The Annual UNM/E&PS Mt. Taylor Challenge
The Mt. Taylor Quadrathalon
Grants, NM - A February tradition.

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What is the Quadrathalon?
The Quad is an event hosted each year by the city of Grants, NM. There are four race segments, comprising a bicycle leg, a running leg, a cross-country ski leg, and a snowshoe leg. Over 500 individuals and teams enter the competition, which in 2001 saw its 18th year. UNM Geology first challenged students to the race (described below) in 1999. Graduate and undergraduate teams rose to the challenge. In 2000, the competition was extremely close, with the faculty edging out the graduate students by only one minute in the nearly 4 hour event! See below for a few pictures of 'the early years'.

Biking
Racers start with a thirteen mile bike ride on paved road. The course winds through the streets of Grants and begins the 1,800 foot climb from desert cactus to ponderosa pine.

Running
At the end of the paved road, bikes are parked and racers must run the next five miles on gravel roads. The road generally starts out dry but usually turns to snow pack. This part of the course will climb 1,200 feet in elevation.

Cross Country Skiing
Runners then turn to cross-country skis to challenge the next 1,200 foot climb of the mountaineering ski course that covers two miles. During the final yards of this course you must face the notorious "Heart Break Hill" that lies waiting for weary racers.

Snowshoeing
The remaining one mile climb on snowshoes gains 600 feet to reach the 11,301 foot summit of Mt. Taylor here a person can see for over one hundred miles on a clear day.

Two Times!
The race is only half over. You must reverse the four events and race the 22 miles back to the Start/Finish line.

1999 Participants UNM Faculty: Frank Pazzaglia, Zachary Sharp, Karl Karlstrom, Laurie Crossey Time: 4 hrs 36 min Result: 3rd Male/Female(MF) 40-49 age group UNM Graduate Students: Marlo Miklos, Claudia Borchert, Colin Shaw, Dave Mitchell Time: 4 hrs 44 min Result: UNM Undergraduates (clockwise from right): James Ashby, 'the secret weapon', Liz Langenberg, John Whalen Time: 5 hrs 09 min Result:
2000 Participants UNM Faculty: Tobias Fischer, Zachary Sharp, Karl Karlstrom, Laurie Crossey Time: 3 hrs 59 min Result: 1st Male/Female(MF) 40-49 age group 1st MF Overall UNM Graduate Students: Casey Cook, Annie McCoy, Toti Larson, Peter Castiglia Time: 4 hrs 01 min Result: 1st MF 20-29 age group	Back Row (L-R): Toti Larson, Zach Sharp, Laurie Crossey, Tobias Fisher, Karl Karlstrom Front Row: Annie McCoy (and Bear), Peter Castiglia (Casey Cook not pictured).
2001 Participants UNM Faculty: Tobias Fischer, Zachary Sharp, Karl Karlstrom, Laurie Crossey Time: 4 hrs 05 min Result: 1st Male/Female(MF) 40-49 age group UNM Graduate Students: Mark Quigley, Annie McCoy, Toti Larson, Peter Castiglia Time: 4 hrs 19 min Result: 1st MF 20-29 age group
2002 Participants UNM Faculty: Tobias Fischer, Zachary Sharp, Karl Karlstrom, Laurie Crossey Time: 4 hrs 07 min UNM Students: Duo Mark Quigley & Pete Castiglia Time: 4 hrs 45 min. Mixed Team Jason Rampe, Marcy Hess & others Time: ......
2003 Participants UNM Faculty: Tobias Fischer, Mark Boslough, Karl Karlstrom, Laurie Crossey Time: 4 hrs 32 min Result: 2nd Male/Female(MF) 40-49 age group UNM Graduate Students: Dan Breeker, Toti Larson, Heather Hibbert, Stacy Wagner Time: 4 hrs 34 min Result: 3rd MF 20-29 age group
2004 Participants UNM Faculty: Tobias Fischer, Dave Coblentz, Karl Karlstrom, Laurie Crossey Time: 4 hrs 05 min Result: 1st Male/Female(MF) 40-49 age group; 3rd mixed team overall UNM Graduate Students: Dan Breeker, Patricia Newell, Dennis Newell, Jaime Barnes Time: 4 hrs 19 min Result: 1st MF 20-29 age group UNM Undergraduate Students (K-Brones): 'Mondo' Lamadrid and friends (former Pirates) Time: 4 hrs 29 min Result: 2nd Mens 19-29 age group

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