The refreshing cool spell could not have happened at a better time for the 38 ultrarunners who toed the starting line for the first stage of the Chattanooga Mountains Stage Race on Friday.
The cool temperatures were the key element for the fast times for the 22-mile trail race that covered ground from Lula Lake Land Trust to Covenant College and back.
The runners ran on mostly rough single-track trail with four steep climbs, narrow passages through dense woods and rock outcroppings, several stream crossings and navigation over, or around numerous fallen trees.
The worst injury came from the overall winner, Michael Green (2:40) who failed to dodge a fallen tree and received several cuts on his side.
Only three guys were able to complete the course faster than the overall woman's winner Jaclyn Greenhill (2:58).
Stage two of the three-day event kicks off at 8 a.m. at the Laurel Point parking lot on Raccoon Mountain.
Officials said this race will be mild compared to Friday's stage with a relatively flat 18-mile course. Due to the fact that this is a popular mountain biking destination, the trails are mostly free from fallen trees and are wider than most trails. Although this is the easy stage, the prudent runners will be taking it easy for the 20-mile stage on Sunday on Signal Mountain on perhaps the most difficult trail in the area.
For more information on the stage race, go to www.rockcreek.com/stagerace.
Michael Green 2:40:09
Matt Sims 2:46:54
Jonathan Warner 2:48:06
Jaclyn Greenhill F1 2:58:12
John Wiygul 3:02:37
Scott Griffith 3:02:41
Johnny Pryor 3:04:38
Sal Coll 3:05:18
Chad Wamack 3:08:26
Clay Warner 3:09:39
Jimmy Turner 3:09:45
Lisa Purul F2 3:12:30
Paul Brannon 3:12:44
William Warner 3:17:25
Dana Overton F3 3:17:30
Stephen Smith 3:26:23
Kathleen Cusick F4 3:26:24
Natalie Sims F5 3:28:51
Matt Karzen 3:29:20
Rustan Adcock 3:31:35
Rich Kepple 3:31:36
David Tosch 3:40:37
Sarah Woerner F6 3:42:40
Mike Hopton 3:45:51
JoAnna Crooks F7 4:02:37
Brian Crooks 4:02:37
Lisa Arnold F8 4:03:07
Jay Remko 4:12:24
Michael O'Melia 4:24:46
Larry Rigsby 4:25:55
Eunika Rogers F9 4:43:49
Michael Montgomery 5:01:50
Larry Lyda 5:01:59
Randal Whorton 5:15:22
Rob Apple 5:24:58
Diane Taylor F10 5:24:58
Lisa Fisher 5:24:58.