Prairie Chickin' at the Prairie Chicken

Another 50 miler in the books.

The Prairie Spirit Trail races are 50 and 100 miles, in their second year with race director Eric Steele, who started the event company Epic Ultras. For a race that's only in it's second year, they have their act together.

Aid stations are well-spaced and well-stocked, they had everything you could want, the basics of course, but it was all available and no hassle. In and out, no disorganization to slow you down. The volunteers had a system worked out at all of the aid stations that was efficient, and they were on top of it.

The weather was just about perfect, and there was a good breeze but not anything resembling wind, which is lucky for this time of year in this particular place. The weather gods were happy. Thanks Sasquatch, if that was your idea.

I slept fairly well in the motel room, despite the indoor pool stench. I woke up two minutes before my alarm went off. I had already taken my drop bags over the night before, so I didn't need to get there early. I left the motel at 7:30 for the 5 minute drive, giving me 25 minutes to goof off before the start.

It was cold in the morning, so I started with my Pearl Izumi short sleeved jersey under the long sleeved one. I had shorts and gloves, and a headband over my ears. I had my PI H3s on, testing them at ever longer distances. And gaiters, as it was a gravel path most of the way.

The night before at the dinner I sat with Rachel and her husband Brent. They are from Iowa and it is Rachel's first 50 miler. I wanted to make sure I found her before the start.

I found Rachel. Her eyes were pretty big, she looked nervous but acted calm. I think her husband was just as nervous. He had some cameras and took pictures of us. Eric gave the official time until the start, and David Horton was the special guest and if you know anything about David, he's a very devout Christian. So he gave a prayer.

Then he photobombed the picture with Rachel and I.

So then, with a few minutes to spare before the start, I got rid of my phone and went over to the start with about 30 seconds to spare.

The first 2 miles were northbound first, an out and back into town, then we turned around and headed south until the turnaround at 27 miles and change. Some people tore out of there like it was a 10K. The first guy, who ended up winning, was out in front from the start, but then there were a ton of other people who followed him. I just hung back and tried to settle into a reasonable 10 minute pace.

Except for the asphalt crossings through towns, the entire path was a gravel railroad grade, very gentle slopes, barely noticeable except for the last 6 or so miles up to the turnaround. The H3s seemed to be working fine. I did get a lot of dirt in my shoes despite the
gaiters, probably something to do with the tongue, breathable upper and the way I tied the H3s. I didn't ever have to dump out my shoes though, and no blisters.

My plan was to stick to 10 minute miles all the way to the turnaround, then see what I had left. It was hard to run that pace, I think just because at 1000 feet it is so much easier to breathe. Still, I managed to stick to 9:40s or so, that seemed to be my comfortable pace.

I was running with a group of about 5 guys, leapfrogging on the way out. All five of them, who were from different places, were in their first 50 milers. They kept pushing the pace, though a few of them were smarter about it than others. I did end up passing all of them by about halfway. I was trying not to get caught up in their pace so I finally pulled out my iPod and put on some relaxing trance music and got in my own world.

One guy was a talker. He was young, and every time I would catch him or he caught me, he would start talking, telling me all his predictions for the race and his plan to run between 7 and 8 hours and so on. He knew everything, of course. Yeah, yeah. I wanted to say, " Just shut up and run, dude." I think duct tape is an item I need to add to my drop bag list. Just in case.

The scenery was farmland, pastures on both sides, and the course was lined with deciduous trees. There were no leaves out yet, but there was enough shade to keep it cold most of the morning. The scenery wasn't that interesting, but it was pretty. The course passed through a few tiny towns, crossed some railroad tracks, and you could see silos and water towers up ahead, it gave you an idea that there was something else out there besides just miles of fields and cow pastures.

It was cold, I kept my long sleeved shirt and gloves on all the way to the turnaround, and for an hour or so after that I was still cold. Then it eventually warmed up, to 61 degrees, but it never felt uncomfortably warm.

