I AM A COLOR RUNNER....

 

by Leah Hoffherr

 

Waking up at 4:00 a.m. was not the easiest thing to do after spending the previous evening at a Cardinals Game, but I was excited to begin our 24 miler.  With lights turned on fuel belt/handheld water bottles filled we were off into the streets of STL. It was my first time to run this city, so I was excited to see the city by foot.  Jeff had mapped out a route that showed off some of STL’s best sites. Starting from The Pear Tree Hotel (downtown on Market St.) we ran through St. Louis University.  I really enjoyed seeing the old hotels converted to dorms for the university.  They were very tall and full of character.  After a few miles we came to the entrance of Forrest Park, which I heard was pretty hilly.  It was pretty dark, so it was difficult to see much of the park, but still enjoyable. It was also comforting see a running group running in the park and it made us think of the BOR.  It brought a smile to my face.

            We reached the furthest point of the park and headed towards the zoo.  One thing I remember was a huge T-Rex statue that caught my eye.  By this time we were approaching mile 9ish and exiting the park.  We passed Barnes Hospital, which was huge.  Somewhere around the hospital we were teased with the smell of donuts.  Then, I looked ahead at the arch and saw the sun beginning to make its appearance.  I turned to Jeff and asked if he planned the arch with the sunrise in the background.  He just smiled.

            By this time, around mile 12, we were running through a different part of the university and approaching the downtown area again.  Color stations were being set up for the color run and it put a little pep in my step.  We caught up with another runner and shared running stories and wished each other a good time at the Color Run.  I looked at my watch and I knew I wanted to get 21 miles in before we lined up for the Color Run.  The Color Run began at 8:00 a.m., but needed to be lined up at the start at 7:45ish.  I wanted to cross the Color Run finish line and be done with our run.

            We approached the arch and ran the trails along the river, which took us by many other runners. We ran down by Laclede’s Landing. Jeff and I headed back uptown towards the groups of people all wearing white tanks and Color Run sweat bands.  I was getting more excited to get to the start line….I was told to relax and slow down.  We had one pit stop at the Hotel to retrieve our bib at the front desk and out we were to head to the start line.  We got in all 21 miles before lining up at the start (and that last mile was running around the same block about 25 times…thought Jeff was gonna kill me if I went around that block again). 

            I thought it was a typo when I read 25,000 runners for the Color Run, but it really was that many people.  We talked to a really neat lady at the start line that had completed many marathons and 2 Iron Man competitions.  She was a real inspiration. We had to wait about 8 minutes before our wave was released.  Those first few steps were pretty rough, must have tightened up waiting.  But Jeff and I were ready to get our COLOR ON!  We got our first color at the 1k and I believe it was red.  There were people with bottles of red powder that shook it on you as your ran by.  I seemed to always get more color then Jeff…he he.   I noticed lots of walkers, joggers and runners participating in this run.  The Color Run is truly for ANYONE.  There is no chip and no clock, which definitely made it appealing to me. Just fun.

 

 

            At the half way point of the Color Run we approached the water stop and I grabbed a cup and threw it over my head and I saw Jeff gulping water down.  The people around us probably thought those 1.5 miles really kicked our butts.  We had 3 more color stations we ran through.  The cool thing about running through the color stations was that it was just a haze of color.  It was sometimes even tricky to see because there was so much color powder in the air.  Our watches dinged 24 miles and we gave each other a high five as we kept running to the finish line.  When I got to the finish line I rubbed the color off my watch to read 24.32 miles. Jeff and I congratulated each other on another long run together. 

 

 

            We were full of color and headed toward the sound of the pop music…One Direction.  This is where we found everyone gathering by the stage, dancing, and throwing color packets on each other.  They had given us a color packet in our goody bag.  At one point they did a BIG color toss.  It was a big color mess; so much that you truly could not see anything but color. 

 

 

            I recommend the The Color Run if you are looking for just a good time.  Our run was a charity for autism, which a good cause always makes me enjoy the event even more.  I also recommend to do this run if you have kids and want to include them in your running.  Kids love it!   I still have color on my shoes and refuse to clean them because it was such a good memory. 

Caution: I blew my nose the following day and it was blue. 

