Quckie: At last Saturday's Cheese & Sauerkraut 10-Miler in Columbia, the cheese winner, Becky Hennessey, finished just two seconds over her predicted time of 1:50:00. The sauerkraut winner came in more than 13 minutes off of his predicted time.   Click for the full results.  The six-degree temperature hurt attendance, with only 27 participants at the starting line. That compares to 51 in 2012, when the temperature was a much more reasonable 41°.

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WEEKEND EVENTS FOR DECEMBER 14-15

Another tranche (a fancy word I first heard from our company's investment bankers around 1990, but never used) in the Christmas-themed 5Ks is on tap this coming weekend, including "Jingle Bell Runs", "Reindeer Runs", "Ugly Sweater Runs", etc., around the state.  If you're suffering withdrawal symptoms from not racing, these links will help you quickly find a cure:

Springfield-area 5Ks
Kansas City-area 5Ks
St. Louis 5Ks

The Fayetteville (Arkansas) Half Marathon & 5K that was scheduled for Sunday has been cancelled.  You can read about it here.  Note that the 2014 race will be moved up one month, to November 9th.

There are a number of trail runs going on this weekend.  On Sunday in Tulsa is the Half & Half / Double Half Marathon.  (Details below.)

The Alternate Chili Ten-Mile Trail Run is on Saturday in Kansas City, but the race is sold out.

What's billed as the toughest and most grueling race in the Midwest, the 7.8-mile Pere Marquette Endurance Trail Run in Grafton, Illinois (not far from St. Louis), is scheduled for Saturday.  However, it, too, is sold out.  In fact, all 700 slots sold out within 6 hours of registration opening on September 1st.

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HALF & HALF / DOUBLE HALF MARATHON (posted December 11th)

We want to wish local runners Todd Raney, Scott Page and Rob Kucsik good luck at Sunday's Half & Half / Double Half Marathon in Tulsa, Oklahoma.   The race offers participants three options--a trail half marathon, a road half marathon, or a full marathon using the trail and road courses for the two half marathons.  Online registration ends Wednesday evening, but on-site registration will be available race morning.

The current weather forecast for Sunday calls for clear skies with a morning low of 22 and an afternoon high of 44, and 10 mph winds.

Last year's race had 104 trail half finishers, 121 road half finishers, and 121 full finishers.

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GIVE 'EM THE BIRD 5K VIDEO (posted December 10th)

The Give 'Em The Bird 5K video is done, and can be viewed below in a small-screen size, or in a larger size (including a 720p high definition version) on YouTube.

By the way, work on the Bass Pro Shops Marathon video is well underway, and I'm hoping to complete it before Christmas.

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ELDON RECREATIONAL TRAIL (posted December 9th)

There's an excellent article in the December edition of the Lake of the Ozarks Business Journal (the article can be viewed online here) about the proposed recreational trail that would connect to Eldon.   If the trail ever becomes reality, it would be a great alternative to driving all the way to Jefferson City to ride the Katy Trail.   As with every public project, though, funding is and will continue to be the big issue.

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STATE SPENDING ON BICYCLING AND PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS (posted December 9th)

A major change in Missouri's transportation funding plans could mean big improvements for biking, hiking and walking in the state.   In the past, bicycling and walking received none of MoDOT's budget since the Missouri Constitution didn't permit transportation funds to be spent on biking and walking facilities. (The only monies spent on bicycling and walking facilities came from the federal government.)  

Last month, MoDOT proposed a 10-year, $8 billion Long-Range Transportation Plan that will go to the voters in November 2014. The plan embraces bicycling and walking as vital parts of the state's transportation system and, if approved, would allow MoDOT to fund projects to improve bicycling and walking.  This is big news for cyclists and trail users. 

The Missouri Foundation for Bicycling and Walking, better known as MoBikeFed, is giddy with excitement over the plan. You can read more about the plan and MoBikeFed's reaction here.

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ULTRAMAX SPORTS 2014 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (posted December 8th)

Ultramax Sports, Missouri's largest race organization, has posted their 2014 schedule of events.

Here are some notable changes from the 2013 schedule:

The Go Girl Run series of women-only half marathons and 5Ks has been spread out. In 2013, they were all held in May. For 2014, Springfield will be held in April, Columbia stays in May, and Kansas City moves to September.

The Bridge the Gap to Health Half Marathon, 10K & 5K in Quincy, Illinois, is a long established race, but Ultramax will be handling timing services and the race now appears on their schedule. The exact date hasn't been announced, but the 2013 race was held on Saturday, May 18th.

The St. Louis 5150 Triathlon, which replaced the Quartermax Triathlon when Ultramax was awarded a race in the Ironman 5150 series, is no longer a 5150 race, and reverts back to the Quartermax Triathlon. (The shorter Octomax Triathlon remains unchanged.)