As I headed into Garnett, the turnaround, I was 22 minutes behind the first place woman and 16 minutes behind second place. They both looked comfortable, so I didn't think about it any more. I just went to the aid station, took 5 minutes to strip some clothes, eat some PBJs, mess with my drop bags, and grab a few gels and drinks for the road.

I turned the iPod on at that point to my racing tunes. Headed out of Garnett I cranked up the pace, down to between 8:30 to 9:30 per mile. I flew past a few of the men, and took advantage of the slight downhill grade, only stopping to pee a few times. I saw Rachel, who wasn't much more than a mile behind me at the turnaround. She looked good. I kept on moving, passing a few men.

Around 35 miles, suddenly I realized the second place woman was ahead of me, in striking distance. She was walking. When I caught her, she said she was having some foot pain and wasn't sure what was wrong. She kept trying to run, and when she did run, she was moving well.

At the 36 mile aid station I ate more PBJs and drank some, but getting out of there, I felt like I was starting to crash. I kept moving well, maybe 10:30 miles for a while, and threw a little walking in here and there. Going into the aid station I was in second place and then she caught me as I was walking out of the aid station, eating my PBJs.

She got a few minutes ahead of me, but it wasn't long before I passed her again. I asked her if she wanted to try running with me to distract her from her foot, but then she said she was trying not to puke. She seemed to be okay though. I decided to let them know at the next aid station that she might need some attention.

I never saw her again, until the finish, she managed to finish under 9 hours. No one passed me the whole way in, I only passed two people after 35 miles. I couldn't see anyone else ahead of me. I wondered where the first place woman was.

Around 44 miles I got my legs back, but 9:30 to 10 minute miles were about all I could do at that point, and it was a definite uphill the last mile or so. I pushed it in, and finished in 8:25:02, 2nd woman, 7th overall. The first place woman, as it turns out, was only 13 minutes ahead of me finishing, so I had gained on her too. It was her first 50 miler. Seemed like it was everyone's first 50 except me.

Eric, the race director, was there to greet us as we came through, and handed us belt buckles as we finished.

My drop bags were back at the finish line before I was. That's pretty amazing work, considering the last aid station was at 42 miles. They had hamburgers and hot dogs, potato salad, and cold drinks at the finish line. The results were posted to the website immediately, too.

The only thing I think they could improve on is having ice and cold drinks available for the runners at the aid stations in the afternoon if it's warm. The water was cold, but the coke and drinks they had out were getting almost hot inside those little tents. Other than that, I think they did an outstanding job. It was fun, fast, and well-done. Can't get much better than that. I highly recommend it, if you want a fast course that isn't on asphalt.

It's a race I want to come back to. The packet pickup was easy, the t-shirt was nice and I liked the quote on it, and the starting area and everything in town was in close proximity and easy to find. The thing that impressed me even more was that they send out a survey after the race to ask for ideas for improvement. For a new, small race, that shows they really do want to serve the runners. Those are the kind of races that deserve our support.

I hung out for a while, talked to some other runners, and ate a burger. Then I went back to room to shower and grab some more food, then I wanted to get back in case Rachel finished soon. Turned out I missed her crossing the line by just a few minutes, but I saw her in the building. She ran 9:53. That's a great first 50 mile run. She was already talking about doing another one. I told her husband, "There's no cure."

It feels good to run in the 8 hour range again. I haven't run this fast in about 10 years. I am still nearly an hour off my PR, but I still need to do more miles and speedwork. The year is young. I have 6 months to nationals, so I have lots of time to work on those things. In 5 weeks I run Cornbelt, and I just want to get more miles in that last time, run more of it than I have in the past, and chip away at my goals. It will be warm and humid, most likely, so I look forward to that challenge too.

