2016 Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd is in the Books

The running of the 2016 Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd is now in the history books. What a a stellar event. It is a weekend long party with your Ultra Running family. Ken Childress (aka TrailZombie).

Choices for distances were 135 miles, 100 miles, 50k, 25k & a 10 miler (I think). In the past, the weather is generally typical, cool October weather however THIS WEEKEND, Mother Nature brought in unseasonably warm weather! It might have been close to 90 at one point. Like all ultras, the sought after prize, is a beautiful belt buckle!

                  

In addition to the challenges already there from the race distances, dehydration & over heating brought on additional needs on which all off the runners needed to be aware of.

Indeed, the race was not without casualties. Several of the runners dropped due to dehydration & heat exhaustion. Some even worried TZ & his wife; Dana; who HAPPENS to be a nurse.

As the OLD Combs bridge has been demolished, the race course needed to be changed a bit. Starting off at the same place (Eagle Bluff), the course headed out onto Hwy 10, but shortly turned back in to cross the new bridge & eventually meet up with the original course. The 135 runners did a slightly different out & back making their way up & through JT Nickel Family Nature & Wildlife Preserve (only once) & then back, followed by 4 loops. The 100 & 50 mile runners, did not do the old Out & Back, but made their loops inclusive of a portion of the Preserve route.

Back at the Start/Finish, runners went back out & followed the original route. First stop - Mad Dog, ran by none other than Kevin Remaster, his wife Ashley, their children & of course, the infamous Pumpkin, the Wonder Dog!

Where the old Out n’ Back aid station was, Them Idiots took over & made a great run at Mad Dog for one of the best aid stations (although Mad Dog still has the lead for now).

From here, runners make their way to Savanah Corner where John Nobles & his gang provided stellar service to all of the runners. Then it was off to East of Eden. At this point, runners had an option of doing the Great Gourd Challenge (practically a climb STRAIGHT UP) for approximately 1/4 mile. Susan Westmoreland was waiting at the top to great runners with a smile & a sweet Sweaty Band from Mile Junkie. Before making their way to their next rest haven, runners (except those running the 135 miler) made a bit of an Out & Back loop into the JT Kickel Preserve from the other side, before continuing along the usual route.

All along the course, it seemed to be one big party as you can see here by Chrissy Whitten’s, Christine Fischer’s & Friends’ expressions.

After Hard Up Ahead, runners had a bit of reprieve from the gravel roads & had about 3 miles of pavement (whew!) before making their way to Bathtub Rocks. Here, Ed Snow & Company served up great grub & plenty of liquids to stay hydrated. (Well at least SOME hydrated enough!)








Despite being busy running the race, TZ had a few minutes to get some work done in his “office”.

By the time runners got to Last Gasp, there was about 3.1 miles before reaching the Start/Finish. It is here though, that the FIRST PHH Bandit Aid Station was - - Meego’s Cantina; complete with blender & almost a full bar! Can you say Watermelon Margherita?




One GREAT MOMENT was Russell Bennet winning the Men’s 100 mile race! This was Russell’s 3rd consecutive 100 miler in the same number of weekends.





And if this wasn’t enough excitement, Kathy Hoover (of Runner’s World Tulsa)& Arnold Begay completed (4) consecutive 100 milers in the same number of weekends.

All three of them inspire me (& plenty of others) beyond measure!


And lest I forget, I want to thank Sprouts Farmers Market (in Owasso, OK) & Natural Grocers (in Tulsa) for donating several cases of delicious fruit for the runners. Please be sure to shop there as they support us & what we do.

Until next time - - - 


God Bless;
K

2016 QT Urban Adventure - Race Report

Well friends, the 2016 QT Urban Adventure 25-50-75-100 Mile race is in the history books. Although it was not near as hot as it was for the inaugural race last year, it was still plenty toasty for during the day (in the 90’s!). 

The race course was a 25 mile loop that took the runners through much of Tulsa using local Quik Trips as the “aid stations. Each runner received a QT card pre-loaded with money to spend for their race “aid” during the race. Starting at Runner’s World Tulsa, runners made their way down to 15th & Denver for their first Quik Trip stop. They then made their way north on Denver, past the BOK Center, around One Oak Stadium & the OSU Tulsa campus. From there, runners found their way to Elgin & went south, east on 6th & then north on Peoria. Going east on 11th, took them to their 2nd Quik Trip stop at 11th & Utica. Arnold Begay took a bit of time to refuel.

From there, the course continued East on 11th Street until Harvard when runners headed south. A left on 15th followed by a right on Yale & another right on 21st took runners around the Tulsa Fairgrounds & by the famous Golden Driller.

Looks like Ken TZ Childress was really enjoying himself as he runs along Yale heading South before turning West on 21st Street & then down to Harvard to their next QT stop. The race then turned South on Harvard to 41st Street, then East on 41st to Yale. Runners then turned right & went South done Yale. At approximately 47th & Yale, their next “watering hole” was there before they took 51st Street along LaFortune Park. Their next aid station was the QT at 61st & Sheridan. Once fed & hydrated, runners went South on Sheridan to 61st, West on 61st to Yale & then back to 51st Street.

From here, all of the aid stations are done as they made their way down 51st Street to Lewis, crossing over the highway & then taking the service road West. Just before Peoria, runners meandered a bit through the neighborhood before popping back out on Peoria & then to Runner’s World.

After a bit of food & hydration (& just maybe a bit of rest for their tootsies, runners did it again (& again & again & possibly again).

Here JBob is heading back out for another loop. He ran plenty of it with the infamous Kathy Hover (of Runner’s World Tulsa) but here Mike Rives jumped in with them both for a bit of pacing. 


When it was all said & done, Matthew Riley walked away with the 100 mile win.








Oh and lest I forget, Deanna Jensen made plenty of Out of This World cupcakes so if you know her, I suggest that you place your orders! You WILL NOT be sorry!







With all of this said, it was a great race.

Until next time - - - - 


God Bless;
K