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.
Tyler Bucklin
Year of Award: 2018
Years to Earn Award:10
Age Award Achieved: 42
Hometown: Conrad, MT
Performance Data
2009 8:56:26
2010 8:40:01
2011 7:40:00
2012 7:42:08
2013 7:30:31
2014 7:56:08
2015 8:07:13
2016 8:07:09
2017 8:44:59
2018 8:37:06 – 10 Bears Awarded
2022 9:03:30
2023 9:09:21
2012
Debbie Gibson
Year of Award: 2019
Years to Earn Award: 11
Age Award Achieved: 54
Hometown: Helena, MT
Performance Data
2009 8:12:35 – Women’s Overall Winner
2010 7:26:44 – Women’s Overall Winner
2011 7:59:22 – Women’s Overall Winner
2012 8:05:36 – Women’s Masters Winner
2013 7:17:56 – Women’s Overall Winner
2014 7:17:11
2015 7:38:18 – Women’s Seniors Winner
2016 7:35:57 – Women’s Seniors Course Record
2017 7:36:50 – Women’s Seniors Winner
2019 7:53:27 – Women’s Seniors Winner – 10 Bears Awarded
2022 Relay Team
2010
Jeff Metsky
Year of Award: 2019
Years to Earn Award: 10
Age Award Achieved: 38
Hometown: Columbia Falls & Whitefish, MT
Performance Data
2010 9:40:51
2011 10:19:38
2012 10:07:12
2013 9:43:10
2014 9:42:43
2015 9:57:28
2016 10:29:36
2017 10:21:55
2018 9:50:17
2019 10:10:21 – 10 Bears Awarded
2020 11:14:22
2021 9:02:00
2022 9:59:40
2023 9:28:27
2018
Sarah Caffrey
Year of Award: 2021
Years to Earn Award:13
Age Award Achieved: 35
Hometown: Seeley Lake, Missoula & Darby MT Anchorage AK
Performance Data
1992 Checkpoint/Aid Station Staff
1993 Checkpoint/Aid Station Staff
1994 Checkpoint/Aid Station Staff
1995 Checkpoint/Aid Station Staff
1996 Checkpoint/Aid Station Staff
2009 9:55:53
2010 10:05:34
2013 10:19:00
2014 9:36:50
2015 9:48:29
2016 10:55:52
2018 11:51:03
2019 11:00:12
2020 11:47:13
2021 10:55:45 – 10 Bears Awarded
2023 12:00:36
1990
Jeffrey Burgess
Year of Award: 2023
Years to Earn Award:13
Age Award Achieved: 49
Hometown: Coeur d’Alene & Post Falls ID
Performance Data
2011 9:31:47
2012 10:01:59
2013 9:32:01
2014 8:58:33
2015 10:10:57
2016 10:23:17
2017 10:37:55
2018 dnf
2019 dns
2020 11:12:47
2022 11:06:22
2023 11:03:26
2024 11:47:51
2020
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