Back of the pack

Lambie DID NOT want to be in the pic. (L to R) front: Nick “Colo Hawk” Lang, Laurie “Pixie Hawk” Euler. Back: Constantine “Ninja Hawk” Cotsoradis, Suzanne (dern it, didn’t get her last name), Jeff “Beatnick Hawk” Triplett.

Good restorative run Monday night with the Hawks. Felt zombified all day from bad sleep the night before. Sunday night, the Big K and I met Colo Hawk and Pixie Hawk at Starbucks to get a preview of the new Hawk website Nick is working on. He had a great mock-up to show us — Nick’s great when it comes to mocking.

Anyway, I stupidly drank a cup of coffee… came bolt awake about 1:30 a.m. Monday morning and didn’t drift back off till three-ish. Felt like I was walking around underwater all day.

Immediately got an energy jolt just showing up and seeing the Hawks, and the run on the Sandrats trail in cool temps — 50s — was ZESTY! We got Constantine his Hawk name after he suffered through a series of personal, probing and invasive questions to get to his core Hawkness. Laurie actually bestowed the name — Ninja Hawk.

Ninja Hawk brought a potential new Hawk with him — Suzanne. She’s really a Tri, but wants to strengthen her running. Just did her first half-mary at the Kansas Marathon weekend before last.

Jeff, Nick and Laurie cut back for about three-miler. Suzanne, Constantine, Lambie and yours truly continued on, but as the weather appeared to grow threatening, we headed back, too.

Not soon enough, however — rain and wind hit. Wasn’t bad though — actually kind of refreshing. Met a couple of hikers on the trail, who ran back with us until the rain stopped. They had a 3-month-old boxer/lab mix puppy named Gretchen, who just loved Lambchop, and was all over her every time Lambie stopped to sniff something.

Lambie bore the attentions like a good sport. She’s a big girl now, after all — almost one year old!

Rain stopped, sun came out and we all got back to the parking lot safely, and not even that wet. Hung around blabbing for awhile, then Lambie and I headed for home.

In other news — 37 runners signed up so far for the Hawk 50-Mile & Marathon Trail Runs. Got the courses nailed down. It’s going to be a huge slug of all-day running fun for runners, volunteers, friends and family. Can’t wait to be handing out awards at the finish line.

More later!

gary

Sloshed and squelched through the 2010 Free State Trail Marathon, Clinton Lake North Shore Trails, put on by the Kansas City Trail Nerds, yesterday. Tremendous fun. The race has grown incredibly since its inaugural run four years ago. That year, there were 11 people in the 100k event (I got 4th). This year saw 52, if I counted right.

The event was capped at 201 entrants total for marathon, 40-miler and 100K. Plenty of good food, chip timing, and a course marked by Greg Burger, which means it’s the best-marked course you’ll ever see. Took my camera, but didn’t shoot that much. For one thing, Dick Ross, See KC Run was out there shooting, so plenty of great shots are guaranteed. What I took is posted on Flickr.

Two solid days of rain right before the race turned much of the course into bog heaven. My suggestion that last year might have been muddier was hooted down with snorts of derision — evidently, the muddiest race is the one you’re running.

I’ve started the 100k the last three years at Free State, but this year had to downgrade to the marathon, since training has not been what I’d like. Also, some afternoon yard work waited for me, so didn’t have the luxury of my usual 12-13 hour finish.

The marathon started from Campground 3 at Clinton with a section I hadn’t seen before. Ben told me later it was part of Steve Riley’s old cross country course. Pretty little 2.8 mile section with a knee-deep water-crossing. I didn’t mind it, since I was wearing my new Dry Max socks which I got from Great Plains Running Company in Topeka.

A lot of the Hawks have been raving about Dry Max socks since last winter. Now I understand what they’ve been talking about. Best running sock I ever wore. Two minutes after coming out of the stream, the dogs felt like they’d never been wet!

The day was cloudy and felt cool, though temps got up in the low 60s, I believe. Mud was the story of the day — all kinds, as self-described “mud connoisseur” Heather Levy said. I ran with Heather for quite a bit of the race.

Also saw Kristi “Black Mamba Hawk” Mayo in (I think) her first trail mary.

