Category: midwest endurance race company

Ultrapalooza recap

October 21st, 2023

100 miles is a long way. I mean, it’s far. It’s far enough to use as an excuse. Like: I would go, but it’s 100 miles away.

Ultrapalooza is a running event put on by our friends, Midwest Endurance Race Company. The same group that brought us the Kansas City Last Man Standing event, Miola Madness series of fixed time events, and the Mile 0 run. They do a great job with their events, and Ultrapalooza is no different.

There are 5 distances available to race at ultrapalooza: 50k, 50 mile, 100k, 100 mile, and 1/2 marathon. I was doing the 100 mile as part of my attempt at the grand slam of Kansas ultrarunning super slam. I had friends running in just about every other distance.

A couple of notable ones:

Kerrie ran her 100th half marathon. Apparently, her finish was amazing! I wasn’t there. I was on the trail, trying to run 100 miles.

Adam had intended to run his first 100 kilometer race there at ultrapalooza. He has been doing amazing things lately (the hawk trail marathon and pike’s peak marathon,) but life takes a toll. He dropped down to the 50k and did amazing! I hope his foot pain is temporary. He told me about it as he passed me on the trail, twice, while I was trying to run 100 miles.

Our friend and regular pacer David “Bootsy” Boots ran his first 100k. He did amazing, even though he told me he was seriously undertrained. We saw each other a couple of times on the trail while I tried to run 100 miles.

Sydney’s coach Randy ran the 50-mile race. I mean, he RAN 50 miles. At the start line, he gave me solid advice: “don’t follow me” lol! And I didn’t. I had a plan(ish). I saw him on his way BACK from the turnaround. He was flying! I was trying to run 100 miles.

I did, by the way. I ran 100 miles at ultrapalooza. It took 28 hours. It was really hard. I did it with the help and support of a couple of amazing pacers and my girlfriend, crew chief, and H.B.I.C., Sydney.

The entire weekend was a fun, trippy, unbelievable experience. Syd and I drove down Friday afternoon for packet pickup. The entire main street through Osawatame was ripped up for some sort of project.

Crew chief Sydney as the “I” in mile zero.

Saturday morning, we made it to the start just in time. It’s funny to me how much I have to hurry at the start of these things. The shortest distance takes over an hour. We should be allowed a bit of a grace period at the front end. Maybe there would be, I hate being late, so I’ll probably never test it.

The forecast called for thunderstorms. Luckily I was moving too slow and missed the heavy rain, hail, and lightning. Gay Ann got some awesome video of a lightning show in the distance overnight.

Besides lightning, there was a lot of animal activity through the night. I saw a couple of opossum, some armadillo (possum on the half shell), deer, frogs, and an owl. The noise and being sprayed by something really freaked out my pacer Jeff and me! All the action settled down after he started blasting 80’s hits from his mobile. We agree that music without headphones is gauche, but since we were the only people left out there, it would probably be okay in this instance.

Yes, I was the last runner to finish. I’m okay with it. I wasn’t going slow, according to the stats. In fact, this is my second or third fastest 100 miler. And “last” was still 2nd place. I got a really nice framed print. It’s on the mantle.

Ultrapalooza was on the same weekend as some other popular races. So I didn’t have a lot of crew or pacers. I don’t mind. I understand there are only so many weekends. I hardly ever volunteered before this challenge. I will after, for sure!

So between the heat, humidity, lightning, limited support, and active wildlife… I think it went pretty well.
The Back Half

September 21st, 2023

First-off, let me say, I know I’m behind on my posting. I still have a recap of the Hawk 100 to publish. I apologize. I have started over on that, and it has been almost as tough to recap as it was to run. In the meantime, I would like to change direction and talk about the upcoming races.

Unlike the first races in the super slam of Kansas ultrarunning, with long breaks and plenty of recovery time, the last three races in the slam are rapid fire!

ULTRAPALOOZA: 2 weeks after the Hawk 100 comes Ultrapalooza, a flat and fast rail to trail from the mile 0 trailhead in Osawatame, Kansas. This will be the second year for the showcase race event put on by Midwest Endurance Race Company. Last year Sydney and I ran the 100k and had an awesome time. This year looks to be even better!

