PORT ANGELES — The winds howled but records still fell at this year’s Salt Creek 24 endurance race at the Salt Creek Recreation Area.
The Salt Creek 24 is a 24-hour race in which teams and individuals keep going overnight for 24 hours on a 1.4-mile-long course. Heather Whitlock of Kingston set a women’s record and the overall course record at 112 miles (80 laps).
Three runners cracked 100 miles. Van Phan of Tacoma, a woman, was second at 102.2 miles (73 laps), while Willow Dolde of Langley, running in the non-binary division, was third at 100.8 miles (72 laps).
The top male runner was Rob DeCou of Port Angeles, who completed 58 laps and ran 81.2 miles. He was raising funds for Nor’wester Rotary Club of Port Angeles.
The team winner was GOTR WestSounds, which went 116.2 miles and completed 83 laps. Suns Out Buns Out was second at 103.6 miles (74 laps) and Rain Bears third at 81.2 miles (58 laps). Seven teams and 76 individuals completed the race.
At one point, the race had to be paused for 75 minutes due to dangerous winds.
“The hazardous winds threw a monkey wrench in our Last Runner Standing,” said race director Lorrie Mittmann. “We didn’t get to start this one back up again because the winds sustained up on Striped Peak even as they mellowed down below in the park — making it a Last Runners Standing.”
The winners of the Last Man Standing were Derek Wright of Hood River, Ore., and Joe Pitt of Portland, Ore., for completing 15 summits of Striped Peak for more than 20,000 feet of elevation gain.
“We had to stop the race at midnight for safety reasons. They were ready and enthusiastic to keep going and we would have had an exciting push to the end. Hopefully they will come back next year to try again,” Mittmann said. “We had 16 at the start of the Last Runner Standing, many returning from previous years.”
Salt Creek 24 is put on by race directors Carmen Geyer and Amy German of Rain Bear Running Club and Lorrie Mittmann of Peninsula Adventure Sports, along with Mel Nerheim, the Last Runner Standing Coordinator, and David Buttrey, the 24-hour Food Station Coordinator, and David Mittmann, race timing. There was also a large group of volunteers.
“Watching athletes take on Salt Creek through wind, rain, mud, and steep climbs was incredible. Between the quirky costumes, late-night dance parties, and nonstop food at race central, the energy never stopped,” Geyer said. “These runners showed grit, heart, and humor lap after lap. Endurance athletes really are a different breed.”
The race raised about $5,000 for various charities with more donations coming in. This year funds were raised for Nor’wester Rotary, Girls on the Run — Westsound Chapter, local racer Trisha Haggerty, who finished third among the women at 71.4 miles, for Peninsula Dispute Resolution Center, Ainsley’s Angels — West Sound Chapter and Old Dog Haven.
The Title Sponsor was Welly’s Real Fruit Ice Cream. Presenting sponsors were Olympus Plumbing and Buena Luz Bakery. Community Partners North Olympic Healthcare Network and Port of Port Angeles. Other sponsors included Swain’s General Store, Fairview Lake Studios, Peninsula Bottling and Gordy’s Pizza.
