Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Upcoming South/Midwest USA Ultras

SOUTH

13th Annual Manasota Track Club 50/25K, Sarasota, FL, 7:30am, Sun, Feb 12, 2006. Four figure-eight loops, all trail, in Oscar Scherer State Park, south of Sarasota. Contains sections of soft sand, totally flat. Plenty of food an drink on the course. Field limit: 60. Fee-pre $45; fee-post $55 after January 28. Post-race food for all. Windbreakers or sweatshirts for all starters. Overall/age-group awards. Dave Siegwald, 2349 Hibiscus Ct., Sarasota, FL 34239. (941) 356-6470 (h/w). Email: Dsiegwald@chaseandassociates.com;
Web: http://www.Manasotatrackclub.org

3rd Annual Louisville's Lovin' the Hills 50K , Louisville, KY, 8:00am, Sat, Feb, 18, 2006. Challenging, scenic, late-winter, mostly single-track course wtih two views of distance Louisville skyline. Two different loops, then an out-and-back in the Jefferson Memorial Forst. Numerous climbs of 250 to 300 feet. Time limit: 10 hours. Field limit: 100. Fee-pre $40; fee-post $40. No shirt after Feb 1. Technical, long-sleevesd shirt, unique finisher's awards, post-race food. Joan Wood, 2606 Wendell Ave., Louisville, KY 40205. (502) 452-6623 (h). Email: jwoodzz@aol.com; Web: http://www.cherokeeroadrunners.org/llth.index.html

2nd Annual Silver Comet Ultra Run (SCUR) 50K, Rockmart, GA, 7:30am, Sat, Feb 25, 2006. Out-and-back of 25-km on a flat, paved bike path (closed to vehicular traffic), winding along the Silver Comet Trail. Time limit: 11.5 hours. Fee-pre $40/60; fee-post $70/90 after January 15. Patagonia long-sleeve Capilene shirt to all entrants; special award for all finishers; prizes to top three men and women, open and masters. 50-km is Georgia USATF championship. Janice Anderson, 668 No. Saint Mary's Ln., Marietta, GA 30064. (678-778-8211 (h). Email: getguts@hotmail.com; Web: http://www.getguts.com

1st Annual Black Warrior 50K, Moulton, AL, 7:00am, Sat, Feb 25, 2006. Scenic, 27 miles of single-track trail with a small section of gravel road at the beginning and end. No major hills. Time limit: 9 hrs. Field limit: 75. Fee-pre $35; fee-post $45 after January 1. Awards to top five male and female overall, top three male and female masters, and the top male and female grandmasters finishers. All finishers receive shirt. Keith Hallmark, 3295 CO RD 343 Mount Hope, AL 35651. (256) 306-2652 (w). Email: kch@calhoun.edu;
Web: http://www.firstplaceathletics.com/blackwarrior50k.htm

Mount Cheaha 50K, Cheaha State Park, AL, 7:30am, Sat, Feb 25, 2006. Point-to-point. Start off Highway 77 at Porters Gap Trail Head (Pinhoti Trail), finish at Cheaha State Park at 2, 407 feet, the highest point in Alabama. Transportation provided to start. Scenic overlooks, waterfalls and over 90-percent single-track trails through Talladega National Forest. Includes a few minor creek crossings, moderate hill climbs, and rocky areas. Fee-pre $45; $60 after January 15. Time limit: 9 hrs. Pre-/post-race dinner available at mountaintop facilities in the Cheaha State Park. Web: http://www.mountcheaha50k.org

1st Annual Iron Horse 100/50K, Jacksonville, Fl, 6:00am, Sat, Mar 4, 2006. Fast and flat. Scenic, paved and shaded Jacksonville to Baldwin rails to trails course. 50-km once out-and-back, 100-km double out-and-back. Buckles to 100-km finishers and medals to 50-km finishers. Fee: $75 for 100-km; $45 for 50-km. Time limit: 15 hrs. (100 km). No entries after March 1. Chris Rodatz, 986 Lakeridge Dr., Orange Park, FL 32065. (904) 655-6511.
Email: crodatz@bellsouth.net

7th Annual Oak Mountain 50K, Birmingham, AL, 7:00am, Sat, Mar 25, 2006. Rugged, single-track trail with no repeats; aid at four to six-mile intervals, with about 4,000 feet of elevation change. Time limit: 9 hrs. Field limit: 150. Fee-pre $30 w/shirt; $22 w/o shirt. No entries after March 21. Finishers' awards and post-race cookout. Scott Parker, 671 Summit Point, Hoover, AL 35226. (205) 403-3234 (h). Email: sdparker@uab.edu;
Web: http://www.webpages.charter.net/jnparker/om50.html

12th Annual Umstead 100 Mile Endurance Run, Raleigh, NC, 6:00am, Sat, Apr 8, 2006. ENTRY IS CLOSED. Web: http://www.ncroadrunners.org/umstead

16th Annual Ouachita Trail 50 Mile/50K, Little Rock, AR, 6:00am, Sat, Apr 22, 2006. Out-and-back course with six miles of asphalt and the remainder on rocky, hilly, single-track trails. Time limit: 13 hrs. Fee-pre $45; fee-post $60 after April 8. Custom finishers' awards and post-race BBQ. Chrissy Ferguson, 17 Caddo Dr., Conway, AR 72032. (501) 329-6688. Email: OT50@runarkansas.com; Web: http://www.runarkansas.com

