Over 300 runners managed wet conditions at McAllister Park in San Antonio, Texas, for the Prickly Pear Trail Run. The longer you raced, the better conditions were for the tribe as all the tread packed down the trail.

Photo: Courtesy runintexas.com

On main 10-ish mile loop. Run in once or three times for a 10 mile or 50 km adventure.

Results

Photo: Courtesy runintexas.com

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Not one, but two days full of running on the grounds of the Post Oak Lodge in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Post Oak Lodge Challenge offered 50km, 25km, and 10km trail adventures on Saturday with the more roadie style runs on Sunday. A crisp 25F and 10-20 mph winds form the North welcomed runners at the trail adventure start line before warming up to near 50F for the day.  A trail system known to surprise a few runners with its mix of challenging hills and most everything else a trail in the woods can throw at you in that area of the state.

Photo: Copyright Watt Design Photography / wattdesignphotography.com

Trail Run Results

Photo: Copyright Watt Design Photography / wattdesignphotography.com

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David: Enjoy as race director Mary Ann Miller shares her race recap from the laid-back and beautiful “A-OK” Trail Run near Atoka, Oklahoma.

Photo: Courtesy Russell Bennett

This low-key, relatively easy trail race is held on my Oklahoma mountain property. Of necessity it is a small race (75 runners limit) since I bring all the food & supplies from my home in Plano, Texas. But this inexpensive race ($25) offers camping (with a real outhouse), bonfire, pre-race pasta, homemade cookies, & post-race chili. Finishers receive cedar plaques made from a tree cut on the property & jars of honey or Amish jam. Male & female & Seniors (50+) are awarded bottles of local wine & free entry into next year’s race if held. Overall winners of both races also received free TrailRunner subscriptions. This event is family friendly, with stuffed animals as “freebies,” reminiscent of SunMart.

Relaxing in the beautiful pines at the start/finish. (Photo: Courtesy Russell Bennett)

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David: I would like to welcome Matthew Crownover, our newest contributor on Endurance Buzz! Matt can be seen pushing the pace at the front of the race or enjoying a good conversation with the tribe towards the back. Matt has a wide range of trail/ultra running and general life experiences that will translate to writings of insight, entertainment, and even opportunities to reflect.

Matt recently ran a spicy 3:16 at the Grasslands trail marathon and was kind in sharing his adventure with us.

I also want to offer a special thanks to Matt’s eight year old son (and trail runner), Micah, who took the video footage at the finish while I was scrambling to park the car.

Enjoy!

I entered the race with that excitement born of poor planning and lack of impulse control— so when I heard about a couple of young fast guys who’d be pushing the pace, I decided to throw caution to the wind, and try to hang with them. I essentially showed up at Grasslands with simply a willingness to push hard, to let these young guys set the pace, but honestly having no hard evidence as to what on earth will happen. I knew they were stronger and faster than me, but I figured I was experienced enough to pull out of a nosedive before the crash was too fatal. And besides, if I was wrong, and did crash, well I figured I was mature and grounded to handle going down in a big blaze of incompetence and unrealistic expectations. The stage was set!

Getting to the start line with a family is a race unto itself. I will spare you those details, but what I loose in sleep and preparation, I more than gain in joy and laughter—and also God’s providential way of inviting me to deepen my practice of patience.

After 24 years of racing, you’d think I’d seen it all. But then again, the sense that there is always something new to learn is part of what keeps me in love with the sport. This year’s race was one of the most dramatic “races” I’ve been a part of in years. Part of that is what was happening outside: with the trail and between us runners. Part of it was happening in my head and heart. For me, it’s often a tossup which is more consequential.

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On the trails of Bogue Chitto State park, located a short drive north of New Orleans, Louisiana, over 70 runners embraced the frigid temps for a marathon and half marathon adventure by Q50 Races.

Photo: Courtesy Q50 Races / q50races.com

25F – get your feet wet section – sand – flowing trail – giddy up!

Results

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Endurance Buzz is going to help us get to know a bit more about the amazing people within our TALON (TX, AR, LA, OK, NM) tribe by sharing a coffee sippin’ Q&A.

We hope you enjoy it!

To kick off this series, we are excited to hear from the high energy, sometimes singing, and always smiling, Perky Garcia of New Mexico. Perky has ran a wide variety of race distances up through the 100 miler.

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David: Enjoy as race director, Jeff Lisson, recounts the west Texas off road scamper at the Crazy Desert Trail Run.

San Angelo State Park (Photo: Courtesy joevare @ http://flic.kr/p/79UNfV)

The second running of the Crazy Desert Trail Race – 50km, marathon, and half – was full of surprises.

The biggest surprise, as is often the case in this part of the country, was the weather. Last year’s runners suffered through temps just above freezing at the start, made worse by the ever-present West Texas wind. This year, the wind still blew. But instead of frigid weather, this year’s runners had 61 degrees at the start, and faced a high of 80 degrees by the 50km finish. That made the 2013 Crazy Desert a war of attrition.

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