Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Concise Event Information







When: October 2, 2010, 8:00AM

Where: Chickasha, Oklahoma

All raceday traffic will be through the north entrance, before and after the race. There is ample parking on site. (3000+ cars) Tailgating before and after the run is encouraged. Camping, before or after the run, is encouraged. Talk to Curtis Hart, our host, at the Muscle Car Ranch.

Bathrooms are available, and are scattered around the site. You might get in a little warmup before the race. Please arrive early. Should numbers require, additional facilities will be provided.

Showers are available on site. They are private, but open-air and perhaps not "hot showers." Plan accordingly.

After the race, hot food and cold drink will be served. Some grills may be available, do bring extra grub. It will be an extended gathering if weather permits.

How:
$30. to 11:59pm cdt, September 17th, 2010.
$35. September 18th, 2010 to race, or until registration is closed earlier, if our cap is reached.
First-come, first served. All pre-registered runners will receive all race perks, including cup and other goodies. Supplies are limited after that point. Let me repeat, goodies are not guaranteed after September 17th, and the price goes up by $5.

Race Course Information:
We will start on South 16th St., just outside the south entrance to the Muscle Car Ranch
There are three water stops on the course at approximately 2.5, 5 and 7.5 miles. The route is paved, except for the last 20 yards! The finish line is inside the Muscle Car Ranch, on the south driveway.

Bring your own race bib. Numbers will be assigned and posted, and E-mailed to you if you register early enough.

USATF certified - OK-10051-DG. Timing is provided by DG Productions. Results will be posted on the DG Productions site (linked above) and on this blog. Professional Photography is provided by Your Sporting Image.


Awards:
Cash awards and other awards are described here.
Random and Arbitrary awards for many.
Steel Finishers Cups.
Food and Beer.
T-shirt swap program, if you need a shirt.

Need more information? Write me an e-mail.

drunner72@gmail.com


Monday, August 30, 2010

Dry Run - Labor Day

Quick post.

We are planning a camp out with a small group at the Muscle Car Ranch on the night of Sunday, September 5. The next morning, Monday, Labor Day, at 7:30am, we will run the Road Kill. It will be a small group. If you care to join us, please send me an E-mail and I will let you know if we still have room. We are very limited for space on this - we just want a test run.

Don't read anything into the phrase "dry run." You can drink as you like or not.

Camp out, cookout (bring your own!)
No chip, no clock, no support, but a measured course.

Bring your water bottle. It's a fun run - or race us if you like.

Send me an e-mail. I'll reply whether you are "in" or no. I HAVE to severely limit numbers on this, though. Get your requests in pronto.

drunner72@gmail.com


Sunday, August 29, 2010

Trash Talkin'


There is no such thing as a free lunch or a free couch.

Trust me.

Several years ago I had moved from El Paso, Texas to Maryland. In El Paso, a fine country house was around $30 pesos per square foot. In the Old-Line state, housing costs were higher, probably due to the fact that your average Sheetrock hanger had a degree from some fancy school in Construction Systems. Naturally, the size of my house shrunk a few thousand square feet. Gone were all the extra spaces to put really big Texas-sized couches.

One day while complaining bitterly about my plight, my neighbor announced that I could have her old couch. "It will fit PERFECTLY in your den!" I should have suspected something. She was eager like a lost puppy that follows you home from a long run. You should not be too surprised when you roll him over to pet his pink stomach and find fleas and scabs. Lost puppies and free couches are a lot alike.

The last light of the day had passed when Neighbor from Hell's husband and a friend slinked over in the dark with the couch. He nodded at me and rushed out the back door, making me wonder if I had somehow offended him. I brushed off my suspicions after all, a new couch was sitting gloriously in my den! I felt smug as I sauntered over to the couch. I had beaten the system and gotten something perfect and free.

Wait just a minute.

Is that a slip cover?

My heart started pounding like the last quarter mile of a 5K when you can see the finish line. Sweat gathered on my forehead. As I pulled the slipcover off, the anticipation I felt equalled Geraldo Rivera's excitement as he unveiled Al Capone's tomb. I tried to talk away the dread that was crowding my lungs. Surely it was a good surprise, Maybe it was like an Antique's Roadshow discovery where under the slipcover, I would find a 19th Century German Fainting Couch worth more than my house.

