"I chose Kettle because the course is so beautiful," Debbie said. "I did the hundred K there the last two years, and I really like the lakes and meadows." Timing played a part in her choice too. After a busy Spring race season, Debbie felt well-prepared, and didn't want to wait for a Summer or Fall race.

"I didn't run much during the week," she admitted with a chuckle. "I did my four-and-a-half mile course around the neighborhood on roads most days."

But a series of tough trail marathons and ultras starting with the Fat Ass 50K Jan. 1 in Cameron, Mo., got her in ultra-shape, she said. Along the way to Kettle, Deb completed the Rockin'K Trail Marathon in Kanopolis State Park, Kan., and the grueling Three Days of Syllamo in Syllamo, Mo.

This year, Three Days featured a consecutive marathon, a 50-miler and a 20K. "I felt a little nervous for a minute at the start when I realized Three Days was the only back-to-back I did," Deb said.

But that was the only twinge of nerves she had.

In addition to Stuart running with her, their 23-year-old daughter Hillary crewed for the pair. Hilary is a trainer at Utah State, where she's getting her master's degree in exercise science.

"They were both a very big help," Deb said. "Hillary had us in and out of the aid station in just a few minutes every time. She always had everything ready."

Deb said the race went smoothly, with no rough patches. Weather was unseasonably cool, staying in the 50s during the day, but getting no lower than 40s at night. "It was perfect running weather," she said. "We got a little rain, but nothing too much."

Along with the scenery, Deb said she most enjoyed talking with the other runners she and Stuart met along the way. "It was surprising how many friends we had in common with people we met for the first time in the race," she said.

The race consists of two out-and-back legs. The first is 62 miles, the second, 38. The course is run mostly on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail in Kettle Moraine State Forest. The trail includes hilly, technical and soft pine needle-covered surfaces.

PHOTO: Stuart and Deb Johnson smile for the camera at Kettle, flanked by friends Kyle Amos, Kansas (L) and Paul Schoenlaub, Missouri. Kyle and Paul went on to finish 5th and 10th, respectively.

# # #

Texas trail runner solos 203-mile road relay

March 12, 2009 -- Allen Wrinkle, 44, of Spring Texas, completed the 40-stage, 203-mile Texas Independence Relay, in 69 hours, March 8.

The TIR, in its second year, starts in Gonzales, and travels the roads east through rolling countryside and 13 towns, including Houston. The finish line is east of Houston at the San Jacinto Monument. Gonzales is where the Texas Revolution began, and the monument is where the war was won.

Allen won his war, there, too, after contending with painful blood blisters, calf spasms, and a stressed achilles tendon.

"The blisters started about mile 65," said Allen, a veteran hundred-miler. "I should've stopped right then to take care of them, but I waited until mile 75. By that time they were really painful."

Allen tried to get pins to pop the blisters in a shop in Columbus, but they didn't have any.

"I got fishhooks instead," he said.

After popping and wrapping the blisters, the pain subsided. But at the race's end, Allen found many new blisters.

"I guess I just got used to them," he said.

About mile 160, his left calf erupted in spasms, which inflamed his achilles tendon. He called some ultrarunner friends about it. They told him if the tendon felt like it was "creaking" it probably wasn't torn and he could continue. Allen wrapped the painful ankle to try to keep it from bending. With his left leg turned out at an awkward angle to try to reduce the pain, he hobbled on for the last marathon's-worth of miles.

It wasn't all pain. High points came during some of the first night stages when Allen's 18-year-old daughter Ashley drove the support van for him.

"I shared some really good moments with my daughter," he said. "There were times I was just running down the country roads at night singing."

Allen said he also enjoyed time with his older brother Dan, who also crewed and drove. Though Dan isn't a runner, Allen said, they have shared many an endurance adventure, including hiking the Continental Divide.

"The time I spent running with my pacers was also special," he said.

One of those pacers Rick Cook, 44, of The Woodlands, paced Allen for five hours on the hot Texas roads.

"We were doing 12-minute miles after he had logged 125 miles," Rick recalled.

Allen ate a combination of solid food like ham, cheese, crackers and Clif Blocks, along with his own mix of Perpetuem and maltodextrin. He drank mostly water.

