The Week After

Well, one would think that after such a grand display at Post Oak (back to back races) I would rest my little tootsies, but I could not get myself to do that.

A few of us & the TATUR TOTS ( Tulsa Area Trail Ultra Runners Training on Trails) decided to run at Chandler Park.

After some brief trail instructions by our celebrity runner Ken Childress, we were off.

Heading down the rocky trail, we took a wrong turn right off the bat. Here Charlie demonstrates how to decend so as not to get knocked over by runners behind you.

Heading down the trail, we ran through some tight quarters. Good thing nobody was claustrophobic.

After a while, we came across an old fire pit. We thought this would be a great place for a fireside chat sans the fire. Brian & Ken head the chat.

A little further down the trail, we ran across the home of the Three Bears.

As true trail runners that we are, we had to go in to see if anyone was home.

Lucky for us we scared them off as they stayed back in the brush nearby.

Before heading out, Ken takes a final look back.

Not wanting to over stay our visit, we soon headed back down the trail en route back to start as true TATURS do.

All in all, we got in about 8 miles. Not bad for having run 58 miles the previous weekend.

God Bless You & see you on the trail.

K2

Post Oak Trail Runs - Back to Back

Well, I did my first Back to Back races this past weekend at the Inaugural Post Oak Trail runs.

It was also the 1st fund raising event for Know No Boundaries. Seeing as KNB stresses the fact that we sent our own limits, our own boundaries in life, I just had to push through mine to do the back to back races; trail marathon on Saturday & trail 50K on Sunday.

Day 1 - Trail Marathon

After a needed early start, we headed up the paved road towards the main lodge, circled the parking lot & then headed off onto the trail (or at least that was the idea). The first trail marking was an orange plate with a black arrow but it was off to the left on the grass. Plenty of the front runners missed it & ended up adding a bit of extra mileage to the run. K1 (aka Trail Zombie) & I stopped just before a fence line & caught the fact that we missed a turn. We headed back about a 100 yards or so & then were back on trail.

Lots of new trails so there was a lot of new experiences.

After passing our first aid station at Flatrock, we headed back onto the trails for a double pass loop out & around the Botanical Gardens. Yours truly heads out of the woods coming up on the Botanical Garden aid station.

Volunteers can make or break a race & the volunteers at this inagural race were great. The Botanical Garden workers were friendly & very upbeat. Trying to stay warm can be a chore as there is not much body heat generated when they are not running.

Lots of ponds along the course which made for beautiful reflections.

Although most was on rocky, muddy, grassy trails, there was an out & back portion on gravel roads just to add in a bit of variety.

The road headed off towards W 41st Street N . According to Tom, this was about a mile from his homestead; he could have run home after the marathon.

At some point on the course, we topped Holmes Peak; the highest point in NW Oklahoma. During our 1st training run, it was really foggy but God saw to it that we had a sunny day with a beautiful view from the top.

After heading down Holmes Peak, once again headed back into the woods. Loads of tall grass trails

and mud

From here, we headed back over to the start/finish by the Post Oak Pole Barn & then back out, up & over Hamburger Hill.

Oh did I mention, there were PLENTY of water crossings. A fellow runner stopped counting at 48! Try as I might, I was not able to keep my little tootsies dry the whole race. Luckily they did not get soaked until the last 5 miles or so.

After a full day, we ended up back at the Post Oak Pole Barn for the last time.

A beautiful custom finisher's medal was waiting, two brewskies & a great BBQ Beef sandwich.

Day 2 - Post Oak Trail 50K

The start of the trail marathon was not much different except that we headed onto the trails earlier. Again, it was a beautiful crisp morning. I even had a chance to see a bit of the local wildlife early on in the 50K.

The 50K was a double loop, one loop forward & one loop run in reverse. Here is where much of the confusion happened as some of the trail markings were a bit confusing when seen from a different point of view. Some were obviously easy, while others were not.

