Annual Race to Robie Creek a Run to Remember

The Race to Robie Creek, the “toughest half marathon in the Northwest,” took place beneath a sunny, blue-sky spring canopy on Saturday. Between 2,000 and 3,000 hardcore “crazies” ran up and down Aldape Summit in a 13.1-mile course — one of the steepest racing courses — to then cross over the finish line at Robie Creek. The “up” part is 2,100 feet in elevation, where runners typically trudge through snow-pack up top, and then go down a brutal 1,700-foot descent. There were 2,119 runners registered, 1,892 finishers, 16 who signed up did not finish.

Top race winners include: Nathanial Souther, 26, with the first-place winning time of 1 hour, 18 minutes and 5.4 seconds. Second place was 23-year-old Brett Flerchinger with a running time of 1:20:16.3, and Tyler Gehrs, 33, with a time of 1:22:03.7. The top three female runners were: Danielle Marquette, 39, with a time of 1:28:33.7; Taylor Deal, 29, in 1:30:54.7; and Franny Zander, 31 coming in with a time of 1:34:05.7. All of the top race winners were from Boise except for Marquette (Nampa) and Deal, who hails from Anchorage, Alaska.

In addition, Feliks Padzan, 83, of Meridian, was the oldest finisher, finishing in second place in his age group. Mary Shaw and Susan Smith, both 75 of Boise, were first- and second-place winners, respectively, in their age group. The youngest runners were Boiseans Owen Chojnacky and Crosby Myers, both age 12.

For full race results, go to the Race to Robie Creek website at runsignup.com .

BEFORE

A definite party atmosphere could be felt while the runners gathered at Fort Boise for the race’s start.

This year, the theme was Dia De Los Muertos Run to Remember and part of the opening festivities included Mariachi Tleyotltzin De Nampa, Idaho, and the Ballet Folklorico Mexico Lindo Idaho dancers as well as Carmel n the Closers.

The race was held in memory of a number of Robie runners now gone, including Race to Robie Creek legendary founder Jon Robertson, who passed away Nov. 2, 2023 at age 81. He organized the very first race up Aldape Summit.

Since then, the race has become an annual rite-of-spring event, organized by a loyal group of volunteers who call themselves “The Sail Toads.”

This year’s theme, “Dia De Los Muertos,” was chosen to honor and celebrate Robertson and the other members who have passed in recent years. “It’s a way, we thought, that would bring everybody in the community together, to honor Jon and other members respectfully,” said Race Director Cinnia Kitterman.

A Dia De Los Muertos altar to honor those who had passed was set up at Fort Boise Park, the official starting place for the race. One of the runners knelt to sign one of the brightly colored prayer flags attached to the altar that bore the name “Craig Stein.”

“We love you,” wrote his sister, Teri Stein. Her brother, Craig Stein, had just recently passed away only two weeks ago, she said. “I’m walking for my brother,” said Teri Stein, who added this was her first Robie race.

In addition to honoring Robertson and Stein, the race was also dedicated in memoriam for other Robie runners including: original Sail Toads Raliegh Jensen and Gene Drabinski and former Sail Toads Darrin Gumm and Scott Kerr.

Prior to the start of the race, their names were called out and their stories told by Jack Caper and Brian Rencher, whose voices wavered at times with emotion. Finally, as the crowd was reminded that “we’re all here today because of Jon Robertson,” they were called to join in to give the race’s founder “a hip-hip-hooray.” It was a cheer he’d never gotten in life but one the announcer said he’d wished for. Then, the band and dancers took to the stage as 7-foot-tall puppets fashioned in the Dia de los Muertos-style stood at the start.

“Runners, take the line!”

“The race begins when the marigolds fly!”

The band and dancers culminated with loud popping sounds as hand-held canisters of marigolds were “exploded,” starting the race.

Runners wound around Fort Boise and then headed up and up.

AFTER

Those who braved the course came out on the other side and were rewarded well with a huge party including a live band, awards, free beer and free food from Life’s Kitchen. Winning times were called out in between live music by Tejano Outlaw, and runners and their friends and family plopped down on the grass basking in the sun — and the glory of having run one of the gnarliest of races.

Ammon Clark, 22, from Bountiful, Utah, ran with his fiancé Goldie Mumford. Clark, who is no stranger to marathons — “I’ve got an Ironman next week,” he said — added the Race to Robie Creek is different. “No other race is like this.”

Kitterman said the race is always a huge endeavor and she gave a shoutout to all the volunteers. “I cannot reiterate enough our deep gratitude for our amazing sponsors,” Kitterman wrote in an email, “Winco provides ALL the food, Simplot donates potatoes, etc., our phenomenal volunteers and the incredible participants that make this race a true community event.”

GIVING TO CHARITY, DEMANDING EXCELLENCE

It’s The Sail Toads (official name: The Rocky Canyon Sail Toads, Ink.), an all-volunteer 501©(3) nonprofit, who organize the annual event and, over the years, have given more than $1.2 million to countless local and even international organizations and charities — the Hannabou Community Center School in Morocco was built with Sail Toad money. Last year alone, they gave $75,000 to 50 recipients.