Back of the pack

Start of the Rock Creek 5 & 10K trail race at Perry Lake, KS, March 20.

Got up 6-ish in cold snowy weather yesterday to go run Willie and Karen Lambert’s Rock Creek 5 & 10k out at Perry Lake. I ran the 10. Out of 70 or so registered runners, only about 25 total showed. I drove the li’l red truck in 4-wheel drive most of the way to the race. It was that kind of morning.

The run itself was terrific. The woods cut the wind, and the snowy forest was gorgeous.

Photos don’t do it justice. Multiply the awesomeness (as Nick would say) by 100 and you get the idea. I was pretty slow, poking along snapping pics as usual. Started off in last place so I could shoot the start from front and back. I posted most of what I shot on the Trail Hawks Flickr page.

What’s even greater, the race had NO ENTRY FEE — it was Willie and Karen’s way of saying thank you to their friends and customers at Great Plains Running Company.

Got home and tried to nap for an hour. Past three days were all late nights and broken sleep. Drifted off a little, but barking and other household business kept waking me up. Finally gave up and got up with the beginnings of a killer sinus headache.

Went to watch the KU debacle at the home of our friends, Dot and Norm. Though the Jayhawks lost in OKC, I consoled myself with the fact that at least some Hawks were victorious — Brad “Pastor Hawk” Bishop won the 10k race at Rock Creek, and Nick “Colo Hawk” Lang and his uncle Steve “Silver Hawk” Lang, visiting from Nevada, both took home honors.

Headache got worse during the game, and would’ve been unbearable except for the charming company, which included 2 dogs — Skippy, a golden retriever and collie mix; and Penny, a viszla mix.

Went home after the game and crashed, this time successfully, after the Big K brought me some “Sleepy Time” tea and rubbed my poor noggin a little.

Action-packed week. So fast paced, I didn’t even get to blog about it till now. Took Lambchop on the Beginners Run, Monday, but had to turn back after I recalled leaving my camera behind. Found it sitting on the truck where I left it, thank goodness, but never did catch up to the Hawks — Laurie “Pixie Hawk” Euler, Justin “GNT Hawk” Henning, and Steve “Silver Hawk” Lang. We all met up at the end, though.

Monday night run – Justin "GNT Hawk" Henning, Laurie "Pixie Hawk" Euler, Steve "Silver Hawk" Lang, Lamb "Chop Hawk" Chop, and the nose of the li’l red truck.

And Lambchop met some new dog friends, Grover and Cody.

Karen and I celebrated our anniversary on Tuesday with a trip to KC and the Steamboat Arabia museum. Big fun. Lunch at Cascone’s. Karen got a little upset when I mentioned the word “mobster.” She worried there might actually be some mobsters in the joint who didn’t like me talking about them. There weren’t, as it turns out. Guess I got off lucky!

No work out Tuesday, in honor of being married 19 years. Sinus headache Wednesday — wound up going home early from work and crashing. This is the time of year I get these buggers. Got a slight one now, even as I’m writing, left over from yesterday.

Thursday, no workout because we went to watch the ballgame at Dot and Norm’s. Friday, no workout because I was lazy, so Saturday’s 10k was my first run since Monday! Rockin’ K 50 miler coming up in two weeks is going to kick my ass.

Well, whole new week starts tomorrow.

More later!

gary

The Big K sweetens her disposition with a cupcake at “Baby Cakes” in KC on our anniversary. Not that it needed sweetening.

Some of our Hawks went to three days of Syllamo this weekend, that brutal Ozark mountain race that puts you through a 50K on Friday, a 50-miler on Saturday, and a 12-miler on Sunday.

But they didn’t get to do the 12-miler today.

Stu “Ozark Trail Hawk” and spouse Deb “Kettle Hawk” Johnson, Debbie “Wheat Hawk” Webster, Coleen “Lil Big Hawk” Voeks, and Dave “Speed Hawk” Wakefield did the first two back-to-back ultras. But when one of the runners, a guy from Illinois, went missing Saturday afternoon during the 50-miler, they put aside thoughts of self and joined the 40-person search effort.

So instead of the 12-miler on Sunday, our Hawks helped sweep the search grid, with helicopters overhead and a kayak searching the streams. Weather here was chilly, overcast and damp. Probably the same there.

The big worry, according to Deb, was that the runner might have fallen from one of the high bluffs, many of which are several hundred feet high. I can imagine our Hawks, searching through the cold and wet, sore and stiff after those ultras, fearing the worst, hoping for the best and dreading what they might find at any minute.

