Meet Chrissy Whitten. Chrissy got her feet wet race directing recently, hosting the first annual Warrior Princess Trail Run to Honor Lilian Grace, who fought a battle for 103 days before earning her wings. It was important for Chrissy, who loves the trailz, to have a trail race with a distance of 103. That would have been a tough race if it were 103 miles, and 10.3 miles was also tough, but we went with it.
I was honored to help her with it, devising a course, and helping out however I could. We decided to have it at the Keystone Mountain Bike trailz--an awesome course where there had been an annual race a few years back that was discontinued. The course is around 5.5 miles of trailz that twist and turn making several different loops, crossing a stream several times. Chrissy and I marked the course with pink ribbons and yellow caution tape the Saturday before, and the trailz were dry and dusty at that time. Oklahoma has been in a drought for the past several months, but just in the past couple of days, we have been pounded with rain. This race, on a Monday evening, in a downpour would have been a very tough challenge. But somebody--maybe lots of somebodies--prayed that thew rain would stop for the race. And Somebody listened. The rain stopped at 2:00, and the sun even came out about halfway through the race.
Chrissy is in her element pre-race. There was a costume contest, but I did not dress up. :-( I was also running around like a decapitated chicken, and did not get all that many pictures. I did have the good sense to give my friend Bill Ford one of my cameras and he took a ton of good pictures for me. I also have borrowed heavily from Chrissy's Facebook page.
A shot of the sign-up table. There were actually a few walk-up signees, which from a race director's standpoint, is always a good thing. The race was chip timed, so the registration table was a busy place pre-race.
This is one of the aid stations. The first 5 miles of the course were on the trailz, and then the runners came right back through here, and then headed out on an out-and-back down old HW 51, an old blacktop pot-hole-ridden road. One aid stop on the trailz, and then one at the turn-around on the road.
There were around 100 runners between the two distances, but just as impressive was the number of volunteers. I do not know how many there were, but Chrissy had 4 peeps at each aid stop besides tons of help setting up, tearing down,. and working the sign-up table.
Lilian's quilt. You'd need to read Chrissy's blog, the Caring Bridge, to know the full story. I'll work on getting a link posted on that.
There were bunches of zombie-friendz out for the race. Sandra, making a semi-rare appearance on the trailz, seems in good spirits so far. It was early.
I was excited to see Candice and Joye out. They were entering a tough 10,3 miler with not a super lot of training. In fact, it had been a year since Joye had ran, yet she seemed to float over the hills, valleys, and streams. (Bill was the photographer, and fortunately, I was sucking it in at the time of the shot.)
First trail race for both Bronda and Cassy. They did great, and I hear at least Cassy is hooked. :-)
Chrissy gives the announcements before the start of the 10.3 race. We started right at 6:00.
BeeSting Bob barely made it. I waited in hiding for him and thought I'd run a bit with him at least until he caught up with the pack, but he was off like a shot, and I never saw him until the road section.
At 6:30, the 1.03 mile fun runners headed out. Their course was an out-and-back all on the road. Problem is--it was a half mile down a hill, and then back up. Devilish course designer--that I am.
My job during the race was to run sag. Since there were a few new runners on the trailz, I wanted to make sure everyone made it out of the woods by dark Turns out, that was not a problem, as darkness did not fall until we were nearly through with the final road portion. Plus, I think there were a few newbies that dropped down to the 1.03.
Water crossings--there were four, with a few other little jumpers. Most were easily passable by stepping on a few rocks, but I am sure there were many-a-wet foot.
Headache tree. I am sure this tree has taken out a few mountain bikers over the years. I have bumped my head on it once as well.
The final runners were not slow--but were simply enjoying the trip. The final train of runners was lead by Pat, followed by Sandra, Joye, Candice, Dana, and me.
No trail newbie here. Candice makes the most of the water crossing.
Dana considered navigating the slick rocks, and finally crossed the safe way.
By the time we reached the start-finish and headed out for the 5.3 miles on the road, the first three men had finished. Chrissy was waiting for them with trophies.
From right to left, Stormy Phillips took 1st, Wes Hollander was 2nd, and Aaron Ochoa took 3rd.
The women's podium was Tasha Todd (in the center) Kathy (in the salmon top), and Karrie Garriott (on the far left). Congrats, ladies!!!
Many thanks to Bill Ford, who brought bagels and cream cheese from his company in Stillwater--Old School Bagel. Mmmmmm--CARBS!!
Thanks to Brian and Kathy who worked for days with Chrissy with sign-up, timing, and setting up aid stations. There is a ton of work that goes on behind the scenes in putting on a race that many people never know. Brian and Kathy are the peeps who do that work.