"I can't do the gels and sugary sports drinks," he said. "I drank a Red Bull, but it made me nauseous. So I didn't do that anymore." 

Temps during the run reached mid-80s, but Allen said it felt hotter on the asphalt. Wind was constant during the days, usually around 20 m.p.h.

"Seemed like it was always in my face," he said.

Allen finished his epic run 1 p.m., Sunday, March 8, amidst cheering onlookers. Race Directors Jay and Joy Hilscher published Allen's photo and bio on the TIR website before the race. People knew who he was, and lined the last 15 miles of the course. They cheered and ran with him.

"I felt like a celebrity," he said. "But I was ready to be done."

Allen is the second runner to solo the TIR. Chris "Dr. Muscle" Rampacek, Houston, ran the inaugural solo in 2008, in just under 73 hours. 

Allen, who is a member of the Hill Country Striders and the Tejas Trail Nerds, has buckled at Western States, Bighorn, Kettle-Morraine, and Cactus Rose. He got the silver sub-24 hour belt buckle at Rocky Raccoon. He also served as the Rocky Raccoon start/finish aid station captain for this year's race.

Next up for Allen -- the Lake Tahoe 100 miler in July.

"First I think I'll take a little time to recover," he said.

PHOTO: Allen Wrinkle, courtesy Lone Star Relays LLC 

# # # 

New hundred-miler set for NW Pennsylvania

Jan. 25, 2009 -- Pennsylvania's inaugural 100-mile trail race, the Oil Creek Trail 100, is set for Oct. 10-11 in the rugged hills and forests of Oil Creek State Park, just south of Titusville, in the state's far Northwest corner.

In addition to the hundred, shorter ultras of 50 miles and 50k are also planned, according to Race Director Tom Jennings. Belt buckles go to finishers of each ultra, and entrants get long-sleeved technical shirts.

"Like most trail ultras, there is a nice mixture of terrain and trail conditions," Tom said. "There will be steep hills that you will have to walk up, and semi-level technical / gnarly sections that you'll have to gingerly make your way through so you don't twist or break an ankle."

Other parts are runnable, he said. In addition, expect wet feet from several water-crossings, and crushed quads from constant hills.

"My suggestion would be to do trail hill training prior to the race," Tom said.

Oil Creek State Park is the site of the world's first commercial oil well.

For more info, visit Oil Creek 100 Trail Runs.

Photo: Trail runners head uphill on the Oil Creek Trail 100 course. photo courtesy Tom Jennings 

Kansas ultra runners bag H.U.R.T. 100

Jan. 18, 2009 -- Kyle Amos, Overland Park; and Tony Clark, Wichita, finished the H.U.R.T. 100-Mile Endurance Run in 31 hours and 48 minutes, running together the entire distance.

The race update table listed Tony in 17th place and Kyle in 18th, though their times were identical. Forty two out of 104 starters completed the race, considered by many to be the second-hardest in the country, after Colorado's Hardrock 100.

Kyle appeared to agree with that assessment, talking by phone shortly after the race with "Bad" Ben Holmes, with whom he co-founded the Kansas City Trail Nerds.

"There's no way to train for it in Kansas," a tired, but happy-to-be-done Kyle told Ben. Much of the course is straight up and down and not runnable, with root-covered trail, and no soil between the roots.

Kyle said that the race winner, Geoff Roes, who beat 2nd place by almost four hours with a 20-hour, 28-minute finish had accomplished a "world-class" event, according to Ben.

Ben also mentioned that "Tony said, 'my feet are hamburger,' and Kyle added, 'and my feet are hamburger helper!'"

The pair saw a lot of runners so unaccustomed to cold temperatures that they wore hats, gloves and tights when night-time temps dipped to a frigid 65 degrees fahrenheit, Ben said. "It's largely a local Hawaiian and Californian race," he said.

Ben reported that Kyle said he was glad to have this one checked off, and that the course was gorgeous, but that he had no plans to return for a second running.

Photo: Tony Clark (L) and Kyle Amos show off their well-earned H.U.R.T. 100 belt buckles shortly after finishing. Photo by Stacy Amos 

# # #

Kansas ultra runners headed for 'world of HURT'

Dec. 28, 2008 -- Kyle Amos, Overland Park; and Tony Clark, Wichita, are set to run the 2009 H.U.R.T. 100-Mile Endurance Run, in Hawaii, starting Saturday, Jan. 17 at 6 a.m. Island Time.

