So here we are, another week of running in the books and we
tried to keep this week vertical for the most part. During the week I was able
to get my runs in but I had my first college test in 11 years, so I was
understandably distracted for most of the week. I did however have a great run
at the Botanical Gardens with Philip, Sarah, Brynna, and Kathy Hoover. Kathy
would be running the Rocky Raccoon 100 miler in Texas that weekend, and I have
to admit I was super jealous. Rocky Raccoon is one of my favorite races and the
people down there are just the best. Kathy looked very strong and
unsurprisingly killed it at Rocky. But she was not alone, we had a whole group
from Oklahoma and Arkansas down there and for the most part everyone did great.
A good old running buddy Russell the Iron Horse even came through with a
crushing sub-24 run. Great job Iron Horse, I don’t know what magic training
program you are using, but you need to share that stuff. All the excitement
around Rocky helped to really boost my spirits about my upcoming race, which is
just what I needed this week.
Kathy on the Rocky Course
Oh, and running legend Gordy was on course
I would have killed someone for one of these cookies
The Iron Horse with the coveted Painted Sub-24 buckle
As the week wrapped up, on Friday my plan was to already
have my Calculus test done and just leave work to get my run in. However,
things got in the way and I really felt like I needed the extra day to prepare
for the test so I used Thursday as an extra study day and left work on Friday
for the test center downtown. Man I was nervous, this is my first ever online
class so I was not sure what to expect. Plus this would be a big weekend for me
so I didn’t want to start it off with a bust. I walked into the test center and
started the exam, of course I found that the test was nothing like the practice
exams and most of the notes I had worked up were of no use to me. The test was
on a computer so it was a little nerve racking, with that system there is no
credit from the work out of the problem it is all about the answer here. So,
after checking everything a dozen times I pressed the button to submit my exam
and to my surprise got the results back immediately, 100%. BOOM! What a weight
off my chest. I know this was the first exam and the others would be much harder
but I walked out of the test center on cloud nine. I was in knots over this
test, which on the good side really provided a good distraction from the crazy
50k trail run I had signed up for on Saturday. I hit the house and started my
run for the day even getting in a bonus mile before getting to the Executive
Club Meeting (FYI the Executive Club is at McNellies each Friday and open to
all). And there I found Wes as always ready to discuss the problems of the
world.
At the meeting Wes, Jenn, Allyson, and I needed to discuss
our plan for the trip to the White Rock Classic 50k in Arkansas the next
morning. It was about a 2 and a half hour drive, and the race start is 9am so
we selected to make it a day trip. Well I say we, it was Wes and I because
Allyson and Jenn were no shows. From there we made it over to Chimera for
dinner (guys this is one of the best food spots downtown and if you haven’t
made it over remedy that problem immediately). After dinner we tried to hit Antoinette
Bakery for pie day, only to find they had sold out of all the pies. Which begs
the questions: why are they sold out of pies at 7pm and if they are sold out
why are they still open. “Forget it” I said and decided to head back home to
get some sleep before the race tomorrow. I needed to use this race as a training
run, but decided I did want to push it a little bit to see where I am at. Also
this course with it’s almost 5.5k of climbing and 5.5k of descending offers
something that I can’t easily get in our area, very long downhill sections.
Sweet Salad From Chimera
I woke up that morning feeling really good, but got some bad
news right away. In a text from Wes, he woke up with a fever and sore throat so
he was out for the race. What a bummer, at this point I was just hoping that
Jenn and Allyson would show. They did and Allyson even agreed to drive us,
which was awesome. We made our way to the race, and left in plenty of time to
not be in a rush. I tried a little different pre-race plan for this as opposed
to Switchback and ate a lot more food which seemed to work out but I was nervous
about it at the time. A wrong move with your stomach can end a race faster than
almost anything. There are not a lot of sights on the drive in the dark to
Arkansas but the moon was out and we could see Venus which was cool, and of
course there was plenty of pointless conversation about race plans (other races,
not strategy), what we would eat, and a lot of talk about music from the 90s.
When we got close to the race start we stopped at a little gas station that was
being swarmed with the runners and bikers about to take part in the race (there
is a 50k mountain bike race on the same course that starts 30 minutes after the
runners) this was a great deal for us as we had never been to the race and they
gave us the final directions on how to get to the start. It seemed really cold
out at that point (and it was 25 degrees) but somehow it magically got a lot
warmer before the start.
A shot from the White Rock course
When we got to the race we heard from our good friend (and
the a-hole that talked us into this race) Shannon, he and his wife Jody (the
Queen of the Road) would be taking on the mountain as well. I was very excited
about the whole start and felt cautiously optimistic that I was in for a good
day. These free races on crazy courses are some of the best around. Everyone
out there is just in it for the love of running and could care less about who
wins or whatever; they are just out there with one goal “Good Times
Running”. The race (if you are not
familiar) starts with a two and a half mile climb of 1000 feet, you know to get
the lungs warmed up, and then you descend back down the other side go over a
smaller climb and then turn yourself in for the major climb up White Rock. This
whole race takes place on very good condition forest service roads, and let me
tell you it has some of the most beautiful views that you can see on a race.
