February 2, 2023

Dear Mt. Wilson Trail Racer and Supporters:

Our Trail Maintenance Crews Rock!

Thank you to all the great men and women who took their mornings on January 21 and 29 to help perform some amazing trail work after the big rains.

We had about 30 people coming out the first day and another 20 on the second. A bridge was built over a washed out section just up from the start of Charlie’s New Trail, and some walls installed above the hydrant. We even put together a new drain!

Along with the usual dirty suspects and volunteers, we were joined by members of Pasadena High School’s Garden Club, who were getting community hours and learning some valuable lessons from Bob, Russell and Jay.

Our next official work day is Sunday, February 26, but we will be scheduling some additional days along the way to get started on restoring the trail that once existed under the new bridge. Check your emails from time to time and see if you can jump in to help!

In the meantime, put February 26 on your calendar. We will meet at the storage bin above Lizzie’s Trail Inn at 7:00A. Bring gloves and your own water. We will knock off around 11:00A and have a cold beverage at Lizzie’s afterward. Please RSVP me with an email ([email protected]) so we will be prepared with all the tools and materials we will need.

Please Donate to the Fletcher Fund!

If you cannot help on the trail, please give whatever you can to the Fletcher Fund, which pays for our tools and materials used for the maintenance. The rains have been particularly harsh, and we need to spend more than normal on building supplies for new walls and bridges. Please send a check to the Sierra Madre Community Foundation, P.O. Box 716, Sierra Madre, CA 91025. And indicate on the line “Fletcher Fund” so the SMCF knows where to allocate the money. Or you can go to the SMCF website and donate through PayPal.

Fletcher Fund QR Code

Thanks to Sierra Madre Search & Rescue

Our wonderful partners, members of Sierra Madre Search & Rescue, have been busy on missions to find hikers on local mountains in terrible conditions.  This is a shout-out to their efforts; we are so lucky they and other rescue agencies and organizations are there for our safety, including being on hand for the running of the MWTR. SMSR is a volunteer organization which is dependent on local donations. Please send any amount you can to SMSR, c/o P.O. Box 24, Sierra Madre, CA 91025.

MWTR Training Program Starts on Saturday, February 4!

Make sure you get in on the first day. Simon Cooper will start this annual, and free, program this Saturday, February 4 at 7:00A in the new and lovely Kersting Court, in our great town of Sierra Madre.

The long-standing tradition of a race-specific training program continues this year with a 16-week session, consisting of lung and leg busting fun! (Simon’s words, not mine!) Come find out what “KIC” runs are and what “SCAB” training is! You will get a money-back guarantee that this free program will improve your fitness and race times and have you laughing and smiling throughout. 

Led by Simon Cooper, a USATF-certified coach and founder and 10-time top 10 finisher of the Mt. Wilson Trail Race, you will get just what you need for success come race day!

This guy knows what he is talking about! (My words, not Simon’s)

Simon’s training program is up on the MWTR website (www.mountwilsontrailrace.com) so you can follow along!

We Are Looking for Sponsors!

The MWTR is a city event run by a volunteer committee, and we take pride in covering most of our costs in registration fees and sponsorships. We would like you or your business to consider sponsoring the race at whatever level you can, whether it is via cash or an in-kind donation of items for our goodie bags or food and beverages for our runners. Please see the attached sponsorship packet and let us know if you can help. We also are selling bike rail banners to local businesses or individuals who want to come in at the $100 level to support the race. Every dollar counts!

We are committed to put on the best darn race that we can in 2023, and always value your input and suggestions. Feel free to email me with any ideas or thoughts!

Announcing the MWTR High School Challenge!

Our hard working MWTR Committee member David Pejsa is putting together a fun, yet competitive challenge together for high school students ages 14 and up. Local high schools will be invited to enter teams of a minimum of five kids, and we will offer a special rate of $25 to register. Prices will be awarded to top boys, girls and mixed (three boys and two girls).

Let’s see who the fastest schools are up and down the mountain! Check the MWTR website as we get closer to first day of registration, Saturday, March 6. If you have any questions, contact David at [email protected].

RIP, Lono Tyson

Our good friend and fellow MWTR competitor Lono Tyson has left us, no doubt exploring new trails in the great beyond. After he retired from running races, he was our official race starter for the MWTR and enjoyed being in Kersting Court to greet his running community. 

Note a celebration of Lono’s life is scheduled for February 16 in Arcadia.

See you soon on the trail!.

Pete Siberell

Chair, Mt. Wilson Trail Race

[email protected]

626-574-6373

mountwilsontrailrace.com