13th Annual Midsouth Championship Marathon / Half Marathon

Wynne, AR -- November 5, 2011  (Results @ Midsouth Marathon: http://www.midsouthmarathon.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=site.display&page_id=1656 )

Second trip to Arkansas in three weeks on November 5^th for the 13^th Annual Midsouth Championship Marathon and Half-Marathon.  There’s a lot to offer from this “small town” race that has been featured in Running Times Magazine (http://www.racesonline.com/images/site_images/midsouth_article.jpg).  As part of the annual Arkansas Grand Prix, the event offers a certified course, BQ eligibility for marathoners, excellent course support, and a well-organized event staff.  Both races begin at the local high school.  Runners climb up and over Crowley’s Ridge, take a scenic out-and-back along its base, then return back for a second up and over before continuing to the football stadium for a finish on the track.

This year’s event draws 228 for the half marathon, and 191 for the full.  The FM field includes Arkansas’ Olympic hopeful Leah Thorvilson who will be using the race as a training run.

This will be my second attempt at the half marathon distance after a less than spectacular rookie try.  Hopefully, I’ve learned something as the training was extended and tweaked, the taper more thought out, the fuel and hydration plan more suited to race day conditions, and the race strategy more tailored to fitness level than to some pie-in-the-sky goal time.

Actually go out slower than planned, but settle in about four miles in and move up from eighth to fifth between miles two and four.  Remain in fifth at the turnaround and into the tenth mile.  Into the second mile of a three mile elevation increase up the ridge, I overtake the fourth place runner.  The third place runner hits a wall at around the 11.5 mile mark on the crest of the hill.  Was much better prepared to finish strong this time around, and pull away for third overall with a 3:26 PR chip time of 1:28:01.

Would recommend this race to any SEMO runner.  Wishing they will get as nice a day to compete as I received.

--KBramlett

Top finishers were:

HALF MARATHON (MALE)
Rank	Name (Age)	Hometown	Chip Time
1.	Cody Lemmons (21)	Munford, TN	1:22:06
2.	Michael Barnes (42)	Arlington, TN	1:26:55
3.	Kevin Bramlett (50)	Jackson, MO	1:28:01
4.	Jeff Chastain (32)	Jonesboro, AR	1:29:05
5.	Martin Greenwood (23)	Jonesboro, AR	1:29:06

HALF MARATHON (FEMALE)
Rank	Name (Age)	Hometown	Chip Time
1.	Kris Huff (47)	Cordova, TN	1:31:32
2.	Tia Stone (32)	Searcy, AR	1:34:38
3.	Kemberly Thomas (37)	Searcy, AR	1:35:36
4.	Leslie Brahm (40)	Cordova, TN	1:40:51
5.	April Johnson (35)	Holly Grove, AR	1:41:51

FULL MARATHON (MALE)
Rank	Name (Age)	Hometown	Chip Time
1.	Justin Radke (36)	Little Rock, AR	2:46:26
2.	Mark Ferguson (38)	Little Rock, AR	2:58:27
3.	Kevin Golden (45)	Maumelle, AR	2:59:26
4.	Matt Walker (38)	Batesville, AR	3:06:42
5.	Doug Boomer (37)	Hendersonville, TN	3:07:48

FULL MARATHON (FEMALE)
Rank	Name (Age)	Hometown	Chip Time
1.	Leah Thorvilson (32)	Little Rock, AR	2:57:14
2.	Tracy Tungac (29)	Bryant, AR	3:10:21
3.	Tammy Walther (40)	Little Rock, AR	3:33:05
4.	Lia Kinsey (37)	Alma, AR	3:35:00
5.	Blair Mast (41)	Jonesboro, AR	3:35:06

Leah Thorvilson (running skirt) leads the pack from Wynne High School.

Cross Country Ramblers Running / Walking Club spare no expense on the awards.