Heartland spirit of the prairie 100: 3 weeks after ultrapalooza, we go back to Cassoday, Kansas for Heartland. A surprisingly tough race on rocky gravel roads through the picturesque Flint Hills. “Hills,” it’s right there in the name. Sydney and I ran the 50/50 in the spring, so I have a good idea of what to expect. Hills, rocks, and cows… Also, because of the earlier race, I get a bonus buckle (if I finish 😉).

Heartland

Kansas rail to trail extravaganza 100: 2 weeks after Heartland, the series wraps up where it began way back in March. A 100 mile out and back on the crushed gravel prairie spirit trail. From Ottawa to Iola and back. This race being the final in the slam, and on a familiar trail, close to Halloween time, should be a fun and amazing experience. Sydney and I have big plans and ideas for making it really cool!

Just an idea.

So, three 100-mile races in about 6 weeks, and then it’s all over. Huh. Well, I shouldn’t take it for granted that I will even finish all the races. Anything can happen out there. Severe weather… animal attacks… Food poisoning…Anything, really.

So, the recap of the Hawk will be published soon, hopefully before the other races.
K.C. Backyard Ultra last man standing event recap

August 16th, 2023

TLDR: Randy Taylor won in 25 hours/104.xx miles.

The kansas city backyard ultra, a last man standing event with fixed time races, was a great event! I am so happy I had a chance to run with the amazing athletes in the last man standing event.

As of this writing, the official results are not posted. I feel like I ran about 22 miles. (Update: 31 miles) Not super impressive, I know. There are a ton of excuses. I really don’t want to get into it too much.

7 p.m., the Night of August 11, 2023, when the last man standing event started, the temperature was very much in the eighties with humidity right up there with it. The air was thick, with the promise of rain. The course was a little more than a mile around Mill Creek Park, a neat, grassy park east of the plaza in K.C. MO. If you’ve seen a chiefs game on t.v., think of the fountain with the horses.

I had rented a table and canopy from Midwest Endurance to keep my stuff and use it as a kind of base. Sydney was there for the start and a few laps before going home to get ready to run the 3 hour event in the morning.

The check-in tent and aid station were all set up on the south end of the park. Sam and Jennie gave a quick rundown of the course and the rules. I was surprised by a few things:

They extended the loop to include a section of sidewalk and an out and back over some grass.

There was no aid allowed during a loop, even though we run by the start area 4 times and there’s a water fountain on the course.

This race was starting to sound really tough!

We started right at 7. I went out way too fast, running in the 8 minute range. I expected that and figured I would settle down after a lap or 2.

As a counterpoint, Randy and most of the other runners were going at a nice, easy 12 minute average with plenty of walking.

I was having a pretty miserable time. I have a bad whinging problem, so I will try to keep this part brief. I was soaked through with sweat from the beginning. There was no relief. I was sweating through my shoes. Sydney asked how she could help, and I told her, “I dont want to be wet anymore.”

Our friend Emily brought her girls out to cheer for a while, and that gave me a real boost! I ran up and gave them all a big sweaty hug! Then I ran another loop.

I will never get it straight. It was either 4 LOOPS = 1 lap, or 4 LAPS = 1 loop. Whichever way you say it, it was a lot of times around. The east side of the track was more elevated, with no breeze. The north end had a (kind of) steep downhill to the grassy out and back. The west side ran along Broadway and had a nice breeze. The corral/start/finish/lap had a timing mat and digital clock showing the time.

The loop right after Sydney left for the night, that was where it all fell apart. The insole of my left shoe got squished up. I had to stop and straighten it out. Two steps later, it was squished under my foot again, but now I was behind schedule and still had 2 laps to go! I finished with 5 minutes to get myself together. I managed to change shoes. Jennie helped get my bottles filled and gave me a little pep talk. The next loop went a lot better.

That’s one of the cool things about this format. You can have a terrible loop. The next hour is a whole new thing. I put the bad loop out of my mind and tried to focus on just running.

