A little over a week ago, the Piney Woods Trail Run took place at the Lake Houston Wilderness park, located 30 minutes north of downtown Houston, Texas. The trail event had both a 10 mile and 5 km race that took runners along a fairly flat single-track trail. Recent rainfall meant it was going to be a run filled with water and mud for the 200+ runners. Time to get dirty!

The Results

10 mile

The female race had Analise Thompson and Sabra Harvey separated by only 30 seconds at the end of 10 miles with Thompson winning with a time of 1:13:54 and second overall.

Top 3 female:

1. Analise Thompson – 1:13:54 (2nd overall)
2. Sabra Harvey – 1:14:26 (4th overall)
3. Alison Faust – 1:20:13

Andrew Thompson controlled the male race and splashed his way to a 1:10:32 win. Pablo Motta out strided Chris Aniszcyk by eight seconds to hold onto second place.

Top 3 male:

1. Andrew Thompson – 1:10:32
2. Pablo Motta – 1:14:21
3. Chris Aniszcyk – 1:14:29

Full 10 mile results.

5 km

Carlos Arias flew through the 5 km course with a sub-20 male winning time of 19:54.

Top 3 male:

1. Carlos Arias – 19:54
2. Josh Rubin – 23:10
3. Mat Castaneda – 23:41

Jordan Warmath won the female race with a sub-30 time of 28:30.

Top 3 female:

1. Jordan Warmath – 28:30
2. Katie Elderle – 32:00
3. Kimberly Nurenberg – 34:34

Full 5 km results.

Race Reports

• 10 mile: “This morning’s race was by far the best running experience I’ve ever had.” – Bill @ Moderately Hellacious Slacker (Also check out his video.)
• 10 mile: “While the resistance of the mud made running more challenging, it is also what makes this kind of adventure so much fun!  Slipping, sliding, swimming.  A total trail running blast!” – K @ Running Towards Him

If you have a race report you would like to share, please add it to the comment link below.

Be active – Feel the buzz!

David – EnduranceBuzz.com

No Comments »

I tried…adapted…tried again, but didn’t get it done.

Full Rocky Raccoon 100 report coming soon.

Be active – Feel the buzz!

David – EnduranceBuzz.com

3 Comments »

The table is set and if my tummy remains happy, I will be heading back to this culinary feast for up to 30 hours at the Rocky Raccoon 100.

What is being served you may ask?

• Melon HEED in 100 calorie baggies – The appetizer, fruits, and veggies.
• Organic Food Bars (Protein version) – The meat and potatoes.
• Endurolytes – A dash of seasoning.

Time to eat and run!

Have a great weekend everyone.

Be active – Feel the buzz!

David – EnduranceBuzz.com

6 Comments »

My mind, body, and spirit is preparing for something big, I can feel it. My mind is mentally going into conserve mode for my first 100 mile trail run this weekend at Rocky Raccoon. Instead of fighting it, I will accept what is.

Who is this Rocky Raccoon?

Here are a couple videos capturing personal experiences of this 100 mile trail running journey.

This first video contains a photo montage from throughout the day and night. You will also see a bit of finish video of the 2008 trail run.

(If you can’t see the video, click here.)

This second video is by Ryan V. from Distorted Veracity and his 2009 epic adventure at Rocky Raccoon 100. Ryan had plans to re-visit the Rocky challenge this year but a crazy ‘Attack of the Manhole Cover‘ (I can’t make this up) had other plans. Like all strong endurance athletes, it didn’t take long for Ryan to adapt and move on.

(If you can’t see the video, click here.)

Ryan’s video is also a strong reminder to embrace the journey because there are no guarantees in this sport. Of course, this is one reason why many of us do them.

Be active – Feel the buzz!

David – EnduranceBuzz.com

2 Comments »

With nearly 700 trail runners heading down to Huntsville State Park for the Rocky Raccoon 100 mile and 50 mile trail run this weekend, it will be a day where runners of all abilities are trying their best to do one thing – get to the finish line.

Who are some of these people? I thought it might be fun to take a look.

The Pointy-End

One hundred mile trail running machine, Karl Meltzer, provided the following 100 mile names that will likely be at the front end of the 30 hour trail running train. I decided to try and provide a bit more insight and include some recent race results and any other things that I thought might be interesting for the particular speedy trail runner.

Let’s take a look!

The Female Race:

• Jamie Donaldson (CO)
  • Tough on both the road and trail ultra scene. It seems, the longer, the better.
  • Recent Accomplishments (2009):
    • Rocky Raccoon 100 – female winner, 3rd overall
    • 24 World Championships – 4th female, 1st American, 20th overall
    • Badwater 135 – 1st female, 5th overall
    • Leadville Trail 100 – 2nd female
    • Runner-up in Ultrarunner’s Female Runner of the Year.
  • Blog: Run Like a Girl
  • Video from her 2008 Badwater female win:

• Connie Gardner (OH)
  • Many wins since 2000 from 50 km distance up to 24 Hour National Champion.
  • Recent Accomplishments:
    • 2006 Rocky Raccoon 100 – female winner
    • 2008 Mohican Trail 100 – female winner
    • 2008 JFK 50 mile Ultramarathon – female winner
    • 2008 Burning River 100 – female winner
• Anita Ortiz (CO)
  • Overall tough mountain runner. Experienced trail runner but new to the 100 km and 100 mile distance. Her huge accomplishment from 2009:
    • Western States 100 – female winner (First 100 mile race ever!)
  • Good Runner’s World Article: Mother of Four, High Level Racing, How she does it.
  • Video capturing her Western States win and post-race interview.

