An Afternoon at Lake McMurtry.

After running 5 miles with the TOTs this morning, Dana, Jake, and I left for Stillwater to run some nice single-track at Lake McMurtry.

As you can see, Jake was stoked to be going.

He hit the ground running, and was like a kid in a candy store loving every step of what are new trailz to him.

Even though it rained in Tulsa last night, it did not seem like Stillwater got any of it. The trailz might have had a damp spot or two, but were powder/packed powder and delicious to run on. We took the trail that leads to the Leap O'Doom.

Jake put on the brakes, and after reviewing the mathematical equations and procedures for bounding over the chasm, decided to take the easy way around and leave the leaping to me. Dana chickened out too.

We popped out on the gravel road, which is about mile one on the race course. Those wanting to kick it into passing gear can get their position here. You'll run on ~.3 miles before tucking back into the woods.

We enjoyed miles of solitude, interrupted only a couple of times by polite mountain bikers.

There are a few areas on the north lopp where old cedar growth has been cut down and eliminated. This has changed the look of the course over the past few years--once heavily wooded areas are now wide open spaces, but also that gives spectacular views of the lake. It also gives the course a bit of variety. It has been a change that has made the course even better.

About the lake--the lake level is down. I have never seen it so low. It is a near certainty that there will be no water crossings this year.

Mile three--Jake still has a bit of spring in his step. He is usually a five mile dog, but yesterday, he went eight. We also did eight yesterday, but we were taking it at an easy pace.

All of these pics except the first one were taken with my Canon SD960. I had lost the battery charger AGAIN, and my new one arrived a couple days ago. That's good, because my iPhone has been going wonky--turning itself off saying the battery is dead when it's not.

Most of the trailz at Lake McMurtry are dirt, with a few roots. But there are a few brief rocky areas. Areas like this make up maybe 1% of the running surfaces.

This was my routine for the day. Jog a little, stop and take pictures, and then run to catch up with Dana and her trail guide.

Jake had got ahead a couple hundred yards, and took a break to let us catch up.

Dana was running well today. She was also on her second eight miler of the weekend. This is such an easy place to enjoy trailz. No super long hills, plenty of nice gradual downhills, and very little super technical crap.

About mile five, nearing the shore on the northern part of the lake.

Lake McMurtry's version of Rock City.

Almost to the North Aid Station. We could hear the nearby gun range firing off hundreds of rounds of ammo.

Jake was not bothered by the gunfire, but was very attentive to things running around in the woods. Three or four times, he'd bolt into the woods. Squirrel? Probably. He'll also chase deer, for about 20 steps.

Dana stops to call the hunter back to the trail.

He came charging back. I should put my Garmin on him. I brag on his eight miles, when it's probably ten.

Dana climbs out of a ravine on the north out-and-back loop.

Mile six, heading south toward the start/finish of the race.

Trail running doesn't get much better than this.

The last open area we ran through. Our pace had slowed. The five mile dog was twice regenerated by a swim, but was in full-on zombie mode.

This trail turns back to the gravel road we were on earlier, and is about one mile from our car. We ran the road at a decent pace, tucked back into the woods and weaved our way back to the car taking the other more traveled trail that skips the Leap O'Doom.

Here's to a couple of overachievers, running 8 trail miles back to back. Jake was treated to a Wendy's Jr Cheeseburger, and about half of Dana's as well. (I wasn't sharing!) It was a good day for all of us.

Lake McMurtry 50K/25K/12K is on April 6th. This is an awesome race. It was my first trail race back in 2003, and I have never missed it since, either running or race directing it. Click here to join in on the fun!

A final update from Costa Rica

Finally, the final standings are posted from the Coastal Challenge. News of our runners was non-existent for Day 4 and 5, but we did not miss anything. None of our group started those days. I do not know the details--maybe they just kicked back and enjoyed the beach. But Kathy, Dee, Derk, and Barbara ran the last day in a respectable 5:44 staying together as a group.

I am sure Facebook will be blissfully flooded with pics and reports when they get back on US soil. I've heard that phone usage in Costa Rica--if and when they have a signal--is way expensive.

Here's a few more pix of our gang, and then some of the course from Day 6.

Finally, the results. I'm proud of our team. I'm sure they'll have tales to tell for years to come of what no doubt is the hardest thing they've ever taken on.