All the other runners were very cool and supportive. There was a lot of grouping up and pacing together. I only heard supportive comments from everyone.

At the start of the 2:00 a.m. loop, I was gassed. I didn’t have any more. I told Jennie I was going to line up, but I would probably be timed out. I finished the second lap at 2:37 and dropped out. Everybody told me it was the smart move. I’m okay with it.

So that’s the end of my story. About 18 hours later Randy Taylor did a final loop to secure a much deserved, hard earned victory. Outlasted every one of the last runner standing competitors AND fixed time runners. He is a stud!

Sydney did 12 miles in 3 hours, like a boss!

David Boots was there overnight running the timing mat. I was able to hang out with him a bit after I dropped. He’s going to pace me again at the Hawk 100.

Midwest Endurance Race Company put on another fantastic event! I look forward to Ultrapalooza in September and Miola Madness in November.

This event was tough and humbling. I learned a lot from the experience. Hopefully, it will help me become a better runner and, just maybe, a better blogger. 😉
Kansas City Backyard Ultra

August 10th, 2023

This weekend is the first ever Kansas City backyard ultra put on by the friendly people of Midwest Endurance Race Company.

The backyard ultra is a last man standing event, with some fixed time races thrown in. (I mean, why not? You have the permits).

I have some sentimental connections to the venue. Mill Creek Park on the Country Club Plaza is where I started regularly running. I can’t really claim home…field? Court? Track? Let’s go with “course.” I can’t really claim home course advantage, though. Several competitors hail from Kansas City proper, with the majority being from just nearby.

I’m going to attempt a quick rundown of the last man standing competitors. All the information is what I could guess from ultrasignup. Ultrasignup lists runners from top race percentage down, so that’s how I’ll do it.

Starting with:

Samuel Fischer: M20 from Humboldt, IA. Only 2 results on ultrasignup, a 1st place 100 miler and a 2nd place 50 miler.

Timothy Carey M42 from Leawood, KS won 1st place at the Mile 0 20 miler.

Abigail Milian F33 from KCMO has been killing it at races all summer!

Jenna Terrill, F37, OPKS, has several finishes of “The Hawk” 50 mile distance. Moving up to the hundred this year. I’ll see you there!

Tyler McDaniel, M39 from KCMO has plenty of experience with last man standing events and fixed time events.

Randy Taylor, M41 from KCMO. I know this guy. Besides being the run coach for midwest endurance race company, and my girlfriend, I’ve discovered (after ultrasignup investigating) that all this guy does is win ultramarathons!

Drew Ibarra, M38 from Olathe, KS… same thing. A lot of top finishes in a lot of races.

Cameron Wallace, M29 from St. Paul, MN has placed well in tough races.

Jonathan Haase, M39 from Oak Grove MO has respectable finishes at prairie spirit and Kansas rail to trail. He’s very fast!

Brian Marquette, M56, from Seattle, Washington. I see a runner from out of town, I immediately think “ringer.” Nothing on Brian’s ultrasignup, though, except some respectable finishes.

Farhad Zarif, M 53, KCMO: This guy is interesting. He’s done the grand slam of Kansas ultrarunning. He was at my first 100 back in 2001.

Derek Pflugradt, M37 from Gower, Missouri. Derek is a yeti trail runner like me!

Lathem Scott, M48 KCMO, is signed up for the hawk marathon. He’s also done the snake and psycho wyco during one of the hottese,t summers!

Cole Gardiner M30 from Ashland, Kansas, is already signed up for another backyard ultra!

Shannon Brisco, F52 from Archie, MO has a lot of experience from doing 4 fore 30 infinity backyard ultra.

John Munson M66 of Overland Park Kansas has run Brew 2 Brew several times.

Shane Sunderman M48 from Lincoln, NE, has done some 100s and is registered for the ultrapalooza 100.

Josh Johns, M32 from KCMO, has no races on ultrasignup. Mystique!

Steven Sousek M57 from Lincoln Nebraska either has no races or 2 races in a different profile.