Fortunately, the runner surfaced Sunday afternoon, walking on a road. Apparently in pretty good shape. They took him to the hospital anyway. I’d love to write that story someday.

As I write this, I’m guessing our heroes are on their way home. And they are heroes, to me at least, although I bet they’d tell you otherwise.

Would have been so easy to say, “hey I just ran back-to-back ultras, I’m too tired to do anything, this searching is best left to professionals, I’m going home if there’s no more race.” And you probably would be justified, too.

But Stu, Deb, Dave, Debbie and Coleen stayed and did what they could, despite aching muscles and tough terrain. If that’s not heroic, I don’t know what is.

more later,

gary

Here’s the first draft of a story I’m going to market to Fitness Magazine, and if they turn it down, Trail Runner. Fitness Magazine’s audience is young women interested in a fit life style. and Trail Runner — well, you know.

So this story meets both demographics.

I’m hoping to get a few more quotes from some of the gals, but this is the basic story.

No guys allowed

The Lawrence Trail Hawks trail-running club, Lawrence, Kan., is a happily coed group, but their Thursday night “Gal Gallop” is a strictly female affair.

“I think it’s important for women to have the opportunity to run together without having to be concerned about how they look to the guys,” says Gal Gallop Run Leader Coleen “Li’l Big Hawk” Voeks, Kansas City, Kan. “We try to keep this run beginner-friendly and free of competitiveness.”

The run starts at 6:30 p.m., and usually goes two to five miles, depending on the experience level of the group. Runners talk – and vent – about work, husbands, boyfriends, health and life.

“We get detailed on ‘girly’ issues that we can’t really talk about when the guys are around,” says Voeks, a petite, dark-haired 36-year-old personal trainer. “It’s absolutely mentally and physically therapeutic.”

The Gal Gallop takes its runners through old-growth, deer-filled forests, along curving, looping trails by the Kansas River, and nearby Clinton Lake. Participants range from 20-year-old college students to women in their fifties.

They include journalists, lawyers, engineers and musicians.

“We have a core group of about five women,” Voeks said. “In nice weather, we can get 20 or more runners. In rain, snow and sleet, there’s usually just a few of us.

“The funny thing is, those runs where we’re slogging through the rain or slipping and sliding in the snow and ice are usually the ones we enjoy most and remember best!”

For Voeks, the simple pleasure of running in the woods with female friends ranks near the top of all her weekly activities.

“It’s certainly better than Tuesday hill-repeats!” she laughs.

“Of course, family always comes first,” Voeks says, “but even Eric (her spouse) knows – you don’t mess with Thursday nights.”
# # #

Run Leader and Gal Gallop founder Coleen “Lil Big Hawk” Voeks leads the charge.

Action-packed weekend.

Started with a 20-miler Saturday morning. Met the Hawks at 7:30 am at the Clinton North Shore Trails, only to realize — I’d left my hydration pack at home! So I let the gang go ahead, while I retrieved the pack and did my miles solo.

Not a bad way to do a long run, however. Made 10 miles in just under 2 hours. Slowed considerably on the way back, finishing up in 4:16. Temps were mild. By 15 miles, I’d stripped down to short sleeves. Sun even came out for a little while.

Stopped for a couple bales of straw on the way home. Put it sown in the back yard to keep the dogs from tracking mud in the house. Only partly successful, because the warm temps make the dirt smell wonderful to Lambchop and makes her want to dig in it.

I understand a lot of gardeners around here are wrestling with the same issue about now.

We reported to Nick “Colo Hawk” Lang’s 28th birthday party that night 6-ish — my mission to make gin and tonics in celebration of Nick surviving this long. Went through a fifth of Brokers before the Big K and I retired, about 9-ish. Oldsters.

One of the big draws for the party was a public appearance by the lovely Liz “Spider Hawk” Smith and her brand-new son Felix “Little Hawk” Smith. Of course all the babes were gaga over the handsome little man. Poor guy was handed around to all for holding and picture taken.

Even some of the guys, including yours truly got to hold him. I was petrified, because Felix is so little, but must admit I enjoyed holding him, even though it worried me.

Also making a guest appearance — the son of Justin “GNT Hawk” and Sarah “Scoop Hawk” Henning. Little Nate, “Neo” Nate, I call him, is not yet two, but with big blue eyes and curly blonde hair is another good looking guy, like his handsome parents.

