8 Tuff Miles pits USVI's Zuber against Ohio duo

ST. JOHN - It's close to midnight under a full moon and Jeremy Zuber, replete with head lamp, is charging up hills.

The 31-year-old St. John resident doesn't care how late he gets off work or what his body feels like. When the front office manager at Caneel Bay Resort clocks out each night, another hilly workout is always waiting for him.

"When I run up to Annaberg and there's a full moon, I always seem to run into a pack of donkeys, and they are never willing to move," said Zuber, who has won the annual St. John 8 Tuff Miles Road Race a record six times and will take aim at a seventh title on Saturday. "It's always an interesting situation with those donkeys. By that point, I'm not sure who smells worse, me or them."

Zuber has stepped up his training in recent months because he is determined to win the popular road race on his island at least one more time. Even before his impressive win streak started in 2003, the race has attracted elite runners from across the globe. However, one group has dominated the race the last two years.

Cincinnati, Ohio, native Cris Reis, 30, won last year's race in a record time of 46 minutes flat, and he plans to defend his title. Reis trains with a group dubbed the Cincy-Tucky All-Stars, and the group will have 20 runners at the start line on Saturday.

"We're not like a real racing team or anything - it's just a clever name, and we all look forward to this race every year," Reis said by phone Wednesday from the running store he works at in Cincinnati. "We make shirts for the race and all that stuff. This year, we even have a couple coming down that will get married after the race."

Reis, a former University of Cincinnati cross-country and track runner, finished fourth overall at the Columbus Marathon last October when he clocked a personal best of 2 hours, 21 minutes and 39 seconds. He also ran two marathons on back-to-back days in January, but he said the big race circled on his calendar is this weekend's.

"We have about a dozen guys that work at the running store who are coming down, so we may be a little light on staff this weekend," Reis said. "Oh well, this trip has been planned for a while."

Zuber has been on the outside looking in for the last two years. Thomas Chorny, another member of the Ohio group, won the 2010 race in record fashion, with Reis taking second.

"I finished third last year, but it was a distant third," said Zuber, who has run about 40 miles a week on hilly terrain to prepare for Saturday. "I knew those guys were coming down again. They ran me off the course. This year has been different. I'm not making any more excuses this time."

Zuber said there is a little island pride on the line, and he knows the local community is pulling for him. He said he's more motivated than ever.

"I've sweat on every inch of this island, so this is a personal thing," Zuber said. "In the end, it's always going to be a fun day for St. John because we celebrate fitness, health and friends. But this is a race like none other, and of course, there's a competitive aspect involved. I want to defend this island."

St. Thomas resident Ruth Ann David, 38, won the women's division last year, trimming 24 seconds off her winning time in 2010. She has been the top female finisher four times - she also took home top honors in 1999 and 2008 - and finished 11th overall last year.

What is her favorite part about 8 Tuff Miles?

"Do I have to be honest?" she asked, jokingly. "My favorite part is when I'm done with the race."

David, who teaches water fitness, said she used different swimming and cycling training regiments during the last few months to prepare for the race. She is a three-time winner of the Women's Jogger Jam on St. Thomas, but she said the annual 2-mile race doesn't even compare.

"Training for this kind of terrain is crazy," she said. "It's all about using those muscles in a different way. We'll see what happens on Saturday."

For more information about 8 Tuff Miles, call race director Peter Alter at 779-4035 or visit online at www.8tuffmiles.com.

- Contact sports writer Aaron Gray at 714-9102 or email agray@dailynews.vi.

16th annual 8 Tuff Miles information box

START TIME: Saturday at 7:15 a.m. in Cruz Bay

FERRY FROM ST. THOMAS: Two Varlack Ventures ferry boats will leave Red Hook - one at 6 a.m. and another at 6:15 a.m. - for Cruz Bay. One-way fare costs $6 and can be purchased up to 10 days in advance.

