Warrior Princess Angel Run

Last Saturday was the final running of the Warrior Princess Angel Run. This race is ran in memory of Michael and Chrissy Whitten's daughter, who was diagnosed with T18 chromosomal disease and lived 103 days before getting her angel wings. Proceeds from the race went to families with children with T18 and T13 chromosomal disease to provide assistance, support, and resources needed.

This race was ran at Chandler Park and was a 1.03 mile out-and-back with a couple of loops thrown in through the labyrinth of boulders and bluffs at Chandler Park--a mecca for rock climbing enthusiasts.

A good crowd of 70-80 runners tackled the endeavor on this warm muggy morning. There was also a 1.03 mile fun run.


Chrissy and I designed the course which had a little of everything: some grassy fields, some flat sections, some steep inclines, and lots of rocks.


Chandler Park is a real gem in Tulsa, with about a mile of rugged trailz through the boulder area, and many more miles of single track and double track trailz to the south and west of the park.

I started near the back of the pack, expecting no more than 5.15 miles in these 103 minutes.


No one got lost really bad, but a few people did miss a turn here and there. Gotta read the signs.


My first two laps were ran at a lazy jog/shuffle pace, and the third loop, I slowed it down even more and took a few pictures.


Arnold Begay was the man behind the horn. It sounded like a wounded moose.


Little Wade Bement shifts into 4-wheel drive over one of the rocky sections. This was Wade's official race, and he belted out three laps before calling it a day.

I had just under 30 minutes left after three lapps--too much to get in two more based on how I was feeling and running. I teamed up with Jason Bement, and we basically walked the last loop. My friend Jeremy Wiley, who was pacing his daughter Gracie joined us since Gracie had decided three laps was enough. Jeremy, upon my dare, decided to hit it hard and try for two more laps in the 29 remaining minutes. He took off like a shot, and knocked out two more and finished with seconds to spare.


Near the end of the loop, the Leap of Faith had to be crossed. It was a 2' wide crevice that had a 15-20 foot drop should you lose your footing and fall. It was a good photo op, and Rafael Santiago was perched with a camera shooting leaps. It has been said that with a green shirt, I'd be a dead ringer for a leprechaun.


Krystal Brown won the women's race with 7 laps in 1:40. Jana Graham was second with 6 laps in 1:30. Kretis Bliss was third with 5 laps in 1:28.


Ryan Jennings won the men's race with 9 laps in 1:37. Travis Jennings was second also with 9 laps in 1:41. Cameron Plate was third with 9 laps in 1:42.

Chrissy did a great job with the trophies. I did a not-so good job photographing them.

I ended up with 4 laps 4 laps in 1:35, which in the initial results put me in 10th place. But I noticed a missing runner who finished 5th, so with the corrected results, I finished 11th. It's all good.

What's next for Chrissy--she's c omitted to running 103 miles, and is shooting for Pumpkin Holler in 2016.

Warrior Princess Angel Run story

Last Saturday (and yes, I have been a little slow in getting my race report in--sorry) was the 5th running of the Warrior Princess Angel Run. This run is put in for a host of reasons.
1. It is a tribute to Lillian Grace Whitten, who is Michael and Chrissy Whitten's first daughter. Their website sums it up well, so I quote:

The Warrior Princess Foundation was founded by Michael and Chrissy Whitten after their precious daughter, Lilian Grace, earned her wings Thursday, August 5, 2010. She was born with T18, Edward’s Syndrome on Sunday, April 25, 2010, and fought a daily battle for 103 days. Her parents realized the need and desire to help other families going through this similar journey due to the large costs and grueling daily battles this syndrome creates on a daily basis.

2. Proceeds from the race benefit their foundation which helps build an awareness and helps with the needs of parents with children with to T18/T13 Edward's Syndrome.

3. Besides being a memorial to Lillian Grace and fundraiser to this to this cause, it is a great and fun trail run in an amazing park that most runners in the Tulsa area do not know exists.

4. Chrissy and I always look forward to hanging out for a day or two marking the race course and being silly. We've been good friends for years, but hardly get to see each other since we are both so stinking busy all the time.

Picture by Rafael Santiago

Chrissy made a few announcements, and hey--you had better be listening! The race was not a set distance--it was a timed race--how far can you run in 103 minutes. The actual course was an out-and-back that had a couple of loops within. Imagine a figure 8--with a squiggly out-and-back on the top and bottom end. Confusing? Well--you just needed to follow the person in front of you, and hope the leaders did not blow through an intersection without seeing the signs.

Picture by Rafael Santiago

The race started at 8:30, and the finishing gun was scheduled to fire at 10:13. Most of the crowd was more than ready to tear up some trail.

Picture by Rafael Santiago

We put up about 60 signs along the way--marking the course forwards and backwards. Putting wire signs into rock is tricky. I ran the course before race started, and none of the signs or pink ribbons had been disturbed since we placed them the day before. What a blessing!

Some of the route was runnable, but their were definitely some technical areas. My goal was to shuffle it all--and walk when I had to. I ran 7 laps last year, but this year, I had no goals other than to have fun and visit with friends. I ran one lap with Jason Bement for a while, and chatted it up with Bryan Carpenter for a bit before he left me in the dust. My second lap, I ran with Jenni Hawkins, and I think I have her re-hooked on trailz. My third lap, I ran with Terri Broomhall. Silly girl went the whole way in flip flops. 

Picture by Rafael Santiago

A few pics along the way--Sue Ann Bement extends her streak of running EVERY race in the Oklahoma Dirt Trail Series.

Chandler Park is a gem. The tall bluffs and tight hallways between them are mystifying to say the least. 

Picture by Rafael Santiago

This is a popular place for rock climbing, rappelling, and boulder hopping. (More on boulder hopping later.)