Michael and Chrissy have been through a lot, and through it all, have been an inspiration to everyone who knows them. And the great news--they are expecting a new arrival in a few months!!! A little trail runner, no doubt!!
I was honored to help her with it, devising a course, and helping out however I could. We decided to have it at the Keystone Mountain Bike trailz--an awesome course where there had been an annual race a few years back that was discontinued. The course is around 5.5 miles of trailz that twist and turn making several different loops, crossing a stream several times. Chrissy and I marked the course with pink ribbons and yellow caution tape the Saturday before, and the trailz were dry and dusty at that time. Oklahoma has been in a drought for the past several months, but just in the past couple of days, we have been pounded with rain. This race, on a Monday evening, in a downpour would have been a very tough challenge. But somebody--maybe lots of somebodies--prayed that thew rain would stop for the race. And Somebody listened. The rain stopped at 2:00, and the sun even came out about halfway through the race.
Chrissy is in her element pre-race. There was a costume contest, but I did not dress up. :-( I was also running around like a decapitated chicken, and did not get all that many pictures. I did have the good sense to give my friend Bill Ford one of my cameras and he took a ton of good pictures for me. I also have borrowed heavily from Chrissy's Facebook page.
A shot of the sign-up table. There were actually a few walk-up signees, which from a race director's standpoint, is always a good thing. The race was chip timed, so the registration table was a busy place pre-race.
This is one of the aid stations. The first 5 miles of the course were on the trailz, and then the runners came right back through here, and then headed out on an out-and-back down old HW 51, an old blacktop pot-hole-ridden road. One aid stop on the trailz, and then one at the turn-around on the road.
There were around 100 runners between the two distances, but just as impressive was the number of volunteers. I do not know how many there were, but Chrissy had 4 peeps at each aid stop besides tons of help setting up, tearing down,. and working the sign-up table.
Lilian's quilt. You'd need to read Chrissy's blog, the Caring Bridge, to know the full story. I'll work on getting a link posted on that.
There were bunches of zombie-friendz out for the race. Sandra, making a semi-rare appearance on the trailz, seems in good spirits so far. It was early.
I was excited to see Candice and Joye out. They were entering a tough 10,3 miler with not a super lot of training. In fact, it had been a year since Joye had ran, yet she seemed to float over the hills, valleys, and streams. (Bill was the photographer, and fortunately, I was sucking it in at the time of the shot.)
First trail race for both Bronda and Cassy. They did great, and I hear at least Cassy is hooked. :-)
Chrissy gives the announcements before the start of the 10.3 race. We started right at 6:00.
BeeSting Bob barely made it. I waited in hiding for him and thought I'd run a bit with him at least until he caught up with the pack, but he was off like a shot, and I never saw him until the road section.
At 6:30, the 1.03 mile fun runners headed out. Their course was an out-and-back all on the road. Problem is--it was a half mile down a hill, and then back up. Devilish course designer--that I am.
My job during the race was to run sag. Since there were a few new runners on the trailz, I wanted to make sure everyone made it out of the woods by dark Turns out, that was not a problem, as darkness did not fall until we were nearly through with the final road portion. Plus, I think there were a few newbies that dropped down to the 1.03.
Water crossings--there were four, with a few other little jumpers. Most were easily passable by stepping on a few rocks, but I am sure there were many-a-wet foot.
Headache tree. I am sure this tree has taken out a few mountain bikers over the years. I have bumped my head on it once as well.
The final runners were not slow--but were simply enjoying the trip. The final train of runners was lead by Pat, followed by Sandra, Joye, Candice, Dana, and me.
No trail newbie here. Candice makes the most of the water crossing.
Dana considered navigating the slick rocks, and finally crossed the safe way.
By the time we reached the start-finish and headed out for the 5.3 miles on the road, the first three men had finished. Chrissy was waiting for them with trophies.
From right to left, Stormy Phillips took 1st, Wes Hollander was 2nd, and Aaron Ochoa took 3rd.
The women's podium was Tasha Todd (in the center) Kathy (in the salmon top), and Karrie Garriott (on the far left). Congrats, ladies!!!
Many thanks to Bill Ford, who brought bagels and cream cheese from his company in Stillwater--Old School Bagel. Mmmmmm--CARBS!!
Thanks to Brian and Kathy who worked for days with Chrissy with sign-up, timing, and setting up aid stations. There is a ton of work that goes on behind the scenes in putting on a race that many people never know. Brian and Kathy are the peeps who do that work.
Michael and Chrissy have been through a lot, and through it all, have been an inspiration to everyone who knows them. And the great news--they are expecting a new arrival in a few months!!! A little trail runner, no doubt!!
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