Taking a break from running to let a couple of minor things resolve completely. Going to use the opportunity to recharge the batteries, get some personal affairs in order, and find another windmill to tilt. Of course I’ll still have plenty to say and this column does keep my creative/investigative/imaginative/instructive/perjorative/poetic side alive and well.
I’d like to welcome all of the new readers, there has been a tremendous increase in visits to this page over the last week. I hope you will enjoy my view of what is, what isn’t, what’s Real, what’s not, in Omaha, in Nebraska, the running world, and beyond.
Team Nebraska was well represented at this past weekend’s Run For Justin. Yes, that is the same Matt Pohren that competed on the track, used the morning’s 5K as a warm up for the day. Second and third place finishers Harter and Post are HS studs, nice to see some competitive results at this run. Jordan’s sister Shelby took the women’s title in a nice pr of 18:44 and our Haleigh Riggle was 3rd female in 20:21. Our OEG mate Krista Palm ran a big pr finishing 11th in 22:25, way to go Krista!
1. Matt Pohren, 15:53**
2. Joe Harter, 15:56
3. Austin Post, 16:43
4. Jordan Tucker 16:54**
5. Christian Reed 16:57
6. Justin Mollak 17:10**
7. Lee Anderson 17:11**
8. Tony Dill 17:16
9. Todd Leutzinger 17:29
Good to see Nebraska’s best long distance masters female, our own Stacy Shaw, expand her horizons. I received the following email from her:
” hey, I ran Happy Jack 12 hour solo race in Laramie this weekend. It was awesome. I covered 46 miles in under 12 hours,got rained on the last 12miles, so was freezing cold and the trail was a mess. Otherwise could have made the 60. It was at altitude and pretty steep climb. I enjoyed the event and took home a cool first place medal!! Yippee!! Hope all is well.Yes I am still training. Won the superior 10k and Roselands 5K.”
Sounds like an interesting and invigorating run:
“Happy Jack 24/12/6 Hour race is a new event in the Happy Jack area of the Medicine Bow National Forest in Wyoming. With 24, 12, or 6 hour SOLO or TEAM options, this challenge is run on a course of 5.8 mile loops run in alternate directions. Each loop has access to the lower basecamp, which will have a campfire going and serve hot food all night, and the upper fully-stocked aid station. With over 700 feet of elevation gain per loop and an 8800 feet high point, this is a challenging course.”
And that is what I’m thinking might be What Next for me. Moving up in distance to try an ultra. You get to slow down, walk if you want, eat, enjoy the scenery, make some new friends. And maybe, just maybe, not be In It To Win It.
Meghan Schneider has her Club Nats photos uploaded to our flickr account (pink button on the front page), nice work Meghan!
I’ll close today’s column, and last weekend’s Club Nats, with a couple of excerpts from my old buddy Jim Gerweck’s article titled “Run Fast, Turn Left” in July’s Running Times. Quoting Andy Martin “You get a lot of people who run a race or a marathon just to say they did it, then they move on. You don’t get that in track and field.” And Tom Derderian (Pres. of Greater Boston Track Club) “There’s nowhere to hide on a track. There’s a philosophy that’s become prevalent in road racing that as long as you finish, you’re a winner. There’s none of that in track. Track races are a very precise means of determining who’s a winner, and how far behind everyone else is. There’s no warm fuzzy way to spin that. You’re out there naked to the watch, and not too many people want to do that, have the balls to do that.” Amen, brother, that’s why I’m so darned proud of our Good Mates.
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