Despair came when I saw a gold and brown paisley pattern peek out from under a corner of the slipcover. Like ripping a band-aid off quickly to reduce the pain, I snapped that cover off to reveal the UGLIEST couch in America. Drugless childbirth could not produce the same horrible guttural noise that slipped my lips. Small children, animals and my then-husband retreated from the room with the speed of Usain Bolt. And I did what all women from Scarlett O'Hara to Susan Lucci have done when faced with life's calamities. I cried.


When the immediate horror of hideous couch subsided, it occurred to me that I had a new problem. How was I to discard of this couch? Should I call the neighbors, shame them for offering me crap and force them to come get it? Should I drag it in the middle of the night to the curb and put FREE sign on it. I no longer had a truck because no one in suburban Maryland needs a truck, right? How do you get properly get rid of the washer, couch, t.v. or thing that no longer serves you?


SO, WHAT'S IT GOT TO DO WITH YOUR RACE?

I hear ya, reader. When we started to think about putting together a race we wanted a competitive race. We wanted a tough course. But also, the crusader part of me thought that maybe, just maybe, we could use our little race to say something about the roads that we love.

We love this land and the roads that run through it. There is nothing quite so lovely as a wide Oklahoma field with cattle grazing and bales of hay sitting in the sun. The land echoes with stories of people who so bravely came here to stake a piece of land, claim it and work it. Our fair county produces more hay than any county in Oklahoma. The 700,000 acres of agricultural land in Grady county produces $130 million of agricultural products. The sight of pump jack is a beautiful thing to me.




When we run down these roads, it saddens me to see that others do not hold it in the same esteem. I have seen discarded televisions, couches, dogs, cell phones, beer bottles, diapers, tires, and so much more. The list is endless. Trash in the country is a problem. In many rural areas people will drive out to the country to discard that which the city garbage collectors will not take. I wonder how many know that for a mere $26 you can take anything and everything to the Southern Plains Landfill. If you find a bunch more crap on the way, it's only $36.50 a ton. (Now, that's a deal!)


Our race will feature some of the discarded items found on the road, figuratively, and literally. We have an eclectic supply of door-prizes of things that we have found on the road. Some of it is good, usable, and valuable. We will have some fun with the idea. In doing so we hope to show you and others just how senseless it all is.

On Saturday, September 25, The Road Kill 10 Mile Foot Race we will sponsor a Country Road Clean Up Day where we encourage our neighbors to help us get ready for you, our visitors. We'll be out there picking up trash and taking it to the Landfill. It will be a simple work day followed by sharing a few beers. You are welcome to join us in the effort.

You never know. You might find something great. Maybe even a free couch.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Destination Chickasha


As we have traveled to local races letting runners know about our race, the number one question we get is, "Where is Chickasha?" I always laugh at the question because despite being an Okie, when I was given the opportunity to return to my home state after 20 years away, I said the exact same thing.

Where is Chickasha?

Chickasha is 42 miles southwest of Oklahoma City in Grady County.

35 miles west and a little south of Norman

45 miles north east of Lawton

18 miles east of Anadarko

2 1/2 hours from Tulsa

4 hours from Amarillo

3 hours from Ft. Worth

3 1/2 hours from Dallas

3 hours and 21 minutes from Wichita, Kansas

Got it?

So assuming you can find us from where you are, I wanted to give you a couple of highlights for your trip to Chickasha.

ROCK ISLAND ARTS FESTIVAL

While you are in town, you will want to visit the Rock Island Arts Festival. This event hosts wine-tasting, local artisans, and local musicians. After you run, take a shower at one of the FREE showers on our site, The Muscle Car Ranch, then head on over for a nice October afternoon.


RESTAURANTS

Chickasha offers some good ole down-home eating. We will feed you after the race but when you are ready for dinner, check out PAWPAWS for a very inexpensive (+/- $3) but DELICIOUS burger.

Other favorites of ours include Temazcal for Mexican food. Jake's Rib will give you the BIGGEST plate of fries you have ever seen. Of course, the finest steaks in Oklahoma (better than Cattleman's) can be had a few miles up the road in Amber at Ken's Steakhouse. No fancy websites for them, just darn good beef.