Expedition Category (Male)
POS. # FirstName/LastName STAGE1 STAGE2 STAGE3 STAGE4 STAGE5 STAGE6 FINAL
1 17 David James 02:56 05:01 06:23 05:05 05:12 02:17 26:54
2 64 I. Dris 03:42 05:01 07:01 05:53 05:11 02:29 29:17
3 47 Jose Lopez 03:46 06:46 07:37 05:53 06:13 02:44 32:59
4 67 Henry Monestel 03:46 06:23 07:36 06:32 06:29 02:53 33:39
5 56 Marcelo Jimenez 04:16 07:18 08:47 06:55 06:55 03:04 37:15
6 58 Ernesto Jimenez 04:39 07:17 09:02 07:29 07:31 03:10 39:08
7 43 Donald Peterson 05:06 07:47 08:46 07:29 07:20 03:08 39:36
8 38 Rob Harsh 05:14 08:30 09:23 07:19 06:39 02:43 39:48
9 54 S. Boro 04:35 07:16 09:07 07:52 07:31 03:43 40:04
10 53 E. Noguera 04:35 07:16 09:07 07:52 07:43 03:43 40:16
11 62 M. Matyazic 05:18 07:32 08:36 08:44 06:52 03:26 40:28
12 45 Gilson Canella 05:01 07:23 09:23 08:51 07:40 03:12 41:30
13 55 BenjaminAronson 05:59 07:48 08:14 07:23 08:36 03:41 41:41
14 48 Olger Batrez 04:50 08:24 10:01 08:43 07:25 03:28 42:51
15 26 Chance Lunsford 04:24 07:10 09:49 08:46 08:35 05:33 44:17
16 16 Shawn McNaughton 05:14 08:31 09:23 08:54 09:28 03:37 45:07
17 42 Brent Bishop 05:33 08:30 11:41 08:06 08:50 02:47 45:27
18 8 Jerome Lourme 05:18 08:00 09:30 10:13 09:09 03:59 46:09
19 15 Pavel Stepczynski 04:53 08:45 10:01 10:05 09:27 04:06 47:17
20 20 Jonas Ekstam 05:32 09:16 10:13 10:02 08:38 03:50 47:31
21 40 Bruce Moore 06:05 09:36 11:42 11:50 10:35 03:37 53:25
22 27 Cris Valladares 06:42 10:45 10:01 10:53 10:04 05:44 54:09
23 31 Paul Selecky 06:31 09:52 11:14 11:46 12:44 07:03 59:10
24 30 Mike Vovk 07:32 11:18 11:14 11:58 12:44 07:03 61:49
11 Graham Snowden 04:54 08:05 10:01 DNS DNS DNS
21 Richard Broyles 08:01 12:08 12:24 DNS DNS DNS
49 Diego Herrera 05:35 07:07 08:05 05:57 DNF DNF
51 NathanielLowe 05:42 08:43 11:20 OUT OUT OUT
24 Derk Pinkerton 06:47 10:45 DNF DNS DNS 05:44
Expedition Category (Female)
POS. # FirstName/LastName STAGE1 STAGE2 STAGE3 STAGE4 STAGE5 STAGE6 FINAL
1 14 Gemma Slaughter 04:48 07:36 09:23 07:49 06:57 03:09 39:42
2 39 Angela Meyer 05:14 07:36 08:50 08:45 07:32 03:35 41:32
3 6 Irene Hale 04:51 07:49 09:05 08:46 07:32 03:35 41:38
4 46 Tricia Perez 04:37 07:26 09:13 10:57 08:45 04:14 45:12
5 35 Kami Holtz 05:35 08:12 10:53 09:44 09:17 04:14 47:55
6 36 Pam Nielsen 05:35 08:12 10:53 09:44 09:17 04:14 47:55
7 37 Helen Lavin 05:35 08:12 10:53 09:44 09:17 04:14 47:55
8 41 Sandra McKellar 05:33 09:36 11:42 11:50 10:35 04:15 53:31
9 18 Marissa Cepelinski 05:36 11:04 12:11 11:45 13:06 04:17 57:59
10 28 Gina Spencer 06:57 11:34 12:32 11:23 12:33 07:03 62:02
10 Astrid Vaulks 06:00 09:17 12:13 DNS 09:48 04:38
22 Deanne Deatherage 06:42 10:57 12:59 DNS DNS 05:44
25 Kathy Hoover 08:01 11:42 11:52 DNS DNS 05:44
59 Mila Ballester 06:01 10:39 11:51 DNF DNF 05:03
23 Barbara Pinkerton 06:47 10:45 DNF DNS DNS 05:44
7 Shari White 04:49 08:00 OUT OUT OUT OUT
60 Ligia Madrigal 04:50 DNF OUT OUT OUT OUT