That's 10 a.m. Central Time, and 11 a.m. Eastern. The race takes its descriptive name from its host group, the Hawaiian Ultra Running Team. The 36-hour run consists of five laps of three legs each, meandering through the tropical rain forest of the Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve. The rooty, often muddy singletrack trails boast nearly 29,000 feet of elevation gain and loss -- almost twice that of the Leadville Trail 100's 15,600 feet.

Kyle and Tony will be accompanied on their week-long trip by spouses Stacy Amos and Angel Clark. The trip marks Kyle and Stacy's 10th wedding anniversary.

"H.U.R.T. has always been on my list," Kyle said. He added that he and Tony talked about a possible trip to Hawaii for this race, covering the expense of lodging by staying with Tony's uncle who visits Hawaii for a month each year. But when Brian, a friend of Kyle's who is in the Army, got stationed on Oahu, near the race site, and offered to put up the two couples, Kyle and Tony immediately put their applications in for the H.U.R.T. 100 lottery, which has about 100 slots.

"We both got in on the first try," Kyle said. Kyle and Tony made sure they beat the lengthy continental U.S.-to-Hawaii delivery time by mailing their entry forms early to Brian. Brian sent them through the local mail as soon as entry opened.

Kyle has focused his training on H.U.R.T. since October, when he took third place in the Heartland 100, Cassoday, Kan., in 18 hours, 13 minutes. He's logged 50-mile-plus weeks, with back-to-back weekend runs of 10 and 20, or 15 and 15. Most of his training has been on the trails at Wyandotte County Lake, Clinton Lake, and Shawnee Mission Park. He's done several long night runs on technical trails, to prepare for the night part of H.U.R.T.

Tony said he also has concentrated on prepping for H.U.R.T. since October, and feels well-rested and well-trained.

Kyle said he and Tony plan to run the first lap at H.U.R.T. together, and have logged several training runs together. 

Both runners are 100-miler veterans. They've each finished Heartland, Rocky Raccoon and Big Horn.  Tony also has a Leadville Trail 100 belt buckle.

In the 2008 Rocky Raccoon 100, the two runners came in 8th and 9th both at 18:14, with Kyle ahead by one second.

In addition to the race, Kyle said the couples' itinerary also includes visiting the memorial at Pearl Harbor, and "lots of sitting around on the beach." 

PHOTO: Kyle Amos hits the 36-mile mark at the Heartland 100, in October, enroute to an 18-hour, 13-minute third-place finish.

# # #

Kansas ultra runners raise $12,000 for mission work with 100-miler

Nov. 14, 2008 -- Adam Monaghan, 25, Wichita; and Allen Smelser, 55, McClouth, ran 100-plus miles Nov. 3-4, Wichita to Haviland, to raise scholarship money for students preparing for missionary work for the evangelical Friends Church.

The pair was supported by Allen's spouse Nancy, who drove the crew vehicle to meet the runners every 5 miles. Many other friends and church members turned out to pace and cheer the runners on.

The "Run for the Missions" began at 6 a.m., Nov. 3 in Wichita. The route proceeded due West to the small town of Haviland (pop. about 600) on country roads. Adam logged 104.2 miles in 26:12:10. Allen finished with 100.1 miles, ending his run about four miles east of town. After about 30 miles, the two runners reverted to individual paces and completed the run separately.

Hundreds of well-wishers and contributors turned out to congratulate the runners on their accomplishment. Pledges from 117 families and churches totaled about $12,000, according to Adam, who recently completed his first 100-miler, Heartland, in the Flint Hills, Cassoday, Kan., in mid-October. Allen is also a Heartland 100-Mile Run alumnus.

PHOTO: Ultra runners Adam Monaghan (L) and Allen Smelser take a break during their "Run for the Missions" ultra marathon Nov. 3-4. photo courtesy Adam Monaghan

# # #

Inaugural One Hill at a Time 50K to run Dec. 6, North-Central Kansas

Nov. 11, 2008 -- The first-ever One Hill at a Time 50K is set for the hilly country roads of Concordia, in North-Central Kansas., Saturday, Dec. 6.