CASINOS



If you feel lucky because you somehow survived our hills, head on over to one of the casinos that surround us. Riverwind Casino in Norman, the Gold River Casino in Anadarko or the Newscastle Gaming Center in Newcastle.






Finally, we hope you will stay a while and enjoy our country vistas. There is nothing more beautiful than an Oklahoma field at sunset. We love this land and are excited to share it with you when you mosey on down here.













Monday, August 23, 2010

One Ugly Cat

Usually I mourn at the loss of a fellow creature. But this is one seriously ugly cat.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Monday, August 16, 2010

The Road

A few goosbumps appear on my arm. I feel the heat in my core and my legs feel loose, with a slight ache from the recent training."Four minutes to start." I feel ill. This was a stupid idea. I hate racing. Why did I come here? Time for one more stride, and then pop back to the line. The legs are feeling a little pop.

Fear. I know what I'm going to do to myself. There's a light and shifting breeze. The sun is too bright. The air is clear and cool. Someone prays. We sing the anthem. I join in. Everyone joins in. I just want to get this over with. Let's go.

I blink.

The wisp of smoke appears at the barrel of a shotgun, but I heard only a high-pitched pinnnnnnggggggg. And the legs are running. Must contol. Conrol. Control. The legs feel nothing. They work. They are light. I don't even breathe. The road is nearly dead flat in front of me. Huh. Dead. They call this The Roadkill. I can feel a dozen runners close behind me, and see a few in front of me. Tight. Close. There's some kid in basketball shoes. There's some guy who looks like he'll fade.

There's someone clomping. Focus. Focus. Look at those three. I can hack it. But the people
behind me, I can feel them all. If I relax too much, they will take me. Run, just run. Feel the breathing. Feel the legs. Focus.

There's a man on the side of the road up ahead. He's saying, "seventeen, eighteen, nineteen,
twenty, twennntyyyyyyyyyy......" I pass him. Ha! Oh, Mile. That was a mile. It was flat; dead flat. A
little shifting cooling breeze, but no sensation of heat or cold. But I can feel the heat of the runners, still here, still around me, a few in front, and all the rest behind.

In front of the mile I see a line of trees.
Oh. The road goes down, down, down, and drops out in front of me. A gentle downhill, and then a right turn at about 1.4 miles. I am breathing now, and I can feel it, like the edge of panic. There are runners behind me. 30 feet below the starting elevation.

I turn right. I see this. It is a hill. The sun is behind me and the road looks white. The bright autumn morning sun. For the first time in the race, I can hear something. Just breathing, my own breathing, and barely the sound of my own feet. The hill is not much, but just relax, relax,
relax, and let it come to me. About 45 feet up. that's all. And now again I am dropping down, down through the trees, with a couple of houses on my right, and some industrial business on my left. Mile two. Ugh. I can feel this in my legs. It's too early.

I look up. On pace now, uh, wait, actually about 12 seconds ahead of last mile. Must be the downhill. In the groove. Just running. Let it flow. Feel the feet hit lightly, little sound, snick, snick up the hill. It does not look too long.

Oh, it still goes up. It flattens out, but still goes up. The hill goes on. There's a couple of trailers on the right. Then a nice house. Nice gate. Nice white fence. It's the Crawford's place. That's what it says at the gate.

Three minutes. Uphill three minutes. But it is runnable. Just a gentle rise now, and I can see the drop up ahead. No water. I don't need any water. What is that on my left? A natural gas compression station. Up about 85 feet over the start. It's not much. I can see OKC from here. I can see Mt. Scott. It seems high.

Down, damn. Down. Damn. Too fast. But short. Fun at this point, but I'm going to have to turn around. I put some distance behind me and the clomper. But I can still hear him. Ha! there is some roadkill here. Ugh, I can smell it. I can smell it.

And suddenly uphill again. This one is steep, but short. I must have missed mile three. The time is past. No one is close to me any more. I've lost contact. Losing contact. It's good and bad. Can't relax. This hill is short, but steep. It's not fun any more. Wow, open all around, where did the trees go? I can see the bridge. Over the interstate. Mile 3. Damn. I did miss it. Mostly uphill. It will be Ok. Ok, right? Now about 13 seconds behind. I know I shouldn't curse, but dad-blast this course.

