This was my 9th year as Race Director for the La Luz Trail Run and I personally feel that it was one of the best efforts by the club since we first took over the La Luz Trail Run in 1999.   The weather was perfect on the Sunday morning of the race, following a stormy Saturday night.   There was a total of 345 finishers - slightly higher than the number that have completed prior races.  We even had a wedding by two of the finishers at the Tram - following the completion of the run for the Bride and Groom.   The race again received great press coverage by the Albuquerque Journal - the pre-race article on the post-race wedding and the great photo coverage and article in the Journal on the day following the race.

John Carpenter has complied some 2007 La Luz race statistics that I would like to share with the membership:

There is a list of volunteers in this newsletter that made this race a great success.   I would also like to give a special recognition to a couple of groups that also make this race a whole lot easier to manage:   Boy Scout Troop 1974 from Rio Rancho (they take care of the two middle aid stations on the course - they camp on the trail, carry water and work two of the aid stations) and the HAM radio operators (who keep everyone informed of what is happening on the course and would be a valuable resource in the event of any emergency).    Speaking of emergencies, this year we also had an ambulance and EMTs at the finish line - thanks to the effort of John Carpenter.  

I would also like to thank Mr. Adam Ford, who lives in East Wallingford, VT - for developing the T-shirt design for the finisher's shirts and the volunteer shirts.   This year I experimented with having a totally different design for the finisher's and volunteer shirts.  

Special thanks also this year to the new Special Events Coordinator for the US Forest Service - Susan Johnson.   The Forest Service is tightening their controls on the issuance of Special Events Permits in the Sandia Wilderness, but did still allow the club to hold the event this year.    I feel that if the club complies with all Forest Service guidelines and continues to run a successful race, we will be able to continue the race well into the future.

I may tweak the Lottery process for 2008 (slightly) - I would like to get closer to the Forest Service mandated 400 finishers (without going over).   The problem that I run into is the large number of cancellations that I receive the final couple of weeks before the race.   I plan to address this with the ARR Board of Directors and see if there is any other steps that can be taken to increase the number of finishers.

Overall, I think the club did a great job with the race this year and I have received numerous compliments from this year's competitors.   See you next year and good luck in the lottery. 

La Luz Volunteers:

Darrell Armstrong
Ted Balph
Nicole Berger
John Bryl
Donna Calles
Jose Camacho
John Carpenter
Abby Eras
Amy Eras
Stephanie Eras
John Farrow
Kelley Garcia
Joaquin Garcia
Frank Griggs
Kim Jeffries
Jim Jett
Steve Jett
Jack Lynch
Janis Lynch
Bob McNeill
Roxie Miller
Larry Mounger
Alan Overmier
Holly Palmer
Connie Sack
Rodger Sack
Martha Sanchez
Jane Thompson

Food Donations:
Boston's Gourmet Grill
Dos Hermanos
Einstein's on Juan Tabo/Menaul