It is fun to be getting more competitive again. It was so frustrating carrying around all that extra weight, it really kept me from running to my potential. I still have a lot of work to do but it's great to see results. And then there's always the fun of the age and gender pecking order...

When I went back to find Rachel, I did peek at the results, because I had not yet seen my overall place at that point. No one older than me beat me. The next 50 year old was two places behind me, a man. I guess that doesn't count as sharpei-ing because we're the same age. But I think it does count as a chicking.

A Prairie Chicking.

Fact-Filled Kansas: Hangin' with T Rex and the Boneheaded Dinos

While on my way to run the Prairie Chicken 50, I learned a few things about Kansas.

Kansas is just full of facts. Like some know-it-all school brat, it keeps reminding you how much it knows.

It knows about it's own history, and famous people who came from Kansas. It also knows every freakin' astronaut, President, and Senator who came from Kansas. Not only that, you are made aware of the 8 miles of original interstate highway named after Eisenhower. Plus all the historical facts- and figures. Even Jesus, every few miles, he's on a billboard.

It's not just limited to famous people. There's the giant prairie dog, the 5 or 6 legged steer (not sure because I probably needed reading glasses), WaKeeney "It's Affordable", and Junction City "It IS That Good". Entering Kansas on I-70, one of the first billboards you see tells you, Welcome to I-70, the "Main Street" of Kansas. As if you hadn't figured that out already.

The Brown V. Board of Education case was decided in Topeka. There's also the world's largest ball of twine, the world's largest Czech egg, and the home of the girl who told Abe Lincoln to grow a beard. Gotta wonder what she REALLY meant.

"Smile, your mom chose life."

And...I need a kidney. THAT is sad.

For miles driving toward Topeka, the pastures were burning in prairie fires. Looked like a controlled burn of some sort, but I'm not sure. I briefly wondered if it was the recently deceased Reverend Fred Phelps getting scorched, burning in hell here on earth. 'Cause Topeka looks sort of like I would imagine hell. Smoky, hazy, and burnt, like those rundown, worn-out cities on the east coast, with old buildings falling apart and concrete overpasses with a backdrop of drab sky.

After driving all afternoon Thursday and checking out Gella's Diner & Lb. Brewing Company in downtown Hays, I got some good sleep. The food was decent at Gella's, and I tried three different beers which were all good, the seasonal Kiltlifter, the Brownell Brown Ale, and a hoppy IPA that was excellent. I settled on the Brown Ale because it had less alcohol than the IPA. The service at Gella's was very good. It was a busy place.

I started the morning in Hays. Dale "Sasquatch told me to check out the Sternberg museum. I had time, so I figured I'd check it out.

It's a natural history museum, featuring dinosaurs, rattlesnakes, and fossils. It's pretty impressive, actually. Other than 2 dozen or more species of rattlesnakes, there's more to see.

There's a life size moving, roaring Tyrannosaurus Rex, too. There is also some art in there, local artists created interesting prints on wood slabs with dinosaurs and bison superimposed on modern scenes. I could have spent the whole day looking at those.

But the Boneheaded Dinosaurs, seems like I've encountered those before. I don't believe they are extinct yet. They seem to be thriving. They just have a museum for them in Kansas.

Wait, wasn't Kansas the place where they tried to teach that the earth was flat, about 10 years ago?

The hills, not sure if they are the actual Flint Hills, but whatever the hills were that I drove through in east-central Kansas, were very pretty. The overcast day, haze, and light made the whole scene take on a sepia-like tone.

I had so much fact-filled fun, that I'm not sure what I'll do with all this new information once I get home. I better not turn my head to the side or it might all spill out.

I got into Ottawa, not a very exciting town, but I easily found the race headquarters, starting line, motel, and everything I needed, all within three minutes of each other.

The packet pickup was well-organized and they answered questions easily. I liked the shirt, as well as the quote on the back of it.