With the exception of the controlled burn that they were doing at the very start
(which even that was not that bad) there was nothing to complain about. The
temp was just about right, it was sunny, and the aid station at the top of the
mountain had homemade hummus pre loaded in tortillas, it doesn’t get better
than that folks.
50k Profile
View at Turn Around
At the start of the race Shannon and I ran together for a
while, but somewhere along the way got separated. At this point I feel I should
tell you that Shannon was a little under the weather, and by little under that
weather I mean that he was in the minor emergency room the day before due to
some sinus issues. But, Shannon is an incredible runner and very strong on the
downhill running (and area where I am very weak) so I figured it was just a
matter of time before he passed me. The race for the most part was lonely,
which was fine and gave me plenty of opportunity to check out my surroundings
and think about how lucky I was to be having such a great day out here. Also it
was warm enough to rock my Runner’s World Tulsa trucker’s hat, rather than the beanie
I had to use at the Switchbacks. To think I almost skipped this race, thank God
for Shannon twisting my arm about it and Jenn and Allyson signing up right
away. When I reached the turnaround I was surprised to find myself in 5th
place overall, I didn’t plan to do anything about it but it was nice to know
that the training was paying off. After the turn I crossed paths with Shannon
who was coming into the turnaround, he yelled to me that he was coming to catch
me and I yelled to him that they have hummus at the top. We all have our
priorities. The trip back would be a lot of downhill running, until the final
major climb, so I tried to just keep an easy pace and not blow myself up.
During this section I found myself move into third by the bottom of the finial
climb. As I made my way up the climb I got within sight of Chris in Second
place but the second the road turned back down he was gone and that was ok by
me. I came into the finish feeling great, with a PR 50k time of 4:42:40
(beating my 2010 Lake McMurtry time of 4:48 on a much easier course) and third
place overall. I didn’t have to wait long for Shannon to come in, and he swore
revenge at Western. It was good times for sure and it is always nice to run on
a course with enough climbing that you can beat most of the mountain bikes
while running, lol.
The white on my hat is salt.
The fast ladies
Allyson had opted for the 25k, but I think she has her eye
on the 50 for next year, and Jenn was signed up for the 25k but was shamed into
the 50k and had a great race despite getting into a fight with a thorn bush
while trying to use the bathroom in the woods; the bush won. Right before we
needed to leave to get to Scott’s house for a painting party for Erin’s
birthday we got to see Jody finish, so the whole thing worked out just perfect.
Upon leaving we decided that we would all die if we did not get food soon, with
the only issue being that we were in the middle of nowhere. I told the ladies
that the only highly rated place on Yelp that was within an hour (and not a BBQ
joint, not good for no-meat options) was a place called Kountry Xpress an
Indian food place. When we got there, it was a gas station with a sign out
front that said “India Food”, not sure what that means but at this point we
were committed and needed to get something. Amazingly, either because of level
of hunger, low expectations, or just sheer luck, the food was great. I mean
some legit India Food and we were fueled up to hit Scott’s party. The gas
station also had 35 flavors of Soft Serve ice-cream which the girls got in on,
but I said no way I will save my treats for the cake at Erin’s party. When we
got to the party (after showers and what not) we found Bob Ross painting fun,
way too much pizza, and no cake! It was still a great time and I am happy that
Scott let us ruin his house with paint.
India Food complete with Gambling
Really pretty good
He makes it look easy
The next morning we met for a shakeout run at Chandler Park
with the dogs, and ran into several other running buddies on that trails which
is always a welcome surprise. The legs felt good and even if the pace was slow
I was happy to be out there. After the run we went our separate ways only to
have a group of us descend on my parent’s home to watch the Super Bowl that
night. I always enjoy having people out to my parent’s house, not just because
my mom is one of the best people in the world, but it is so peaceful out there;
and a fantastic place for some gravel road running by the way. It was fun and
we brought way too much food as a result of a miscommunication between my
mother and I. One would think that if she says that she is worried they might
not have enough food for everyone that bringing food would be a good idea. But,
when they cook for an army all the time there is always enough food. Jeff, Ame,
Sarah, Pip, Wes, Brynna, and I lasted until about half-time before we decided
that we did not know anything about football and we had work in the morning, so
we went ahead and called the weekend a wrap; a pretty successful few days, if
you ask me.
This is hockey right?
This last weekend was just what I needed to recharge my
running. I got to see so many of my friends complete their first or whatever
number 100 miler. I could really see White Rock fire up both Jenn and Allyson
about trail running again, and I even got to run with Rush the wonder dog out
on the trails. These moments out there running have to be held on to. It is
easy to get down on your running this time of year, with it still being dark in
the mornings or after work which can make getting runs done depressing. And the
weather is so all over the place you can hardly know how to dress or even what
temp you will encounter after the run starts. But good friends and a positive attitude
can lead you right to where you need to be, “Good Times Running” have fun my
friends and GO RUN.
P.S. Foster pup Zoë joins the herd as an offical member of the house.
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