WEEKEND EVENTS FOR FEBRUARY 22 - 23

At long last, our local 2025 race season starts on Saturday, with two events--the sixth annual Tame the Dragon Orienteering Race, which starts at 8:00 a.m. at the Lake of the Ozarks State Park, and, at 10:00 a.m., the 24th annual Polar Bear Strut 5K at Public Beach #2 in Osage Beach.  With temperatures in the 20s, this will be one of the coldest Struts in the history of the race.  Besides the cold, those doing Tame the Dragon will also face deep snow. 

More information about both of these events can be found further down this column under "Upcoming Events".

Elsewhere:

Columbia:

Show Me Adventure - Outdoor Event Expo & Social (free), Walt's Bicycle Shop, Saturday afternoon

Springfield:

Running from Yeti (marathon/half/10K/5K), Saturday

Kansas City:

Psycho Wyco Run Toto Run (50K/20M/10M), Sunday

St. Louis and vicinity:

Run for Your Beads 5K, Soulard, Saturday

Cape Giradeau:

One and Done 1-Mile Race, Saturday

Mt. Ida, Arkansas:

Lake Ouachita Vista Trail Endurance Runs (100M/100K), Saturday-Sunday  

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Weekend race results (February 15 - 16):

Our only local to race this past weekend was Sherrie Hamner of Osage Beach. Sherrie ran the 10K at the Heart of the Ozarks Half Marathon & 10K in West Plains. (West Plains is a hotbed of cross country running. Its high school team took second at last fall's Class 4 state championship. Of the 92 half marathon finishers, 33 were under the age of 20.) Sherrie finished in 1:20:02, placing 7th (of 12) in the women's 40-49 age group. Her usual race partner, Shandi Brinkman, finished in the same time.  Complete results are here.

There were 34 finishers at Saturday's Flat Branch 50K in Columbia.  That was up from 25 last year, but the increase would have been far bigger if 21 registered participants hadn't failed to show, presumably because of the weather.  Complete results are here.

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POLAR BEAR STRUT 5K RUN/WALK (posted January 13th)

The oldest running race in the Lake area, the Polar Bear Strut, returns for its 24th year on Saturday, February 22nd at Public Beach #2 in the Lake of the Ozarks State Park.  The event is a benefit for Special Olympics Missouri and is hosted by the Osage Beach Police Department.

Strutters must raise a minimum of $50 by race day.

The race starts at 10:00 a.m., and race day registration usually opens about an hour before the start.

More information and online registration can be found here.

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TAME THE DRAGON (posted January 13th)

The St. Louis Orienteering Club is returning to the Lake of the Ozarks State Park on Saturday, February 22nd for the sixth annual Tame the Dragon orienteering race.

(Note:  Some of the race details are still being finalized.  What appears below is from previous years, and is subject to change.)

The race format will be an 8-hour rogaine, and will start at 8:00 a.m.   (Maps will be distributed at 7:00 a.m.)  While teams of 2-5 are encouraged for safety reasons, solo participants are allowed, but they must have prior endurance and navigation experience. 

A "rogaine" (it's name is derived from the first names of three Australians--Rod, Gall and Neil--who developed the idea decades ago) consists of solo competitors or teams navigating a large area to find as many checkpoints as possible within the allotted time.  The winner is that solo competitor or team which finds all of the checkpoints and reaches the finish line first.  If no one finds all of the checkpoints, the winner is the one that collects the most points.  (Checkpoints have different point values, so focusing on the most valuable checkpoints is a possible winning strategy.)

Prior to the race, each competitor receives a map and a list of checkpoint coordinates.  They then plot their own course route, and rely on their navigational skills and speed to collect as many points as possible, as quickly as possible. (Returning over the time limit results in significant points penalties.  You're generally better off skipping a checkpoint if it means returning late.)  Needless to say, GPS units aren't allowed.

Orienteering races are self-supporting.  Competitors should be prepared to rely only on what they (or their teammates) bring or carry with them.  

See the event's webpage for further details and registration information. 

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WHOBILATION 5K RUN/WALK (updated January 28th)

The Tri-County YMCA will hold its seventh annual Whobilation 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, March 1st, at the YMCA's facility on Airport Rd. in Osage Beach.  The Dr. Suess-themed race will start at 9:00 a.m., with race-day registration opening at 7:30 a.m. 

The entry fee is $30 through the end of January, and $35 thereafter.

To be guaranteed a t-shirt on race day, you need to register by January 31st.

A mail-in registration form can be downloaded here.  Online registration is available here.

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