NTUA runners going for the win

Silvia Tyler is one of five runners on the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority team that will compete in this weekends marathon in Shiprock. The group won last year's race. [Photo by Brian Leddy/Independent]

By Oree Foster
Staff Sports Writer

SHIPROCK — The race will be grueling, but five local runners are accepting the challenge when the 24th Annual Shiprock Marathon relay commences on Saturday.

The race begins at the community of Red Valley, concluding at the parking lot of Dine College in Shiprock.

Lemanuel Tsosie, Darrell Holiday and Christopher Honyumptewa, all of Chinle, along with Sylvia Tyler of Shiprock and Daven Holiday of Chinle have teamed together to form the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority Pacers, one of many teams competing in this year's relay.

Last year, 50 teams competed in the relay. The Pacers claimed sixth overall and finished second place in their age group category (five combined 126 to 175-year-age-division).

In separate competitions among the company's relay teams, the NTUA Pacers captured the traveling trophy. The traveling trophy is presented to NTUA's team relay champion. The team relay champion keeps the trophy for a year and surrenders the award when a new champion is crowned.

NTUA Public Affairs Director Deenise Becenti said the company has friendly competition, promoting living a healthy lifestyle. She said throughout the year various events are held, where the company's departments compete against each other.

The Holiday's, Tsosie and Tyler competed as a team last year, completing the 26.2-mile relay race in three hours, 18 minutes. Honyumptewa joined the team this year.

The team is training hard to finish higher overall, win its' age-group category and retain the company's traveling trophy. Additionally, the Pacers hope to eclipse the company's team relay record of two hours, 54 minutes that was set in 1995.

The five runners are concentrating on this year's race with hopes of finishing higher than sixth place. The first four runners run five miles and the anchor finishes the remaining six miles.

Tsosie is scheduled to run the initial leg. Darrell Holiday follows with the second leg of the race. Honyumptewa takes over for the third leg, followed by Tyler. Daven Holiday is the anchor.

Tyler said she runs daily, logging approximately 50 miles per week.

"I average four to five miles during the week and seven to eight miles on weekends," Tyler said. "Once in a while I will take a break. I have been running consistently every day since last year's relay. I got back into running two years ago. Davan (Holiday) influenced me to get back into running. I ran cross country in high school. After high school I ran off and on. It's fun and I enjoy running."

Daven Holiday said he is better prepared this year. He said the team was formed late last year.

"For first time in the relay we did pretty good last year," Holiday said. "This year we are better prepared. We hope to do better this year. There are so many good relay teams competing."

Being dedicated and determined to do better this year is a goal for Tsosie.

"With our work schedule we are not able to run together," Tsosie said. "Sylvia (Tyler) works in Fort Defiance. Sylvia trains in Fort Defiance. Since we are in Chinle, Darrell, Christopher, Daven and myself try to train together. But sometimes our work schedule prevents us from training together."

Tyler said she feels ready for this year's competition.

"I'm in pretty good condition for this year's race," she said. "Last year I didn't know what to expect. I was nervous. My training is going well. Last year I felt good about running and finishing my portion of the race. I set high standards, so I can push myself. Winning the relay is not impossible."

Holiday echoed Tyler's feelings.

"I am ready as ever," he said. "We're better prepared this year. We weren't quite ready last year. I want to challenge myself and do better this year. We're looking at improving on our place and time."

"If we all agree, continue training, we want to compete in the Duke City Marathon relay," Tsosie said of the Albuquerque race. "That is a good relay race as well. I enjoy running. The rest of my teammates also enjoy running. We want to do well."