 

 

 

My First (and maybe last) Trail Race

Indian/Celina Challenge 2012

Race Report

by Jeff Alvey

After returning home from being a spectator, and part of the make shift search party at last years race I remember thinking that maybe, just maybe next year I might give it a try. So this year when the Indian/Celina Challenge rolled around I had a decision to make, just coming off an injury that had sidelined me for most of the year made the decision a little more difficult, but things were progressing well and I decided to go for it, besides all my friends were doing it!

My day started off at 3:00 a.m., rise and shine after a full day of moving the day before. Up, dressed and packed it was off to meet up with the group and hit the road to Perry County at 4:30 a.m., we had a beautiful sunrise to watch during the drive and before we knew it we were pulling into the Hoosier National Forest, and I remember thinking, I thought it would take longer to get here or maybe I was hoping it would.

After driving through the expo and picking up our shirts it was yet another drive to parking lot where we caught the bus to the start, but not before gathering for a group picture, which I figured was more of a final head count and last chance to get a current picture to apply to the milk carton if it became necessary.

A short bus ride later it was time to check in and get my race number written on the back of my hand, again I could only think that this was somehow going to be used as some way to later identify the body. Now I had heard horror story's of the start and that every year it rains and the heat can get unbearable in the woods, so as I stood at the start line with goosebumps from the cool air knowing it hadn't rained for days, I could only take full credit in my mind, after all I have had a pretty good race day weather record, I mean there were no heat related deferrals the last four years in April.

So the gun goes off, or some guy yelled "go", and we are off, at least until we hit the woods where I quickly learned my first of many trail lessons for the day, start in the front. We quickly spread out, and by spread out I mean I quickly got passed by everyone, and I settled into a rhythm and began to repeat my mantra for the day in my head, "don't fall, don't fall, don't fall....".

Now I've never been one to rattle off my splits, or be able to break down my miles, or even look at my watch but have always envied those who can, I mean my last marathon I looked at it twice, at the half way point and about 200 yards from the finish, so I'm not going to attempt to start now, especially since looking down at my watch and taking my eyes off the trail for a split second would surely have ended in disaster.

I can tell you this much, the views when I could look where spectacular, the rocks were slippery even dry, you will twist your ankles, the hills on the backside were every bit as hard as promised, you will twist your ankles, and follow the advise I received the night before, when you come to the creek just run through it.

 Now, I have to add that there were a couple of miles in there where I couldn't see anyone in front of me or hear anyone charging up from behind that were some what relaxing and I even joked to several after that I had nature's ipod on, just the sound of the birds chirping, the woodpeckers pecking, the unknown rustling in the bushes and the hope of someone just a little slower than myself close by if whatever was rustling decides to make a break for the trail.

I guess I should really wait until my trail shoes completely dry out and my ankles quit hurting to make the call to ever do another trail race, I mean I did have some fun, I do wear my race shirt with a sense of pride and I do have a history of repeating the same races, so who knows, next June I may be saying "Now where did I put those trail shoes"?

Race Report: Run Under The Stars

Run Under The Stars: 10-Hour Endurance Run
By Jen Metcalf

It's not often that I can't stop talking about a race. I mean, I've ran some great races. The Pig, Air Force, and St. Jude were all great. Illinois and Oz: both great. But RUTS ~ Run Under The Stars, a 10-hour endurance run in Paducah was beyond great. It was exceptional.

I wasn't looking for a 10-hour race around a 1/2 mile horse track that started at 8pm. It seemed to have found me! A close friend was signed up and I needed a Kentucky race (it's a Maniac thing) so I figured why not.

I was expecting the experience to be average and mundane. Running around and around and around for 10 hours. It was anything but average and mundane!

From registration to the Finish Line, the RD, Steve Durbin and his crew, left no stone unturned. Steve also puts on the Land Between the Lakes. This guy is obviously a runner with runners in mind. He knows what he is doing.

As we drive up to this old horse track in the middle of a residential area, I'm thinking to myself, "What have I got myself into?" There was this little tent set up for packet pick-up. Steve was there handing out packets. We got our swag, yes swag (a glow in the dark tech tee, moisture wicking socks, a Hydrapouch, a water bottle labeled with our name and bib #, a hat, AND a drawstring tote bag!), crossed the track to the infield and checked things out. There were some Maniacs there who I had met before at other races so I knew I was at least in for a fun night of conversation, if nothing else.