Perhaps the biggest change is the addition/return of the TriSports.com Halfmax National Championship Triathlon, which will be held simultaneously with Quartermax and Octomax on June 28th.  This half-iron distance race has had a bumpy history.  It debuted at Innsbrook (25 miles west of St. Louis) in 2003 as the Halfmax Triathlon. When half-iron distance triathlons became popular in the mid 2000s, the race was changed to try to establish it as a national championship event, and was moved to Kansas City.  It failed to gain the national attention and participation that was hoped for after the move to Kansas City, and was then moved on an annual rotating basis among Boulder City (Nevada), Oklahoma City, and Myrtle Beach (South Carolina).  The last year for the race was 2012, when it attracted less than 200 participants and was held in Oklahoma City as part of the Redman Triathlon.  The race was considered defunct, as no announcement was ever made regarding a 2013 event.  In 2014, the race is being resurrected and returns to its Innsbrook origins, with "national championship" as part of its name.

Oops, missed another notable change.  The AdventureMax Team Triathlon has been dropped for 2014.   This would have been the race's fifth year.   The adventure race that had been held simultaneously with the triathlon was dropped in 2012.

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CASTLEWOOD 8-HOUR ADVENTURE RACE (updated December 9th)

They were registered to compete, but the "Two Hiking Hillbillies" team of Tony and Renee Slack apparently never made it to the starting line at Saturday's (December 7th) Castlewood 8-Hour Adventure Race at Castlewood State Park west of St. Louis. This would have been the second go-round for them, after having finished the race in 2012.

It's just a guess, but the winter storm is probably to blame for their no-show at the race.

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ST. JUDE MEMPHIS MARATHON  (posted December 2nd)

Friday, December 6th update:  The event has been cancelled as a result of the winter storm.  Here's the announcement.

We want to wish the best of luck to Sherrie Hamner of Camdenton as she heads to Memphis this weekend to run the St. Jude Memphis Marathon on Saturday (December 7th).  This will be Sherrie's third St. Jude Marathon, after having completed it in 2010 and 2012.  Like last year, Sherrie will be running with "TEAM LASH BRINK" teammate Shandi Brinkman of West Plains, Missouri.

Sherrie ran the White River Half Marathon in Cotter, Arkansas, on November 23rd and the Laker 5K Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day.

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HALF MARATHONS & LONGER RACES 

HALF MARATHON, MARATHON & LONGER RACES IN MISSOURI AND VICINITY SEPTEMBER 1 - DECEMBER 31, 2013
Date	Race Name	Distances	Location
Sep 1	Flatlanders 6/12 Hour Run	6/12 hours	Fenton, MO
Sep 2	Heart of America Marathon	Marathon	Columbia
Sep 2	Run for History Half Marathon	5K, Half	Springfield
Sep 7	Saint to Saint Relay & Ultra Run	41 miles	St. Robert
Sep 7	North Shore Trail Run	5K/10K, Half	Lawrence, KS
Sep 8	Broadway Bridge Run	5K/10K, Half	Kansas City
Sep 14	Azalea Half Marathon	5K/10K, Half	Nixa
Sep 14	Mark Twain 50/100	50 & 100 miles	Mark Twain Forest
Sep 21	Roots 'n Blues 'n BBQ Festival	10K, Half	Columbia
Sep 22	Salt City Run for the Rock	Half	Hutchinson, KS
Sep 28	Rock Bridge Revenge	7 miles, 25K	Columbia
Sep 28	Mercy Day Run	5K, Half	Fort Scott, KS
Sep 29	BAJA Half Marathon & 5K	5K, Half	Festus, MO
Sep 29	Konquer the Konza Trail Race	Race is sold out	Manhattan, KS
Oct 5	Panther Run	5K/10K/15K	Springfield
Oct 5	Run the Burg Half Marathon	5K/10K, Half	Warrensburg
Oct 5	Arkansas Traveller 100	100 miles	Perryville, AR
Oct 6	MO' Cowbell Marathon	5K, Half & Marathon	St. Charles
Oct 13	Great GO! St. Louis Halloween Race	5K/10K, Half	St. Louis
Oct 13	Mother Road Marathon	5K, Half & Marathon	Commerce, OK
Oct 19	Waddell & Reed Kansas City	5K, Half & Marathon	Kansas City
Oct 19	Lake Perry Rocks	5K, Half, 50K	Meriden, KS
Oct 19	HITS Running Festival	5K/10K, Half, Full	Oklahoma City, OK
Oct 20	Spirit of the Osage	20K, 50K	Chamois, MO
Oct 20	Dogwood Canyon Trail Runs	Race is sold out	Lampe, MO
Oct 27	Rock 'n' Roll St. Louis	Half & Marathon	St. Louis
Oct 27	The Bison 50	50 miles	Topeka, KS
Nov 2	Ozark Trail 100	100 miles	Steelville, MO
Nov 3	Bass Pro Shops	Half & Marathon	Springfield
Nov 3	St. Louis Half Marathon	5K, Half	St. Louis
Nov 9	KC15K	7K/15K	Kansas City
Nov 9	Pilgrim Pacer Run	5K/10K, Half, Full	Shawnee, KS
Nov 23	AdventureMax Springfield Trail Run	10K, Half	Highlandville, MO
Nov 23	White River Marathon for Kenya	Marathon	Cotter, AR
Nov 24	Route 66 Marathon	Half & Marathon	Tulsa, OK
Nov 24	Gobbler Grind Marathon	Half & Marathon	Overland Park, KS
Dec 7	Cheese & Sauerkraut 10-Miler	10 miles	Columbia
Dec 7	St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend	Marathon/Half/5K	Memphis, TN
Dec 15	Half & Half / Double Half Marathon--Todd Raney & Scott Page; Rob Kucsik (probable)	Half & Marathon	Tulsa, OK
Dec 15	Fayetteville Half Marathon CANCELLED	Half & 5K	Fayetteville, AR
Dec 28	Operation Jack KC Run/Walk in the Snow	Half & Marathon	Shawnee Mission, KS
Dec 28	Run for the Ranch Marathon--Todd Raney, Stacy Turner	Half & Marathon	Springfield

