Get off the main land and venture off the beaten path this winter at the American Trail Championship presented by Suunto. This championship, on beautiful Catalina Island, combines two spectacular events: Buffalo Run on Saturday, February 9, 2008 and the Catalina Marathon on Saturday, March 15, 2008.The Buffalo Run is the ultimate in trail running using the East End trails of Catalina Island. With spectacular views of San Clemente Island and Avalon (and a few buffalo), this half-marathon course goes from sea level to a 1600 foot elevation then returns to sea level. The race also features the popular flat and fast Pebbly Beach 5K course on the paved road out to Pebbly Beach.

In 2007, this very challenging, hilly course was no match for Buffalo Run winners Ben Brown and Aimee Spector. In his first year competing, the 25-year-old Brown (La Mirada, CA) finished in 1 hour, 21 minutes, 9 seconds, while Spector (Redondo Beach, CA) clocked a time of 1:47:59, and just 26 spots behind Brown.

After just one month of recuperation, participants are back out to Avalon to round out the American Trail Championship finale, the 31st Catalina Marathon. Enjoy some of the most breathtaking scenery while running 26.2 miles over the Island of Catalina. The race traverses mostly dirt trails and roads through areas of the interior Island where very few have gone. The race starts in Two Harbors and runs to Avalon.

Runner’s World and USA Today picked the Catalina Marathon as the “Best Off-Road Marathon,” and one of the 10 best winter marathons, respectively. The event on March 15 also encompasses a 5K, 10K and Kid’s Run.

Last year, Ben Brown was victorious once again, with a time of 2:57:37. His two wins (4:18:45 combined time) earned him the male American Trail Championship crown for 2007.

For the women, 28-year-old Karalee Morris (Folsom, CA) garnered the top spot in 3:29:37, but it was Amy Micheletti of Hermosa Beach who clocked two tremendous times (1:51:48 and 4:03:17) at each event to win the ATC female crown last year.

As the Buffalo Run nears, the excitement is already brewing, and Brown and Micheletti head back to the Island to defend their ATC titles.

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