I guess I will start with WHY?! I had wanted to run an ultra in November since missing my summer road trip ultra while training for the Steamtown, PA marathon. December through March is busy with Texas ultras. I was also leaning toward a 100 miler. I looked at the calendar, specifically looking for an ultra within driving distance and that narrowed it to the Ultra Centric in Grapevine or Mother Road 100. I have also want to attempt a 24hr run and knew that one was coming up in Bear Creek in March, so I chose the MR 100. Due to this and that, I ended up traveling alone to M.R., which was okay because then I could sing out loud to the radio in my Nissan pickup. A local weather man from Tulsa, also running the M.R., forecast a 50% chance of rain, so I packed my drop bags for the worst conditions. I stayed in Motel 6, 10 minutes from the start in Arcadia.

The evening before we had a meet and greet at long time ultra runner John Hargrove’s place, whom some of you may have met. He runs a tourist/antique place on Rt 66 in Luther, OK. I met and got a picture with Catra Corbett at the meet and greet. She said this was her 4th 100 ultra in 4 weeks. At the meet and greet all that was served was vegetarian (?). I had been eating all day, but still wanted more for the race the next day. Luckily, next to my motel was a Waffle House, which was GREAT because I was able to load up on waffles, eggs, sausage, coffee and water. I really think it is important to eat solid food and drink a lot as early as possible for a 100 mile run and so I prepared each of my drop bags with two pieces of Papa John’s pizza! I watched TV and went to bed at around 9:30pm.

THE RUN

The morning was beautiful! 37 degrees and light wind. I left my drop bags at the bins for miles 30, 45 and 69; weighed in (148lbs), strapped my chip to my and ankle and was ready to go! I felt good!! My plan as usual for a 100 miler is drink a lot, eat a lot and stay in a comfort zone as long as you can. The run started at 7:00am and included chip timing. I have to admit, I did have a pretty high goal. I never considered winning, I just wanted to run a 10 minute pace, which would be 16hr and 40min (yea, fat chance!).

