Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Chosen!



I have just been notified that this painting, entitled "Almost Home" has been selected as the 2010
Poster and Finisher's Print for the Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run in Silverton, CO.
Artists were invited to submit original artwork or photos depicting portions of this footrace through the  San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado.  The event is dear to our hearts, and always the focus of our
endurance training.  This particular scene shows a runner just over the last 13,000 foot pass, and about to head down beyond that first rock outcropping.  All the major hurdles are over, and it is only about seven miles from this point to the finish. Unless you are fighting time cut-offs, it's a good chance you will finish the run if you get to this point.  This is also one of those points in the Runner's Manual where the course description warns that a "fall here could be fatal".  Just out of sight, where I would have been standing to take the photo reference. is a steep, grassy slope with loose rock, and the trail, as you see, is narrow.  The grassy slope ends with 1,000 foot cliffs after about a hundred feet, so if a runner were to stumble here, it could be deadly.
There are more than a few dangerous spots on the course, but any reasonable person will be cautious, and we have, thus far, had no deaths due to falls.  One runner WAS struck by lightening last year, and that is probably the greatest danger up high.
Anyway, I'm tickled to be this year's poster artist.  This image will be used in all publicity for the event. A print of this image, with name, and finish time , will be awarded to each finisher of the run.

Now, if I can only get one of those finisher prints!!!!

15 comments:

RunSueRun said...

Congratulations Deb! What a beautiful painting. Almost makes me wish I'd entered this year. :) How many finishers' prints does this make now, 3?

Unknown said...

Hi Sue!!! Yep, this is the third.. so far, I have NOT gotten ANY of my own prints! I hope this year will start a new trend!
First I have to get in (#28 on the wait list)
Have you seen photos of the bridge and tunnel going into Ouray now? What a hoot... only at Hardrock!

Steve Pero said...

This one is my favorite yet....awesome!

Can't wait to get "my" print! :-)

Yo' hub...

Unknown said...

This is the best one yet!

Linda Popple said...

Beautiful painting!! Congratulations!

Kerri Settle said...

Congratulations Deb! It's a great piece; very tricky composition that you pulled off wonderfully, and I can see why it's a winner.

Unknown said...

Thanks everyone. This race is so special to us, that being the "poster artist" is really cool. But, of course, the hard part is earning one of those finisher prints!

Judy P. said...

Terrific painting!

billspaintingmn said...

Deb! I can feel my chest burning as I run along this path!
The cautions and view put me in the runners shoes, very good!
Congratulations!
Not to mention the beautiful scene
that has appeal all its own.

Unknown said...

I want me a signed poster!!!!!!!!!!!

I loved it on first sight....

Unknown said...

or maybe list a contact point where we can get one.... so exciting deb....

Pat Burns said...

Deb- it's obvious from the painting that you have a personal involvement with the landscape here. I've always said that a good painting has memory within the paint and reaches out to share it with receptive viewers, which I'm sure you'll have with this one!

jeffrey wilbur said...

Good omen - seems I only finish on Deb poster yrs!

Unknown said...

Good for you, Jeff, but historically bad for me!

Christopher Volpe said...

Congratulations Deb! That's a mighty fine painting.