Turkey and TATUR's 25k

The Tulsa Area Trail and Ultra Runners put on a race called Turkey and TATUR's 50k/25k/10k each year in Tulsa and it is one of the few trail races in Tulsa and the 1st Ultra race. This year 220 people attended the race running one of the three distances. I found myself showing up at the Westside YMCA at 6:30 ready to get out and see what I could do. It was strange for me as many of the runners that I run with on a triweekly basis were merely helping to support this race instead of running it. In some ways it made me feel bad, but I stayed for about 6 hours after I finished helping at aid stations, filming people as they crossed the finish line, and doing anything I could to help the people that had been supportive of me while I was racing.

So the race began with a flaming potato (or a tater/TATUR) and the sound of firecrackers. In the first couple of minutes before we made it .125 miles to the trail head I realized I was back with some people I should be ahead of, so I worked my way up to the middle of the pack and settle in behind fellow TATUR Vicky. At this point we had to wait as the trail head only allowed one person through at a time and it was a 10 foot climb that took some slowing to negotiate.

Once on the trail we settle into a good pace and it was still pretty much single file, but once it opened up a little betweeen people I got passed and Vicky outstripped me. I am happy with the pace I chose as I was only passed by two people the whole race, and I did a fair amount of passing (largely of the 50kers that realized they were going to fast if they were to expect a 2nd trip around the loop). In the first mile there was a gradual climb upward featuring a few stream crossings and some fun signs. ("Tree of Many names - @#$%!, Effin' Tree, OUCH!") This was the sign we saw as we ducked our heads to avoid naming the tree ourselves.

The course was well marked and I had very little trouble navigating, but it seems that the two leaders were DQ'd because they got off the trail and ran into the leading pack behind them. They still completed the course in about the time they normally would've, but rules are rules. It's a tough break for Tom Brennan, but he's a guy who has set course records and won races a few times before and he's such a nice guy that he was able to handle it very well.

After the first 2.4 miles we came to our first (scottish) aid station at the top of the mountain (I use the term mountain loosley... it's pretty much a large tree covered hill). I ate a GU and a couple pretzels and enjoyed a cup of water. Let me say right here that as I reference each aid station, they were all pretty incredible. The food was various and numerous and the workers were just as nice as they could be. I'll tell more about each aid station as I get to them though. After being informed the next aid station was 4.7 miles away I prepared myself for a tough grueling dry mouth, but was pleased to find after running down to about the middle of the mountain they had a cooler with some water and I was able to get some more water (I elected not to bring my own on this outing).

At this point I was running with Vicky again and we stayed together over the next 4-5 miles or so. We hadn't had a chance to talk before, so it was good having someone to chat with and keep your mind off the toughness of the course and to get to know a fellow running group member. As we arrived at the next aid station we were being shouted at by a beautiful woman in a cocunut bra (over her shirt) and I ate another GU and had some more pretzels and water. We took off again and this time we caught up to and chatted a bit with 50ker Paul who is another member of our group. I passed him, but Vicky ended up staying behind him and the three of us chatted for about 3/4 of a mile before he decided to pass me. Vicky and I continued on for about 1 more mile before she pulled up needing to walk and I needed to keep going. You hate leaving someone like that, but everyone needs to run their own race.

After about 2 more miles of switchbacking down the mountain I began to see some heads hanging from the trees and signs saying. "Aid Station a 'head'". It was all a little scary as these manakin heads kept popping up, but I headed on to the aid station(at the lower parking lot) where I had my last GU and some gatorade. The food looked good, but I moved through this station as quickly as possible and headed down the gravel service road to the smaller portion of the turkey mountain trail area. Spending about 1.5 miles on probably the easiest portion of the trail, I came up on the other side of the parking lot and to the bottom of Lip Buster.

If anyone remembers my last trail race I talked about running down Lip Buster at top speed nearly being taken out and or taking out other runners and avoiding so by running into the grass on the side. There was no need to worry about it this time as I walked up the whole thing. This was probably the only real walking I did for the race. As I approached the bottom though there was a ladder with a sign pointing down to something that would "make the climb easier". It was one of the Staples "Easy" Buttons. All the button pushing in the world wouldn't've made it easy. At the top I was once again yelled in by a woman with a cone and clappers wearing a cocunut bra. I went into the back of this aid station just to grab some water and I ran into David who was doing his 2nd 50k on this course and he informed me it was his wife working the aid station and introduced me. We ran on and after less than a mile came to the Halloweeny/Spidery Aid Station. I grabbed another drink of water and said "hi" to my Runner's World friends and continued on to what I definately considered the toughest part of the course.

The last 3.5 miles were Rocky and featured many up and downs. I was in the middle of my 14th mile when I began to see the 50kers returning. The leader and eventual DQer Tom came by and had encouraging words as many of the runners did. I usually did my best to let the 50kers have the path, and I'm glad that my decision didn't cost me my time. I'm amazed by trail runners and ultra athletes. They are the nicest people and would let someone by in a heartbeat, because it isn't about winning anymore. The competitive drive is largely against the trail and the clock... and against yourself.

During the last 3.5 I wanted to break down and walk, I wanted to let go and just surrender to the trail, but I kep going. The trail became rockier and the arches of my feet began to hurt, but on and on I went until I saw what I had been so waiting to see. A lone Frisbee Golf Goal loomed out of the trail and I began to sprint. I had walked back on the loop a little before hand and I new that this goal was close to the end. I pushed through and ran around the pavilion and across the finish line.

I stayed to help for about 6 hours and there were still two runners out doing the 50k when I left. I had some great Chili and Burgers and just spent time hanging with other runners afterwards. It was a lot of fun and I recommend this race and all trail races for the future.

Final Time: 2:57:xx 15.5 miles!