One of the highlights of my evening was a conversation with ultrarunner Lee Crane. Lee said very nice things about this here blog, which I won’t go into… I’ll just say I’ll be living on those comments for the next month, silver-tongued devil!

Lee is heading west for his first hundred-miler, in June — Western States. Once he buckles there, he’ll have to change the name of his great blog — “Rookie Ultrarunner.”

I doubt you can credibly claim rookie status with a Western States belt buckle in your closet, Lee.

Anyway the party was huge fun. I’ll let these pics tell the story.

My spouse "The Big K," gets a turn holding Felix "Little Hawk" Smith.

The lovely Liz “Spider Hawk” Smith, Mom of Felix.

The birthday boy’s two best gals, Laurie “Pixie Hawk” Euler, who made the party, and Roxie.

Kristi "Black Mamba Hawk" Mayo enters, joining her hub, noted ultrarunner, Rick.

A good attorney (James “Skull Hawk” Barker) can really make you feel secure.

Deb “Kettle Hawk” and Stuart “Ozark Trail Hawk” Johnson. Despite many ultrarunning accomplishments, still the nicest, most down-to earth folks you’ll ever meet.

“Cheers, Mommy!” Neo-Nate toasts Mom Sarah “Scoop Hawk” Henning.

Neo-Nate’s Dad Justin “GNT Hawk” Henning and Karen “Hawk Who Walks” Henry. GNT Hawk gave my GNTs a good review.

Birthday boy Nick and guests.

Darin “Lincoln Hawk” Schneidewind, top ultrarunner, and son Jarret.

Laurie “Pixie Hawk” Euler and buddy from the college days, Tanya.

Great party!

Surprisngly, Nick made it to our Hawk 50 meeting, to further plan for our May 22 Hawk 50-Mile & Marathon Trail Runs, though he declined the selection of beers I had in favor of soda pop.

Maybe he will live to see 29!

Also there — James “Skull Hawk” Barker, Christy “Hawk Mama” Craig, Coleen “Lil Big Hawk” Voeks, Karen “Hawk Who Walks” Henry, Sarah “Scoop Hawk” Henning, and Karen “Sassy Hawk” Collier. All doing some very nice work to make the Hawk 50 a really fun event.

The Hawks also got a good jumping-on by Lambchop in the backyard. Lambie was very excited to see everyone, and had trouble with the concept of “four on the floor.”

I tried to wear her out with a 4-mile jaunt on the trails this morning, with Keith “Lion Hawk” Dowell, and Spank the boxer, but with limited success. It was a lovely run at a relaxed pace. Temps in the 50s by the time we finished, and sunny. Muddy, in a few spots in the Muddy Mile, but on the way to drying out.

More later!

gary

Missed my workout today. Pesky work! Didn’t do anything when I got home either, except walk dogs.

Last night, the Chop and I did four miles at Clinton Lake. Went out two, then back on white. The trails were juicy! Started a little after 6:15 pm. Didn’t need my light till well after the halfway point.

No one else ran with us — everyone stayed in to watch the KU – K-State game — even Karen, who is definitely not a sports fan.

She watched it over at Dot and Norm’s, since we don’t have TV service. KU won, of course, to wrap up the Big 12.

Beautiful run, if muddy. Will probably go back out again tomorrow, since I’m off work, and since I did zero point zero today.

More later,

g

Took this shot 4 times, but still couldn’t get the top of Justin’s head in the pic. Too dark to see through the view finder. Should’ve shot it vertically. Sorry Justin! Front: Nick “Colo Hawk” Lang, Laurie “Pixie Hawk” Euler. (Back) Justin “GNT Hawk” Henning, Jim “Family Hawk” Beiter.

It really wasn’t that muddy. More wet. In some places the trail seemed to be doing a good imitation of the Wakarusa River. I guess it’s still well-frozen beneath the dirt, which is keeping all the melt water on the trails from soaking in, in the places where the trails can’t drain.

So we did lots of splashing on the Sandrats Trails by the Kansas River last night. Ran about five miles. Temps in the high 30s, not too bad for most, but extremely frigid in degrees G. Had a great time anyway, in my Gore-Tex shoes and cotton socks.

Today at lunch struggled through an hour on the elliptical. Legs felt tired and I wanted to quit early, but didn’t. Made 6 miles in 52:13, the remaining 7:47 in reverse. Level 16, rolling hills, hands free. Finished out the hour with 6.77 miles.

Also 55 push ups, 35 crunches, and my back exercises. Rockin’ K 50-Miler just a month away!

More later,

gary