With the ultra, race directors Steve Breeding and Dr. John Neal will also host a 10K, a 10K relay, a 15K and a 25K, all supported by aid stations. The course features a series of hills of varying lengths and heights that end only at the finish, according to the RDs. Surface is mostly rock and gravel.

You can preview the course at UltraStory.com photos page.

Entry for the 50K is $40, $30 for the 25K, $25 for the $15K and $20 for the 10K and 10K relay, per team.

The run is a benefit for "If It's God's Plan," a non-profit organization the goal of which is to offer recovery and education to people affected by addictions.  Visit the One Hill at a Time page at psychowyco.com for entry form and more info.

PHOTO: One Hill at a Time offers plenty of up and down, start to finish, say the RDs. photo courtesy of Dr. John Neal

# # # 

Ultrarunner collects 10 grand for finishing 6-race series

Nov. 6, 2008 -- You read it right.

New Hampshire ultrarunner Reeder "Ri" Fahnestock, 29, of Newmarket collected a cool $10,000 check Nov.1, as he crossed the finish line of Sherpa John LaCroix's and Andy Weinberg's grueling New England 100-mile "Fun Run." It was the last stop of a brutal tour that included finishing the McNaughton Park 100 mile run in Pekin, Illinois, the 53-mile Pittsfield Peaks Ultra-Challenge in the Green Mountains of Vermont, a 6-hour mountain bike race, a snowshoe marathon, and a hideous 10-mile event known as "The Pittsfield Peaks Death Race."

Reeder finished the hundred 4th of four finishers and nine starters in 34:14.

The contest was sponsored by race promoter Peak.com. The $10,000 prize was extended to any and all who could complete the 6 races -- you didn't have to win them, just do them, said Sherpa John, ultra runner, Peak Races team member, and RD for the New England Ultras. Only Reeder collected.

Along with the culminating event of the 6-race series, the New England Ultras, Oct. 31-Nov. 2, included a 50-mile and 200-mile trail run. Out of four starters in the 200, only John Bridges officially finished under the 72-hour cutoff, in 69:59. Although he didn't make cutoff, ultrarunner Carl Asker also finished the 200, in 97:15.  Temperatures during the races ranged from the teens at night, to mid 40s during the warmest part of the days.

The courses are all multi-loop, rocky, highly technical singletrack through the Green Mountains. The 200-mile race featured 42,000 feet of elevation change Sherpa John said. Visit  Sherpa John: Human Potential for race report, results and more.

PHOTO: Reeder Fahnestock, courtesy Peak.com

# # # 

Hilt enters world beyond marathon

Nov. 1, 2008 -- Lawrence trail runner Beth "Relentless Mudbabe" Hilt entered the world beyond the marathon when she completed the Blue Springs 50K in Blue Springs, Mo., Oct. 26.

The Blue Springs event, hosted by the Kansas City Track Club, offers 50-Mile, 50K, marathon and half-marathon races, all run concurrently on dirt and gravel paths through a nature preserve along the Little Blue River, about 45 minutes east of Kansas City, Mo. Beth, a regular at area trail events, targeted the Blue Springs 50K specifically for her ultra debut, and was rewarded with a sunny autumn day with temps ranging from the low 40s at the start to high 60s by race end.

Her husband Gerry served as chief crew and driver. Beth also got support from Kansas City Trail Nerds and ultra runners Greg Burger, Christy Craig and Coleen Voeks.

"Made it to the finish with smiles and cheers all around, no wounds but a large blister on my right heel," she reported after the run. "It was lots of fun."

Beth says she's now eyeing 50-milers, though she hasn't yet picked one.

PHOTO: Newly minted ultra runner Beth Hilt is all smiles at the Blue Springs 50, Oct. 26. photo courtesy of Coleen Voeks 

# # #

First-time ultra runner nets third in 50K, wins series at Rock Creek

Nov. 1, 2008 -- In his first attempt at an ultra, Darin Schneidewind, Topeka, captured third place in the 2nd annual Rock Creek 50k, Oct. 25, Perry Lake, Kan.

Darin finished the hilly, technical, heavily forested course in 4:51:17, in a field of 39 finishers. The Rock Creek Trail Series features trail races of ever-increasing distances in May, June, September and October, culminating with the 50K. To win the series, Darin entered all four races, and averaged the fastest time for all four.

