Greetings from Lapland

A couple of weeks ago, Dana and I worked an aid station at Heartland 100. We did this last year when they had a 50 miler and a 100 miler going on at the same time, but this year they just had the 100. We have been so busy at work that we did not get away from Tulsa til 10:30 and rolled into our aid station location about 4:00 am. We awoke to the race officials setting up our tent and dropping off our supplies. 10-12 crew cars were already there. Glad we did not sleep through the wave of runners!!

We were at mile 16 at Lapland. Runners started hitting us at 8:30, and by 11:00 they were all through. Since the course is an out and back, we had several hours of down time, and went to "town" that is Cassoday. We had lunch and then went to El Dorado to give WalMart some of our money, and coffeed up at Quick Trip!!


The "T" intersection at Lapland--a couple of gravel roads that meet in the middle of nowhere. Write "nowhere" on a piece of paper, and the "h" is Lapland. It's still beautiful in it's own way. Runners came from the south (left) and turned east down this road.


This is the direction they came. We brought our camper. We had electric via our generator, and good water for coffee via gallon jugs of Ozarka.


Here's the same road heading east zoomed in to pick up the runner.


The race set up super duper heavy duty tents for us. I took 10" spikes and nailed it down to the ground, which was basically solid rock. Good thing though. Last year this tent was almost blown to Oklahoma before I managed to tie it to a telephone pole and later bought these spikes. It was chilly in the morning, and threatened to be in the upper 30s during the night, but never dipped below 45°.


The early runners buzzed through, but the later runners stopped and grazed. In true TATUR fashion, we served pancakes and bacon. It was all consumed. And I helped.


My duties were mostly recording numbers. The RDs are pretty adamant about that and it's a good idea. We need to be more diligent on that in our races.


Arnold Begay and Russell Bennett were the only two from TATUR running. Kelvin and Kathy, along with Roman were crewing and pacing Russell.


There's only one restaurant in Cassoday, and you always run into friends there. The bbq was especially good, as were the homemade desserts.


The Kansas prairie has amazing sunsets.  At our little rural intersection, there were two other people besides me taking pics of the sunset.


A couple of LED strands powered by our generator gave us ample light. From 2-3 miles away, weary runners on their return trip could see our oasis.


The little aid station on the prairie.


The clouds tried to break, but the full moon remained partially obscured for the duration of the night.


The light on the right was a runner about 100 yards away. I zoomed in and took a burst of pictures, and one of them was less fuzzy than the rest.

Our last runner made their was through right around 67:00 am. A crew came around and disassembled the tent and loaded the tables and leftover supplies. We crashed in the camper for a few hours of sleep and woke up barely in time to make the post race awards ceremony. Most of the runners had left for home, but our friends were still there.

Flat Rock 50K. Sometimes the trail wins.

Saturday I ran the 20th annual FlatRock 50K in Independence KS. This was my first ultra way back in 2003, and this would be my 12th consecutive finish here. This time, I was woefully undertrained, nursing a possible running career ending knee issue, but on the upside, well tapered and I knew the course maybe better than anyone. 

We drove up early Saturday morning which meant only about 4 hours of sleep. Still, with my personal lucky number 8 (awarded me for being knighted into the FlatRock Hall of Pain) I was believing in trail magic and ibuprofen to get me through. 

We got to the race barely in time for the preface briefing which I have memorized anyway. I found something to carry for a water bottle since I forgot mine, and headed to the porta potty line. Literally 15 25Kers were lined up and gave no respect to a prairie dogging 50Ker whose race started in a few minutes fully an hour before theirs. So, I loaded up with some paper towels and figured I would be in the back of the pack anyway.....

I got to see a lot of friends, including several GOATz. Soon enough we were off and running. More like shuffling for me though. 

I haven't looked through the race pictures. Rick Mayo does an awesome job though. Di Liska tagged me here. This might be the only time ever where I've been photographed with both feet are off the ground at the same time. 

Eric and Polly were at the trail head wishing us all well. It seemed the day was gonna be alright. 


The trailz at Elk City Lake are beautiful and tough in a few places. I was running easy, walking anything technical, and was just trying to settle in. 

I lasted a mile and then had to break out a paper towel. After kicking some dirt over the evidence, I was feeling great and I picked up the pace.   

Eventually I caught up with Joe Galloway and then a girl named Heather (I think.) then  pushed on and caught some good friends Lynna and Melissa. I ran with them and really enjoyed the run with them. 