I have to say that I came out unscathed; only one tiny blister & a slight pain in my left knee. Now, three days later, I am ready to run again.

Looks like the Six Hour Snake Run put on by the TATURS & my good friend Ken Childress (aka K1) is on the near horizon later this month.

God Bless You & Happy Trails.
K2

Post Oak Double

Well it is a few days after my first back to back races; Post Oak Trail Runs.

A Trail Marathon on Saturday & Trail 50K on Sunday. We were off for an early start (I felt I needed it) as we headed up the paved road up towards the main lodge, around the parking lot & then off onto the trails.

First Wheelchair Recipient

Well, Know No Boundaries has its first wheelchair recipient. 12 year old David in Ghana walks to school with crutches each day. Because of this, he gets to school late & misses a lot. A wheelchair would help David get to school on time.


Know No Boundaries will be running in the Post Oak Trail runs; Trail Marathon on Saturday February 27th & the Trail 50 km on Sunday February 28th.

Come out & run or just come up support us.

No Weather Boundaries Here

Okay, you have all heard the saying that "if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it is probably a duck" however if it wet & out in the rain, IT IS DEFINITELY A DUCK.

Ahh, but here is where you are wrong. Many of us do not have weather as a boundary as to whether or not to run (remember when we ran in 10 F Arctic weather a few weeks back?) There were plenty of us who totally enjoyed the drizzle. Lisa, Sandra & Bobby do not appear to be melting do they?

I mean, not everybody melts when they get wet. Off we ran out into the cold, dark wetness. We quickly spread out as we headed north down the River Trails & then across the 11th Street Bridge over to the west side of the Arkansas River.

Over on the west side by the bathrooms, Jason & his group stop for a little internal hydration (there was plenty of outside hydration at this point).

From here, some of us continued south to the train tracks at the base of Turkey Mountain, turned around & headed back across the Pedestrian Bridge & back to Veteran's Park. Just past the PSO Plant, my camera pooped out. Surely it was not the drizzle that could be the problem, could it?

Let's see if it dries out in the next few days.

See ya next time for more of pushing this weather boundary. Ice & snow are predicted for Thursday & Friday.

God Bless;

Ken

How Much are You Committed?

Every second, someone in the world is committing to something. For followers of my blog, many are committed to breaking out of their self set, self limiting boundaries (oh & to endurance running also). Our last weekend's run was out at Post Oak Lodge on the same trails that will be run for the inagural Post Oak Trail Marathon & 50km in February.

The first hint that it was going to be interesting should have been the fact that 1) we had light rain (hmm, this is a TRAIL run so it is likely to be slightly muddy) & 2) that it was foggy. I just love fog as it always reminds me of Old London, Jack the Ripper & all that stuff.

Brian & team were nice enough to give us a few tips & remind us to sign the waiver before heading out on the trails. A waiver for a trail run? Is there "something out there in "The Fog" that we should know about?

We headed off just as the sun was out. The first thing that should have turned us back was the fact that my feet were soaked within the first 100 yards. But since "boundaries" are not necessarily to keep things in or out, but things that indicate just how much we want something, just how bad is our determination & committment. With this in mind, onward we marched (or should I say slogged). Jonny Spriggs (Post Oak Lodge Run race director) & Ed stopped shortly after heading off to be suer to check for any stragglers. It would be aweful to loose a runner here before the inagural race.

Although the trails are still under construction, Johnny & team did a great job.

Drizzle, rain & fog did not disappoint us. We had pkenty of wet leaves, mud, mud & more mud.

Here Johnny shows Ed how to jump the wet spots without landing in the water.

After slipping & sliding, we crested Hamburger Hill. Too bad past visitors charred the ground.

Even with all of our slipping & sliding, we stll have slogged on to know no boundaries. Besides, we were having loads of fun. It is not every day that grown adults get to play in the mud.

We headed back down from Hamburger Hill & were soon back out on the trails weaving around trees & rocks & leaping across what small creeks were in our way.

It was not long before we stumbled across the ancient ruins of our trail running ancestors.

