DOLORES – For each year of the past 28 summers, the Boggy Draw Beat Down has supplied local racers a chance to turn their focus away from the dog days of summer and onto the forested glens of Boggy Draw and its adjoining sweeping views over McPhee Reservoir.
The race has likewise been a staple for the Rotary Club of Dolores, who continues to use the race as one of its primary fundraisers for the countless projects conducted to offer youth programs in the community. Riding enthusiasts have come to know its three primary race distances – the 33-mile Oso, 18-mile Overlook and 15-mile Goose rides – with each offering a different level of climbing, technical terrain and screaming downhills. The 2026 Beat Down moved on from its grueling 60-mile distance this year, but the high level of competition coming from across the Rocky Mountain region didn’t diminish in the slightest.
Turning the wheels first on Saturday morning on Central Avenue, the 33-milers set off to conquer stretches of Maverick, Italian Canyon and Tava Yaakwi before joining the McPhee Overlook trail in the inward miles. Evergreen’s Robbie Day made the most of his cross-state trip, coming away with the overall victory (2:18:39) in the distance, beating out three Durango riders – Johan Souders (2:20:25), Samuel Morrison (2:27:45) and Ryder Seitz (2:29:19).
Portland, Oregon’s Kylee Hanel won the women’s race in a time of 2:43:05, with Delyla Kroenung taking second (2:51:57) and Cortez’ Sara Parks earning third (3:31:33).
The 18-mile traverse through Little Bean Canyon and the McPhee Overlook went to Aztec teenager Monte Fahle, who topped Durango’s Chad Cheeney by just over one minute (1:20:43 to 1:21:58). Durango’s Quentin DeLuca completed the men’s podium (1:25:03).
Meanwhile, the women’s race went to Rachel Kingsley (1:32:22), with Dolores representation going two-three, with Allison Klein taking second (1:40:26) and Dani Gregory finishing third (2:06:29).
The 15-miler, running through part of Boggy’s signature trail before flying back into town on Road 526, provided the closest finish of the morning. Castle Rock’s Chris Condon edged Phoenix rider Brian Weskalnies by less than a second (58:22.9 to 58:23.6) as the top three riders all completed the course in under an hour. Christian Hodges closed out the men’s podium (59:04).
Caroline Condon – also of Castle Rock – took the women’s 15-mile race (1:06:23), just holding off Cortez’ Amanda Vodicka (1:08:43). Macie McDonald of Cortez took third in the women’s race (1:12:33).
The race also included a 3-mile town ride – and continued its pursuit of making itself more accessible to adaptive riders from the region – an extra component that the Beat Down undertook this past year after working in tandem with the Telluride Adaptive Sports Program this past year. The event kicks off a busy couple of weekends for the community, with the Escalante Days festival set for activities over the weekend of Aug. 8 and 9.