• Jenny Chow (NJ)
  • Recent Accomplishments (2009):
    • Trail Runner Trophy Series – 3rd female
    • Rocky Raccoon 100 – 3rd female
    • Mohican Trail 100 – 1st female
    • Kettle Moraine 100 – 1st female
    • Oil Creek 100 – 1st female

Do you know of any other female athletes that could be a front runner?

The Male Race:

• Greg Crowther (WA)
  • Recent Accomplishments (2009):
    • JFK 50 – 1st male
    • Chuckanut 50 km – 2nd male
    • White River 50 – 3rd male
  • 2007 interview by Scott Dunlap @ A Trail Runner’s Blog
  • Blog: My Track Record
• Nick Coury (AZ)
  • Tough to find much on Nick but I did find a 28th overall finish at the Leadville 100 in 2009.
• Jamil Coury (AZ)
  • Recent Accomplishments (2009):
    • Zane Grey 50 mile – 1st male
    • Hardrock 100 –  15th overall, youngest finisher
    • Here is a very short video of Jamil at a Hardrock aid-station.

    (If you can’t see the video, click here.)

• Dink Taylor (AL)
  • Recent Accomplishments (2009):
    • Mount Cheaha 50 km – male winner
    • Mountain Masochist 50 mile – 10th overall
• Scott Eppelman (TX)
  • Recent Accomplishments:
    • 2010 Bandera 100 km – 14th overall
    • 2009 GhostTown 38.5 – 6th overall
    • 2009 Hardrock 100 – 21st overall
    • 2009 Rockledge Rumble 50 km – 1st overall
• Paul Hopwood (HI)
  • Recent Accomplishments:
    • 2010 HURT 100 – 5th overall
    • 2009 HURT 100 – 3rd overall
• Jonathan Allen (UT)
  • Recent Accomplishments:
    • 2009 Logan Peak Trail Run – male winner
    • 2008 Logan Peak Trail Run – male winner
• Jimmy Dean Freeman (CA)
  • Recent Accomplishments (2009):
    • Oil Creek 100 – 4th overall
    • Bulldog 50 km – 5th overall
    • Western States 100 – 74th overall
  • website: Coyote Running

Here are a couple others that I think could also easily be in the mix:

• Luis Guerrero (Mexico)
  • Recent Accomplishments (2009):
    • Rocky Raccoon 100 – 4th overall
    • Leadville 100 – 12th overall
  • blog: Luis Guerrero
• Ryan Loehding (TX)
  • Recent Accomplishments:
    • 2009 Cactus Rose 100 – 2nd overall
    • 2008 Rocky Raccoon 100 – 4th overall

Any other names you are aware of that may be running at the front?

The Rest of Us

While the action will be as fast-and-furious as it can be at the pointy-end of a 100 mile journey, the rest of us will be working our plan to finish either the 100 mile or 50 mile race before the time cutoff (30 hours and 29 hours respectively).

Here are a few ultra bloggers trying to get-it-done:

• Derek @ Journey Through the Ultra World – First 100 mile.
• Bill @ Moderately Hellacious Slacker – First 50 mile.
• Jason @ “Peeswank Rouge’s” Running blog – First 50 mile.

Who else am I missing?

Good luck to all the athletes willing and able to lace them up for 6 to 30 hours of Texas trail running fun.

Be active – Feel the buzz!

David – EnduranceBuzz.com

6 Comments »

If you live in Oklahoma and are looking for other trail running or ultrarunning junkies, there are two local thriving clubs. (If there are more, please let me know.)

• TATURS (Tulsa Area Trail & Ultra Runners)
• Oklahoma Trail Runners Association

TATURS

TATURS appears to be a very active running club based in the Tulsa area.

The club is seeing lots of growth as nearly 40 runners showed up for a recent training run. Gotta love that!

The club also puts on nearly a race a month throughout the year with formats ranging from trail running, time-based events, guess your time runs, mud runs, and an adventure race.

One of their crazy events to welcome in the new year is the Polar Bear Plunge. Be sure to check out the slideshow highlighting the rather chilling adventure run.

A few other neat club features:

• Pics and profiles of club members.
• Monthly newsletter
• Weekly club run.
• Facebook Page

website: TATURS

Oklahoma Trail Runners Association

The OTRA is an Oklahoma City based trail running club.

The OTRA Facebook page explains the club as:

We are a dedicated but laid back,Oklahoma City based group interested in bringing trail running activities to new and seasoned trail runners alike!

The club organizes a training on the 3rd Saturday of each month and it appears to rotate between a few different trails.

A few other neat club features:

• Club member profiles
• Message board / group discussion list
• Facebook page

website: OTRA

If you live in The Sooner State and like the dirt, go check out the TATURS and OTRA clubs.

Be active – Feel the buzz!

David – EnduranceBuzz.com

(Photo: Turkey Mountain -Tulsa, Oklahoma – Courtesy of OakleyOriginals)

2 Comments »

The active lifestyle.

Hard not to love it, once you get a taste.

(If you can’t see the video, click here.)

Have a great weekend.

Be active – Feel the buzz!

David – EnduranceBuzz.com

4 Comments »