Kristi “Black Mamba Hawk” crosses the finish line. . .

Kristi’s spouse Rick “Whip Hawk” Mayo won the critter.

Rick “Whip Hawk” Mayo whips past, about two miles into the marathon.

Dave “Speed Hawk” Wakefield won the 40-miler. In fact, he blew by me while I was on my last two mile or so! Inspired me to finish strong.

Not sure yet who won the 100k. Darin “Lincoln Hawk” Schneidewind was leading, but dropped at 40 miles with hamstring issues. Ben immediately put a 40-miler finisher’s medal around Darin’s neck — very classy.

Darin “Lincoln Hawk” Schneidewind — in the lead at 40 miles, but had to drop because of injury.

Not too long after that, I saw Brad “Pastor Hawk” Bishop come in with 40 miles behind him, and looking strong.

I finished my Mary in 5 hours on the nose, I’m told. Not sure where in the pack that was — back-ish I’m thinking. And I haven’t seen the results yet, but I believe Raven “Raven Hawk” Rajani got her FIRST marathon, trail or otherwise.

Yours truly and Raven “Raven Hawk” Rajani, just before the start. It was Raven’s first mary – pretty sure she rocked it!

In other news, got an entrants list for the Hawk 50-Mile & Marathon Trail Runs posted. Thirty one runners signed up as of this a.m. Hope to get more this week, since the entry fee rises May 1. That’s because we put our t-shirt and awards orders in then. Anything we order after that is going to cost us more because of the short turn-around.

Had a relatively easy week leading up to the Mary. Rest day on Friday and Thursday. Thursday, Nick “Colo Hawk” and I went to Great Plains Running Company where I got my Mountain Masochists and Dry Max socks — both of which performed splendidly.

Wednesday, did a five miler with Nick at Clinton –nothing on Tuesday. Monday, Lampchop and I ran with the Hawks, including new runner Constantine Cotsoradis, Lawrence.

Monday nighter — Front, (L to R) Lambchop, Nick “Colo Hawk” Lang, Laurie “Pixie Hawk” Euler. Back (L to R) Constantine Cotsoradis, Justin “GNT Hawk” Henning, Jeff “Beatnik Hawk” Triplett.

Not sore or stiff at all this a.m. in the aftermath of the 26.2 — so hopefully this will be a good springboard to get ready for summer races including Lunar Trek 100k.

More later!

gary

Hawk vols and one Hawk runner – (front) Jim “Family Hawk” Beiter, one of our runners in the Kansas Marathon, Sunday, April 18. Behind him (L to R) 1st row: Debbie “Wheat Hawk” Webster, Laurie “Pixie Hawk” Euler, Coleen “Lil Big Hawk” Voeks, Kristin “Aqua Hawk” Tirabassi. 2nd row – Bobbi “Bat Hawk” Aschwanden-Thomas, Julie “Sunday Hawk” Toft, Andy “Still seeks a Hawk name” Norris. Back- Nick “Colo Hawk” Lang.

I think this happy photo says it all about the Lawrence Trail Hawk experience at the Kansas Marathon and Half Marathon in Lawrence, Sunday. Sadly three of our great Hawk volunteers dashed off before I could get it together enough to snap this pic — Renee “Renanimal Hawk” Babin, Colinda, “Cat Hawk” Thompson and Robert “Biker Hawk” Bauman.

Our morning started about 5:30 am, as we met at the race registration area to get our assignments. We got assigned to packet pickup, giving bags with technical shirts and, till they ran out, Trail Hawk brochures and flyers for the Hawk 50-Mile and Marathon Trail Runs, May 22.

My spouse, the Big K, took about 200 of said literature pieces to Saturday’s packet pickup at the Oread Hotel, but evidently, all the brochures and literature from everyone got relegated to a back room, which few runners visited.

So this was plan B. Hopefully, we’ll get some response.

Once the race started, our group split up to separate assignments — most, including yours truly as road guards for the runners.

I got stationed at Inverness and 27th Street, at a three-way intersection. I got to wear a nifty orange safety vest, emblazoned on the back with “Sigler’s Pharmacy,” which is where I get all my prescriptions and Hammer Nutrition products or running.

