The Revenge of Skippy
Flat Rock 50/25K's
September 26, 1998
By Eric Sharpe
As most ultrarunners know, the most practical way to approach race day weather is to play it by ear. Be prepared for anything and hope that only half of it happens. That is exactly the way we approach the Flat Rock 50K every year and fortunately, other than a little mud and a few wet rocks, we have never ran into anything out of the ordinary. This apparently being the case again, it seemed that for the fourth year in a row things were to come off with out a hitch.
By Friday morning the official entry list had reached 56 for both races and there were eight Friday afternoon entries in the 25K. This is approximately halfway to being full (125) and we haven't even hit the 5-year mark yet. The way things are going it looks like KUS has created another classic to add to the list of Sunmarts and Comrades.
As race packets were distributed and the Outlet Channel Shelter area began to fill up. Many familiar faces were seen being filled with the Stone Soup Kitchen's legendary spaghetti and meatballs. Runners commented about how Master Chef Purple Flurp's spaghetti sauce gets better every year. If only they know, ha! Among familiar faces were Bob "Elrod" and Rosemary Marston along with other KUS regulars Dave "Blue Flame" Dinkel, Dennis Haig, Dave Noltensmeyer, Ric "The Colt" Lind, returning 50 K female champ Gwen Heist and John Hargrove. Phil "Skippy" Sheridan from Ellsworth, Kansas, also came back after last year's disappointing ankle mishap hoping to beat last year's course record of 5:05:54 set by Robert Clementz, from Texas, and ultimately breaking 5 hours on the course - a feat which has yet to be accomplished here at "the Rock". All in all another fine field of entrants for both events from Kansas and seven other states.
The overnight temperatures were reasonably comfortable and aside from the wandering group of Boy Scouts who stumbled through the camping area around midnight there were no interruptions for those who went to their tents early. For those who wished to enjoy the fire it was also there as well and there were marshmallows and hot dogs for the lucky few who found roasting sticks nearby.
Morning came, bringing clear skies and warm temperatures making the 6:00 wake up call all that much easier. Groggy smiles and countless cases of bed-head wandered the area in front of the shelter house where RD Eric Steele would soon make his pre-race presentation, warning all newcomers of the potentially painful and perilous day that lay in front of them. As always, the veterans of Flat Rock stood around chuckling, knowing full well that Eric was actually understating the severity of the course - a practice he has become know for I might add.
"Look up and you're going down" was once again the underlying theme of General Big E's address and there were plenty of veterans on hand to attest to this statement's validity. Only those who have been on this course can truly testify to it's footing and if you're planning to do this race in the future just for the scenery, please call one of them and ask if this would be advisable. Our beloved trail makes a great hike and there is plenty of breathtaking beauty to stop and take in. Just plan on doing it on a non-race weekend and bring plenty of water.
The majority of the trails many short hills are filled with jagged rocks and other potential hazards making footing a matter of concentration and the name of this race somewhat of a misnomer. As a core volunteer, I can't count the number of skinned knees and elbows that have crossed the aid stations I have maintained over the past four events and with the increasing number of entrants, these kinds of injuries are becoming more and more frequent. The rocks must be blood hungry.
Minutes after the closing strains of Eric's instructions faded into the early morning air, the starting sock went down for the 50K event and 38 runners headed off in the direction of the trail which awaited them, leaving behind the shade of the pavilion tent and all of the comforts brought along for afterward. This was possibly the most pleasant race morning of the last four events, however as the 25K entrants lined up for their start an hour later there were already comments about the heat.
Phil "Skippy" Sheridan took the early lead and held it all afternoon. He cruised by aid station # 1 in 28:45, a full 5 minutes before anyone else except Don Williams who slid in at 29:15 and impressively stayed within a couple of minutes of Skippy to the turnaround point. Gwen Heist was the women's leader at #1 coming by at 34:52 followed by Mindy Wison at 36:57. The first 25K runner through #1 Joseph Fenty at 33:16 with Warren Wisner trailing him at 34:19. Axa Perwich led the women with 39:59 followed by Tammy Brandt at 40:10.
