Event Report

Prairie Spirit Trail Run - 50km

March 10, 2007

I always find it somewhat difficult to write a report for an event in which I participated.  I think it is easier to write from the outside perspective than a runner.  I may have to delegate the report for next year’s event.  That being said, I will give it my shot, so here I go…

The course for this year’s “members’ only” event was selected without actually visiting this site itself.  I had done a fare amount of research via the web and talking with KDWP, but that was it.  I finally surveyed course about three weeks before hand.  Luckily, it looked like the course would get double-thumbs up.

15 entries were received for the event, double the amount I expected.  14 would actually start.  The event started at the intersection of Interstate 35 and US-59 in Ottawa, Kansas.  We voted for a later start of 8:00 since there were no 100km entries.  This course is a simple point-to-point; start in Ottawa and finish 31 miles later in the small town of Welda.  Ottawa provided a good start point with ample services.  Welda on the other hand has a population that wouldn’t rival the starting point of Heartland – Cassoday.

The course itself is a rails-to-trails path that is now under the jurisdiction of the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks.  This meant long but gradual climbs and a wide, smooth, tree-lined path.  The course often paralleled creeks, streams and US-59.  The trail ends in Welda, but is under construction from that point south.  The trail will continue, once finished for another 17 miles to make it an even 50 miles from the fair grounds trailhead in Ottawa to the southern terminus…maybe a 50 or a 100 is in the making?

I stated earlier that we started 14.  And 14 did start.  Phil Sheridan started on the trail, but he did so at the Franklin County Fair Grounds, two miles up the trail.  He was not charged extra for the bonus mileage.   I can’t provide a lot of detail from once we started to the finish.  I for the most part only know how my run went.  I will summarize it in a few brief words…”I started out to fast”.  I ran well through 22 miles, as did Matt Becker who was only a few steps behind at any given point.  As I progressed through Garnett, I opted for the reliable “run 25 and walk 5” method of finish.  It was a grind to the end.  In that process Matt Becker, Randy Albrecht and Greg Burger passed me and so did a “virtual” Phil Sheridan, as he started slightly later than the rest of us.

Once at the finish, I began the recovery process through the consumption of mass quantities of chocolate-chocolate chip cookies.  I took pride in everyone finishing the event.  It doesn’t happen in many ultras.  And truth be told, there aren’t a lot of options for this event.  Either drag yourself across the finish line, or flag down a car and beg them to take you to Welda (if you don’t have a crew that is).

I hope to see everybody at next years’ event…who knows what it will be.

Event Director, Marc Friesen

Finishers’ List

1       Randy Albrecht 4:26    8 Nancy Davis 6:41
2       Matt Becker 4:26   9 Ron Jansen 7:20 
3       Greg Burger 4:49    10 Jim Myers 7:26
4       Phil Sheridan 4:51    11 Chad Flint 7:43
5       Marc Friesen 4:53    12 Eric Steele 7:43
6 Steve Breeding 6:31    13 Rich Golden 7:56
7       Jim Davis 6:41    14 Lynn Moore 9:15