HALF MARATHON, MARATHON & LONGER RACES IN MISSOURI AND VICINITY JANUARY 1 - AUGUST 31, 2014
Date	Race Name	Distances	Location
Jan 25	Winter Night Trail Marathon Marathon--Todd Raney	Marathon/Half/Qtr	Indianapolis, IN
Feb 8	Psycho Wyco Run/Toto Run	50K, 20-mile& 10-mile trail runs	Kansas City, KS
Feb ??	Catch the Katy 30K	30K	Clinton, MO
Feb 15	Heart of the Ozarks	Half Marathon & 10K	West Plains, MO
Feb 23	The Cowtown Todd Raney (50K); Pete Russo	50K/Marathon/ Half/10K/5K	Fort Worth, TX
March 1	AdventureMax St. Louis Trail Run	Half Marathon & 10K	Innsbrook, MO
March 2	Little Rock Marathon	Marathon, Half & 10K	Little Rock, AR
March 15	Lucky 13.1 Half Marathon & 5K	Half Marathon & 5K	Peculiar, MO
March 15	Dublin's Pass ShamRox Run	15K & 5K	Springfield, MO
March ??	Sedalia Half Marathon	Half Marathon & 5K	Sedalia, MO
March ??	Highline Run for Scouting	Half Marathon & 5K	Springfield, MO
March ??	Forrest Gump Challenge	50 Miles, Marathon & Half	Reeds Spring, MO
April 6	GO! St. Louis	Marathon/Relay/Half	St. Louis, MO
April 12	Rock the Parkway	Half Marathon & 5K	Kansas City, MO
April 19	Go Girl Run--Springfield	Half Marathon & 5K	Springfield, MO
April 26	Run for the Children	Half Marathon & 5K	Eldon, MO
April 26	Garmin Marathon	Marathon/Half//5K	Olathe, KS
April ??	Kansas Half Marathon	Half Marathon & 5K	Lawrence, KS
April ??	Camp Barnabas Half	Half Marathon	Springfield, MO
April 26	Frisco Railroad Run	50 miles/50K/ Marathon/Half & 8K	Willard, MO
May 2-3	Outback in the Ozarks Lake-area team(s) being formed	200-mile team relay	Eureka Springs, AR
May 3	Trail to a Cure Ride/Run/Walk	Half Marathon, 10K & 5K	Rocheport, MO
May 4	Divas Half Marathon & 5K	Half Marathon & 5K	Branson, MO
May 10	Joplin Memorial Run	Half Marathon & 5K	Joplin, MO
May 10	Running with the Cows	Half Marathon & 5K	Bucyrus, KS
May ??	Bridge the Gap to Health	Half Marathon, 10K & 5K	Quincy, IL
May 24	Go Girl Run--Columbia	Half Marathon & 5K	Columbia, MO
May ??	Table Rock Half Marathon	Half Marathon & 5K	Branson, MO
June 7	Hospital Hill Run	Half Marathon, 10K & 5K	Kansas City, MO
June ??	Maryville Marathon	Marathon/Half/10K/5K	Maryville, MO
June ??	JC Green Giant	13 miles	Jefferson City, MO
June 29	Double Road Race	10K+5K	Overland Park, KS
July 12	Psycho Psummer Trail Run	50K, 20-mile, 10-mile	Kansas City, KS

If you're planning to do an event and want to let others know, e-mail me and I'll add your name to the list of participants.

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Looking for older postings? Check here:

2013 ARCHIVES

2012 ARCHIVES

2011 ARCHIVES

2010 ARCHIVES

2009 ARCHIVES

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HAVE SOMETHING TO POST?

Doing a race or event that others might also be interested in doing?  Planning to do a training run/ride/swim/paddle and wanting to invite others along?  Let me know and I'll post it.