress 10k on July 27th, Alejandro would finish as the 8th male in 35:26, in a race won by Mexico's national record holder in the mile.

Sierra would then compete at the Legends of Cross Country 5k on August 16th. Held at Sunset Park this year, Sierra would cover the 3.1 mile course in 19:08 winning the 25-29 age group and finishing as the fourth female overall.

On August 24th in Manitou Springs Colorado, Alan Carreno would compete at the Pikes Peak Ascension. Alan could place 11th overall in 2:40:56, taking third overall in the 25-29 age group. The Pikes Peak Ascension race features an average gradient of 11% while runners gain more than 7,000 feet of elevation. Temperatures also average in the mid 50s for this event which tells runners to use their flat marathon time as a course estimate.