I had reservations at the Best Western. Somehow I got put in the back building "the executive suites" that houses the indoor swimming pool. There is a funky, musty smell that permeates everything in this motel. And I've decided it must be the pool. The last time I stayed in a motel that was this nasty was last March in Alabama, at the Bat Guano motel. It, too, had an indoor pool and the smell is giving me flashbacks. Either that or it's Prairie Chickenshit.

I went to the pre-race dinner tonight so I could hear the briefing. I didn't eat much, the food looked marginally okay, but a little Kansas-like for my inner princess. I ate a huge salad in the room when I got into town. Still they seemed to do a good job of feeding everyone, all 250 or so people, and got them in and out on time.

The pre-race briefing was brief, except for a tiny bit of the shenanigans that race directors of some races love to play- when they make everyone stand up if it's their first 100, and then everyone stands up in the 100, and if it's their second, they sit down, their third, etc., and this goes on and on until only two people are left standing and the RD asks them how many 100s they've done and one says 35 and the other says 58 and everyone ooohs and aaahs and I'm like, can we please get on with it?

I guess I've been around too long, the novelty has long since worn off, which is why I avoid pre-race anythings. I only went to this because it's my first time at the race and I wanted to hear the briefing and I dropped off my drop bags. I was probably back there rolling my eyes. I was really trying not to, though...

I can't believe I'm packing drop bags in a 50 mile race either but the weather's been unpredictable and I have no idea what they'll have in the aid stations. I'm hoping I won't need the bags at all.

I did sit with a woman and man from Iowa, she was doing her first 50 miler and he is just being the supportive but tentative husband. Her name was Rachel. We talked a while, I passed along some tips to her on hydration, fueling, bad patches, and making a marriage survive ultras. I'll look for her tomorrow. Sounds like she could do well if she runs smart.

One guy came up to me and asked me if I had run Cornbelt a couple of years ago. I couldn't believe he recognized me. He's here to run the 100. I told him I am going back to Cornbelt in a few weeks.

Other than that, I recognized one guy from Colorado across the room, and a bunch of people looked familiar. David Horton, the speaker, I've met before at many events. But other than that I didn't know anyone. There were a lot of first-timers here. Flat course, non technical, well-supported, sounds like a good first 100.

So...at 8 am Central Time I will be off to chase the Prairie Chicken for 50 miles...just looking for a damn good workout. I'll try to stay focused. Keep it between the weeds. Oh yeah, I almost forgot: if you want to follow the race on race day, here is a link.

Night and Day

Yesterday my sleep was all screwed up. I woke up at 5 am and then I was exhausted all day. I got some work done, but then it was time to run and I didn't have much energy. I took Iris for her 3 miles and then I needed a nap before I could think about doing more.

I got sidetracked by stupid little things and Dennis came home at 6, and I still had not taken a nap. I told him I needed to get more miles in so I was going to sleep and then go run. I got into bed and slept until after 8 pm!

Dennis doesn't like it when I go out for my night runs by myself. I used to be able to take Iris but she can't go that far anymore, and I wasn't running with anyone else this time. I am not about to let fear keep me indoors, so I set out in all my reflective gear and lights and off to the neighborhoods I feel comfortable in.

Iris stared me down by the front door when she knew I was leaving. She wants to run with me but she goes so slowly now, and she might be able to do 7 miles, but with all the sniffing it would take all night.

I had my iPod, which I am still figuring out. Somehow I was playing around with it and ended up removing all the music I put on there except for one playlist. I figured out what I did soon after I started running, but I had enough music for my 7 or 8 miles. I was able to easily reload it when I got home.

I just have to remember to check the right boxes when I'm playing with iTunes. I also tried a battery test yesterday but didn't realize what I had done with all the music so I was unable to see what happened because the thing only had 3 hours of music on it. I'll have to try it again tomorrow.

I don't know why I'm struggling with this iPod thing so much. It's not easy to figure out. Maybe I'm just an idiot. Damn Ph.D gets in the way of everything.