Oh, this downhill is long. Fourth downhill. I've been up three so far. I've been already to the highest point on the course. The downhill feels a little too long. But now there is irrevocable distance between me and the next guy. It is good. Patience, patience. And now back up again.

And to the turn. Left. And back down hill. The hills almost come easier now. Each one is like
the last. Just run 'em.

Downhill steadily again. And over the interstate. Again. And through some curves. Mile four. Oh, almost back on pace. But it was more downhill this mile. Run on. Getting harder to concentrate now. Just a little burn in the legs. Breathing hard. Everything is still fine.

Back up and down a little hill, then a longer climb in front of me. I can see one runner out in front of me. It looks like he is struggling. I think I can catch him. I think I am catching him. 40 seconds. Just timed the interval to that mailbox. He's going up the hills slower. Just took off too fast, I guess. His mistake. I'll catch him. Ah!

He turns. Time it. I see the waterstop.
The turn. 29 seconds. Yellow house. I'm catching him. And now down. I am gaining fast. Forgot to mark that last mile. But I know I am catching him. I know I can hang on.

Faster, faster down this hill. Then up and down a mere bump. It's nothing. I tell myself it's nothing. Mile six. The legs are starting to protest. They burn going back up to the turn. There is no stopping. I can still feel the runners behind me. There is a lot of race left.

And now to the turn. Right. This one stretch, then left and I'm done. But the miles feel longer now. Let it burn. Let it go over the line. Push. No holding back. Each mile. Another mile. Hay.

And down, and up again. this is the tenth uphill. And down nine so far. Not much longer. Only one real uphill, then the last uphill, and a bump. Twelve uphills in all, and down 12. Depending on what you count as a hill.

Three miles to go. I catch him. I pass easily. But I can barely keep running up this stretch. The legs are screaming. Like logs, slow. Heavy. The breath is ragged. I run. He's still very close. The legs do not recover going downhill anymore. They feel like rocks, stiff. Unresponsive. Water-stop again. I take nothing. A light numbness comes over me. Hands are numb. They feel cold. It is sunny, but the world seems dark, like running through a tunnel with a bright spot on the road as I run ahead. There is nothing, nothing. I sense no one behind me. No one in front of me. Alone. Last turn, left, and up again. But there it is. Mile nine done. One more. Push.

The last flat mile. Gritting teeth. Grinding. Quads aching. Hamstrings tight. Keep pumping. I know he'll catch me now. Don't look. Feel nothing. This feels horrible. Give in to the pain. Become the pain. Everything fades. There is no world, no sound. There is just burning. And I see a man waving me right, there it is! Finished. Done. Retching. Horrible. Done. Done. Done...

Friday, August 6, 2010

Of Running and Beer

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. At least, that's what Benjamin Franklin said. And who am I to disagree with Ben Franklin? Whoever drinks beer is quick to sleep, he who sleeps does not sin, those without sin enter Heaven; so let's drink beer and go to heaven! See if you can name that religious reformer. It has been re-quoted by many, with some variation.

As we've planned this race, I've been told by many a runner, "Runners like beer." I have found that to be true. And, as was planned from the beginning, we will have beer. We are not selling beer, so I don't need any local political commentary and trouble. This little town has had its share of trouble with those who have dared to attempt to sell beer. Or rather, the town has given those individuals trouble. We plan to avoid all that trouble and just give it away. We hope you like what we serve! If not, more for the rest of us.

Just in case there's a question, beer will only be served to those of legal age who run our race, volunteer, or sponsor. No freeloaders! However, since we are having a good picnic after the race, I advise you all to bring your family and friends and extra beer to share. I know I'll be bringing some of my own beer, and I will share some with some of my fastest new friends. Consider it a bonus. We have a family event here, and we want you to have fun and feel at home as you eat and drink after the race.

When enjoyed in moderation, beer can be a boon to a runner. It contains water, hops, malted barley, and yeast. All good things. And (when homebrewed and unfiltered) b-complex vitamins. It contains anti-oxidants, and has been linked to lowered risks of heart disease and stroke. Consume too much too often, though, and of course many of those benefits turn into increased risks. As runners, we should be interested in our health above all. So, drinking a little beer with regularity is a good thing.

Oh, one more note. I understand that homebrewing will be legal in Oklahoma as of the date of this race. That's a good thing. Someone might bring some to share. I will, if I can get some brewed up for the race.