3rd Annual Cancer Relay Virginia 24 Hour, Hampton, VA, 7:00am, Sat, Apr 22, 2006. Repeat loops of a flat. 3.75-mile all-dirt nature park trail, passing by a small lake. Field limit: 50. Fee-pre $75; fee-post $100 after April 15. T-shirts to all entrants. Finishers' awards for 50, 75, and 100-mile. George Nelson, 407 Belton Place, Newport News, VA 23608. (757) 874-4635 (h). Email: Nelsongeorge@msn.com; Web: http://peninsulatrackclub.com

28th Annual Strolling Jim 40 Mile Run, Wartrace, TN, 7:00am, Sat, May 6, 2006. 40-mile loop on rural country roads. Soft, base blacktop. Technically a road, but soft as a trail. Jugs of water every two miles. Handlers allowed. T-shirts to all finishers. Post-race cookout for runners and crew. Gary Cantrell, 233 Union Ridge, Wartrace, TN 37183.
Email: drystoneman@hotmail.com; Web: http://www.tynesweb.com/sj40

MIDWEST

Paint Creek 50K, Rochester, MI, 9:00am, Sat, Jan 28, 2006. Two loops on Paint Creek Trail and some dirt roads. Two challenging hills per loop. No fee. No aid. Craig Mulhinch, 2510 Binbrooke, Troy, MI 48084. (248) 646-7277 (h). Email: cm@boscopizza.com

2nd Annual Psycho WyCo Run Toto Run Trail Races 50K, Kansas City, KS, 8:00am, Sat, Feb 11, 2006. Loop course on rocky, rooty, and hilly bridle trails and single-track trails. Also 10- and 20-mile. Time limit: 9 hrs. Fee-pre $30; fee-post $40 after January 27. Hot soup and "normal" ultra foods and homemade cookies at manned aid stations. Prizes for age-group winners. Ben Holmes, 13302 W. 80th Terrace. (816) 810-0440.
Email: ben.holmes.b@bayer.com; Web: http://www.psychowyco.com

3rd Annual Land Between the Lakes 60K and 24K Trail Runs, Grand Rivers, KY, 6:00am, Sat, Mar 18, 2006. Mostly single-track dirt trail loop with several short, challenging hills. First and last 1.5 miles on asphalt. Time limit: 10 hrs. Field limit: 150. Fee-pre $55; fee-post $70 after February 18. Long sleeve CoolMax shirts; custom belt buckles. Aid stations every three miles. Steve Durbin, P.O. Box 1136 Paducah, KY 42002-1136. (800) 456-9404 (w) M-F. Emai: sdurbin@marquettetrans.com; Web: http://www.wkrc.org

10th Annual Kentucky Ultra Trail Sojourn 50 Mile/50K, Farmer, KY, 7:00am, Sat, Mar 25, 2006. Rocky, rooted, muddy trails; stream crossings, hills, and fire tower climb. Time limit: 12 hrs. Field limit: 100. Fee-pre $50. Shirt, Friday bugget, mug, door prizes, post-race soup and sandwiches. Herb Hedgecock, 210 Leasure Ln., Moorehead, KY 40351. (606) 780-1392 (h). Emai: ultrachemist@yesconnect.net;
Web: http://www.people.moreheadstate.edu/fs/h.hedgec/kyultra10.html

8th Annual Rockin' K Trail Run 50 Mile and Marathon, Kanopolis State Park, KA, 7:00am, Sat, Apr 1, 2006. Mostly single-track horse trail with some four-wheel drive pasture roads, includes hills, rocky sections, sand, and numerous shallow water crossings. Marathon course one loop, 50-mile two loops. Time limit: 13 hrs. Field limit: 100. Fee-pre$55/45; Fee-post $70/60 after March 31. Entry includes pre-/post-race dinners, long-sleeved Supplex Windshirts, Unique finishers' awards. Phil or Stacy Sheridan, 302 S. Grand Ave., Ellsworth, KS 67439. (785) 472-5454 (h). Email: psheridan@classicnet.net;
Web: http://www.ultrarunners.info

8th Annual Lake McMurtry Trail Run 50K, Stillwater, OK, 8:00am, Sat, Apr 15, 2006. West shore of Lake McMurtry, 96-percent single-track trail, a 7.4-mile loop and a 7.7-mile out-and-back trail run through oak/hickory forest and Red Cedar meadows, secluded. Also a 25-km. Time limit: 8 hrs. Field limit: 120. Fee-pre $40; fee-post $45 after March 28. Dri-Release long-sleeved T-shirt or sleeveless T. BBQ afterwards. Earl Blewett, 137 E. 34 St., Tulsa, OK 74105. (918) 744-1562 (h). Email: TriSloth@earlblewett.net;
Web: http://www.earlblewett.net/LMTR.htm

8th Annual Double Chubb 50K, St. Louis, MO, 7:30am, Sat, Apr 22, 2006. Trail varies from a gravel service road to a mostly dirt trail aong the Meramec River. Also a 25-km. Some hills with two railroad crossings. Time limit: 9 hrs. Field limit: 100. Fee-pre $45/35; Fee-post $55/45 after March 1. T-shirts, finishers' awards for 50-km. Age group and overall awards. Victoria White, 1590 Highway HH, Chamois, MO65024. (573) 763-5704 (h). Email: slugrd@yahoo.com; Web: http://stlouisultrarunners-group.net.

Source: UltraRunning Magazine, "ur calendar," January/February 2006 issue.

--Constance Karras

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