Ten Bears Den
The 10 Bears is awarded for mastering the sport of ultrarunning. It is a clock and a standing Grizzly Bear mounted on a large slab of native Montana juniper or cedar. It is earned by a runner who completes 10 Le Grizz events as a registered entrant. The runs do not need to be completed consecutively, and there is no time limit, but there is a penalty for not finishing: No credit for a completion. This award is unique in the sport of ultra running, as it takes at least 10 years to earn. Learning to run ultras is an undertaking that takes years, has nothing to do with accidentally finishing one's first ultra attempt, and is different for everyone. The 10 Bears Award is a measure of the commitment, perseverance, injury management and mental tenacity one must develop to persist in the sport. An occasional DNF or missed year is simply part of a runner's development. This award, unlike recognition for winning or setting a record time, emphasizes! finishing. It places a premium on the patience needed to incorporate necessary recovery periods (with their attendant physical deterioration) into one's lifestyle, to stop and smell the roses rather than just stop and smell. It provides incentive to learn pacing, or to tough it out when a fast time is not going to happen. And it makes one hell of a belt buckle.
The Chief 10 Bears Award
The Chief 10 Bears Award enhances membership in the 10 Bears Den by recognizing lifetime achievement. It is conferred on a runner with 20 completions.
Fred Robinson
Year of Award: 2002
Years to Earn Award: 11
Age Award Achieved: 49
Hometown: Helena MT
Performance Data
1992 8:21:45
1993 7:44:43
1994 7:53:15
1995 8:07:56
1996 8:04:31
1997 8:12:58
1999 8:46:03
2000 9:17:10
2001 9:34:51
2002 9:28:58 – 10 Bears awarded
2009 Dropped @ 18 miles – dnf
2014 Attended
2022 Relay Team
1994
John Koch
Year of Award: 2003
Years to Earn Award: 11
Age Award Achieved: 60
Hometown: Bremerton & Winthrop WA
Performance Data
1993 8:44:45
1994 8:01:34
1995 7:46:52
1996 8:17:37
1998 8:51:36
1999 9:55:37
2000 8:46:01
2001 10:35:29
2002 10:09:10
2003 10:13:15 – 10 Bears awarded
1998
Jim McKenzie
Year of Award: 2003
Years to Earn Award: 12
Age Award Achieved: 48
Hometown: Missoula & Livingston MT
Performance Data
1992 8:04:35
1993 8:23:52
1994 8:24:16
1995 8:36:55
1996 10:33:59
1998 9:14:01
1999 9:34:13
2000 8:38:50
2002 11:30:05
2003 9:09:55 – 10 Bears awarded
2004 9:22:40
2005 9:33:12
2006 9:36:10
2007 Checkpoint-Aid Station Staff
2009 9:52:39
2010 10:58:42
2022 Entrant crew 2023 Entrant crew
1999
Tom Rowe
Year of Award: 2003
Years to Earn Award: 15
Age Award Achieved: 55
Hometown: Livingston MT
Performance Data
1989 8:13:58
1995 7:47:37
1996 7:47:07
1997 7:37:25
1998 8:04:48
1999 8:01:38
2000 7:36:34
2001 8:08:42
2002 8:49:02
2003 8:42:42 – 10 Bears awarded
2004 9:08:20
2006 9:04:34
1999
Judy Novobielski-Muhs
Year of Award: 2003
Years to Earn Award: 11
Age Award Achieved: 48
Hometown: St. Maries ID
Performance Data
1993 8:45:35
1994 8:55:23
1995 8:46:49
1996 8:58:05
1997 8:24:09
1998 9:24:45
2000 9:21:48
2001 9:48:05
2002 10:42:36
2003 10:48:43 – 10 Bears awarded
2005 10:31:12
2007 Entrant crew
2010 Entrant crew
1994
Dick Hembd
Year of Award: 2003
Years to Earn Award: 11
Age Award Achieved: 59
Hometown: Kalispell & Columbia Falls MT
Performance Data
1991 Beer baron/food dude
1992 Beer baron/food dude
1993 8:03:47
1994 7:46:31
1995 9:27:09
1996 8:31:24
1997 8:59:17
1998 Course patrol
1999 9:36:42
2000 8:37:36
2001 8:33:55
2002 8:59:17
2003 8:43:38 – 10 Bears awarded
2009 Awards table
2010 Course patrol
2011 Awards table
2012 Awards table
2013 Awards table
2014 Awards table
2003
Sharon Carroll
Year of Award: 2003
Years to Earn Award: 11
Age Award Achieved: 60
Hometown: Spokane & Liberty Lake WA
Performance Data
1993 8:51:51 – Women’s Seniors Winner
1994 8:54:56 – Women’s Seniors Winner
1995 8:58:44 – Women’s Seniors Winner
1996 9:18:20 – Women’s Seniors Winner
1997 9:13:15 – Women’s Seniors Winner
1998 9:04:42
1999 10:17:06 – Women’s Seniors Winner
2001 9:47:48
2002 10:54:27
2003 10:01:36 – 10 Bears awarded
2004 10:00:23 – Women’s Seniors Winner
2007 11:56:40
2008 Entrant crew
2010 Entrant crew
2013 Entrant crew
2002
William (Bill) Greene
Year of Award: 2004
Years to Earn Award: 23
Age Award Achieved: 60
Hometown: Spokane WA
Performance Data
1982 7:17:37
1987 6:50:09
1989 Dropped @ 30 miles – dnf
1990 7:26:51
1992 8:37:10
1993 7:45:30
1995 8:24:25
1999 9:20:57
2002 9:28:58
2003 8:42:16
2004 9:47:24 – 10 Bears awarded
2007 9:05:06
2008 10:59:39
2004
Margaret Smith Heaphy
Year of Award: 2006
Years to Earn Award: 20
Age Award Achieved: 51
Hometown: Missoula & Polebridge MT
Performance Data
1987 9:17:19
1990 8:40:54
1992 8:31:47
1993 9:04:34
1994 8:34:21
1995 10:13:59
1996 9:39:41
2002 10:58:30
2004 11:34:06
2006 12:06:48 – 10 Bears awarded
2007 11:22:04
2009 Entrant crew
2010 Entrant crew
2011 Entrant crew
2012 Entrant crew
2014 Attended
2015 Entrant crew
2016 Event Staff
2017 Event Staff
2018 Attended
2019 13:11:53
2020 Relay Team
2021 Event Staff
2022 Event Staff 2023 Relay Team
1994
Bob Hayes
Year of Award: 2006
Years to Earn Award: 12
Age Award Achieved: 80
Hometown: Evaro MT
Performance Data
1995 9:37:49
1996 8:49:07
1997 8:55:44
1998 8:56:13
1999 9:36:42
2000 9:50:52
2002 9:56:35
2004 9:50:22
2005 10:13:49
2006 11:04:03 – 10 Bears awarded
2008 11:00:33
2009 10:47:45
2010 12:02:54
2011 13:13:28