Running for One More 10K / 5K

Cape Girardeau, MO -- November 5, 2011(Results @ Cape Road Runners: http://www.caperoadrunners.org/Results/2011/Running%20for%20One%20more.pdf)
(Race photos available from Goddard Photography: http://www.goddardphotographyonline.com/p495305980)

Race day for the 2nd Annual Running for One More 10K / 5K, and the field of 125 runners will leave St. Andrews Church in a heavy fog.  The event is the 10th race in the 2011 Cape Road Runners Grand Prix Series.  Big stakes, as there are "double points" up for grabs for the 10K participants.  Fifty-four will finish the 10K, while seventy-one will complete the 5K course.

Andy Johnson strides to the front of the pack this week winning the Overall 10K with his 39:40 effort.  Julie Wunderlich claims another 2011 Overall Win by besting a competitive women's 10K field.  Gene Mangus and Jennifer Mavoscher lead the 5K pack to the finish line.  Bill Burlison does what every runner hopes to accomplish some day...win the 80-89 Age Group.

RUNNING FOR ONE MORE 10K
MALE OVERALL: Andy Johnson (39:40)			FEMALE OVERALL: Julie Wunderlich (43:52)
10-19	Brody Johnson (58:20)		10-19
20-29			20-29	Brianna Johnson (57:48)
30-39	Matt Vollink (46:18)		30-39	Chellie Jannin (49:03)
40-49	Joe Windeknecht (40:51)		40-49	Kelly Potter (59:18)
50-59	Larry Thurman (52:17)		50-59	Angela Biese (57:19)
60-69	Tom Wallgreen (1:03:12)		60-69

RUNNING FOR ONE MORE 5K
MALE OVERALL: Gene Magnus (20:43)			FEMALE OVERALL: Jennifer Mavoscher (26:22)
0-9	Ty Seabaugh (31:05)		0-9	Cera Deneke (35:46)
10-19	James Murrary (28:23)		10-19	Megan Schmittzehe (29:40)
20-29	Derek Brucker (22:24)		20-29	Kelli Wilson (27:02)
30-39	Jarett Seilet (22:27)		30-39	Heather Schoerenberg (26:22)
40-49	Scott Gere (26:26)		40-49	Jamie Crowell (26:54)
50-59	Mark Anderson (25:24)		50-59	Kathy Vaught (49:35)
60-69	Danny Vaughn (26:56)		60-69
70-79			70-79
80-89	Bill Burlison (43:46)		80-89

Harvest Festival 5K Run

Corning, AR -- October 22, 2011 (Results @ Ridge Rider Athletic Club: http://www.stearnsracetiming.com/Results/2011/10-22%20Havest%20Fest/Overall%20Results.txt )

My friend Kevin Bramlett and I travel south of the Missouri border again for this race.  Quickly becoming one of my favorite places to run.  Accurate course, flat as a pancake and nice people.  This is the second year in a row that I have entered the run. KBramlett has been coming to the race for several additional years.

The weather was perfect.  It was 38 degrees with no wind when getting to town.  Almost 50 degrees with a light 5-7 mph wind at the start of the race.  73 people are lined up for the starting gun - well, the police cruiser with the kid yelling "on your marks, get set, GO!"

This race starts quickly.  About 7-8 guys sprint out for the first 150 meters.  They soon realize the pace is a little quick and slow down.  I move into the lead at around the 500m mark and work on relaxing for the first mile.  Mile splits are 5:24/5:35/5:32/:41 sec for the last .13 miles.  Come across the Stearns Racing mat in 17:14 for a PR run.  Turn around and watch as Kevin Bramlett finishes strong with a 18:19.   Shannon McDowell and Shannon Box are next across the finish line with sub-20 min runs.

Special recognition given to 60 year old Donald Cavenaugh of Walnut Ridge, ARK for his 9th place overall finish in a great time of 21:33.  Congratulations Donald.

This is a great race and one I would strongly recommend to others as a well organized event with an accurate course.  The chip timing by Stearns Race Timing is a bonus and they provide a nice finish line area with results quickly posted for everyone to check out.