Formerly overweight, Darin began running in 2006 to get fit. He ran his first 5K race in 2007, and has since been lured toward ever-increasing distances, and ever-more technical courses.  He completed several half-marathons in April, and ran the Omaha Marathon Sept. 28 -- also his first -- in 3:12:01, a 7:20 pace, coming in 25th of 442.

"I keep going longer and longer on my runs, and it's never enough," said Darin, currently averaging about 50 - 60 miles per week, and actively studying up on ultra running. He added that in his short race career so far, he likes best the people he's met at trail events.

The Rock Creek series is hosted by Willie and Karen Lambert, proprieters of the Great Plains Running Company in Topeka.  The GPRC caters to  trail, ultra and road runners, and sponsors  a number of events, programs  and classes to  promote  running in the Midwest.

PHOTO: Third-place finisher, and 2008 Rock Creek Trail series champ Darin Schneidewind takes a minute to smile for the camera at the Rock Creek 50K, Oct. 25, Lake Perry, Kan.

# # #

Kansas boys shine at Heartland

Oct. 20, 2008 -- Four Kansas boys brought home honors from the 9th annual Heartland-100 and 50-mile runs in Cassoday, Kan., Oct. 11-12.

Dave Wakefield, Topeka, won the 50-mile in 7:39:51, while Phil Sheridan captured 3rd in 9:03:26. Michael Adams, Manhattan, overcame a calorie deficit in the second half of the 100-mile to capture 2nd in 17:05:28, followed by  Kyle Amos, Olathe, in 18:13:16.

Michael led for much of the race, falling to second behind Wynn Davis, River Falls, Wis., just before the Ridgeline Aid Station at 64 miles. Michael took a 15-minute break to eat and drink, and left walking, but soon recovered for a strong finish, according to Kyle.

Kyle hit the 64-mile mark in 6th place, but managed to eat up 4th and 5th on his way to the third-place finish.

Runners in both races were challenged by steady 15-20 mph southerly winds on the out-and-back course which meanders north through the scenic, though mostly treeless Flint Hills. Temperatures hit high 70s to low 80s, and stayed in the high 50s - low 60s through the night. Rain threatened briefly in the late afternoon, but never arrived.

PHOTO: Heartland 50-mile winner Dave Wakefield.

###

Monaghan buckles at Heartland 100 mile

Oct. 19, 2008 -- Adam Monaghan, Wichita, got his first 100-mile finish, and the buckle to prove it Oct. 12 in Cassoday, Kan.,after a 26 hour, 28 minute run through the Flint Hills of central Kansas.

Fellow ultra runner and Heartland 100 alumnus Alan Smelser, McClouth, Kan., paced Adam. He also crewed, assisted by spouse Nancy.

Adam, whose longest race to date was a 50-mile attempt in the 2008 Leadville Trail 100, said he felt good for most of the race. Though he struggled through parts of the last 25 miles, he said he got a burst of energy at the Battle Creek Aid Station, 8 miles from the finish, and ran in from there. He came in 33rd out of 53 finishers and 67 starters.

PHOTO: Adam Monaghan hits the Ridgeline Aid Station, 36 miles into the Heartland 100 mile.

# # #

Voeks, Lang get first 50 miler at Heartland

Oct. 19, 2008 -- Kansas City Trail Nerds Coleen Voeks, KCMO; and Nick Lang, Lawrence, Kan., stepped up to the 50 miler Oct. 11, completing the Heartland 50-mile ultramarathon in well under 11 hours each.

Coleen's time of 10:30:31 got her 11th place overall, and 2nd woman. Nick finished just before her, 10th place overall, 9th man, in 10:28:31, out of 41 finishers.

Fellow Trail Nerds and ultra runners Christy Craig, Lawrence, Kan.; and Debbie Webster, Gardner, Kan., crewed the pair. Weather was warm, in the high 70s and low 80s, with steady southerly winds of about 10-20 mph blowing throughout the day. The course runs on gravel roads through Kansas's scenic Flint Hills near the tiny community of Cassoday. Though beautiful, the mostly treeless tall-grass prairie offers little in the way of shelter from wind.