After a short prayer on trail, we head off & made our approach on Holmes Peak. Holes Peak is the highest point in North East Oklahoma. Once at the top, we were blessed with a beautiful view.

After heading back down, we made it to more level terrain however the mud was still there as Johnny once again show us.

Once we finished up, a few of us wanted to head back out to check some other of the Post Oak Lodge trails. We took one quick break for a group photo.

From here, we finally headed back to the parking lot where I could take stock of myself after one heck of a fun mud party.

Now that we have had fun in the mud & realized that a little rain, a little mud & a bit of cold weather is only a boundary if we so choose. With this said, Know No Boundaries.

Our next run is Saturday & they say 70% chance of rain. Let's see how we can break through this boundary as well.

God Bless;

Ken

Arctic Run - Pushing the Temperature Boundary

There are many boundaries that we run across; some are set by us & some are set by others. Still it is up to us to determine if we want to allow that "boundary" to be permanent or something to overcome. Such was the case this weekend when the weather was somewhat "chilly".I have go to say that it is an odd feeling when the mileage that we are running is more than the actual outside temperature. With the wind chill, it must have been at least 8-9 degrees (we ran 10). It was a true test of "breaking boundaries" for all of us who were out & committed to run despite the weather. I mean come on, we could all have stayed home cuddled up in our Snuggies.

Gathered around by Veteran's Park, we were all ready to go as Lisa held one of the signs (Slower than Oprah" to gather her group.

Soon we were off & body temps seemed to come up. It was snowing as we marched off which was somewhat surreal (I always love to run when it is snowing.)

Up 21st Street to catch the trail & then head north. I always have that funny feeling when we head up towards Peoria & right ahead is Moore's Funeral Home. Shortly after this once we cross Admiral (I think), we run along a cemetery. If this is not an incentive to keep moving, I do not know what is.

Shortly thereafter, we had out first water stop (yes, it was still water & not ice).


TZ (aka Ken Childress), Lisa, Jason & friends get a quick drink before heading off again.

We ran up to 3rd Street & then wound our way through some construction downtown. I wonder why we would get such odd looks from the construction workers there. You would think that we were doing something wrong! I mean, doesn't everybody run Saturday mornings when it is below freezing?

After navigating through the trail-like terrain, we head off to the "Center of the Universe". Quite an odd place & very, very surreal when you are standing there at the actual "center".

As I neared to top, I heard Tom say "Hey, that looks like Ken Saveth" (That's me). Until I get up to the top, I had no idea what he was talking about. Once there, I really had to take a second look. If I had the same glasses & had, it would look a lot like me.

Lisa mentioned on Facebook that this is "Panama Jack" but I could not find a reference anywhere. They say that everyone has a twin somewhere!

Heading back through downtown a lone unicyclist was out & offered a warm hello. Too bad I couldn't get my gloves off fast enough to snap a photo. Back down towards Veteran's Park, we made a short out & back along the river to get in the full 10 miles. Getting thirsty on the way back by the Pedestrian Bridge, I pulled out my water bottle for a drink & to my dismay (but no surprise), it was frozen solid! Hmmm, it this a sign that it is a bit chilly out?

Back at the start, I was able to grab a drink (although 2 out of the 3 water coolers were also frozen). Brian offered a cold beer from what was left over from the "Run Into the New Year 5km". One of us grabbed a non-frozen one & as soon as it was opened, it froze before we cold even get it to their lips. We could actually watch it as it froze.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_H5ZIoZSBo

Oh well, better opt for something warm like a nice cup of hot chocolate.

Until next time friends, keep pushing those boundaries.

One last note, I had lunch with someone who really knows first hand about knowing no boundaries & living outside the box. Todd Huston is a local man who lives & breathes through breaking boundaries & not being "boxed in" by society' mold of how we are to live our lives. I would encourage you to check out his site to see what an amazing person Todd is & to learn about his No Box World.

God Bless You;
Ken