February 25, 2012.
The 16th annual running of the 8 Tuff Mile race. 8.38 miles from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay. Over 1100 runners register, 938 finished the race. It's steady climb with more ups than downs in the first five miles result in a total elevation gain of 1,400 feet. It's one of the most exciting events on St. John. Thousands of people partake in the race as participants, volunteers and spectators. Each has a place in the success of the event, each has a reason for their involvement and each has a resounding effect on the very popular and competitive state of running as a sport on St. John. The combined efforts of the community have made this race a gem in the world of road racing and an annual event that any St. Johnian can be proud of. The fastest time for 2011 was 46:00, won by a Cincinnati running store associate. He ousted local favorite Jeremy "The Zube" Zuber breaking his record by an astounding 4.48 minutes. It was a silence heard across the island.
The 16th annual running of the 8 Tuff Mile race. 8.38 miles from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay. Over 1100 runners register, 938 finished the race. It's steady climb with more ups than downs in the first five miles result in a total elevation gain of 1,400 feet. It's one of the most exciting events on St. John. Thousands of people partake in the race as participants, volunteers and spectators. Each has a place in the success of the event, each has a reason for their involvement and each has a resounding effect on the very popular and competitive state of running as a sport on St. John. The combined efforts of the community have made this race a gem in the world of road racing and an annual event that any St. Johnian can be proud of. The fastest time for 2011 was 46:00, won by a Cincinnati running store associate. He ousted local favorite Jeremy "The Zube" Zuber breaking his record by an astounding 4.48 minutes. It was a silence heard across the island.
Here's a link to the course:
http://www.8tuffmiles.com/topo.htm
Who is doing all this running? Where are they coming from? Go to:
http://www.8tuffmiles.com/where-from-2012.htm
What do you win? Not much, the most valuable prize is the red neck-ribbon with the bottle opener on it that each runner who crossed the line wears proudly all day.
- The first place overall female will win a cash prize of $300.00
- The first place male will win a $300.00 bar tab
- Every registered entry that completes the course on the morning of the race has a chance to win a $1,000.00 shopping spree at Mongoose Junction
- The 8 Tuff Miles College Scholarships Funds; $4,600.00 will be divided between the 3 youngest age groups
- The top five women and the top five men will win a gift certificate valued at $100.00 from a local St. John restaurant
- Every entrant gets a t shirt!
There will be two 100lb pigs roasted at the awards ceremony. You don't get that at the Boston Marathon!
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| Just Before the Winner |
From the VI Daily News:
ST. JOHN - It's close to midnight under a full moon and Jeremy Zuber, replete with head lamp, is charging up hills.
The 31-year-old St. John resident doesn't care how late he gets off
work or what his body feels like. When the front office manager at
Caneel Bay Resort clocks out each night, another hilly workout is always
waiting for him.
"When I run up to Annaberg and there's a full moon, I always seem to
run into a pack of donkeys, and they are never willing to move," said
Zuber, who has won the annual St. John 8 Tuff Miles Road Race a record
six times and will take aim at a seventh title on Saturday. "It's always
an interesting situation with those donkeys. By that point, I'm not
sure who smells worse, me or them."
Zuber has stepped up his training in recent months because he is
determined to win the popular road race on his island at least one more
time. Even before his impressive win streak started in 2003, the race
has attracted elite runners from across the globe. However, one group
has dominated the race the last two years.
Cincinnati, Ohio, native Cris Reis, 30, won last year's race in a
record time of 46 minutes flat, and he plans to defend his title. Reis
trains with a group dubbed the Cincy-Tucky All-Stars, and the group will
have 20 runners at the start line on Saturday.
"We're not like a real racing team or anything - it's just a clever
name, and we all look forward to this race every year," Reis said by
phone Wednesday from the running store he works at in Cincinnati. "We
make shirts for the race and all that stuff. This year, we even have a
couple coming down that will get married after the race."
Reis, a former University of Cincinnati cross-country and track
runner, finished fourth overall at the Columbus Marathon last October
when he clocked a personal best of 2 hours, 21 minutes and 39 seconds.
He also ran two marathons on back-to-back days in January, but he said
the big race circled on his calendar is this weekend's.
"We have about a dozen guys that work at the running store who are
coming down, so we may be a little light on staff this weekend," Reis
said. "Oh well, this trip has been planned for a while."
Zuber has been on the outside looking in for the last two years.
Thomas Chorny, another member of the Ohio group, won the 2010 race in
record fashion, with Reis taking second.
"I finished third last year, but it was a distant third," said Zuber,
who has run about 40 miles a week on hilly terrain to prepare for
Saturday. "I knew those guys were coming down again. They ran me off the
course. This year has been different. I'm not making any more excuses
this time."
Zuber said there is a little island pride on the line, and he knows
the local community is pulling for him. He said he's more motivated than
ever.
"I've sweat on every inch of this island, so this is a personal
thing," Zuber said. "In the end, it's always going to be a fun day for
St. John because we celebrate fitness, health and friends. But this is a
race like none other, and of course, there's a competitive aspect
involved. I want to defend this island."
St. Thomas resident Ruth Ann David, 38, won the women's division last
year, trimming 24 seconds off her winning time in 2010. She has been
the top female finisher four times - she also took home top honors in
1999 and 2008 - and finished 11th overall last year.
What is her favorite part about 8 Tuff Miles?
"Do I have to be honest?" she asked, jokingly. "My favorite part is when I'm done with the race."
David, who teaches water fitness, said she used different swimming
and cycling training regiments during the last few months to prepare for
the race. She is a three-time winner of the Women's Jogger Jam on St.
Thomas, but she said the annual 2-mile race doesn't even compare.
"Training for this kind of terrain is crazy," she said. "It's all
about using those muscles in a different way. We'll see what happens on
Saturday."
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| Winner Derek Butler |
Ruth Ann David, looking stunning, was the first female runner to finish at one hour and 10 seconds.
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| Ruth Ann David |
The winners will run another 5 miles just for fun. I saw Butler running barefoot.
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| The Zube |
For me, seeing the top runners is the highlight of the race. Their athleticism is moving, their determination and stamina is impressive. The runners who come in with the pack timing around 1-2 hours are even more impressive because they represent an attainable goal. As the crowd applauds them you think "I could do this!" I admit I'm biased for The Zube and want to see him back on top, so seeing him pass by in third was the end of the race for me. He's the epitome of the race. He comes in to the line dry, cool and smiling. He stops to talk to fans, friends and reporters. He looks like he could do it again. His humble attitude and good nature is representative of what the island is all about. For the remaining crowd, just seeing their friends cross the finish line, whether it's in an hour or 4, makes them all winners.
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