This race goes through 11 little towns, all on Rt 66. The race is run on the “new” Rt 66 as well the old Rt 66 in an effort to incorporate the use of the old original road. The aide stations were ran by volunteers at each little town and naturally some were better stocked than others. They were all good enough to get you to the next. The race started at an easy comfortable pace, no hurry, just wait and see type things. I tried to run on the soft shoulder, in the grass, but there were sticker burrs getting my socks! I went through the Arcadia, Luether, Wellston and then Warwick aide stations all under my 10 in pace goal very comfortably. I started eating GU in between stations and then eat soup and drink water at the aide station itself. Remember, these little towns are all 7 to 8 miles apart. The Warwick aide station at mile 30 was the first drop bag. I was still very comfortable, so no changes in clothes here. This was also our first weigh in since starting the race and I weighed in at 149lbs, up 1lb, I thought – that sounds good. At this point, I was ready to eat and got out my pizza to the surprise of the aide volunteers. Refilled my two bottles and started running on down the shoulder of the road eating my pizza. This aide stop took about 1 minute – even in a 100 miler, I don’t waste time at aide stations. I ran through the Chandler aide station and on to Davenport station which was the 44 mile point and where I was joined by the lead woman, Marie Bartoletti. We talked a little and I learned this was doing her first 100 miler, her second ultra, and has done 79 marathons, WOW! We both ran together toward Stroud, the 50 mile aide station. This was also a weigh in point where I weighed in at 148lbs., back where I started, which was okay. This is also a chip time mat and I learned my official time at 50 miles was 8:07, still a little under a 10 minute pace, so good, that’s where I wanted to be. The next aid station was 11 miles away at Depew which was at mile marker 61. I was still at or close to a 10 minute pace. It was not dark yet. I had passed several front runners between miles 50 & 61 aide stations. I knew there was at least one guy still ahead of me and Marie was not far behind. I felt very good at mile 61, which turned out to be about the best aide station of the race, just at the right time for me. I loaded up on warm chunks of chicken and big noodle soup, um, umm, good, definitely hit the spot. I was there about 2 minutes when up came Marie. I thought – wow, she’s hanging very tough. I questioned the aide volunteer about the front guy. They said he left about 6 minutes earlier. I thought, okay, 39 miles to go. I got to the Bristow aide station at mile 69 where I changed into a dry longsleave shirt, got my gloves and big light. It had gotten dark and cooler. I was still feeling good and took the time to wolf down some warm chicken and rice soup. The lead guy was still at least 5 minutes ahead I was told. I thought I might as well try to run him down, might not get another chance to win a 100 miler. I took off at a good pace and at about mile 75, I spotted him at his pace car. He seemed okay, just taking care of business, so I pressed on. 75 down and 25 to go! Now running in the lead, I still felt okay. My legs were beginning to hurt, but not much, all I could do was keep moving on at what I felt was a fast enough pace to stay in front. The aide station at mile 78 was the only one not in a town because these two towns were 15 miles apart. This was a great aide station! I was weighed again and weighed in at 145 lbs, 3 lbs lighter, not bad. I ate some warm noodle soup and took off. I was hurting, but not to much and I began to smell the smell of the BARN, even 22 miles out. With the pain beginning to increase, my mind began to think that I needed more to eat to keep my energy level to the finish. I got to the mile 84 aide station in Kellyville and this was a big mental let down – NO WARM FOOD!! Just light snacks, my stomach said no to everything! I just grabbed something, peanuts I think. BLAHH, I was still eating GU that I had picked up at my mile 69 drop bag to keep up my energy. I was running along when this car slowed and I was thinking – what does he want? It turned out he was from the Sapulpa aide station and was looking for the lead runner. He asked me if I needed anything and I asked if the next aide station had any warm food and he said no. I said that’s not good and he went on down the road. A little later, this same man was back again, but this time brought me some warm soup with rice that he had gone home and made! I thanked him profusely!! It was just what I needed!!! I finally made it to the Sapulpa aide station at mile 92. This I thought was the longest, most painful leg of the day and where I also found the older man that had brought me the soup. I thanked him again and shook his hand, refilled my bottle and ate more soup. I asked how far it was to Carl Jr’s, where the finish line was and they said at least 8 miles. The last leg finally!!! In between each town was nothing but darkness and long stretches of road. I had not seen any light from a runner behind me all night and that was good. I was still looking back even with only about 5 miles to go, still no unwanted company, I kept running even with a lot of pain by now. I thought the finish was just ahead. Two trucks stopped by me with ladies in them and asked me how I was doing, I said I was fine but concerned if I was headed the right direction and how much further to the finish and they said it was still at least 2 miles. I ran and ran and ran and still no Carl Jr’s sign and began to wonder if I had missed a turn somewhere. I finally flagged down some teenagers in a car and they probably thought I was crazy. I asked them if I was still running towards Carl Jr’s and they said keep going. I finally approached the back of a parking lot with the big Carl Jr’s sign in front. There was a big balloon type arch with the finish sign where it said Mother Road 100 and the timing mat. I had finally finished!!! 17:15 and 1st place overall!! WOW, I felt great!!!! I was pleasantly surprised when the man from a local ultra club took my picture and handed me a trophy and my finishers belt buckle, GREAT! Since I had hoped to finish around midnight or 1:00am, I had sent a sleeping bag to the finish to rest in. I went into Carl Jr’s and splashed a little water on my face and put on some warm clothes and rest while the other runners finished. I congratulated them mostly between naps all night long. I left in the provided van ride back to Arcadia around 6:30am where my truck sat at the start. I though WOW, the last 24 hours went rather well. I drove to Denton to stay with my 2 older daughters, Amanda and Alyssa who both attend UNT. They both room together off campus so I stayed Sunday in Denton and drove on home Monday morning early.

Now that I’m home and thinking back, I remember this was a great race, direct by Thomas Hill who also ran the race and that had never direct a race before, let alone a 100 mile event. He did a great job with a lot of dedicated volunteers. I sent an email to the race director thanking him for his time and efforts. This was 100 mile ultra run on the side of the road along a white line, going against traffic, sometimes very dangerous. As far a I know, no one was injured due to the traffic. I am mostly accustomed to ultra’s along a soft trail and wooded area. This was definitely different. There was usually always just the road and the white line with cow pastures on either side. Oh and I must not forget to mention the continual assortment of road kill the entire 100 miles. I must have crossed paths with at least 10 different dead skunks. You name it and I ran around, over and beside all types of road kill but I honestly don’t remember any cats or dogs.

Oh well, let me wrap this up with an old saying, I DID GET MY KICKS ON RT 66!