FlatRock is tough in many little ways. There are a few hills. The course elevation looks horrifying but there is really no climb that really sucks. There are technical sectiond, but there are many more miles of sweet uninterrupted single track. But enough of anything eventually is too much, and on an 86 degree day, the course just bests you up. Today, I was enjoying every step until mile 9 when I got s shard jab of pain in my bum knee. It turned my fluid shuffle into a one legged crow hop. I took 22 minutes on my 9th mile. And each step with my right leg hurt. Up hills worked fine. Downhills were bad. If I could have shuffled the flats, I would have stayed in, but I wisely dropped at mile 10. 

This was Dana's aid station and I got to see all the runners come back through. Dana worked her magic and helped quire a few runners get theirselves together and finish what they started. 

It was smart of me to stop. Now, 2 days later, I am walking with a bit of a hitch, but nothing seems too damaged. But the knee is not well. I just don't know how this is gonna pan out. Don't feel sad for me. I am gonna ride my bike for a while. I'll keep blogging. Maybe it won't be as boring. 

This picture may have been altered just a little to make my friend Melon even more mad at me. Not the sexiest leg. 

I did have the good fortune to finish in the top two for a sexy leg contest. 

After the race, Scott Hill was knighted for 10 consecutive finishes. Dennis Haig was recognized for 20 consecutive finishes. 

Some awesome friends Zach Adams and Candy Paulin got engaged right in front of all us sweaty runners. 

My good friend Melissa missed the 10 hour cutoff by 39 seconds. She battled nausea, hung tough to the finish. And she finished. I'm proud of her. Twice, I have finished in well over 10 hours. Once on a muddy course and once with a sprained ankle. 

Red Dirt Shuffle Review

It's time to put my thoughts together with these pictures that I have had loaded for a couple of days. Last Sunday was the first of many years for the Red Dirt Shuffle, a halfish marathon and a quarter-sorta marathon. I have played on these trailz a few times before, and I knew the first time I ran here that this would be an awesome place for a race.



Lake McMurtry publishes a decent trail map--not loaded with details, but you can at least tell there is a trail going around the lake and if you look carefully, you can navigate the turns.  


The half and quarter ran different loops. The quarter had the easier and shorter south loop, while the half had the more technical and longer north loop to do before finishing with the south loop.



We had quite a few more halfers that quarter horses.



I was happy to have 100 sign up and 85 show up for this event.


The north loop was run in the counterclockwise direction. The course can best be described as an out and back with offshoot loops on the way back. At times, you might see runners coming back your way, but for the most part, you only saw who might be just ahead or behind you.



I spent Saturday marking, using only styrofoam plates with arrows tacked to trees. Where it was feasible, I put wrong way signs on the trailz that you were NOT supposed to go on.



A nice view of the lake greeted the half marathoners in a couple of spots. The quarter had a couple of distant views.



Like wooden bridges--these trails have them.



Near the aid station and about half way through the north loop, the trail crosses this powerline easement. I think a trail addressing these rolling hills would be a good addition.



There's a little bit of everything on this trail system. You have roots and rocks, sandy trails, trails through meadows, through thick wooded areas, on pine needles, through briers, and tropical reeds.



The south trailz had an easier track. I rode my mountain bike on the north side and it about killed me. I think I could ride thew south side without pushing my bike near as much.



The mt bike riders in the area do a LOT of trail maintenance here. About a mile of new trail had been cut in the past few months replacing sections with erosion issues. Every foot of the trail seems to be well thought out.



Building these bridges means lugging lots of heavy treated lumber a long distance into the woods. Their dedication is commendable.



A narrow downhill spiral. A runner ahead stretches it out while I stop for a picture.



This was my favorite bridge. Instead of dragging a truckload of treated 2x6s in, fallen trees from the area were used. They tied these together with a steel cable drilled through each log. The bridge bounced and swayed.  If it were only 100 feet higher!



I hang around the start/finish for most of the race. Jeremy Wiley pounds out a finish--his first trail race and first half marathon. His daughter was waiting for him to give him his finishers medal.



Red Dirt Shuffle 1/4 Marathon Women's top three from left to right: Amanda Cothern took 3rd, Elisha Adams was 2nd, and Katie Brown was the female winner.

Men's Quarter Marathon top three: In the red next to me, Shayne Hudson took 3rd, on thee right Skylar Turner was 2nd, and in the yellow Craig Harrison was the 1/4 marathon winner.