Chris Jones, M53 from Bixby, Oklahoma, has quite the resume. I wonder if it’s actually his profile?

And, finally, Kent Hileman M44 from Overland Park, Kansas. No ultrasignup profile, but still an accomplished athlete.

Seems like a really cool lineup 😎

I look forward to meeting all these terrific people and maybe running a few laps. In this format, I believe it’s anyone’s race!
Running with the Cows 1/2 marathon recap and review

May 17th, 2023

Until a couple of weeks ago, I had no intention of entering Running with the Cows 1/2 marathon. I had no races in May, and I was happy about that. This summer is going to be crazy busy, with the slam and all the races around that. My plan was to take it pretty easy. Well, we all know what Mike Tyson said about plans.

See, what had happened was… Sydney was invited to pace the Rock Island 1/2 marathon. I believe they phrased it like this: “Hey, Sydney! We would LOVE it if you would pace for the Rock Island Trail half! And Rex, too… I guess.”

So I’m pacing a half marathon at the end of July. Also, along with a few races I was planning to do already, I can complete a series! Swag & bling, baby!

I didn’t want to do this particular half (running with the cows) because of last year. I, along with everyone else, was destroyed by the heat and humidity. Also, I was promised an “amazing” finish line buffet. Instead, I got a warm BBQ sandwich. Better than a banana and a slice of cold pizza? Sure. Far from amazing, though.

I don’t feel brave or controversial saying 2022 rwtc sucked.

My expectations for this year were cautiously hopeful. Everything pointed to lessons learned, improvements made. The k.a. buffet was back. The aid stations were equipped with “dunk buckets,” and it was a new course. Solid changes.

Syd and I woke up at our new “usual” time. 5:30 a.m.🙁 I had a surprise, though. I saw Bucyrus, KS was NOT an hour or more away! We had time to stop for a muffin at the Quiktrip!

The parking situation was very easy. The parking volunteers actually split the cars and s.u.v.’s into different areas. Brilliant!

It was already in the 70’s at 7 a.m. I knew I was gonna pop my shirt off. Luckily, the race had a Gaylord full of sunscreen spray bottles! Along with the appropriate amount of Johnnie’s and hand washing stations! The start line area was A+ for sure!

The half started right on time, 7:33. I went out way too hard, but with a pace group. The 1:40 pace group, but still…

I was hanging with the fasties, trying to settle in, when this other racer starts bobbing around behind me. First, he’s behind my left ear. Then my right ear. I can’t take it, so I break out of the group and push ahead a few steps. 2 things here: I pretty quickly realized that “the guy” was my hair (I need a haircut), and #2: one of the pacers hollered out “take it easy, it’s not a 50k!” 🤣

There was really only one way to respond. Shirts off! The warm sun and the breeze from my too fast pace felt really good. The first aid station, I was able to step aside and let the good guys go past. I fell back in pretty close to the group. I was still going kind of fast, but I felt good. I had told Sydney I was going for around a 2 hour finish. That seemed reasonable for the week after a 50 miler.

Too hot for tops!

I walked through the aid stations. I high five my friends at the “out & backs” and maintained a good attitude in spite of the heat and humidity.

I made a mistake and dunked my shirt in a “dunk bucket.” It was nice for a second, having ice cold water on me. I just didn’t consider what I was supposed to do with my shirt. I wore the shirt for a bit, but after a while it wasn’t really cold anymore. It was just…wet.

At about the 10 mile marker, I started running with the 1:50 pacer. I fell off and came back a few times, struggling to find some sort of rhythm or cadence.

There’s a big silo right outside the road to the finish. They hang a Running with the Cows banner on it, and you can see it from a ways off. I felt like, when I pass the silo I should start booking it into the finish. But the finish line is still, like, 2/10 of a mile…uphill (an incline, after 12.9 miles, is, in fact, an uphill). I saw Sydney cheering me in, so I gutted it, sprinting into a finish of 1:50:29!

Finish line silo

Photo “sprint”

Afterward, I just wanted to find a shady spot, lie down, and die. I was cooked!

Running is F-U-N!

