WEEKEND EVENTS FOR NOVEMBER 23 - 24

There are no local races this weekend.  The last local race of the year, the LOTO Turkey Trot 5K, comes up next week, on Thanksgiving Day.  Information about it can be found farther down this column under "Upcoming Events". 

Elsewhere:

Columbia:

Heart of Missouri Girls on the Run 5K, Saturday

Kansas City and vicinity:

Gobbler Grind Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K/10K, Sunday

St. Louis and vicinity:

Winterfest 5K, Downtown, Saturday
Trot Thru the Woods 5K, Warson Woods (St. Louis County suburb), Saturday
Run for ALD/Cure the Boys 5K, Creve Coeur Lake Park, Saturday
St. Louis Track Club Marathon Relay (solo, 2-person, 4-person options), Tower Grove Park, Sunday

Ottawa, Kansas:

The Lagerhead Marathon & Half Marathon, Saturday

Cotter, Arkansas:

White River Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K, Saturday

Tulsa, Oklahoma:

Route 66 Marathon & Half Marathon, Sunday (5K on Saturday)

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4 FORE 30 INFINITY BACKYARD ULTRA (posted November 18th)

The fifth time was the charm for Michael Christianson of Spearfish, South Dakota (and previously Lawrence, Kansas).  In his four previous appearances at the 4 Fore 30 Infinity backyard ultra (Facebook), Michael always placed among the top ten in hours completed.  In 2023, he lasted 30 hours (125 miles) and placed third behind past winners Cody Eubanks and Dena Carr.  This past weekend, with neither Cody nor Dena in the field, and with two-time winner Andy Emerson registered but a no-show at the starting line, Michael needed only 26 hours (108.33 miles) to become this year's finisher.  It was the second-shortest winning duration in race history--Andy Emerson won the inaugural 2018 race in a race-low 88 hours.

This year's starting field of 75 competitors was the third-largest in the race's history.  Here are the year-by-year totals:

2018      36
2019      59
2020    103
2021      61
2022      51
2023      77
2024      75

The complete race results are posted here.

Twenty-two, or 29%, of the 75 competitors in this year's field were from the Lake area. Here are their results:

This year's competitors completed an average of 43.0 miles.  Last year, the field averaged 46.7 miles.

Three competitors, Gavin Eubank (of Columbia), Rob Kucsik, and Tucker Seise extended their streak of having run in every 4 Fore 30.

Mile 90 Photography's photos from the race can be found here.

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HONORING OUR HEROES MARATHON, MARATHON RELAY, HALF MARATHON, 10K & 5K (posted November 20th)

The ninth annual Honoring Our Heroes Marathon, Marathon Relay, Half Marathon, 10K & 5K (Facebook page) took place on Saturday.  The marathoners started in Salem, the half marathoners started halfway between Salem and Rolla, and the 5K/10K runners started in Rolla.

Five runners were from the Lake area.

April Leonard finished her seventh Honoring Our Heroes marathon, breaking the 5-hour mark by a mere 7 seconds.  Her 4:59:53 finish time easily beat last year's 5:19:29.  April placed third (of five) in the women's 55-59 age group.

Michelle and Mike Waters Waters of Camdenton ran the 5K.  Michelle finished in 41:59, and Mike in 44:21.  Michelle won her 50-54 age group over six others.  Mike took third among 50-54 year-old men.   

Another couple, Melissa and Larry Sharp of Richland ran the marathon and finished side-by-side, in 6:44:11.  It's been a busy November for both.  Melissa ran the Bass Pro Conservation Marathon two weeks ago and the Dogwood Canyon 15K and 50K Trail Runs last weekend. Larry did the Bass Pro half, and the Dogwood Canyon 15K and 25K.

The complete race results can be found here.

The number of finishers was down 11% from last year's record.  Here are the number of finishers, by distance, in the race's nine-year history.

Honoring Our Heroes sentimental favorite, veteran Bob Gravley of Salem, Missouri was notably missing in this year's race results, and his HOH streak of consecutive finishes has ended at eight.  Bob finished last year's 10K at the age of 86. (I didn't see any mention or reason of his absence at the race's Facebook page.)

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LOTO TURKEY TROT 5K (posted November 9th)

The 15th annual LOTO Turkey Trot 5K will take place on Thanksgiving Day (November 28th) at Camdenton High School.   A 1-mile fun run starts at 7:45 a.m., followed by the 5K at 8:30 a.m. Race-day registration opens at 7:00 a.m.

The entry fees are $20 for the 1-mile fun run and $25 for the 5K through Thursday, November 14th. On race day, the entry fees rise to $30.  (Discounts are available to families of four or more.)  Only those who register by November 14th will be guaranteed a t-shirt on race day. 

Online registration and additional race details can be found here.

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