Last night it was finally clear enough to see stars. The streets were dark enough to make interesting shadows on the sidewalks and I was having fun playing with the camera. When I get close to the lake, it's darker and I was watching the stars through the bare treetops and listening to trance music, and I was in runner's heaven.

When I got home, it was after 10, Dennis was asleep and the girls were waiting for me, wiggling and squealing.

Today I got my errands done, took some work stuff to the printer, picked up some Salted Caramel Gu at Runners Roost, saw our friend Steve Cathcart there and talked a while, signed up for the Horsetooth Half Marathon because I'm a masochist, and then got a new set of earbuds for my iPod because the old ones off the MP3 player are not working so well. And the ones that came with the iPod, those are made for an elephant. One who doesn't sweat.

I got stared at again by the girls as I began packing for Kansas. It's a pile, I'm driving to this race so I tend to take way too much stuff. The forecast is for high 60s maybe 30 at the start and sunny, maybe windy. But of course I will be prepared for blizzards and heat waves alike. I'll pack three drop bags in case of bad weather, hoping I won't need them at all, I should be able to carry everything for 50 miles in my little pack.

This afternoon I went out on the Power Trail and did fartlek, and saw Holley out there. I recognized her steady powerwalk. I've known Holley for a long time, from the running group I used to run with before we moved to Arizona. When I first met her she was about as old as I am now. She's gotten into ultras and has run quite a few over the past several years. She's strong and I could see her doing multidays if she wanted to. I haven't suggested it yet but maybe I should drop some hints.

I stopped and talked with her. She was in the middle of a 40 mile run! She wished me a happy belated birthday, and we talked about moving forward as we get older. She does 24 hour events these days. I told her about Prairie Spirit, and she said, those races don't have long enough time limits for me. I told her this one does, I think the 50 miler has something like a 28 hour limit.

My fartlek run went well, I feel strong. My back is much better and the only place I still feel it is in this one little spot, and only when I sit in a certain position. Next two days will be short, easy runs. I hope the drive to Kansas won't make it worse, but I can get out and stretch. I'm leaving Thursday and driving part way. I don't feel like arriving there the day before the race exhausted from the drive.

Next week, or as soon as I feel recovered from the 50 miler, I start speedwork with Wheaties Boy. Early mornings. He'll kick my butt, but it's good for me.

Forced Patience

Snowing again!

Not magnolia petals, but real white stuff. I'm in spring mode and overnight it changes. By early next week it's supposed to get into the 70s. Briefly.

My back is feeling much better today. It improved yesterday but I gave it another day off because when I walked the girls, I tried jogging and it still hurt in one area. So now it's supposed to snow 1 to 3 inches and it's cold and I'm whining.

I was planning to get a bunch of work-related work done this weekend because I want to be ready to start taking clients in April, but I ordered some new publishing software that I got for a great price, and had it shipped to arrive by yesterday, but Amazon screwed up the shipping and I didn't get it.

Apparently they never sent it out of the warehouse on time. They are refunding my shipping though. I should have just downloaded the damn thing. But I'll suck it up and wait. It's only a few more days. I was hoping to get this all done before I leave for Kansas, but that's how things go.

We need dirt in our raised beds, but in this fantastic weather who wants to be outside, plus I shouldn't be doing that with my back right now, so I'll wait on that too. The honeycrisp apple tree and two of the five apricot trees I planted last fall seem to have made it through the winter, but the next few weeks will tell for sure. The bulbs in the front yard are coming up, and the front garden still needs a good raking, again I'll have to wait until my back is better.

I know there are all sorts of things we can catch up on around here, so after we drink our coffee and wake up this morning, I'll see what Dennis wants to do. I had an extremely productive week as far as work, trying to get everything in order.

I got a press release sent out about my business and got most of the intake and consent forms done, and ready to work with the attorney to get everything ready to go.