TOP 10 FINISHERS: 

1. Kevin Hammes, 46, Scott City, MO                         17:14
2. Kevin Bramlett, 50, Jackson, MO                             18:19
3. Shannon McDowell, 35, Paragould, ARK                 19:40
4. Shannon Box, 38, Batesville, ARK                            19:56
5. Drake Arnold, 16, Paragould, ARK                          20:27
6. Brady McPherson, 15, Piggott, ARK                        20:47
7. Jared Hicks, 41, Poplar Bluff, MO                            20:54
8. Francisco Salinas, 25, Paragould, ARK                     21:09
9. Donald Cavenaugh, 60, Walnut Ridge, ARK             21:33
10. Robert Thompson, 40, Paragould, ARK                    21:54

Top Female Finisher was Crystal Cossey, 37, Corning ARK with a 23:08.

--K.Hammes

Runners start from Corning Elementary School.  Field of 73 today.



Kevin Hammes claims The Corning Cup.  First Overall (17:14)

  



Second Overall Kevin Bramlett (18:19)



3rd Annual Pretty In Pink 5K Run/Walk for Breast Cancer

Cape Girardeau, MO -- October 15, 2011 (Results @ SplitMaster Timing: http://www.splitmastertiming.com/assets/Pretty%20in%20Pink%20Final%20Results.pdf )

A sunny 45 degree fall morning greets the 250+ Pretty in Pink participants at Arena Park.  The 150 runners will take an out-and-back on the Cape Lacroix Trail, while the 100+ walkers will have a separate loop.  Familar names at the top of the results as Joe Windeknecht and Chellie Jannin claim the overall wins.

OVERALL AND AGE GROUP WINNERS
MALE OVERALL: Joe Windeknecht (19:03)			FEMALE OVERALL: Chellie Jannin (23:01)
01-14	Blake Morris (23:43)		01-14	Olivia Brown (27:25)
15-19			15-19	Tori Cole (32:08)
20-29	Dustin Farrar (21:22)		20-29	Laurie Kreher (25:14)
30-39	Eric Niswonger (24:09)		30-39	Tonya Skinner (23:54)
40-49	Doug Ambler (20:16)		40-49	Lora Coots (24:25)
50-59	Bill Kutz (21:29)		50-59	Paula Castleman (24:52)
60-99	Walt Schroeder (26:53)		60-99

Last Chance Olympic Triathlon

Benton, IL -- October 2, 2011  (Results @ 3disciplines.com: http://www.3disciplines.com/results/2011-results/cat_view/287-2011-results/323-last-try )

Local triathlete star Taylor Vaughan asked me if I was interested in doing a relay team at Rend Lake.  Brigitte Kinnaman, another local high level triathlete, was going to do the open water swim.  Taylor was signing on to do the biking portion and I would be doing the running portion of the race.  I had not previously done any type of tri events and thought it looked like fun and would be a good way to find out how my 10K time was progressing. 

We loaded up at 5:00 a.m. Sunday morning and headed north.  Ricki Vaughan was our navigator and did a fine job.  Her suggestion of eating a pre-race meal at McDonalds put us all in fine spirits.  Except for Taylor almost wiping out a couple of deer near Benton it was an easy trip up. 

The air temperature was a brisk 40 degrees as Brigitte stepped into the water to begin her 1500 meter open water swim.  The lake water was choppy and the contestants all struggled somewhat swimming against the wind and waves.  Brigitte finished up her swim strong and ran up to the transition area.  She tripped the mat timer at 30:42 after running out of the water and across the sand to the bike/run zone.  She looked extremely cold!   But her efforts put us in a good position going into the bike portion of the competition. 

Taylor then got on his "horse" and began two loops on the 21 mile bike course.  He had set a goal pre-race to average 23 mph on the course.  He was on pace to do so until the very end of the race.  A vehicle nearly wiped him out just before entering the transition area causing him to stop to prevent being struck.  Luckily, he was able to avoid the accident and cruised across the timing mat with a split of 1:50:57 for an average of 22.7 mph on the course.  Strong biking effort for a tough 42 mile course. 