Along with wind and warm temps, Coleen battled a knot in her left quad that "went beyond pain into something else" by the last stages of the race, and caused widespread bruising. Although she fought through it, a medical exam later in the week revealed Colleen had torn muscles, and she was ordered not run for seven days.

Nick survived the race in good condition, and was back to running trails by Wednesday.

PHOTO: (L to R) Trail Nerds and ultra runners Debbie Webster, Coleen Voeks, Christy Craig, Nick Lang. photo courtesy of  Coleen Voeks

# # #

Craig goes ultra

Sept. 29, 2008 -- Lawrence marathoner and mountaineer Christy Craig "went ultra," Saturday, with an 8:51:59 finish at the Flatrock 50K, Independence, Kan., one of the Midwest's toughest courses.

Temps in the mid-80s combined with Flatrock's well-known rocky, rooty trails, and scrambles up and down stone bluffs to challenge even the fastest runners in the race's 14th edition. Craig completed the course running with fellow ultrarunner Coleen Voeks.

Both women are members of the elite Mudbabes corps of the Kansas City Trail Nerds. In addition to battling the course's many obstacles, Craig also contended with a damaged right knee. She finds out Wednesday when she'll be scheduled for an outpatient surgery to fix the problem. Her doctor believes she tore something running on slippery trails.

Craig had been running in pain for several months. Her doctor told her if the pain wasn't gone by the end of September, the next step was surgery.

Pain or no pain, surgery or no surgery, Craig said she wasn't going to put off becoming an ultrarunner any longer.

"I'm ready to do more," she said, though exactly when she'll be running again after surgery isn't clear. Having got a taste of ultras, however, Craig now has her sights set on on the 2009 Pacific Crest Trail 50-miler at Mt. Hood, Oregon in July.

PHOTO: Christy Craig (L) and Coleen Voeks grin as they display their finisher's awards after completing the grueling Flatrock 50K in Independence, Kan.

# # #

Great weather predicted for Labor Day weekend 'Run on the Sly' 50k

Aug. 24, 2008 -- Sunny skies and cool starting line temperatures promise to help make the upcoming 'Run on the Sly' 50k in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada a terrific way to begin the 3-day Labor Day Weekend.

The race, in its 14th year, takes its name from its starting point in Sly Park near Placerville, and Pollock Pines, Calif. Weather.com's forecast for the race has highs about 10 degrees cooler than last year's 97 degrees. Ten percent humidity is also forecast, along with lows of 60 degrees.

Nearly 80 percent of the challenging, hilly road and trail course is shaded by towering Ponderosa Pines, which moderates temperatures further. Aid stations feature Gatorade, S! Caps, water and both sweet and salty delights, according to Race Director Ellen Crouse.

The course elevation is between 3700 and 4000 feet, so no acclimation is needed, she said. Another nice feature is something the course doesn't have -- no poison ivy or poison oak. The start is slated for 7 a.m., with check-in and race-day registration beginning at 6 a.m.

A buffet and music following the race has drawn rave reviews -- ". . .the finish line buffet is second-to-none," says ultrarunner Kathy Welch, Auburn, Calif. "Ellen goes out of her way to make this one of the best little races in Northern California."

The race is a fund raiser for Eldorado County Search and Rescue. Although the 50-miler offered in past years isn't on for 2008, the race does feature a 20-miler and an 8-miler.

Visit the Run on the Sly website for more info.

# # #

'Horrendous' Leadville conditions, hypothermia, ice Grand Slam attempt

Aug. 17, 2008 -- "The second-worst conditions in the race's history" at the Leadville Trail 100 put an end to Grand Slam contender Willie Lambert's try for the famed Eagle Trophy, early Sunday morning, high atop Sugarloaf Pass.

"Lightning, sleet, snow, temperatures in the 30s, hypothermia -- conditions were horrendous," said Bad Ben Holmes, Kansas City Trail Nerds, who was out to pace and crew. "They were the second-worst conditions in the race's history," he said.

Willie, Topeka, Kan., who last month completed the Vermont 100, left Fish Hatchery at 76.5 miles into the race about 2:47 a.m. He made it up the grueling climb to Sugarloaf Pass, but became hypothermic, according to race finisher Paul Schoenlaub, speaking by phone to local Missouri runner Dave Wakefield. A search party retrieved Willie from the mountain and "he's O.K. and in good care now," Dave said.

