The Third Annual KUS Rockin K Trail Runs,
April 7, 2001
Kanopolis State Lake, Kansas
The third version of the Rockin' K started with the weather
worrying me yet again. After a very nice week with temperatures in the 50's and
no wind, pre-race Friday started warm, humid and with the weather service
promising severe storms and heavy rain. Remembering last year I took a boat and
ropes to Alum Creek, no swimming this year, come hell or high water!! The
promised thunderstorms arrived with a howling 70mph wind and a light shower
Friday night. Amazingly the sky then cleared to a full moon night and the wind
died to a more manageable 30mph by the start. Alum creek stayed ankle deep.
The runners started out fast with Marc Friesen and Todd Nott
hammering ahead of both the 50milers and marathon field. Molly Gibb led the
50-mile women and Joyce Prusaitis was followed closely by Theresa Wheeler in
the marathon. By the time the runners reached the manned aid station at 20k it
was becoming quite warm. Many folks found they had seriously overdressed for
the day and most water bottles were empty on arrival. Potatoes and salt were
hits at the manned aid station.
Everybody ran the
3.9-mile out and back dirt road section, refilled their bottles for the trek in
to the marathon finish\50 mile second loop start. 50 milers Marc, Todd, and Kevin Guest led the field to the
marathon\50 turnaround; Dan Winston was the fourth runner through, and the
Marathon winner! This has been the case in all three versions of the Rockin' K,
the marathon winner was chasing the 50 mile guys at the turnaround.
In the womens marathon Joyce and Theresa left the manned aid
station 15 seconds apart. Joyce was able to lengthen this to six minutes to
finish in 4:30:51. Joyce and Theresa both ran under the old marathon record
with Joyce resetting it.
As of this year only two runners that have left on the
second loop for the 50 have failed to finish. Unfortunately only half of the 50
milers started the second loop. This is consistent with the previous two years.
The easy marathon finish coupled with chili and beer at the aid station seems
to take a toll on the second lap runners.
In the second loop of the 50mile Marc was ahead of Todd by two minutes
and about 30 on Kevin Guest. He increased this to 20 minutes at the manned aid
station and finished in 7:55:56.
Molly Gibb and Nancy Davis were the womens 50-mile field
after the second loop start. Molly cruised through the second loop and finished
in 9:57:41 resetting her record from last year by ten minutes! Many of the
later marathon finishers and the 50-mile runners were showing the effects of
the temperature by the finish. It was a tough day for the runners, with
exceptional performances by Molly, Joyce and Theresa to all run under the old
course records.
I have always had a mule option for the second loop in the
50 mile, I am glad to report that once again nobody took it. Three years
running and no mules. I also would like to report that this year nobody went
off trail, but I would be a lying SOB if I did. Those of you that know me realize that the run would not be quite
the same without a lot of work by Stacy. The parts that would not be the same
include, but are not limited to, food, water, information, aid stations,
volunteers, permits, communications,.........in fact if I were left to my own
devices there would probably be very little past a couple of old 2-liter coke
bottles filled with water stashed on the trail. If any of you think I am
joking, ask any KUS member that went to the Grand Canyon last year, they will
testify to my total lack of organization when Stacy is not keeping me straight.
So, thanks first to Stacy and then to all of the others that volunteered. I hope to see all of you again next year or
on some other trail.
Phil Sheridan, RD