The Coastal Challenge website has a lot of details about the race as far as signup, but no current results at all. Maybe they'll post more stuff there later, but I'm not holding my breath.

A website called Breathmag has some daily posts and lots of pictures, but mostly about the top three runners.

Coastal Challenge Report

From what I could dig up (all from their Facebook Page) Here is a glimpse of what our friends are doing in Central America.

I am guessing this is from day 1. Kathy and Roman look fresh and full of life!

Our gang can be seen in a few places in the first 1:20 of this video.




Finally, here are the results of the first three days. Kathy, Roman, and Dee have finished all three days. They are not a threat to win, but they are certainly looking like they'll finish. This is beyond AWESOME!!!

Expedition Category (Male)
POS. # FIRST NAME LAST NAME COUNTRY STAGE1 STAGE2 STAGE3 1+2+3
1 17 David James USA 2:56 5:01 6:23 14:20
2 64 I. Dris SPAIN 3:42 5:01 7:01 15:44
3 67 Henry Monestel COSTA RICA 3:46 6:23 7:36 17:45
4 47 Jose Lopez COSTA RICA 3:46 6:46 7:37 18:09
5 56 Marcelo Jimenez COSTA RICA 4:16 7:18 8:47 20:21
6 49 Diego Herrera COSTA RICA 5:35 7:07 8:05 20:47
7 53 E. Noguera SPAIN 4:35 7:16 9:07 20:58
8 54 S. Boro SPAIN 4:35 7:16 9:07 20:58
9 58 Ernesto Jimenez COSTA 4:39 7:17 9:02 20:58
10 26 Chance Lunsford USA 4:24 7:10 9:49 21:23
11 62 M. Matyazic USA 5:18 7:32 8:36 21:26
12 43 Donald Peterson CANADA 5:06 7:47 8:46 21:39
13 45 Gilson Canella COSTA RICA 5:01 7:23 9:23 21:47
14 55 Benjamin Aronson COSTA RICA 5:59 7:48 8:14 22:01
15 8 Jerome Lourme USA 5:18 8:00 9:30 22:48
16 11 Graham Snowden CANADA 4:54 8:05 10:01 23:00
17 38 Rob Harsh USA 5:14 8:30 9:23 23:07
18 16 Shawn McNaughton CANADA 5:14 8:31 9:23 23:08
19 48 Olger Batrez COSTA RICA 4:50 8:24 10:01 23:15
20 15 Pavel Stepczynski CANADA 4:53 8:45 10:01 23:39
21 20 Jonas Ekstam SWEDEN 5:32 9:16 10:13 25:01:00
22 42 Brent Bishop CANADA 5:33 8:30 11:41 25:44:00
23 51 Nathaniel Lowe USA 5:42 8:43 11:20 25:45:00
24 40 Bruce Moore CANADA 6:05 9:36 11:42 27:23:00
25 27 Cris Valladares USA 6:42 10:45 10:01 27:28:00
26 31 Paul Selecky USA 6:31 9:52 11:14 27:37:00
27 30 Mike Vovk USA 7:32 11:18 11:14 30:04:00
28 21 Richard Broyles USA 8:01 12:08 12:24 32:33:00
32 Darren Slotsve USA 7:13 11:34 DNF
24 Derk Pinkerton USA 6:47 10:45 DNF
66 Bruce Wylde CANADA 5:33 DNS 11:35
Expedition Category (Female)
POS. # FIRST NAME LAST NAME COUNTRY STAGE1 STAGE2 STAGE3 1+2+3
1 46 Tricia Perez COSTA RICA 4:37 7:26 9:13 21:16
2 39 Angela Meyer USA 5:14 7:36 8:50 21:40
3 6 Irene Hale USA 4:51 7:49 9:05 21:45
4 14 Gemma Slaughter CANADA 4:48 7:36 9:23 21:47
5 35 Kami Holtz USA 5:35 8:12 10:53 24:40:00
6 36 Pam Nielsen USA 5:35 8:12 10:53 24:40:00
7 37 Helen Lavin USA 5:35 8:12 10:53 24:40:00
8 41 Sandra McKellar CANADA 5:33 9:36 11:42 26:51:00
9 10 Astrid Vaulks NETHERLANDS 6:00 9:17 12:13 27:30:00
10 59 Mila Ballester COSTA RICA 6:01 10:39 11:51 28:31:00
11 18 Marissa Cepelinski CANADA 5:36 11:04 12:11 28:51:00
12 22 Deanne Deatherage USA 6:42 10:57 12:59 30:38:00
13 28 Gina Spencer USA 6:57 11:34 12:32 31:03:00
14 25 Kathy Hoover USA 8:01 11:42 11:52 31:35:00
15 33 Angela Gaudino USA 7:13 11:34 12:55 31:42:00
23 Barbara Pinkerton USA 6:47 10:45 DNF
7 Shari White USA 4:49 8:00 OUT OF RACE
60 Ligia Madrigal COSTA RICA 4:50 DNF OUT OF RACE

