Golf

Chuck and I played in a golf tournament this past Saturday. Getting up before the sun comes up is nothing new for me on a Saturday, but doing so to do something other than running is a rarity. Emerald Falls in Broken Arrow was the venue, and you'd never know we are in a drought.Well watered, well manicured was this championship caliber course. We were in for a long day, but a beautiful one nonetheless.
We hit a few balls before our round. I usually don't like to pound out a buncha balls and wear myself out before the round. I hit six--two seven irons, two sand wedges, and two drives. All were very crisp and clean shots. Maybe I was gonna have a good round? Unlikely, since I play only 2-3 times a year. Years ago when I played 2-3 times a week, breaking 90 would be a sure thing. Chuck--the lefty, hit shot after good shot. I tried to get focused after my six shots. (No, that is NOT me on the right.)
This course was tough. Several of the tee shots were blind shots--meaning you could not see where your landing area was, and that element of doubt played very negatively in my driving. Plus, missing the fairway meant your ball was lost in knee-deep rough. The tournament format is often a scramble, where the team uses the best shot between the 2 or 4 players. This tourney was a 2-man best ball, where each player played out the hole, and the best score between the players was the team score. I expected us to use Chuck's score on most if not all the holes.
I ended up not having an A-game. I played alright, considering my infrequent rounds, and hit a few good drives, hit a few good fairway shots, hit a few greens, and made a few putts. Chuck was good off the tee, but had a few errant shots as well, but the course gave us few breaks. We drowned a few balls, lost a lot more, and had probably a dozen penalty strokes between us.
But we still had fun. It's funny how golf always throws a be-back shot in near the end of the round--a spectacular shot that is as good as the pros--one that brings you back.
On our last hole (a par 5) I hit a nice straight drive. The ball was on a slight uphill lie, and sitting up nicely. I took a fairway driver and spanked a nice rope with a fade that ended up 30 yards from the green right in the short grass. For those two shots, I was beaming. A chunked and a skulled shot later though and I was brought back down to earth. A possible birdie turned into another bogie to finish my round. We needed that birdie too. Chuck rolled in a par putt and we finished with a nice round score. Let's just say we shot a buck. 


The heat (104°) was a factor late in the round.


I was not focusing on making wise shots, and just chumped it up.


Still, it was fun.


I'll play again next Wednesday on a much easier course.

July 3rd

We spent Sunday the 3rd with the in-laws in Westville, OK--almost in Arkansas, which meant clear creeks and clean air.Jason's wife Jessie grew up here, and her mom and dad are great folks.
We had the usual all-American fare--hamburgers, hot-dogs, bbq beans, corn on the cob, six-point beer, no apple pie (which is ok by me) and brownies! Plus, to add a degree of sophistication to the gala, pork tenderloin and gourmet mashed potatoes.Jason did all of the grilling, and I give him an A+

Bob took it easy, as did I. Jessie and Casey tended to getting things ready, and not soon enough, the dinner call was sounded. (Read that: I was HUNGRY!) I had a burger, a dog, some BBQ, BBQ beans, potatoes, 4 ears of corn, several brownies, strawberry cake, ice cream,but I took no prize. Casey's husband Danny ate 4 burgers and all the sides and trimmings. I don't know where he put it.

After we ate, I strolled around on my sore tootsies and took pictures. I felt the lure of the land, the comfort of living in the country where the only sounds of hustle and bustle is an occasional passing freight train.Old structures were here and there, each with an old story to tell, standing for decades and still useful. This shed made from trees that outdate me many times over used old log cabin chinking techniques to seal the rain out. Sheds at Home Depot cannot stand with this one.
Somehow the same sun that sets on Tulsa looks different here. Gone was the late afternoon haze from the exhaust of 50,000 rush hour cars. It was just the sun, blue sky and clouds.
A spirit of carefree was about. Makenna felt it. I did too.
To the north, a thunderhead was building. As the evening developed, lightening flashed in the distance--natures own fireworks display. Farm equipment parked in the field seemed framed by the landscape it serviced, seeming like art to one searching for what could be captured on film.
Bob and Carol live south of Westville and about a mile west of the main highway on an old country road--one where if you see a car coming by, they are either coming to your house, or at least it's someone you know.
The rolling hills and lush trees lent to several sunset-ish pictures, which of course I like.
I headed out on the back of their farm to walk a bit, being warned to look out for the bull. I did keep a cautious eye out, knowing that I could not outrun a frisky bull with fresh feet let alone sore feet like mine. This look to the east and the distant hills seemed to beckon me to explore. Another time, perhaps.
A gravel road led from one field to another. This also looked like the beginnings of a good run.
Another picture of my road and the hills beyond.
Another picture I like to take is one of roads or in this case fences that seem to go on forever.
And another sun peeking through the trees at me pondering the virtues of barbed wire.
The next event on the evenings agenda was a swim in a nearby creek--the Baron Fork. The swimming hole was a short ride in the back of a pickup away, and was a timeless oasis, clean unlittered, and hosting friends and relatives for years upon years.
Two labs met us and I was warned to not throw sticks unless I wanted to throw them all night. Of course, I threw the stick--waaaay out into the water, and they leaped in delight over and over again living up to their "retriever" classification. They entertained me for nearly an hour.
The Baron Fork eventually runs into the Illinois River, and is every bit as scenic as eastern Oklahoma's float trip paradise.
Upon returning to the house for fireworks, a storm was building off to the west. I took several shots, and these are the two best ones.
None of my fireworks pictures turned out, but we had fun watching the boys shoot them off. We returned home, and slept late Monday morning. I have wondered to myself--could I live away from the city like that--where every day goings on were what was right outside my door? I do see the appeal.

