10 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 enhances membership in the 10 Bears Den by recognizing lifetime achievement. It is conferred on a runner with 20 completions. It is derived from the legacy of Paruasemena, a Comanche Chief whose oration at the Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty in 1867 is still regarded as the finest ever delivered by a native American.
After completing one’s 20th run, a candidate may participate in a First People’s Confirmation, as elements found in Native American culture furnish the most appropriate perspectives available for honoring the accomplishment.
10 Bears Den 1981-2014
2015-beyond
James Derby
Year of Award: 2015
Years to Earn Award:10
Age Award Achieved: 51
Hometown: Spokane, WA
Performance Data
2006 10:34:17
2007 8:59:32
2008 9:35:25
2009 8:55:50
2010 8:36:12
2011 9:48:20
2012 9:11:41
2013 10:28:53
2014 9:38:39
2015 10:38:21-10 Bears Awarded
Martin Miller
Year of Award: 2018
Years to Earn Award: 29
Age Award Achieved: 66
Hometown: Helena, MT
Performance Data
1990 8:18:23
1991 8:11:31
2007 9:53:58
2008 9:57:38
2009 10:01:22
2010 9:34:29
2012 9:40:58
2014 9:54:35
2016 11:00:30
2018 10:55:35-10 Bears Awarded
2019 Entrant Crew
2022 Relay Team
Matt Glew
Year of Award: 2018
Years to Earn Award:11
Age Award Achieved: 39
Hometown: Newcastle & Renton, WA
Performance Data
2008 10:11:37
2009 10:13:55
2010 9:39:31
2011 10:23:47
2012 11:10:39
2013 11:11:58
2014 dnf
2015 11:15:18
2016 10:33:15
2017 11:45:24
2018 12:01:19 – 10 Bears Awarded
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
Debbie Gibson
Year of Award: 2019
Years to Earn Award: 11
Age Award Achieved: 54
Hometown: Helena, MT
Performance Data
2009 8:12:35 W 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 – 10 Bears Awards and Women’s Seniors Winner
2022 Relay Team
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
2021 9:02:00
2022 9:59:40
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
2021