A once-thriving industry in rural west Tulsa

I have poked around this old "homesite" on Turkey Mountain a few times looking for a micro-geocache, and have yet to find it. It could be anywhere---under a rock, stuck to the back side of a piece of tin, hanging in a tree, or it could be gone.

I may give it another try, or maybe not. When I go to Turkey, I would rather run than spend much time turning over rocks.

But I have made one discovery--this was not just a homeless man's shelter. I have found a few things here which has opened up a bit of history, and after speaking to a couple of older folks who have lived in the area for years, I am sure I am right.

Not too far from this collapsed tin shelter, there is a structure which I thought was a well, but I am not not so sure.

This picture, found on Google, is a moonshine still. The similar domed structure is a wood burning furnace and the shape of it forces the heat directly to the still which sits on top. The steam from the still rises and runs through a pipe into an adjacent keg, and where it cools and runs into a third keg and is then is dispensed into bottles or jugs, as the drawing below shows.

Back to the collapsed shelter (which from now on, I'll refer to as a moonshine camp.) There are bits and pieces of still parts laying around. And, one end of the shelter has an rock and earthen wall bnuilt that might have been one side of the furnace.

Here is some rusty pipe in which potent corn mash once traveled. Also, a metal trough may have been used in the cooling process.

There are a number of old rusty metal buckets too. A nearby water source is necessary for outlaw moonshiners. There may have been a spring in the area, but for sure, water could have been toted from a nearby pond. This might not have been the best brew, but when you need a drink, maybe that did not matter. Wooden barrels were often used, but as old as this camp is, those wood barrels probably would be completely rotted by now.

At one time, a still like this one was brewing away. These folks were the small businessmen of their time. Or, they were the meth labs of their time, depending on how you want to look at it.

A quick Google search brings up many recipes for the do-it-yourself Moonshiners. This seems like a good recipe for Moonshine. Anyone wanna brew up a batch? I'll be your taster.

My sources who seemed to confirm my notion that this was a moonshine factory were purposely vague, as if they knew more than they were saying. One of them did mention an old man who lived out there and probably had his hand in that. But when I asked about him, they cut me off and would say no more. It seemed like I overstepped my boundaries by asking, and I have not talked to them since--but I wonder if I know who this man is?

More things you did not know were on Turkey Mountain

There is an end to posts like these--this might be the last one unless I go underground or underwater.

Did you know there is another homeless camper on TM? Here's his clothes and other belongings, mattress, covers, and firewood. This is recent stuff. I bet he has his fire going right now.

Everyone knows the most famous landmark on Turkey Mountain--the Old Washing Machine (which is actually a dryer.)

But do you know where the OTHER washing machine is?

Not far from the other washing machine is Turkey Mountain's only pay phone.

Ok, enough of the ugly stuff. This is Turkey Mountain's most unknown pond. Jake wanted to swim here, and I would not let him. But while I was taking pictures, he got into the mud. As I type, he is drying off from a nice bath.

Finally, Turkey Mountains scariest tree. If I have enough interest, we'll do a Tuesday Night Crawler tour.

