Running Just to Stand Still..........from Jim Kerse

Oct.13 and 14 was the date for the Heartland 100 miler at Cassoday, Kansas. The Brown Recluse had prevented me from finishing in 06 so I was back for redemption.
73 of us lined up. This one is run in the Flint Hills Prairie Region where most of the tall grass of the old West remains. Tho it is heavily grazed we ran past a small patch somehow missed where the grass was 5&1/2 feet tall!
We struck thunder and lightning and had a torrential downpour for 30min which caused the shoes to drag a couple of kgs of mud each for the next hour. Later it was 80F with a drying wind, tough on a lad fresh out of Dunedins winter. Anyway I reached 50 mile in 11h35m, now I just had to stay upright and keep moving forward. Well I did but it was a battle to stay awake between 3 and 6.30am (still jetlagged?) and for the last 35miles all I consumed were 4 cups of hot chocolate.........they reckon not taking in enough salt causes an inability to eat...still learning!
They are fun people over here. 2 of the guys who ran in the 50miler the day before set up an unofficial aid station at 95mile called oasis and served home brew. Needless to say I DID manage to drink a couple of them! They had cowbells for the final 50metres...once again adrenaline got me and I couldn't help doing a sprint finish. It was my 10th 100mile completion and one of my hardest. My time was 28h 2m. One of the highlights was listening to the various coyote packs many miles apart singing to one another.
Kia Kaha............Jim

I just wanted to let you both know how great it was to be able to run up there. Can't wait for next year!

Before we came up there, I was telling Mark how I had almost lost the joy of running because of seeming to just run to get ready for another race - or the fact that I was feeling puny because of all the heart tests and questioning whether I'd be able to run like I wanted or at all. I couldn't seem to find a run that wasn't painful or one where I wasn't questioning every ache and pain or shortness of breath (imagine being short of breath while running...hmmmmm) but running up there I told myself before I started that this wasn't for any other reason then just to find that joy again - to be a part of nature instead apart from nature. Your race gave that back to me and more. Not only am I excited about running again but I'm feeling competitive - or feeling my oats I guess. So thanks for the race - it meant more then you could possibly imagine.

Great meeting you both - have a wonderful day and we will be there next year!

Penny Mooney

That was the best ultra experience I’ve ever had – you guys did a great job, and the aid station support was excellent!  Admittedly, I may still be cruising on the endorphins from finishing my first 100, but I really do mean it.  I can only imagine all the work that goes into running such a race. 

It was a beautiful course – one that probably would’ve felt/looked almost the same 500 years ago, it was so remote.  What a great way to spend 24 hrs & 30 mins!

Sorry about the confusion at the finish, as I pulled ahead of my tired pacer and he crossed the finish line after me.  I should’ve had him pull off to the side, but wasn’t thinking straight at that point.  But it was great to run with my brother, and to have my three kids join me for those last 100 yards! 

Hope you are getting some sleep and recovering too.  Tell Jim thanks as well – I enjoyed talking with him the night before.

Sincerely,

Brent Jesko

Cedarburg, WI

Heartland 100 - Hidden Gem on the Prairie

You don't hear much about Heartland. It's just a little race in Kansas, between Kansas City and Wichita. Kansas?? Must be flat and boring. Well, it's not. The race course is in the Flint Hills, one of the last remaining tall grass prairies. Your first thought might be that there is nothing there, but as you run, the prairie envelops you. The course is on gently rolling traffic-free gravel and dirt roads through miles of open prairie. Occasionally you dip down into a valley with trees and a stream. There are even a few pretty ponds. Sometimes you climb up to the top of hills where you can see forever. There are a lot more cows than people. There are a few oil wells pumping away. With the race being so small and spread out, you are often totally alone. It is incredibly peaceful.

The weather was quite good for the race on Saturday and Sunday. The sunrises were beautiful, with bright orange clouds. On Saturday there were ominous clouds in the distance, flashing with lightning, and we were treated to an awesome thunder concert. The clouds moved closer, and jagged bolts of lightning got a little too close for comfort. But we only got rained on for a few minutes, and then the sun came out again and the day stayed cool and comfortable. The wind was difficult when we had to run directly into it, but it was wonderful when it came from our backs. The night was cool with bright stars. Other than the wind, it would be hard to ask for better weather for a hundred miler. Heartland is an out-and-back course, so you get to see all the fast people, which is fun. Paul DeWitt, who won and set a new course record, glided by with a smile and friendly greeting, headed for home while I still had miles to go to the turnaround. Everyone ahead of me and behind me looked good. The aid station people were extremely pleasant and supportive, and they had great food. The 'Prairie Power Pellets' (which bear a strong resemblance to beans and weenies) were wonderful at the Ridge Line aid station, miles 37 and 63. The belt buckle finishers' award is gorgeous. I will always treasure it, along with the one I got when I finished Heartland in 2004. If you are looking for a different kind of 100 next year, give this one a try. It is indeed a gem.

Janice O'Grady

    I wanted to send a quick note to thank you for putting together this years Heartland 100.  It looked like you were working like crazy all weekend long.  You should know what joy you provided so many of us.  Me for sure.  I had a pacer and crew, and the time I got to spend with them in that situation was something I will remember forever.  The beauty of the Prairie will also be something I will remember always.  All, and I mean all of the people at the aid stations were fantastic.  What encouraging people they were!  As you see them, please let them know that I appreciate the long hours they spent helping others!  It was a long trip from Florida, but I couldn't think of anything I would rather have done!!  Thanks again.

Blaine Broadbridge

I wanted to thank you for putting on such a good run.  The volunteers were all so nice and pleasant.  I never realized how beautiful it was to run there –who would have ever thought that in the middle of Kansas it would be so pretty and it was.  I encouraged my pacer at Western States, Patrick McCartney, to do his first 100 there and he did.  When I showed the buckle to my wife when I got home she commented that is the prettiest one that I have and wants me to get her one next year.   Thanks for such a memorable weekend. 

Dan Brenden

Thanks again for putting on a class event. Laid out, marked, supported and organized to high standards.

You made my first 100 miler a terrific event. Low key as I expected, executed even better.

Having had a couple days to decompress, I still can't find anything to comment on for improvement.

Congratulations and thanks again.

Steve Hanes

Just wanted to thank you and all the volunteers for yet another great race this year. It is fast becoming one of my favorite races. So scenic and peaceful, except for the spiders.

A big thank you to the man from Newton who let me sit in his car for a few minutes in the middle of the night. And to the man who made the terrific bean soup yet again. The aid stations are amongst the best of any race I have run.

Gratefully,

Anita Fromm