Mader Continues Alabama Win Streak

Brandon Mader has completed his primary training for the upcoming XTERRA Trail Run World Championship in Hawaii. It consisted of winning every race in the XTERRA Alabama Trail Run Series.

Mader's latest victory came last weekend at the XTERRA Oak Mountain Trail Run at Pelham, Ala. He completed the 21-kilometer course in 1 hour, 25 minutes, 3 seconds.

"The weather was solid - a steady rain was expected but we had only a few showers in the middle of the race," said Mader, who is 26 and from Huntsville, Ala. "Also, the temperature cooperated and stayed above 50. The course was spectacular … miles 1 through 5 were shear climbs/descents in the valleys south of the lake, then 6 through 9 circled the lake, while 10 and 11 (and the 7 minutes tentatively marked as miles 12
and 13) wound through the flats with a relentless series of sharp curves."

Cody Moore, a 17-year-old high school student in Huntsville, placed second with a time of 1:31:45.

Ina Ables of Vestavia, Ala., was the first female finisher with a time of 1:37:57. Kristin Espiau of Pensacola, Fla., was second in 1:40:32.

Mader said he ran with Moore for the first half of the race, and offered the young runner encouragement before taking off on his own for the second half.

The Oak Mountain Trail Run was the third race of the 2010-11 season in the Alabama Series. Mader won all three races, and now has his sights set on Hawaii for the XTERRA World Championship race.

He noted that each race in the Alabama Series offered unique challenges, from the steep climbs at Cheaha, to the rocky trails and tough footing at Monte Sano, then the rolling hills at Oak Mountain.

"I think the series creates a variety of challenges because the three locations are fundamentally different from each other." Mader said. "The efforts (series director) Tim Schroer and Dirty Spokes Productions put into organizing and executing the series really make it worth while."

The Oak Mountain Trail Run was the last scheduled race for the Alabama Series, although race directors may try to schedule another race in 2011. For updates on the Alabama Series, visit www.xterratrailrun.com or www.dirtyspokes.com.

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