I'll get out there at some point and do a run, unless it looks slick, then I'll get on the bike for a while and spin. Tomorrow I'll get my butt out there to run for sure. This week worked out well, since I wasn't running much, I got a lot of work done and moved along further than I thought I would.

I talked to my Kansas expert friends and they told me to just step on it and do the trip in one shot because there's nothing much to see between here and there. It will be a quick weekend trip, but I was hoping to do a little sightseeing out there. I heard the Flint Hills are pretty. There are other races in Kansas, like the Heartland 100, that I've always wanted to do, so I'll plan to go back.

Patience with the pace of progress, patience with my back, patience with the weather. It will all work out.

Channeling the Prairie Chicken

Wrapped up January with a kickass week of training, until Snowmageddon hit.

That's okay, it's February, we're a whole month into spring, and a little snow never hurt anyone. Keep in mind that we're happy to have it after the fires of the past few years. Whatever we can get now will help this summer.

I had a fantastic run on Wednesday, 17 miles of challenging hills between Maniac Hill and Lory State Park up and down along Horsetooth reservoir. I felt great and I kept increasing the effort on each hill. I finished up with the giant hill north of Dixon Dam and sailed back down to my car at Rotary Park. I felt awesome.

That was before Snowmageddon. I planned a day off on Thursday or Friday, and Thursday was perfect timing since we got dumped on with 5 or 6 inches of snow, and it was heavier than it's been. The ski areas are getting tons of powder, like 2 or 3 feet, but this stuff down here is heavy. Not quite tree branch-breaking, but close. Right before it started snowing, it actually rained for a short time, just enough to ice everything up on the surfaces underneath. Great.

The snow made running a bit challenging, but I had my MICROspikes Friday as I braved the unplowed sidewalks on the way over to the well-plowed Power Trail, where I met Emma for an afternoon run. The four miles of the Power Trail were clear of snow with a few ridiculously icy patches, but the two miles or so getting over there and coming back were more suited to snowshoes than shoe spikes.

Fort Collins has enough of a plowing problem on the streets, asking for somewhat clear sidewalks is a dream. But I guess I can forgive them since they always get to the bike paths first.

So what do you do when you're in the house surrounded by white stuff, too heavy and wet for the dogs because they get ice balls in their paws?

You sign up for spring ultras, that's what!

I needed an early spring ultra as I get ready for Cornbelt in May. I was looking at something in late March, but I'm on a budget and I needed to make it a quick trip, something driveable. Lucky for me I found the Prairie Spirit 50 mile race in Ottawa, Kansas.

I looked up information on it, it's a fairly new race but it sounded well-organized, the surface sounded good, crushed gravel with a few asphalt sections. I really don't care too much what the course is like as long as it's not rocky and technical. It's 8 hours drive from here, which is not too bad. I've never been to eastern Kansas before, either. The lure of the unknown...

I don't know why but I keep wanting to call it the Prairie Chicken. And so it is.

I signed up and I'm headed for another Midwest adventure! I don't think I've ever run a race in Kansas before. I usually drive across Kansas on my way to races, but this time it's a destination.

Plus it will be my first official race in my new age group! Unless I decide to do some short race before it.

It's supposed to be the Year of the Horse for the Chinese New Year, but I think for me, it's the year of the Prairie. Prairie Dog, Prairie Chicken, Prairie Spirit, whatever...prairie something.

Then we have the prairie Buffaloes, in their favorite natural habitats:

Isabelle, in her favorite place...

and Iris, in hers.

This morning it's snowing again, looks like we got maybe another inch so far. I need to get out there and do some miles. Tomorrow is the Tortoise & Hare 5K but with these icy conditions, with an 8 am start, I don't think so. I'll wait until mid-day and go to the bike path and do some fartlek or something instead, once the ice melts.

But next week I get a reprieve from the snow and ice, off to Arizona to run Pemberton 50K! WOOHOO!