Photos of this mornings run, by a guest photographer

There was a huge group for the TOTs run this morning. The usual division resulted in two large groups, with mine having 21 or 22. Three separated early on choosing to hike rather than run slowly. Maggie, who takes awesome pictures was in the parking lot just ahead of the sun and caught it in the very act of popping up over by the City of Faith buildings.

My plan was to check out some of the newer trailz that have developed in the past few weeks, and to see a couple of cool sites I've recently found on the mountain. This picture is on one of our climbs, and unless Maggie protests, might be used for my Facebook header.

Once we'd descended on a new rocky switchback trail near Rock City, we headed for Pepsi Bridge and a little bush-whacking.

I could swear there used to be a trail that led alongside Mooser Creek all the way to the railroad tracks--but I must be nistaken. The brier-covered bottom land ends where the creek runs right against some tall bluffs. The only way further east is through the creek or straight up the side of the bluff.

This is a beautiful pic of a pool in the creek and a small low-water dam. I had taken a couple of pix here earlier in the week, but they look better with people in them. Plus, Maggie has a cool camera app, or enjoys enhancing contrasts and colors like I do. Love the pic.

We returned almost the same we way we came, with a small detour to visit the ruins I had mentioned in a previous post--you know--the one where I have promised some interesting details. Those are forthcoming--I promise!
We decided to head home via Lipbuster. I was near the front of the group, and on flat ground when I stubbed my toe on a rock, and fell face forward. I planted my water bottle, tucked my head, and rolled with such force that I bounced right back up on my feet and never slowed down! It was actually a FUN FALL!

Finally, since Maggie is always on the other side of the camera, I swiped this from her Facebook wall. She did not want her picture take, threatening picture wars, but she must like this one as it's her profile picture. She can be a guest photographer anytime.

All my friends are in Texas, or way the heck south of Texas, or in Arkansas. Ok, I still have a few here.

I have a LOT of friends who are racing this weekend. Kathy Hoover, Roman Broyles, Derk and Barbara Pinkerton, and Deann Deatherge are in Costa Rica for the Coastal Challenge. This is a six day stage race covering ~150 miles. Click on this link and watch the video. It's amazing. I also have friends Russell Bennett, Stormy Phillips, Christy Davis, Edward Snow, Wes Rupell, Jeff and Amelia Elbert, Julie Dolph, Danielle Martin--who are running 100 miles, 50 miles, or pacing in the 100 miler at Rocky Raccoon in Huntsville TX. And then I have friends Kurt and Shelley Egli, and Cassy Russell who are doing a 55K at the White Rock Classic in Arkansas.

I'm staying home. But I will get in back to back long runs over the weekend. I better!

I had an out-of-town stop today and ended up in Claremore. I had an itch to do some geocaching, and found four rather quickly. I also needed to get a run in for my streak, and decided the Centennial Trail by Lake Oologah would be cool.

I thought I could get a nice four miler by doing the trail that ran the perimeter of the peninsula.

But after hopping from side to side on the muddy horse trailz, I turned back around.

So I crossed the lake and tried the Hawthorne Park area where there are 3 miles of rocky trailz. But they have imposed a $3.00 per car fee even if you're just driving in, and they had the road that led to the trail head barricaded. I blew that off, but still took a couple pics from the boat ramp area.

The views from this trail are breath-taking, but my pix were less so. Obviously, I tinkered with this one.

So, I consulted my geocache app to see what kind of caches were nearby, and noticed I was not far from Goose Island. I used to fish a lot at Oologah, but had never been there. I'm really not sure why I never checked it out?

There were no caches hidden here, but I thought it might be a good place to squeeze a run in.

I got there just as the sun was setting, and my trusty headlamp was at home. I snapped a couple of pics and headed out running.

There are a few miles of dirt roads accommodating hunters. Most are straight and boring, but as they near the shores, they wind around and the lakeside views are stunning! I ran through the woods, crashed through some briers, ran a little on the dirt roads, and then about a half mile on the rocky shores of the lake. Hopping and scrambling over rocks was a super workout.

I ran 1.5 miles and it was starting to get a little too dark to glide over the rocks. Wish I had more time. I am definitely going back soon to run the entire perimeter of the island, but I have a feeling that it better not be during hunting season.