Drymax Sports: Drymax Athletes Fast At Lake Sonoma 50 & Umstead 100

Drymax athletes continue to throw down some serious performances at elite races early in the year as everyone is tuning up for big races later in the season.

This past weekend at the Umstead 100 Mile Race in North Carolina Drymax sponsored Night Owl Racing member Zach Gingerich smashed the existing course record by over an hour and fifteen minutes with a mind blowing time of 13 hours 23 minutes 02 seconds. Are you kidding me? That is a pace of 8:01 minute miles for 100 miles! Watch for Zach to be a serious contender at this year's 135 Mile Badwater race.

On the women's side Drymax athlete Jill Perry broke her own course record by about four minutes with an incredible time of 15 hours 58 minutes 16 seconds. Jill had perfect feet after the race wearing the Drymax Maximum Protection socks. About Drymax Jill said, "Most people will say (especially those who do not run crazy distances), what is the big deal about socks? If you want your feet to be happy...those little motors to keep you going and going...you need to have ROCKSTAR SOCKS! My Drymax socks are ROCKIN' and I am so thankful for how they amaze me every time to deliver me with no blisters as I cross the line of finish crazy miles." Jill continued, "Thank you Thank you Thank you... for once again, delivering my feet to the finish line, happy and dry and ready to BRING IT ON again for the next race...and you bet I will!" To hear more about Jill's Umstead Drymax sock review take a look at her blog: http://jillperry5.blogspot.com/2010/04/lets-talk-about-some-rockin-sockin.html

A special congratulations goes out to Drymax runner Tony Portera for breaking the 20 hour barrier with a spectacular time of 19 hours 24 minutes 46 seconds for an overall finish of 18th place! Fellow Drymax team member Rick Gaston was there to pace and successfully assist Tony to his impressive goal. Tony wore the Drymax Maximum Protection socks and stated simply, "Thanks for another blister free 100!!"

On a side note check out the current Drymax Women Team Members and their results at Umstead over the years:

2010 Jill Perry 1st Woman 5th overall 15:58:16 course record zero blisters wearing Drymax

2009 Jill Perry 1st Woman 3rd overall 16:02:27 course record zero blisters wearing Drymax

2008 Jamie Donaldson 1st Woman 2nd overall 16:21:10 course record zero blisters wearing Drymax

2007 Jamie Donaldson 1st Woman 2nd overall 16:56:06 course record pre-Drymax

2006 Connie Gardner 1st Woman 2nd overall 17:13:15 course record pre-Drymax

2005 Connie Gardner 1st Woman 2nd overall 18:09:27 pre-Drymax

2004 Olga Varlamova 1st Woman 3rd overall 18:46:03 pre-Drymax

2002 Connie Gardner 1st Woman 6th overall 17:21:38 course record pre-Drymax

Crosby-Helms Crossing The Finish With Suzanna Bon Holding the Tape

On the west coast Drymax wearer and Solomon team member Devon Crosby-Helms broke the course record, formerly held by Drymax athlete Suzanna Bon, with a time of 8 hours 26 minutes 53 seconds. About her Drymax socks, "Thanks so much! My feet were great despite being dunked in water (up to my knee and thigh some times) every other mile or so. I had one blood blister but it was from a pinch from a callus not from the water. Socks were amazing!" Devon wore the Drymax Lite Trail Running Mini Crew Socks.

Fellow Drymax wearer and La Sportiva athlete Nathan Yanko took second behind Hal Koerner in the overall/men's division with a time of 7 hours 24 minutes 15 seconds. About his experience with Drymax socks during the race Yanko stated, "There was a lot of water and mud to run through this weekend. Every time my shoes started to dry out there was another creek, or mud puddle to be run through (tons of fun). The socks treated me great, not a blister to be had...."

Finishing 2nd behind Helms in the women's division was Drymax athlete Caren Spore in a time of 8 hours 41 minutes 51 seconds. About her race in Drymax Caren said, "After 12 full creek crossings (wet feet all day) my feet were fine. Even though I ended up running in an ancient pair of shoes with half the foam lining on the inside worn out..."

Two spots behind Caren was Drymax/Wasatch Speedgoat Kelly Ridgway in fourth completing the course in 9 hours 08 minutes 48 seconds. After the race she shared her experience with Drymax socks by stating, "I wore the thick orange socks (Drymax Maximum Protection), the same ones I wore in Costa Rica and my feet were perfect. I wish I would have taken a picture of them right after the race, but I was too tired to think! No hot spots, no blisters!!"

Following up in sixth place, after an of course excursion, was Drymax athlete Meredith Terranova in a time of 9 hours 22 minutes 18 seconds. Meredith's feet were "perfect feet as usual!!", according to her husband Paul, after wearing Drymax Hot Weather Socks.

Congratulations to everyone who participated at both events. We were very excited to see so many photos from both events with participants wearing and trusting Drymax socks...

This coming weekend we will be keeping an eye on the Philadelphia 100 Mile race where Drymax athletes Jamie Donaldson, Dan Rose and Alisa Springman will be competing. Oh and David Donaldson will be giving the 100k a go as well...