Holding up traffic for runners kept me pretty busy, but I managed to snap a few shots of the parade.

Most of the drivers were pretty nice about waiting for runners to go past, but one guy, even though I put my hand up and actually said “stop,” bulled on through the intersection with runners in the crosswalk. No one got hurt, though.

Once the last runner had gotten past my checkpoint, Race official Rick Coster picked us up and took us back to Nick’s FJ Cruiser, and we went back to the start-finish.

There, I saw Bobbi “Bat Hawk” Aschwanden-Thomas recording finisher numbers. I found a job with Renee and Kristen, and several non-Hawk volunteers at the finish line, snipping timing chips off runners’ shoes.

Snippers – (L to R) Kristen “Aqua Hawk” Tirabassi, Laura from Eudora, and Renee “Reanimal Hawk” Babin. “A guy’s worst nightmare,” I commented as I took the pic, which drew guffaws from the gals.

The benefit of being a finish line chip snipper was that I was well-positioned to get photos of Hawks and friends as they came in, except for Christine “Mountain Hawk” Metz, who ran the Half. She was in, by the time I arrived.

Three pretty fast ultrarunners– (L to R) Kyle Amos, Tony “Marine Hawk” Clark, and Greg Burger finish in about 3:30. They ran the whole thing together, I believe. 3:30 isn’t a particularly fast time for any of them. Greg has done sub 3′s at Boston, and Tony and Kyle have both run faster races.

Levi “Smilin Hawk” Bowles lives up to his Hawk moniker after crossing the Marathon finish line.

Sarah “Scoop Hawk” Henning and Renee “Renanimal Hawk” Babin smile for the camera, a moment after Sarah crossed the marathon finish, and a moment before Renee snipped Sarah’s chip.

With the race winding down, the Hawks got back together briefly, before heading out… to party!

Amazingly, Sarah, though she had just run a marathon, with hub Justin “GNT Hawk,” hosted a farewell party for Jim “Family Hawk” and Sandy “Crafty Hawk” Beiter and brood. The Beiters, founding members of the Trail Hawks, are moving to California next month.

I’ll let the pics tell the story, as much as possible.

Christine “Mountain Hawk” Metz, and friend Cody, both half-marathon finishers.

3 runner gals — Raven “Raven Hawk” Ranjani and daughter, and (R) hostess and marathon finisher Sarah “Scoop Hawk” Henning. All three finished races today. Raven’s daughter (dern it, I forgot her name), was first female in her one-mile race.

Coleen throttles Levi for questioning the Hawk motto: “Kindness to life and land.”

Ok, we got Nick to look normal for once, as he poses with Darcie “Saddle Hawk” Schneidewind, but dern it, there goes Darin! I know it’s Nick’s fault somehow!

Soon bound for California, guests of honor Sandy “Crafty Hawk” Beiter and Jim “Family Hawk” Beiter take a minute to smile for the camera with most of their brood.

Though the grownups party, Justin “GNT Hawk” Henning still ensures that little tykes earn their chow by laboring in the yard. Hey, just because you’re two doesn’t entitle you to be a slacker.

Nick “Colo Hawk” Lang and Karen “Hawk who walks” Henry — aka “the Beast and Beauty.”

So that’s it — one very action-packed Sunday! Doh! Didn’t manage to get a shot of our most newly named Hawk, Colinda “Cat Hawk” Thompson. Other than that, though, very pleased with the day’s damage.

more later,

gary

Mike Goodwin of the Kansas Trails Council brushhogged a detour up the hill around the infamous Lake Henry Mud Pits on the Clinton Lake North Shore trail system’s Blue trail.

It’s rough and broken. Hawks, including yours truly and Laurie “Pixie Hawk” Euler are going out Saturday morning to help Mike smooth it down a little. Lambchop and I ran it this evening, as we soloed the Wednesday night short-to-middy run and did the 4.5-mile Lake Henry little loop.

Met some great potential Hawks at the start of our run, Cyrus and Paula. Gave them a brochure. Beautiful evening. Warm and sunny, with a refreshing breeze. Trails drying nicely, but still mighty juicy in the bottoms of the muddy mile on both white and blue.

So even though we avoided the pits, Lambie and I still took our fair share of trail away with us on our persons.