I watched as two other Olympic distance athletes started the run ahead of me.  I knew one of them was a Carbondale, Illinois triathlete named Morgan Chaffin.  The other, I found out later, was Tim Conway.  Both had a 2-3 min lead on me coming out of the transition area.  They were the winners of the individual olympic distance triathletes. 

The goal for the day was to attempt to average a sub-6 min per mile race.  It would be tough but I was pretty confident it could be accomplished.   The run course was an out-and-back course shared by the teams and individuals competing in the duathalon, sprint tri, olympic tri and half-ironman distance tri.   After collecting the timing chip from Taylor, I ran out of the transition area and down the road to the trail, which was about .25 miles into the race.  The running course consisted of a number of rolling hills. None of the hills were killers but just enough to make you shift gears a little bit.   My focus was on catching the two athletes in front of me and I was hoping to do so before the turn-around point.  It took me nearly three miles to catch up to Chaffin and about 3.5 miles to catch up to Conway.  I turned around at the 3.1 mile mark in 18:33.  My second half of the race was 18:33; perfect splits :)  .  Mile splits were as follows:  6:02/5:53/5:57/5:59/5:59/6:02 and 1:13 for the last .25 miles according to my garmin for a time of 37:06.  Official time was 37:07.

The SEMO TRI team was the first olympic team across the finish line.  I crossed under the finish arch at 2:59:06;  our official time was 2:59:16.  Either way, we accomplished our goal of a sub 3 hour race on an olympic course in which the bike portion was 17.2 miles longer than the official distance.  That is OK though as Taylor welcomed the chance to race some additional miles.  

It was a beautiful day to be outside and there were some incredible athletes competing in the other categories.  We all had a great time and enjoyed our first race as members of the SEMO TRI team. My wife Toni took many pictures of the event and is always a great supporter of all the local athletes.  Her efforts are always appreciated.

--KHammes

1st Overall SEMO Tri Team (2:59:16): Kevin Hammes, Taylor Vaughan, Ricki Vaughan, and Brigitte Kinnaman.

Following Brigitte Kinnaman's 30:42 1500 meter swim, Taylor Vaughan takes to the bike
 for a windy 1:05:57 42-mile ride.

Kevin Hammes completes the 10K run in 37:07.



3rd Annual Run for Williams Syndrome 5K / 10K

Jackson, MO -- October 1, 2011  (Results @ Cape Road Runners:  http://www.caperoadrunners.org/Results/2011/WilliamsSnydrome.pdf )

Litz Park in Jackson overflows this morning as late sign-ups push participation to 164.  Baer and Edington's Third Annual Run/Walk for Williams Syndrome raises over $8,200 this year.  Both courses are a little long (3.16 for 5K and 6.32 for 10K), its hilly (5Kers will climb 360 feet, 10Kers 720 feet), and there is an eight mph wind coming in from the north.  A lot of these factors are offset by an otherwise perfect morning to run.

--K.Bramlett

OVERALL WINNERS
MALE OVERALL (10K):			FEMALE OVERALL (10K):
Kevin Bramlett	39:53		Diane Diebold	48:31
Joe Windeknecht	40:41		Kate Wayman	52:52
Kerry Steffens	50:41		Karla Crowden	54:34
MALE OVERALL (5K):			FEMALE OVERALL (5K):
David McMullin	27:36		Elaina Boehme	29:24
Bill King	29:30		Anna Fernandez	29:40
Levi Kempf	30:12		Julie Fernandez	29:45

Off from Litz Park on a cloudless 48 degree morning.

Third Place Male 10K Kerry Steffens (rear) and First Place Female 5K Elaina Boehme (front).

Second Place Male 10K Joe Windeknecht (left) and 10K Overall Winner Kevin Bramlett (right).