Bark River’s Potvin wins at Tahoe run
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ESCANABA -- It took six tries, but Janelle Potvin finally landed the big prize in the Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance Run at Carson City, Nev. Sunday.
The Bark River native was crowned women's champion for the first time after completing the rugged 104-mile course in 26 hours, 20 minutes.
Potvin was awarded a large belt buckle and two plaques from race director and personal friend George Ruiz and will receive a Patagonia embroidered jacket for her achievement.
"That was my sixth TRT finish and eighth 100-miler," she said. "In the first eight miles, we climbed 4,400 feet, and I took it real easy for the first 40 miles. I'm very happy I ran conservatively early. I told myself the race doesn't really start until mile 80. I had a dream race. It took me nine years to get to this point."
This also marked the first top 10 overall finish in the TRT for Potvin, who placed either second or third among the women in her first three attempts.
"I got a little cocky and didn't do as well in 2017 (her fourth try)," she said. "Two years later, I thought I'd be okay, and that didn't go real well either. I was a little disappointed in my 2019 race. Coach Meghan (Canfield) gave me a training plan, and I followed it closely this time. In the past, I had a tendency to run more miles than she suggested. I averaged about 75 miles a week and hit my peak mileage two weeks before the race at 89. Then, I tapered off in the last couple weeks.
"I also did a 50-miler and took second among the female runners in mid-May in preparation for this race."
Potvin said the lowest elevation was at the start and finish in Carson City, which is approximately 4,700 feet above sea level.
"We were often above 9,000 feet," she added. "We had 20,000 feet of climbing, they said. Our biggest descent was 700 feet in mile 100. Fortunately, it was an extremely beautiful area. The days got hot, but it cooled off at night. We wore headlamps during the night, and there were some mice playing around to keep us entertained."
Like other runners, Potvin had pacers to help keep her motivated, including her friends Naomi Plasterer from mile 45-82 and Jeff Gould for the last 22 miles.
"Naomi is really funny, and she kept cracking jokes," said Potvin. "Jeff really pushed me to hammer down the last 12 miles. I averaged 10:45 miles in the last 12 miles and 8 1/2 to nine minutes for the last two. My overall average pace was 15 1/2 minutes per mile. Jan Horan, my friend from Arkansas came out to crew for me. Her son Lucas, my ex-boyfriend, passed away on Christmas (2020). He paced me in two of my TRT 100s and did the race himself in 2018, so it was really special to have Jan out here to help me and share stories about her son."