The new owner of Shut-In
“Dad, someday I’m gonna win this thing.”
That’s what 4 year old Shiloh Mielke (above) had to say in 1984, after watching the first of Shut-In legend, Adam Pinkston’s, many wins.
23 years later, Shiloh is the new owner of one of the nation’s most punishing trail races.
On Saturday, November 3rd, Mielke, a member of the Teva US mountain running team, faced off against Arron Saft, the newly crowned US trail marathon champion. It stacked up to be a battle royal with foot speed going to Saft and trail experience going to Mielke.
In the end, it was all Mielke, as he laid back, planning one big move in the closing miles of the course that parallels the Blue Ridge Parkway between Asheville and Mt. Pisgah. Knowing the final, grueling, 2-mile push up from Hwy 151 would be the deciding factor, Mielke wisely let Saft pull a few seconds ahead by halfway…before surging on the final climb for the win, his 2:16:59 ripping 4 minutes from his own course record. Saft finished in 2:19:31, also under the old record. Mielke’s win gives him 3 straight victories and a firm grasp of ownership on this classic race.
The ladies’ race proved equally entertaining as defending champion Meadow Tarves (at right) and newcomer Amber Moran stayed
close together for most of the race…In the end, Moran’s superior speed told the tale as she took the win (2:54:06) in only her first attempt on the course. Tarves also broke 3 hours (2:58:34) for second while new mother of 4 months and Black Dome trail running team member, Karen Masson, showed she is returning to form with a 3rd place showing (3:16:16)
Other Black Dome athletes included Frankie Adkins (3rd 2:34), Jay Curwen (6th 2:47), Mark Ledyard (12th 2:52), Dwight Shuler (41st 3:17) and Clint Speigel (4:21)
Sponsors For the 28th annual Shut-In Trail Run included Black Dome Mountain Sports, Jus Running, the Blue Ridge Parkway and many others…
Visit www.shutinridgerun.com for more information including full results!