After returning from dinner (we had no idea how to fuel for a race that starts at 8pm), we got set-up. We, along with others, parked our car right there on the infield, backed up to the edge of the track. There were some folks there with tents and canopies who had clearly taken advantage of the all-day availability and electrical hook-ups. We had brought our own hydration and fuel since we really weren't sure what to expect. Come to find out, this was a buffet with a run and we didn't need to bring anything. I'm pretty sure they had every food group covered! The one thing they didn't do was have tiny paper cups of water sitting out for us to drink. They had a table to sit our own water bottle on. After all, they gave us one, might as well use it!

So soon after set-up, the RD calls everyone over to the starting area near the timing chute. It's a pretty technical area they had set-up with timing equipment and a sound system that played music all night. After a few words and the National Anthem, he just said, "Run!" That was it. We were off, just like that.

After taking off, it was a few minutes later that I started worrying about the running surface. It's made of crushed stone. They hose it down and comb it but it still felt pretty uneven. Within a few laps of a 100+ people running on it, it had smoothed out. There were a few remaining rough spots and you had to be aware of your footing but it wasn't bad.

A fellow Maniac told me that the best thing about running on a 1/2 loop is you pass your car every 5 minutes or so; he also said the worst thing about running a 1/2 loop is you pass your car every 5 minutes or so. But you also pass a fully stocked buffet, I mean aid station and a rest room with running water. That's right! No portapotty! Luxury accommodations, I tell ya!

Other than the bathroom, this is a no frills race. No jets overhead. No Pigs. No Yellow Brick Road. Very low key. But that's part of the allure for most, I think. Only a runner would run this race. The is a race put on by a runner. The RD thought of every detail. He even lit candles along the course once the lights went out around midnight. I don't know if he can take credit for the cat who seemed to have taken up residence at turn two or not but it was a nice touch.

I was skeptical about the whole track thing, worried I'd feel like a hamster but I truly didn't mind it at all. It ended up being a good thing because I was able to easily break down how many laps I needed for X # of miles. Plus, where else can I run along side lead runners who battled it out for 10 straight hours?? It was amazing! They ended just one lap apart @ 65, 64.5 and 64 miles (I think)! I was also able to run with slower friends that otherwise on a traditional course I would never have seen. Every runner there was full of spirit for the run and so encouraging and motivating to everyone out there.

Running in circles for 10 hours with the same people, you can learn a lot about someone! One man who stands out is John Price. John ran solo across the United States from Venice Beach to Virginia Beach. Solo. No support crew. A one man show. Now that's impressive! But everyone out there had a story. Yes, his is amazing but everyone else's is just as amazing. That's what made this run so fascinating: the people.

In case you're wondering, I ended the night at 65 laps, or 32.5 miles. After I reached my goal, I sat down to regroup and determine my next course of action. I took of my shoes and socks to dump rocks out of my shoes. I had a spot on my big toe that I thought was a rock piercing my skin. Nope! Big blister! Actually my first blister ever. Such a badge of honor! As any long distance runner should know, once those shoes and socks come off... well, let's just say BIG mistake! So, for once, I had the perspective of a spectator. I think that was even more fun than running! I got to cheer everyone on as they passed. I got to cheer for blue shorts boy, girl in the cutest running outfit ever, guy who hasn't even broken a sweat, dude with the hat... you get the picture. Those moments of cheering are priceless to me. I'd like to think I helped somebody out there get in just one more lap!

Towards the end of the run, everyone gathered around the timing chute to cheer on those few who kept running up until the final minutes of the race. The sun had come up where it had set just 10 hours before. Everyone there was sleep deprived but the energy that filled the air could have powered a small city! Watching the faces of runners who had been running for 10 hours straight, you see every emotion: joy, pride, shock, fatigue, elation...

I can't fail to mention the awesome awards ceremony that took place right after the race. The leaders got cool little trophies and everyone got a medal with the # of miles they had completed. Another nice touch.

If you truly love the run, I can guarantee you'll love this race. It was an epic journey under the stars of Kentucky. It was my first Ultra and I will definitely do it again!