Polk resident completes 104-mile mountain race

From staff reports

Polk resident Tami Walbourn Sari completed the Tahoe Rim Trail Run, a 104-mile race in Nevada that spanned two days earlier this month.

The course climbs to a total elevation of 20,230 feet in the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. On top of that, temperatures this year remained in the low to mid 90s throughout the hike, and nearly one-third of contestants don’t complete the course.

Sari placed ninth out of the 19 females who finished the race, and 47th overall. She completed the grueling track in 31.56.04 hours.

A total of 144 runners set out, but only 98 completed the race.

This year’s race had an added challenge as smoke from the California wildfires swept the mountain peaks.

The heavy smoke from the fires was to the south and east at the beginning of the race, but the winds changed during the race and covered the trail with smoke.

Although Sari has completed a number of difficult races, this one proved to be her most difficult challenge.

And that’s saying a lot since Sari has completed five 100-mile races, 11 50-mile races, six 100-kilometer races, and nine 50-kilometer runs.

Her parents, Rick and Kathy Walbourn, made the trip to Nevada to support her on her accomplishment.