If ya missed the BIG TATUR Christmas party Friday night at Dan Threlkeld's house, you missed an event! Dan did a "preacher's count" and announced there were 100 people attending. It was standing room only, and I left weighing about 5 pounds heavier than when I arrived. My schoolgirl figure is really getting away!
Dan and JoAnn are the most gracious hosts ever, and JoAnn is a gourmet cook. This was a potluck, with everyone bringing something to eat or drink. Let's just say....nourishment was plentiful.
Don't make the mistake of thinking that Polly was the jumping the gun on the munchies. The Zombie began grazing as soon as he walked through the door!
Lynna doesn't realize the danger she is in getting ahead of Tatur Uno. Fortunately for her, Uno had had a beer and was chilling out nicely.
The kitchen was full, and so was the living room. One could opt for the dining room or the game room upstairs, and all the rooms were packed.
Nels (in the black shirt), his lovely wife Donna (hiding behind him), and his lovely friend John came all the way from OKC to the party.
The red jacket he's holding up is from the Arkansas Traveller and awarded to him for being a 10 time finisher. John has completed 22-- 100 milers, and over 100 ultras. Quite amazing.
Here are 2 more amazing ultrarunners. Randy Ellis on the left has ran numerous 100 milers and ultras, has won a 24 hour track race. He has also ran from the Pacific to the Atlantic and wrote a great book about it, "Running With Payne" in which he gives an account of the Bunion Derby, a race ran in the 1920s in which Andy Payne from right here in Oklahoma won this coast to coast race. (No, Randy did not run it WITH Andy.....Randy was just a toddler then.) This book is a great read. Earl Blewett has quite a nice race resume as well. Earl is a 3 time finisher of the AT 100, and has a few Leadville finishes to his credit as well. He has also been the race director of the Lake McMurtry 50K in Stillwater for the past 10 years. More about this race in a future post. (Oh, and actually, Randy is not really that old. Bad Zombie!)
Two awesome Crew Babes!! My DW Dana, and Mrs. Randy Ellis. Marcy and Dana share crewing duties all day, and then all night when their husbands run in 100 milers. They endure extreme grumpiness from their runners, and extreme fatigue from lack of sleep. Sound fun??
Roman A) is suffering from a perspiration disorder, B) didn't get the hankie to his nose before the sneeze, C) is lactating.
The first time ultra finishers were recognized. There have been many of our Tatur conglomerate who have conquered the distance this year. Glenn, and Vicky come to mind, but more on them later. Above, Jason and Lisa, along with Bobby cruised through Sunmart only 3 weeks after finishing their first marathon. (Jason and Lisa, on a quest to become Marathon Maniacs are on their way to Dallas as I type to do White Rock.) Bob and his daughter Janeen also notched up a finish in the 50K. Bob was also recognized for having the most gory injury of the year when he did a face plant just 100 yards from the finish of the T & T Trail race this past September. (I would also give honorable mention to Nels for his nose plant on one of the Sunmart bridges.
Vicky was awarded for Most Spirited Tatur. I would also give her the Energizer Bunny award.
Tatur Uno, Mr. Johnny Spriggs himself, won the award for most miles raced. Johnny is the only one in our group who may be more crazy than I am.
Bill Ford aka Spud, was not present but was recognized for his behind the scenes work. Bill, I hope you don't mind, but I drank your award!
Dana was awarded the Crew Babe of the Year Award. And well deserved I say!!! She received a Tatur shirt and a gift certificate to have her horns trimmed.
Glenn won the Rookie of the Year award. Glenn ran his 1st 50K at Sunmart and smoked the course. He also ran his 1st 2 marathons this year and was 2nd in the Turkey & Taturs 25K.
Bobby won the award for Most Inspirational Tatur. Bobby has in 2 years went from Couch Potato to Super Tatur. He NEVER misses a group run, never complains, would do anything for a fellow runner, and did awesome in his 1st marathon and 1st 50K this year. Look for him on the Marathon Maniacs page real soon, and at the start of a 50 miler in the near future.
Arnold won the Most Beat-up Feet award. Arnold finished 3-100 milers this year, and paced a friend in Badwater. Now, he has the bug to DO Badwater next year as well as McNaughton Park 150 miler. Ouch!
Shelley won the Best Performance by a Tatur award. If Shelley is toeing the line in a trail race, wise money is bet on her to win. She has been 1st or 2nd in every trail race she has done this year, including setting a course record at Flat Rock. And poor Kurt kills himself trying to keep up.
I'd like to say such a HUGE THANK YOU to Kathy and Brian, who work all the time making sure all the rest of us have fun. And they do that very well. Kathy was the Tatur of the year last year, and deserves that honor every year. Brian lives, eats, sleeps, and drinks Tatur. (Well, there's more beer in that drink category, and lately there's been a lot of salad in the diet.) I cannot thank them and Tatur enough for honoring me with this years Tatur of the Year award. I would say I'm speechless, but you all know I love to talk.
And yes, I did kiss him. It was icky....he was all scratchy! Thanks again, guys.
This is by far my most favorite award.
Just to show how great a guy Brian is, he presents Rikki Wimmer from the Westside YMCA a check for 2,200 from the proceeds from the T & T Trail race.
A lot of race directors could pocket the $$$ from a race, but Brian makes sure the race benefits a charity, and the YMCA daycamp is a great one.
Mark this event on your calenders. Tatur throws a party that should never be missed!