Midnight Madness 50 Miler

I said over and over I would not run the Midnight Madness 50 (51.5) miler again after last year. Running that much pavement is a ways down the list on my favorite things to do.But then I heard the medals (which were awesome last year) were going to be the other foot, a mirror image, with the color patterns reversed. I NEEDED a matching set. Normally I am not a medal hound, but somehow this was different. Of course part of it was that this race was on my home turf, and I had so many friends running. A lot of my running buds going for their first ultra had asked for my advice, and I'da felt like a chicken if I sat it out!! And so it was--that is how I turned in my entry fee and subjected myself to hours and hours of pavement pounding.
Oklahoma has been in the middle of a heat wave. Sure, it's summertime, and it's supposed to be hot, but we've had triple digit temps, and even the lows have been in the mid 80s. The forecast called for a low of 80°, and a high the next day (when I would finish) of 104°.
The Midnight Madness 50 is Brian's baby. For some reason, people come out of the woodwork to run this race. It seems like so many marathoners make this their first ultra. He worked his butt off on this race, and like last year, it went off flawlessly.
Brian has a LOT of AWESOME volunteers. Lynna was just one of many. There is just no way I could ever mention them all, but Venus Monyhan needs a huge pat on the back, working for 19 hours straight at the start/finish setting up, serving food, hanging medals, cleaning up, and being an awesome cheerleader. There are so many others too.
A few pre-race pics. Janeen is and was all smiles for the run. Every time we passed, she seemed to be having a blast.
Here's a trio of ultra runners. Charlotte and Kathy were gunning for another notch in their resume. Caroline was out for some pacing, and I unofficially ran my second loop with her.
Five minutes before the start--everyone is ambling toward the starting line.
There were plenty of fast runners toeing the line. I heard the one minute warning, and moved to my place in the back of the pack.
And we were off. The early going was really no different from any run, but I tried to keep it slow. It always seems to me that everyone goes out a little fast.
The course is great--for paved trails. Crossing the old railroad/pedestrian bridge is always a treat. This is one section where there is always a breeze. I was one mile into the race and the runners had spread out. It was time for me to put my camera away and start running.
Meanwhile, Brian gets ready for the speedsters to start hitting the start/finish transition area. (The race consists of five 10.3 mile loops, and each loop alternates directions.)
My first visit to the Turkey Mountain aid station. The Oklahoma Trail Runners from the OKC area manned this oasis. This pic is courtesy of Julie Dolph, who worked all night and all day along with Keith and Beth McCombs and David Woods.
My next several miles were sort of a blur. I know I covered the distance, and I ran some with Caroline. Derek paced me on lap three and we were treated to a splendid sunrise. This same sun would roast my head and legs later in the day.
Derek was a natural as a pacer. He kept the chatter going, told jokes, and did a rendition of the Village People's YMCA.
Meanwhile, Katie Kramer finished her race in 7:01!!!! Beating the entire field, and lapping me twice, she rocked the race! I thought it was awesome that she put the guys in their place.

Bobby paced me on the 4th loop. I was so out of it as it was really heating up. The trip across the 71st Street bridge just about melted us down. While it is runnable, in 90° temps, we walked it--slowly. Dana met us at the top of the hill, and ran the next 6 miles with us.

Pat took over for lap five. I had paced him at the Jenks Aquarium Half Marathon and the Lawrence Half earlier in the year, and wowed him with my pacing abilities and plethora of inspirational stories, and he had some payback on his mind. He intended to give me hell for all 10 miles, and did his best to do so.
I loved it, and he kept my spirits high dragged my butt to the finish. It was 103° and we did a LOT of walking--it was all I could do. I also had a couple of tricks I used to get me through. Notice the pink thing around my neck in the picture above--it is a Jog Tog, that my friend Susan Westmoreland modified for me, making two compartments in it which I kept filled with ICE. She also made a round pouch for me which I put right on top of my head under my hat. Without these two "cheats", I probably would not have finished. Dana also went back into Crew-Babe mode, keeping me hydrated and iced.
Here I am--done--make that WELL DONE. Notice my ice pack on my head.
Love my pacer Pat!! (The two above pics courtesy of Paula McCracken--Pat's lovely wife.) Guy Wolcott ambled over to congratulate me and my 14:51 finish. Guy had picked my brain for tips on finishing his first ultra, and absolutely aced it. Every time we passed, he was joking and laughing seemingly enjoying every step. Other first time 50 milers included Tim Eraker, Kelli Oyewole, Matt Hancock, Cheryl Isaacs, Kellie Alexander, Stacy Fissel, Cassy Russell, and Karrie Garriott.
TATUR had arranged these hot tubs filled with ice water. I did not take a dip, but many people did.
It would not be a complete race report without blister pics. These were not the worst ever, but one felt more like a burn than a blister. Now, two days later, they are 75% better.




While cruising FaceBook for pics to swipe,
I read this post on Cheryl's wall.


She did her training,
and ran a very good time for a first time effort.


Ultra running is much like a disease--once you're infected,
it only gets worse.


Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd (or the 50K or 100K)
is in her future--no doubt.