Just as we finished, brand-new Hawks Tammy Lupton and Kristin Tirabassi drove up to try and get a couple miles in before dark. Both are studying to be nurses and are in the middle of something called “clinicals” which don’t appear to leave a lot of spare time for running trails.

Yesterday, was a slack-off day, but Monday, Lambie and I ran with the Hawks on the Monday Nighter. Also beautiful weather. Justin “GNT Hawk” Henning, Laurie “Pixie Hawk” Euler, Lambie and yours truly did about 5 miles. Nick “Colo Hawk” Lang and Jeff “Beatnick” Triplett cut back early for a shorter run — Nick, because he’s getting over sciatica, and Jeff because he’s just getting started.

Nick ran in those nutty “Hercules” sandals.

Monday nighter L to R (front) Laurie “Pixie Hawk” Euler, Lambchop “Chop Hawk” Henry, Nick “Colo Hawk” Lang. (Back) L to R Jeff “Beatnick Hawk” Triplett, Justin “GNT Hawk” Henning.

After the run, we sat around and blabbed and joked as usual. The subject of “Clintie,” legendary sea monster of Clinton Lake came up. Evidently, someone knows someone who has seen an actual photo of Clintie… I will try to track it down and bring it to you here.

And good golly Miss Lambchop! 37 days to the Hawk 50-Mile & Marathon Trail Runs!

More later!

gary

Saturday run- front, L to R — Laurie “Pixie Hawk” Euler and Roxie, Lisa Woolery. 2nd row: Amy Oglesbee, Janice Woolery, and Whitney (dern it don’t have her last name). Way in back — Nick “Colo Hawk” Lang and Brad “Pastor Hawk” Bishop.

Janice Woolery, state rep for the Road Runners Club of America, joined us today for our long run. She’s new on the job — first state rep Kansas has had in a looong time. So Janice is going around the state to personally meet with all the RRCA groups, including the Trail Hawks.

We headed out on the white trail in a sunny, pleasant morning, with a short out-and-back detour to Sanders Mound. Brad “Pastor Hawk” Bishop led most of the way. Janice and Whitney wanted a six-mile run, so around the four mile mark, they dropped down to blue, and took that trail in for two more miles. The Muddy Mile was its usual splishy splashy quagmire, but Janice still said she had a blast.

Brad “Pastor Hawk” Bishop leads the Saturday morning run down the white trail.

We pressed on through an increasingly warm day, Brad and Lisa running a little ahead of Laurie, Amy and me, though we all met up for a short break at Lands End. There, we met two other trail runners, Jeff and Steve, who we invited to visit the website and run with the Hawks.

At Lands End, Amy and Lisa peeled off onto the blue trail for the 3.5-mile jaunt back to the start. With Sanders Mound figured in, they racked up about 11 miles.

Laurie, Brad and I continued on — our plan to do the whole first loop of the Hawk 50. We made it out to Cactus Ridge, and managed to get through without getting lost for once. Once off the ridge, Brad and I went ahead so Laurie could go at a more relaxed pace. She captured third woman in the marathon at Rocking K a week ago today, and might not’ve been quite as recovered as she thought.

Brad got fifth man in the 50-mile there, so was content to go at my relaxed pace. The woods, the day, the company were all quite pleasant. After Brad and I completed another trip to Sanders Mound and back, he called it a day — a nice 25-mile day.

I went back out to see if I could meet up with Laurie and find out what her Garmin said about our course distance. She was finishing up the last mile on blue. The Garmin report was way short of what we know to be the true distances on the course. Fortunately, Mike Goodwin, Kansas Trails Council has promised to ride the course on his odometer-equipped mountain bike for an accurate reading in the near future.

Saw his truck parked on the side of the road out by Cactus Ridge, so maybe he’s getting that info today!

Anyway, another fabulous Saturday long run.

More later!

gary

Sometimes you have to take your wins when and where you can get them.

Finally got a chance to do my workout at lunch today — score!

Opened my gym bag in the locker room, discovered I forgot to bring clean socks to change into after the workout and shower — then found an emergency pair in my locker. Score!