Willie is an experienced ultrarunner. He previously completed the Leadville Trail 100 course in under 30 hours in 2005. He and his spouse Karen are the proprietors of the Great Plains Running Company in Topeka, Kan., which caters to ultra and trail runners, as well as road runners.

Dave also spoke by phone with Leadville entrant Ryne Melcher, Vancouver, B.C., who missed the cutoff at Winfield by 30 minutes. Dave said Ryne echoed Bad Ben's assessment of the weather.

# # #

Lambert knocks off Vermont, one down for Slam

July 21, 2008 -- Kansas Ultrarunners Society member Willie Lambert, Topeka, arrived home today after beating the Vermont 100's 30-hour cutoff in 26 hours, 23 minutes and 42.4 seconds, Saturday and Sunday.

It was Willie's first race in his quest for completion of the Grand Slam of Ultra Running. Normally, California's Western States 100 miler, in June, is the first of the Slam's 4 hundred-mile races in four months. This year, Western States was canceled because of severe forest fires in the area. Slam officials modified the schedule, adding the Arkansas Traveler 100 Mile Endurance Run in October to make up for the canceled California competition.

Willie said he battled heat -- in the 90s for much of the race -- high humidity and nausea to get his Vermont 100 finisher's belt buckle.

"I ran the last 16 miles with nothing but ginger ale in my water bottle," he said. "It was the only thing that would stay down."

The hilliness of the course was also more than expected, Willie said.

"I knew the elevation change was 15,000 feet," he said. "But I have never seen so many hills. Every time you turn a corner, you're going up again. My quads are trashed, but I have four weeks until Leadville to recover."

The Leadville Trail 100, third weekend in August, is Willie's next stop on the road to the Eagle Trophy and membership in the elite group of ultra running's Grand Slammers. He's entered Leadville four times and buckled once.

The plan this year is to go out a little slower than he has in past races.

"I'm just going to try to enjoy the run, focus on the positive, and not put so much pressure on myself," Willie said.

After Leadville, Willie is scheduled for the Wasatch Trail 100 in Layton, Utah, then the Arkansas Traveler 100 in Ouachita National Forest Arkansas.

Willie and spouse Karen are the proprietors of the Great Plains Running Company in Topeka. The GPRC caters to trail, ultra and road runners. The couple also puts on the Rock Creek Trail Series in Spring and Fall at nearby Perry Lake. The series culminates with a 25 and 50K trail run the last weekend in October.

PHOTO: Talk to the hand -- Willie at the Free State 100K Trail Run in Lawrence, Kan., April 26, 2008

# # #

Lunar Trek Run to feature 31 & 40 mile moonlight meanders

July 14, 2008 -- The Lunar Trek, the Sunflower State's newest ultra, is set for a Friday, July 18 start at 11 p.m., in Scandia, Kansas.

The event is a benefit for the Pike Valley High School Boys and Girls Cross Country Teams. In addition to the ultras, runners can sign up for runs of 10K, and 10 and 20 miles. The courses are all out and back on dirt and gravel roads around Scandia, a small town in North-Central Kansas, near the Kansas-Nebraska state line.

Look for rolling hills, some decent ups and downs and a flat section along the Republican River, according to Lunar Trek Run -- the race website. Also, staffed aid stations every five miles. Get a preview of the course at the UltraStory.com Photos page courtesy of Dr. John Neal, RD. Race day (or night) sign up is available.

Ultra running claims another triathelete

July 6, 2008 -- Triathelete and marathoner Adam Taylor met his match at the Psummer Psycho 50K July 5 at Wyandotte County Lake Park -- and it was perfect.

"I usually just run marathons and triathalons," said the 25-year-old who clocked in at a minute under nine hours on the hilly, grassy, rocky, rooty, muddy, foresty, gravelly course which also included a few short stretches of pavement. "It will not be the last though, because I had a blast.

"What other ultras are coming up?" he asked. "I try to run in every race I can. I have three triathalons coming up in the next 3 weeks, so I will do anything after that!"

'Bighorn boys' come home in triumph

Kansas ultrarunners Kyle Amos and Tony Clark and Missourian Pat Perry have returned home from Sheridan, Wyoming, each with a with Bighorn Trail 100 Mile Endurance Run finish to his credit.