BIB NUMBER PICK-UP: Registered runners can pick up bib numbers today at the Tap Room in Mongoose Junction from 4 to 8 p.m. There will be no bib number pickup on Friday. Runners can also pick up their bib numbers on Saturday, which is race day, from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. at Philanthropy Gazebo at the National Park Visitors Center in Cruz Bay. Runners must present photo ID and deadline to transfer bib numbers will be 8 p.m. today.

BAG CHECK: Registered runners wearing bib numbers can check bag before race with the SAG wagon Saturday morning. The SAG (stuff and gear) wagon will be parked across the street from Margarita Phil's. Bags will be delivered to Coral Bay at finish line.

GETTING BACK TO CRUZ BAY: Bus transportation will be available for $1 and taxis usually cost $10.

AWARDS: Award ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. at Mongoose Junction in Cruz Bay across the street from the race start line. A $1,000 Mongoose Junction shopping spree will be raffled of to one race finisher who must be present to win.

TRAFFIC: The race time cutoff will be three hours so traffic on Centerline Road can fully resume at 10:15 a.m. Motorists should be aware the race course will go through the roundabout in Cruz Bay during the first mile of the race and finish in Coral Bay. The V.I. Police and National Park Service Rangers will assist with traffic control.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: call race director Peter Alter at 779-4035 or visit online at www.8tuffmiles.com.

16th annual 8 Tuff Miles by the numbers

1,100 - record number of registered runners, 100 more than previous years

899 - most finishers in a race (2010)

7,127 - total finishers since the event started in 1997

999 - elevation in feet at the highest point on race course

1,400 - cumulative elevation gained in feet

8.375 - exact course distance in miles

32 - U.S. states, including Washington D.C., to be represented at race

12 - water stations on the course, will also have Gatorade for runners

3 - runners who have run in every 8 Tuff Miles since it started in 1997

1 - Daily News sports writer who is running 8 Tuff Miles for the first time and hoping to survive

IAA varsity standings, with the Tigers and Educational Complex tied for second. The regular season is scheduled to end Feb. 29, followed by playoff games.

Center Marcus Moorehead finished with 15 points and pulled down a team-high 19 rebounds for Country Day while Chandler Blashka converted four 3-pointers in one quarter before he left the game in the third with an ankle injury.

The Tigers will be back in action Monday when they visit Manor School. Country Day still has a game with Central to make up before the playoffs begin, Redwine said.

Central rolls past Manor School, 85-27

Three days after dropping an overtime loss in the championship of its own tournament, the Central High School boys basketball team took the court again and rolled past visiting Manor School, 85-27, in a St. Croix IAA varsity game Wednesday.

Freshman guard Bobby Sanes paced the Caribs' balanced scoring attack.

"This was the first game since our tournament and I was happy with how we performed," Central coach Donald Bough said. "We have some other guys who I'm hoping to see more from. We were a little conservative in the championship game but now we're starting our home stretch in the season."

In the finals on Sunday night, the Caribs dropped a 54-50 nail-biter to Ponce Vocational School out of Puerto Rico.

Central is scheduled to visit Good Hope on Friday while Manor will host Complex.

St. Thomas Private Schools Combined team tops Antilles in overtime

Senior forward Dornel Weaver finished with over 20 points and led the Antilles School boys basketball team in scoring but the host Hurricanes fell to the St. Thomas Private Schools Combined team in overtime, 46-42, in a St. Thomas-St. John IAA varsity game Wednesday.

"This was the first overtime game for us and it was back and forth," Antilles coach George Tipton said. "We didn't play well. Not to take anything away from the other team but we just couldn't hit our shots."

The Hurricanes tied the game with two seconds left in regulation to force overtime, Tipton said. Scoring information for the combined team - All Saints, Ss. Peter and Paul, and Seventh-Day Adventist - was not available.

- Contact sports writer Aaron Gray at 714-9102 or email agray@dailynews.vi.

fourth overall at the Columbus Marathon last October when he clocked a personal best of 2 hours, 21 minutes and 39 seconds. He also ran two marathons on back-to-back days in January, but he said the big race circled on his calendar is this weekend's.

"We have about a dozen guys that work at the running store who are coming down, so we may be a little light on staff this weekend," Reis said. "Oh well, this trip has been planned for a while."