Been so long since I’d been on the elliptical, I didn’t think I’d be able to go an hour/6 miles on the highest setting — level 16, rolling hills. Thought I might have to quit at 3 miles or 4.5. Would have, too, if I kept my usual pace.

Instead, went slow. Got 6 miles in 55:15, and finished the hour in reverse, garnering 6.43 miles in the hour. Slow, but got it — score! Makes me think I might have a chance at the Free State 100k if I take it easy.

Then, my I-Pod, MIA for almost a week, showed up. I was beginning to think I’d absent-mindedly left it in the truck, and absent-mindedly left the truck unlocked for the device to be stolen. It turned up in the dirty laundry, which I’d previously searched, as I was loading the washing machine this evening. Score!

So all those scores together = a victory. A small victory, but there it is. You take ‘em where you can get ‘em.

More later,

gary

Monday night run – (front, L to R) Laurie “Pixie Hawk” Euler, Lambchop, Nick “Colo Hawk” Lang, Jim “Family Hawk” Beiter. (Back) Jeff Triplett, Justin “GNT Hawk” Henning. Is there something odd going on in this photo?

Planned the almost-10-mile Lands End Loop for tonight’s Wednesday Short-to-Middy run, but foul weather but the kibosh on that. Could have stayed at work and done the elliptical, but didn’t have the right running togs — had cold-weather gear.

Could’ve worked out on our new treadmill at home, except that turned out to have a nasty factory defect — bent frame or something — so are waiting for repairs that are waiting on out-of-stock parts. Could take awhile.

Upshot is ANOTHER missed workout in my very last week to get anything done before the Free States 100k at Clinton Lake April 24. It will probably kill me, I’ve worked out so little in the past three weeks.

Last run was the Monday night Beginners’ Run. Beautiful weather — 60s. We all started together, but Laurie, Nick and Jeff went back after about a mile and a half. Laurie is recovering from last Saturday’s Rockin’ K Trail Marathon, where she took third woman. Nick is trying to get over a bout of sciatica. Jeff is just getting into running.

Lambchop and I continued on with Justin and Jim to the 2-mile mark, then we headed back, so as not to exceed the puppy running limit of 4 miles. Lambie’s coming up on 11 months, but must be 2 before she can start real mileage. Justin and Jim wound up doing about 5 miles.

Trails were dry, and I was pleased that Lambchop didn’t get muddy. But after everyone got in, Lambchop managed to find the lone mud puddle, and sat in it, to everyone’s amusement but mine. Amusement escalated to hilarity when she layed down in the puddle, like some huge white piglet.

Great run, though way too short. Thought I’d get a good workout Tuesday at work, but meetings and rush projects put an end to that. Figured a day off would be ok, with a tenner for today, but alas.

In other news, got a few more people signed up for the Hawk 50-Mile & Marathon Trail Runs. I think we now have enough entrants to actually post an entrants list without looking silly. So I hope to get that posted shortly.

Kristi “Black Mamba Hawk” got her Rockin’ K photos posted on our Flickr Page. She and daughter Adrian were there supporting their husband/dad Rick “Whip Hawk” Mayo. She is a really good photographer, as you’ll see.

More later!

gary

Yours truly (center) with the “angels of light” Jan O’Brien (L) and Wendy Neupauer (R) from Leadville 2003. How cool to meet them again after all these years!

Excellent weekend volunteering at the Rockin’ K 50-Mile & Marathon Trail Runs this past weekend. It was my turn, after a DNF (2006) and two finishes (2007, 2008) in the 50-mile and a marathon finish last year.

The whole thing was totally splendiferous, but the all-time super highlight was my chance meeting with Jan O’Brien and Wendy Neupauer of Minneapolis, who I last saw, dimly, at the 2003 Leadville Trail 100.

My light failed about a mile out of Twin Lakes inbound. As a newbie ultra-runner, I’d failed to bring a backup. So I was stuck on the narrow trail in perfect blackness, with a steep slope just a few inches away on my right.

Then, along came Jan, pacing Wendy. I explained my dire straits, and they graciously allowed me to follow, and Jan even gave me a spare light, which she wanted me to keep (I didn’t).

Wendy was struggling. Stomach issues, I think, but Jan got her through. Just about everything I know about pacing I learned following those two. Gentleness, kindness, firmness, solicitude, listening — Jan could write the book.