The race, held June 20-21, is a scenic but grueling out and back course through the mountains and canyons of Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming.

Kyle Amos, of Olathe, Kan., finished in 23:27:53, in 10th place. Tony Clark, Wichita, Kan., clocked a 27:35:24 finish, and Pat Perry, Kansas City, Mo., beat the 34-hour cutoff by nearly six hours, crossing the finish in 28:04:57.

"Kyle Amos just stepped up about 10 notches on the stud ladder with his sub- 24 this weekend," Tony said. "Make no mistake, this event was not forgiving at any point. I have run entire 50s and 100s with Kyle and could not have kept up with him on my best day the way he ran Friday and Saturday."

Kyle, of the Kansas City Trail Nerds, was one of only 12 to finish under 24 hours. Only 100 out of 146 entrants finished this year's 100-mile race.

Pat is a member of the Kansas Ultrarunners Society, and Tony is claimed by both Trail Nerds and KUS.

PHOTO: Big Horn Boys -- (L to R) Tony Clark, Pat Perry, Kyle Amos. Photo courtesy Pat Perry

Mud Babes turn ultrarunner

They did it!

Trail Nerds Colleen Voek and Sophia Wharton said bye-bye to Marathonville as they ran 35 and 33 miles respectively in an unofficial ultra celebrating Colleen's 35th birthday, June 1. Sophia, a Boston Marathoner, had to bail two miles before the 35-mile finish because she had to work.

Colleen, who had completed her first marathon just 5 weeks before, completed the run in 7:45:44. Her husband, Erik, who is a non-runner, finished the the last 3.5 miles with her.

The run took place on the rocky, rooty, muddy, but not too hilly North Shore trails of Clinton Lake, Lawrence, Kan.

"I was feeling quite a bit cocky after the marathon and this run definitely cured me of that," Colleen commented after the run. She added that she "can't wait to do a 'real' ultra," and is signed up for the Psummer Psycho 50k July 5, at nearby Wyandotte County Lake.

"Sophia and her cheerful attitude was my saving grace," Colleen said. "I hit a low point at about 27 miles and she kept me going." About half-a-dozen Trail Nerds accompanied the pair for distances of up to 20 miles throughout the run

Mud Babes Colleen and Sophia got their nickname from other members of their running club, the Kansas City Trail Nerds, because of their fondness for muddy trails.

Colleen is the daughter of noted ultrarunner Bob Shaw of Colorado Springs. Bob is a veteran finisher of multiple Western States, as well as the Leadville Trail 100 and other mountain hundreds.

Hungarian ultrarunners announce 48-hour solo and relay track run

A two-day track-trot, hosted by leading Hungarian ultrarunning club UNIX TSE hs been set for a 9 a.m., July 25 start at Petofi Island, Baja, Hungary.

The venue is a 400-meter, 6-lane cinder track. The race features chip timing and change of direction every six hours. Register online at http://unixtse.echt.hu/entryform

Trail Nerds take top 2 at Berryman 50-mile

The official results aren't up yet, but Trail Nerds Tony Clark and Rick Mayo took 1 and 2 respectively at the Berryman 50-mile Trail Run (and marathon) Saturday, May 17, in Mark Twain National Forest in Southeast Missouri.

Tony is a former Marine, and Rick is a part-time personal trainer with a ticket to Western States in June. The Big Horn Trail 100-mile Endurance Run in Dayton, Wyoming is coming up for Tony, June 20, along with the Cactus Rose 100, in Bandera, Texas in November. Tony is also a member of the Kansas Ultrarunners Society.

Both runners chalked up sub-8s.

Mud Babe to do 35

Kansas City Trail Nerd and marathoner Colleen "Cynical Mud Babe" Voek is stepping up to ultras in personal way with a 35-mile run on her 35th birthday, June 1.

The birthday run is planned for the north shore trails at Clinton Lake, Lawrence (home of the mighty Jayhawks), Kansas, though time has not been been set. Colleen says everyone is invited to run part or all with her.

Colleen is the daughter of noted ultrarunner Bob Shaw of Colorado Springs. Bob is a veteran finisher of multiple Western States, as well as the Leadville Trail 100 and other mountain hundreds.