Red Dirt Shuffle Half Marathon top three: in the Red Coyote shirt Debbie Murnan was 3rd, on the right Shelly Chronister was 2nd, and in the blue speedy Katie Kramer was the ladies Half Marathon winner.



The men's race top three from right to left: Cameron Plate was 3rd, Aaron Ochoa was 2nd, and Justin Franklin was the Red Dirt Shuffle Half Marathon winner.



But the awards were not through yet. Roman Broyles and Cindy Metcalf were the men's and women's longest shufflers. They spent more time on the trailz than anyone else, and were warmly rewarded for their accomplishment.



An honorable mention for longest shuffler goes to Leaha Kopp, who barely out-sprinted Roman and Cindy to the finish line. This was Leaha's first trail race and first half marathon. She had faithfully put her training in for 13.1 miles and was treated to an extra 1.5 miles, due to my evil habit of adding a wee bit to the length of my races for good health.

Susan Melon Westmoreland made these amazing finishers awards and trophies. 
This is real honest red dirt from the Lake McMurtry area. She sifted the dirt, funneled it into over 100 of these bottles, made the lettering and stuck it to the bottles, glued the cork and eyelet in, and cut and tied the leather strings. She is an artist.

My wife Dana was awesome as ever, helping me mark and pull course markings, wrangling all the aid station food, and keeping me sane. The race events go well when she's at the helm. I am bad at forgetting to thank all of my volunteers. So this time, I'll echo Dana's FB thank you.

Thanks to all our Awesome Volunteers yesterday. Kate Ellisor and Shannon Ojeda Jennings Jessi Wiley her two kiddos you all were so awesome. Ken and I appreciate you so much. Thanks to all the Runners that helped after the run to pack up. Kathy Hoover, Roman Broyles, Mike Rives, Cindy Metcalf, and if I left you out please forgive me. I know you all were tired from the run. Can't forget the awesome Susan Lydon Westmoreland, so gifted, made our medals. She's so amazingly talented and creative. TZ calls her his Chloe--if you watch 24 will know what I mean. Actually he made the statement if she was Chloe that must mean he was Jack Bauer. Of course I laugh and stated she is definitely Chloe but he wasn't Jack Bauer lol. Thanks to Brian Hoover for timing our race.

Oh come on--I AM Jack Bauer!!

Finally, I really enjoyed putting on this race. I enjoyed shuffling around and marking the route, and pulling plates after the race. And I got more than my share of souvenirs from my endeavors.
I have over 200 chigger bites. Now, as I type on Thursday evening, the insane itching frenzy is almost gone. The red spots are scabs. How chiggers get from my feet all up my legs, all over my buttocks, my belly, my back, my armpits, and even my face--I dunno. This is the second worse batch I have ever had. If you ran the race and got not even a chigger nibble, you can thank me. I got em all.

Some pictures of Turkey Mountain other than what the TV stations show.

I have noticed that in all of the TV stories on Turkey Mountain, the video is always of the main trail head, or from the upper parking lot, and sometimes by the outlet mall plot. That's where the camera crew park their truck, and heaven forbid they venture into the woods to actually see how awesome these trailz are. The view from the overlook on the Ho-Chi is safe from the mall development, but is a perfect example of the treasure that we have.
Heading west, the Snake Trail has some of the easiest and most used routes in the urban wilderness. It's pristine single track, and is usually decorated with an assortment of wild flowers.There are several beautiful ponds. Feel like fishing? There are perch, catfish, and smallish bass. It's also a perfect place for a quick swim--if you're a dog.
I lead a group of runners on SUnday mornings and Tuesday evenings, and we explore all of the 25 miles of wilderness trailz.The wildlife on Turkey Mountain is diverse. There are deer, squirrel, raccoon, opossum, armadillo, occasional bobcat, mountain lion (I have seen one), river otter (I have seen one of these too), beaver, and hundreds of species of birds including American eagles. This vista is on the northern part of the proposed malls parking lot. Paving 60 acres leaves a lot of animals homeless.

Another problem is the rain water runoff. Rain exits flat paved surfaces as soon as it falls, and will cause incredible erosion problems. I am no specialist, but he Mooser Creek water shed would be greatly altered. I would imagine the YMCA would feel the consequences after a heavy rain.

Pepsi Lake would be in danger--being pumped with mud from the rain and erosion.Other beautiful features that few people have seen--the falls below Pepsi Pond. The lake is a little low right now, but at times, the falls are beautiful.
This is Mooser Creek. There is not really a trail leading to this view--but their should be. To me--mall construction means destruction of so many of Turkey Mountain's best features.