Running the Thelma and Louise

More than 600 women competed in the second annual Thelma and Louise Half Marathon on Saturday, June 1.

 The race was inspired by the 1991 award-winning film “Thelma and Louise” about two good friends who find themselves on the run—literally and figuratively—and end up in the desert. 

The Thelma and Louise Half Marathon is a women-only race that honors the movie “Thelma and Louise” which was made in the Moab-area in the 1990s.

Portions of the movie “Thelma and Louise” were made in the Moab-area, including the cliff where Thelma and Louise make their final escape at the end of their movie, known locally as both Thelma and Louise Point, or Fossil Point. The road to the point begins at State Route 279 where the race is held.

The race began and ended at Gold Bar Campground on State Route 279, also known as Potash Road. The 13-mile course was an out-and-back race along the Colorado River with only a 20-foot elevation gain.

Sara Petrick, 26, of Tampa, Fla., took first place overall with a time of 1:26:37. Lauren Atkinson, 31, of Moab, took second with a time of 1:32:23. Anna Hogan, 17, of Louisville, Colo., placed third with a time of 1:36:41.

Rounding out the top ten runners include Melissa Gunner, 22, of Provo; Shantell Kaspar, 28, or North Salt Lake; Rachelle Wardle, 27, of Payson; Lizabeth Bynan, 41, of Park City; Robin Blankenbaker, 48, Flagstaff, Ariz., Danielle Bynum, 37, of Delta, Colo.; and Alison Pitt, 36, of Park City.

Twenty-seven Moab-area racers competed in the race. The top ten Moab-area racers and their times included:  Sarah Labrec, 53, placed 66 overall with a time of 1:55:53; Shelley Kasprick, 33, placed 67 overall with a time of 1:56:13; Emily Klarer, 26, placed 76 overall with a time of 1:58:02; Meghan Flynn, 31, placed 87 overall with a time of 1:59:19; Sherry O’Kelley, 50, placed 104 overall with a time of 2:00:07; Melissa Edge, 38, placed 112 overall with a time of 2:01:11;  Mary Mays, 34, placed 119 overall with a time of 2:02:11; Ann Welshko, 46, placed 122 overall with a time of 2:02:32; and Elizabeth Baker, 28, placed 130 overall with a time of 2:03:15. Other Moab-area racers included: Janet Bartolomucci, Jeri Hamilton, Wendy Newman, Helen Thomas, Judie Chrobak-Cox, Mickey Smith, Helen Howard, Nicole Priest, Michelle Peterson, Rachelle Pierce, Doreen Smith, Sarah Lindquist, Lisa Thredgold, Toni George, Janeen Torres, and Susan Stevens.

The Thelma and Louise Half Marathon is one of four races that The Moab Half Marathon organizes each year, including The Other Half in October; Winter Sun 10K in December and the Canyonlands Half Marathon in March.

Tagline: Registration is open for The Other Half to be held Oct. 20. 2500 entries are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Register at moabmarathon.com

Sara Petrick, 1:26:37.

Lauren Atkinson, 1:32:23

Anna Hogan,1:36:41.

Melissa Gunner, 1:38:11

Shantell Kaspar, 1:39:40

Rachelle Wardle, 1:39:40

Lizabeth Bynan, 1:39:58

Robin Blankenbaker, 1:40:52

Danielle Bynum, 1:40:54

Alison Pitt, 1:40:59

Author: Moab Sun News Staff Report

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