And Wendy knew how to get the most out of her pacer — she reported how she was feeling, in a non-complaining way, so that Jan knew what to do for her. And Wendy did what Jan said. And buckled as a result.

If I’d stayed with them, as invited, I would have buckled, too. But we parted ways for our crews at Treeline. I made it to Fish Hatchery inbound and gave it up. Never saw them again.

But for years after, I thought of Wendy and Jan and their kindness to a fellow ultrarunner, which really had an impact on me. Then, while working packet pickup the night before the race, they showed up. I didn’t have my camera, but Debbie “Wheat Hawk” Webster was kind enough to snap the three of us.

I got to tell them, after all these years, how much that experience means to me — truly a treasured memory, with meeting them again, Friday, a close second.

Speaking of Wheat Hawk, she also took this great pic of herself, Sunday Hawk (C) and Lil Big Hawk.

(L) Coleen “Lil Big Hawk” Voeks, Julie “Sunday Hawk” Toft, Debbie “Wheat Hawk” Webster. Is it my imagination, or is there truly a hint of danger in Lil Big Hawk’s eyes?

Hawks did great in the races. Coleen took 2nd Woman in the 50-mile with a sub-12. Laurie “Pixie Hawk” Euler, who reports she has stopped limping today, got 3rd Woman in the marathon, cutting an hour off last year’s time!

Darin “Lincoln Hawk” Schneidewind brought in a blazing 4th place finish, followed by Brad “Pastor Hawk” Bishop in 5th place, and Tony “Marine Hawk” Clark. I forget Tony’s exact finish — 6 or 7? — but he was top 10 for sure.

I didn’t take my usual “peck ‘o pics” this time, because my hands were generally full of clipboards. I did manage to get a shot of the start.

For really professional photos of the race, visit ace photobug Dick Ross’ SeeKCRun site. He got this incredible one of Pixie Hawk burning into the Gate 6 aid station, 13 miles into the course.

Laurie “Pixie Hawk” Euler hits the 13-mile mark — photo by Dick “SeeKCRun” Ross. Great shot or what?

Since I volunteered, I also managed to get a few “backstage” photos.

Along with packet pickup and serving veggie spaghetti Friday night, I also worked the Gate 6 aid station, which runners hit at 13, 18, 37 and 42 miles into the course. I checked runners in and out of the aid station.

Part of the time, they were coming and going simultaneously from two different directions, so I got a lot of help from Steve Breeding, Doris (dern it, don’t have her last name) and Sherri Rider. Steve and Sherri are both Trail Hawks, btw, though haven’t gotten their Hawk names yet.

The wind is always fierce out there in the midst of the really beautiful Smoky Hills. It nearly took down our tent, and did take down our toilet tent. RD Phil Sheridan took on the task of packing the thing up after Dennis Haig, who has my vote for volunteer of the year, did what he could to clean up the spilled mess.

Though I generally had my hands full of clipboards and pens, and was constantly on the lookout for runners, I managed to snap a few pics.

Kristi “Black Mamba Hawk” Mayo gets some fuel into her runner, Rick “Whip Hawk” Mayo. He was in 10th or 11th place here, I think 42 miles into the race.

Far too many incredible moments to fully tell in anything less than a novel- length account. Kyle Amos swept the 24-mile last loop and brought in Ulla Westerman, Louisville, Colo., for a thrilling finish with only about 15 minutes before cutoff. They’d hit the Gate 6 aid station 30 minutes after the 5 p.m. cutoff, but Kyle said she could do it, and he saw that she did!

Although veteran 100-miler Allen Smelser DNFed, his son, Scott got his first 50-miler. At the finish, Scott said “This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” And Nancy Smelser brought incredibly delicious home-baked treats for all the runners and volunteers race morning.

There’s lots more like that too, and every year. You can read about it in my blog, or you can come out next year and experience this all-day high in person by running or volunteering yourself. Co-RDs Stacy and Phil Sheridan, and the Kansas Ultrarunners Society put on an event that is truly magical, because they infuse it with love. Corny, but true, and anyone who’s been there will tell you I speak the truth!

More later!

gary