WEEKEND EVENTS FOR JANUARY 25 - 26

The weather forecast for the final weekend of January calls for milder--though still chilly--temperatures and partly sunny skies.

Springfield:

Jack Frost 5K, Saturday
Bleak Midwinter Endurance Run (1/3/6/12 hour runs), Saturday

Carthage:

Erick's Run (5K), Sunday

Kansas City:

Time Travel Half Marathon, 10K & 5K, Saturday
Alternate Chili Ten Mile Trail Run, Sunday

St. Louis area:   

Wildwood Frozen Feet 10-Mile Trail Race (cancelled), Wildwood (west St. Louis County), Saturday
Nippy Niner Trail Run (9M/9K), Sunday
Time Travel Half Marathon, 10K & 5K, Creve Coeur Park, Sunday

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Weekend race results (January 18 - 19):

Half the field for the 100-miile, 100K and 40-mile races at The Shippey Endurance Runs either failed to start or finish in the brutal wind chills on Saturday and Sunday. The marathon was won by Chris Roberts of the St. Louis suburb of Kirkwood. He won in 22:30:44--three and a half hours ahead of the second-place finisher. (He's competed at Big Dog's Backyard Ultra several times.) 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 (posted January 13th)

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 not available as of this writing.

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