Zuber has been on the outside looking in for the last two years. Thomas Chorny, another member of the Ohio group, won the 2010 race in record fashion, with Reis taking second.

"I finished third last year, but it was a distant third," said Zuber, who has run about 40 miles a week on hilly terrain to prepare for Saturday. "I knew those guys were coming down again. They ran me off the course. This year has been different. I'm not making any more excuses this time."

Zuber said there is a little island pride on the line, and he knows the local community is pulling for him. He said he's more motivated than ever.

"I've sweat on every inch of this island, so this is a personal thing," Zuber said. "In the end, it's always going to be a fun day for St. John because we celebrate fitness, health and friends. But this is a race like none other, and of course, there's a competitive aspect involved. I want to defend this island."

St. Thomas resident Ruth Ann David, 38, won the women's division last year, trimming 24 seconds off her winning time in 2010. She has been the top female finisher four times - she also took home top honors in 1999 and 2008 - and finished 11th overall last year.

What is her favorite part about 8 Tuff Miles?

"Do I have to be honest?" she asked, jokingly. "My favorite part is when I'm done with the race."

David, who teaches water fitness, said she used different swimming and cycling training regiments during the last few months to prepare for the race. She is a three-time winner of the Women's Jogger Jam on St. Thomas, but she said the annual 2-mile race doesn't even compare.

"Training for this kind of terrain is crazy," she said. "It's all about using those muscles in a different way. We'll see what happens on Saturday."

For more information about 8 Tuff Miles, call race director Peter Alter at 779-4035 or visit online at www.8tuffmiles.com.

- Contact sports writer Aaron Gray at 714-9102 or email agray@dailynews.vi.

16th annual 8 Tuff Miles information box

START TIME: Saturday at 7:15 a.m. in Cruz Bay

FERRY FROM ST. THOMAS: Two Varlack Ventures ferry boats will leave Red Hook - one at 6 a.m. and another at 6:15 a.m. - for Cruz Bay. One-way fare costs $6 and can be purchased up to 10 days in advance.

BIB NUMBER PICK-UP: Registered runners can pick up bib numbers today at the Tap Room in Mongoose Junction from 4 to 8 p.m. There will be no bib number pickup on Friday. Runners can also pick up their bib numbers on Saturday, which is race day, from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. at Philanthropy Gazebo at the National Park Visitors Center in Cruz Bay. Runners must present photo ID and deadline to transfer bib numbers will be 8 p.m. today.

BAG CHECK: Registered runners wearing bib numbers can check bag before race with the SAG wagon Saturday morning. The SAG (stuff and gear) wagon will be parked across the street from Margarita Phil's. Bags will be delivered to Coral Bay at finish line.

GETTING BACK TO CRUZ BAY: Bus transportation will be available for $1 and taxis usually cost $10.

AWARDS: Award ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. at Mongoose Junction in Cruz Bay across the street from the race start line. A $1,000 Mongoose Junction shopping spree will be raffled of to one race finisher who must be present to win.

TRAFFIC: The race time cutoff will be three hours so traffic on Centerline Road can fully resume at 10:15 a.m. Motorists should be aware the race course will go through the roundabout in Cruz Bay during the first mile of the race and finish in Coral Bay. The V.I. Police and National Park Service Rangers will assist with traffic control.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: call race director Peter Alter at 779-4035 or visit online at www.8tuffmiles.com.

16th annual 8 Tuff Miles by the numbers

1,100 - record number of registered runners, 100 more than previous years

899 - most finishers in a race (2010)

7,127 - total finishers since the event started in 1997

999 - elevation in feet at the highest point on race course

1,400 - cumulative elevation gained in feet

8.375 - exact course distance in miles

32 - U.S. states, including Washington D.C., to be represented at race

12 - water stations on the course, will also have Gatorade for runners

3 - runners who have run in every 8 Tuff Miles since it started in 1997

1 - Daily News sports writer who is running 8 Tuff Miles for the first time and hoping to survive

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