Rockin' K Trail Run

On April 2, Patrick ran in the Kansas Ultrarunners' Association Rockin' K Trail Run at Kanopolis Lake. (Note, there is actually a Kansas Ultrarunners' Association -- a whole group of Kansans who like to run like Patrick...a LONG way.) This is a long blog, with lots of pictures ... but it was a LONG race -- 50 miles!! I would like to give a shout-out to my friend, Betsy. This blog channels hers a little, because it is about Kansas and includes 1 quilt picture. :) This is a stepping stone to the Big Race in Leadville on August 20, but even a measly 50 mile race requires a lot of preparation and organizing. Here is Patrick the night before getting some of his fuel, er, food ready. You have to take in a lot of calories to keep going for so long. We also took some time as his race crew to look over the maps of the course, so we would know where and when we could meet him to refill his drink bottles, bring him snacks and cheer him on. Shortly after we all carb-loaded with spaghetti that Donna made for us, and went to bed early, since we had to be ready to start the race in Kanopolis by 7! We were all up and at 'em, it was so early it was still pretty dark out. As you can see, his primary race crew was pretty excited to see him start!!Here is the Ultra Runner himself, with the requisite outfitting for the day. Icebreaker shirt, keeps you cool, dries quickly, check. Sleeves, that are not attached to a shirt, so you can take them off easily when you get hot, check. Visor, check. Ear warmer, check. Water-bottle waist pack, check. Hawaiian shirt, check. Oh, wait, that's some other guy. Here he is with all of the other runners (26.2 or 50 mile races today...) starting off as the sun rose over the beautiful Kansas prairie. He looks pretty happy! After we saw Patrick off, I went for a run. I ran a 9 mile section of the course that they would run on later to meet Patrick and Lyle and Donna at the next accessible aid-station. It was a beautiful Kansas morning, and there were fantastic views over the rolling hills surrounding Lake Kanopolis. As you can see, it's still not full-on spring and everything is still just barely turning green...looks brown from far away! And Lyle and Donna had breakfast, delicious cinnamon rolls that she had wisely baked the night before. And Patrick was still running. Here he is at the first aid station we could meet him at. This is about 11 or 12 miles in. Note the cowboy bandana that demonstrates his awesomeness. (Actually keeps his neck cool when dunked in water.)After a short break, he was off running again.We got the doggies a drink. (They had been in the car so as to not be a nuisance to the runners. We saw lots of other dogs at the aid station, though, so we brought them along later.)Paatrick did another 5.65 mile loop that came back to this aid station, so we got to see him again. He was still running. After that my parents showed up to help cheer him on, and Baal came. He was also very thirsty. Shortly after that, Aunt Lois, Uncle Gail and Grandpa Thiessen came to cheer Patrick on. My mom had brought me this quilt she had made with all of my college/sorority t-shirts. Lois is helping hold on to it in the wind. We had a really nice picnic lunch. Lyle grilled hamburgers, and there were plenty of other treats to go with them, as you can see.It was a very windy Kansas day, so we ate inside the pop-up camper that Lyle borrowed from some cousins. It was very cozy inside! And not at all windy, so we could enjoy our hamburgers in peace. We had a very nice lunch all together.Meanwhile, Patrick was still running. There was a pretty serious "stream" crossing near the half-way aid station (also the start/finish), he said it came up to his hips. So we had dry socks and shoes ready for him.And then he just kept running.So then we all trekked out to the other aid station. The ladies all really enjoyed the adventure of this little tent/out-house. (I was well-versed as I had used this exact model the day we spent in the Outback in Australia.)Patrick definitely had the biggest support crew at this aid station. Here we all are, being supportive. It was so windy, they had to duct tape the snacks for the runners to the table at the aid station. Typical Kansas day!Patrick was still running.

He stopped in to say hi again, fill his bottles and then was off again. I went out and met him part-way through that 5.65 mile loop and ran/walked with him a ways. He was in pretty good spirits, considering.

While Patrick went running again, we went to check out Mushroom Rock State Park.

It was right along the road we had to take to get to the aid station, so it was on our way back to the finish line. More shots of Kansas scenery.

And these amazing rocks, that really do look like giant mushrooms.

This mushroom is half-buried in the ground. We ladies summited it. And Patrick was still running. Finally, though, after many hours, he was at the finish. And he was SMOKING the competition. I don't love this picture of me, but you can see the 2 racers Patrick is leaving in the dust (and me). While running up a big hill. At the end of a 50 mile race. Sheesh!! He passed the guy in the red in the last 1/2 mile. We were all VERY impressed! (Lyle and I had met them around that 1/2 mile point, and discussed ways to take that guy out without getting caught, but in the end, we didn't need to, because Patrick actually passed him!!)

And for his efforts, he earned this horseshoe. His support crew, and 1 of the support dogs, at the end of the race. Still upright, and smiling. As Patrick says, "It's supposed to be fun!" (I think the crew might have had a little more fun...???)And, the best recovery session -- Bogie's shakes (!!!!), NCAA tournament, dogs and couches. Pretty good stuff.