Terri picks her way thorough the rocks. 

Picture by Rafael Santiago 

Jason Bement cruises on his way back to the start/finish.


Just up this narrow rock stairway and we can see the Start/Finish checkpoint. 


But before we hit the starting table where they recorded your lap, there was one obstacle--a little boulder hopping across the LEAP of FAITH. Much like the LEAP O'DOOM at Lake McMurtry, one had to muster all the courage they had and pray that their jump would be enough to successfully reach the other side.


Actually--this is not quite as wide as the LEAP O'DOOM.


But it IS deeper. To verify this, I tossed a rope over the side, and then measured it. The measure told the tale--this crevice was just over 7 feet deeper than the chasm at Lake McMurtry.


Terri is green with fear with the idea of crossing.


Lap after lap--it was fun til the end. Katie Kramer seemed to just float over the rocks. She lapped me so many times I lost count.


I did 4 laps, and might have had time for a 5th lap if I ran a bit faster, but I called it a day. 

Picture by Rafael Santiago

According to the finishing times--it must have been a battle at the end, with Katie and Cameron Plate finishing right together.

Picture by Rafael Santiago

Cameron had a slight lead and took first place overall. It may get to be a common thing for Cameron and his brother Brandon winning our trail races. They make it look easy. Brandon also ran the 1.03 mile race (which started AFTER the big run), won it, and then started the 103 minute run late--and still finished 9 laps. In my way of thinking, Brandon would have been very near the lead had he not done the 1.03 mile run first.

This is a super cool trail race. My advice--go out to Chandler Park and just explore. And give this race a try next year.

Warrior Princess Angel Run

Saturday Chrissy and Michael Whitten put on the 3.5 year annual Warrior Princess trail Run.

This years event has moved from Keystone State Park moluntain bike trailz to Chandler Park. There were 40 or so runners who elected to do the longer event--running for 103 minutes through the labyrinth of trailz winding through the bluffs overhanging Avery Drive and the mighty Arkansas. A few of the crowd knew what awaited them once they dropped down into the maze, but I am sure a few were surprised.

RD Chrissy gives out some last minute directions. It has rained just before the race, and caution was issued due to the slick rocks and mud. Still, I didn't see any blood and only saw one person slip in a muddy descent.

Arena has a smile of confidence, having traversed these trailz once on a TOT field trip. Jenni was on board to help Mitch with the timing, and I particular like this pic because it shows it is possible to inflate a balloon to the point where it's bigger than Mitch's head.

The "GO!" was declared and we were off for 103 minutes to commemorate Little Lillian's 103 days here on this earth.

I ran with K2 for much of the way. We clicked off the 1.03 mile laps like clockwork, running each in 17 minutes and change. While there were not any tremendously long steep hills, there were a few ups and downs, and several sections where the trail was rocky enough that walking was a good choice.


A good portion (but not all) of the course was an out-and-back, so you got to see other people as they ran their race. "Good job", "keep it up", "looking good."

Picture taken by Ken Saveth

Because part of the trail was through narrow hallways between craggy rocks, every now and then it was momentarily crowded, but never a real problem. But if this race grows like I think it will, we may have to rethink the course.

Picture taken by Rafael Santiago

Chrissy had professional photographers on the course, and many many pictures will be available for viewing soon.

Unlike the Snake Run, there was no "finishing lap." If you were on the course after 103 minutes had passed, the lap you were on did not count. K2 and I finished with a mere 15 minutes to spare. I wanted to go out for another even though it was gonna have to be my fastest lap of the day. K2 was good with stopping at 5 laps, and I ran out hard to try to squeeze another lap in. All things were clicking, and I ran all but one brief uphill, and passed a few runners along the way.

Picture taken by Ken Saveth

Picture taken by Ken Saveth

Rounding the last corner, I crossed the Leap of Faith for a 6th time and made it in with almost 3 minutes to spare, meaning I had ran the loop in 12 minutes. I was very happy with that, and laid around for a few minutes composing myself. Results are not yet posted, but I will put a link here when they are. This is a race you will not want to miss next year.

Warrior Princess Angel Run

Mark this on your calendar--the Warrior Princess Angel Run is August 3rd at Chandler Park. My awesome friends Chrissy and Michael Whitten are moving the annual Warrior Princess Run from April to August, and giving it a new twist. This new race is sort of like the Snake Run in that it's not a prescribed distance, but a prescribed time. Whereas the April run at Keystone was 10.3 miles or 10.3 kilometers, this race is for 103 minutes. It'll be run on a loopy out-and-back through the maze of boulders at Chandler Park, which is an amazing place to see and run through!
 From the starting line near the rec center, you'll descend onto the trail from the west, and run alongside these amazing rock formations that are popular with rock climbers, rappellers, and boulder hoppers. You';; pop back out on top of the bluffs, and then descend again to a turnaround on the lower level of the park. From there, you'll return and you'll see your friends and competitors along the way. You'll run on top for a while, and then descend into the maze and we'll send you back up a hidden staircase where you'll get to traverse the Leap of Faith, a narrow crevice where sure footing and a little momentum will come in handy.

Run as many of these 1.03 mile circuits as you can in 103 minutes. You can stop at one, of crank out 10 or so of them if you wish. The trailz are a bit rocky in places, but runable most of the way. Near the end of the race, if you finish a lap and still have 13 more minutes to go, you can start another lap, and have the lap count even if you are a little over the 103 minute cutoff.

The medals have never disappointed. There are a few people who have them all, and seeing them all side by side makes me wish I had the whole set!

Another friend, Lauri Biby, put together this video which is worth a watch.
Don't miss this fun event. I am pretty sure there has never been a running event through these trailz, and it'll be an adventure!! CLICK HERE to sigh up.