Bright sunshine and brisk winds from the southwest greeted runners for the inaugural Navarino Eco-Marathon and Half Marathon.  Runners from seven states made the journey out to the remote Navarino Nature Center to enjoy exceptional trail running through the 15,000 acre wildlife area.  Marquette, Michigan’s Dan Dehlin went out strong on the first of the two loop course and held on to win in 2:53:56.  DePere’s Brad Popplele was the only other runner under three hours, finishing 3:40 back in 2:57:36.  The women’s winner was from Michigan.  Kalamazoo’s Erica Lensink toured the marathon course in 3:37:40, nearly 13 minutes ahead of second place finisher Alisha Damrow of Oshkosh (3:50:34).  The largest race of the day was the half marathon.  Rick Cahoon of Blanchard, MI and a Great Lakes Endurance veteran, won the single loop course in 1:21:27, ten and a half minutes ahead of Alan Harris of Racine, WI (1:31:58).  Sanya Syrstad of Glen Ellyn, IL was the women’s winner in 1:38:38 while Dana Kastenson of Sturgeon Bay, WI was five and a half minutes back (1:44:14).  Overall winners of both the marathon and half marathon won new trail running shoes from Montrail. Winners of the 6K included Laura Baxter of Ann Arbor (27:40.7)  and Dean Olkowski of Neenah, WI (27:41.1), each winning a Mountain Hardwear Hydradtion Pack.  Teagan Twombly of Appleton, WI won the Kid’s 2K race in 9:12.3 while Sammy Noll of Green Bay won the boy’s division in 9:13.7.  Runners enjoyed a locovore meal after the race including elk and buffalo burgers (Navarino) on whole grain/flax buns (Bonduel), cole slaw (Clintonville), cranberries (Babcock), baked beans, cheese (Clintonville), and cherry juice (Door County).   Ninety percent of all foods were sourced within 90 miles of the Navarino Nature Center.  (Complete results are available at www.superiortiming.com.