Sweat angels!

I got myself together and went inside to eat. This event is famous for the finish line buffet, but I had not been able to experience it until now. It was an impressive spread! Hot dogs, “walking” tacos, sandwiches, 3 or 4 different types of pasta salad, barbecue, a whole table of desserts, the works! I grabbed a couple of things and went to find a shady spot to eat.

The food!

A lot of our friends were there, but Sydney and I had an event that afternoon, so we took off pretty quickly after I ate. Just enough time to grab a few pics.

Jenny from midwest endurance race company, Sydney, and me

Adam & me at the finish. We ran the same race?

Aaron & me, relaxing in the shade.😎

This race was a lot of fun! It was managed really well! I will do this race again, as I’m sure it will only improve.
Mile zero 50k recap

April 25th, 2023

We watched flashes and streaks of lightning as we drove to the mile 0 trailhead in Osawatame, Kansas. Sydney was on a mission. A personal record for the 50-kilometer distance. She had been working hard towards this goal for months. It was on her mind before the Galveston marathon, even. I was determined to help her in any way possible.

I wasn’t worried about a delay. The radar showed the storm moving out well before the start. Our friend Ben got caught right in the worst of it on his drive. He was doing his first 50k, and he did really well!

We saw almost all our friends there, either at the start or after the turnaround. Randy, Sydney’s coach, stopped to check on her. They had a quick chat about hydration and nutrition, then he went on about his business of running a sub 4 hour 50k. 😳

The mile 0 course is a simple out & back on the Flint Hills rail to trail…trail. There are 3 race distances plus a “fun run” available. For the 50k, there are 3 aid stations that runners pass by twice. The first aid station was moved after last year on account of some troubles with the local residents. Our friend Melissa was running aid station #1. She always does a great job!

The weather wasn’t awful for our run. The wind was mostly in our face on the way out, which was tough. The sun did peek out for a while, but not really long enough to make it hot. Just enough to for Sydney to take off her jacket. She started with it tied around her waist, but it was hitting her in a weird spot. So we put it in my vest. There were some struggles along the way. My music stopped about 10 miles in. I may have reacted a bit harshly to that. I can get angry-ish. Sydney was having water bottle trouble. The bottle carrying her electrolyte mix was clogged or something. It was too difficult to drink out of. So we ended up sharing water on the return trip.

Sydney and I were going fast. Not ridiculous, elite, bq pace. Just a really steady, consistent pace. We didn’t take many walk breaks, we didn’t linger at the aid stations. Except to give Phil a hug. Because he’s Phil, and it’s bad luck if you don’t.

On the way back, we were really moving! The wind was at our backs! We got a chance to see who was behind us. Clint was recording for his YouTube channel. He said, “There’s Rex and Marshall!” Because he was almost to the Marshall aid station.

We saw Laura and Chelsea and Manna all moving really well. I knew Josh was ahead of us, but hadn’t seen him in a while. All ourspeedy friends, Adam, Ben, Randy, were finished by the time we got to the turn.

Before we knew it, we were back at Melissa’s aid station, with just a 5k to go. I put 3 fireball shots in my pocket and caught up to Syd. She had walked ahead to have a moment. Sometimes, these things get emotional. I was very tired! I had to do the countdown trick: less than a 5k. Just 2 miles…a mile and a half…etc. Sydney and I took turns getting each other to run.

Finally, we got close to the finish line. We started really running! I said “let’s go FAST!” And “Let’s go REALLY fast!” As we “sprinted” across the finish.

Sydney and I both finished in a new best time of 5 hours, 50 minutes. Sydney won first overall for the women.

While I was waiting for a massage and chit-chatting with another runner, the temperature dropped about 10⁰ in a minute. I brought the car around so we could sit in it and stay warm, but you know how it goes. We’re in the car, and the race is over. Let’s get out of here!

We made it home before any real weather hit us. Apparently, some runners were caught in a real downpour!

We cleaned up and met with the hash house harriers at a bar for on-after. Sydney beat me at darts and I ate the best g.d. chicken tenders I’ve ever had in my life!