By the time the last runner had exited my aid station, the shady area we had picked for the aid table was turning into an outdoor sauna and judging by the looks on the 25K runner's faces, the trail was even worse. Later, Michael Burlakoff , who has finished both events, was heard saying, "The 25K wasn't any easier, I just hallucinated less!" The heat and humidity seemed only the beginning however as dark clouds could be seen forming in the patches of sky peeking through the ceiling of branches above. Fortunately the rain never came and the dark clouds went away as quickly as they had come. Leaving a dense wall of humidity you could cut with a hacksaw.
At the turnaround, Skippy clocked in at 2:17 with Don Williams still right behind him at 2:19. Gwen Heist pulled in at 2:41, 11 minutes in front of Mindy Wilson. It was becoming evident that Skip might have a shot at achieving the infamous sub-5 hour finish time. Meanwhile, the 25k entrants were beginning to stagger into the finisher's tent. Returning 25K champ Warren Wisner, from El Dorado Springs, Missouri, set a new course record in 2:22:43. Joseph Fenty and Jason Daniels took 2nd and 3rd respectively in front of Leavenworth, Kansas', Axa Perwich, leading the women with 2:49:23.
Several steamy hours later, Skippy crossed the finish line a mere 4:23 over his goal of a sub 5:00, however, he did succeed at setting a new course record. Don Williams finished shortly after in 5:38:34. Gwen Heist won the Overall Women's award with 6:11:49, seven minutes before Mindy Wilson crossed the line at 6:18:53. The Men's Master award went to Lindon Bontz with a time of 6:29:44 and the Women's to Nancy Davis with a time of 7:40:19. Davis also won the Couple's award with her husband Jim.
Nearly ten hours after they headed out, Richard Golden and Dale Zanchi were met by the raucous pot-banging, cowbell ringing, horn-blowing crowd that literally pulls runners through the finish line and the fourth annual Flat Rock was a wrap.
RD Eric Steele Adds:
Earl Nightingale once defined success as the progressive realization of a worthwhile goal, or worthy ideal. Based on Earl's notion of success, our organization - the KUS, has now graduated and earned its Bachelor's of Race Administration with High Honors. Any individual who has been to more than one of our events can testify to the continuous improvement philosophy that is deeply woven within this organizations' core. Our vision from the beginning has been to provide an atmosphere that fosters the enlightenment of the new or potential ultrarunner and yet makes veterans feel as if they are attending a long-awaited homecoming, this has undoubtedly been and will continue to be achieved.
Hats off to all volunteers who have now donated over 500 hours of their time maintaining the Elk River Hiking Trail, or as most KUS members have come to know it: Flat Rock. Most all of these individuals then come back and either compete in the actual event in a few weeks or come back to help staff it, where cumulative volunteer hours are now topping 1,000. How could we have made it through four successful Flat Rocks without these key individuals? We couldn't have. Period. Once again, my deepest thanks and sincere appreciation to each and everyone who has made this event and the KUS organization, a smashing success!
On a closing note, our club Secretary, Randy "Elfman" Albrecht conducted a survey on our beloved little trail "fun-run" (50K) this year to determine how tough it is compared to other 50K's as listed in UltraRunning magazine. Elfie surveyed all 50K race results with 20 or greater participants from October 1997 to September 1998 (70+ races). Based on either the winners times, or an average of the top three finishers, Flat Rock ranked as the fourth toughest 50K. Only Silver State, Baldy Peaks and Western Washington Fat Ass 50K were tougher. While the race has not attracted well-known runners from the east or west coast yet, several Midwestern heavyweights have tested their mettle here. Among them, reclaiming his course record this year in a time of 5:04:23, Phil "Skippy" Sheridan. Skip is the course record holder at the A-OK 50K and Rock Ledge Rumble 50K trail runs with times of 3:35 and 3:46, not to mention his second place finish at Old Dominion this year in a time of 17:31. However, even Skippy has been unable to break five hours on our "little gem". Though I personally believe he just held back this year in order to give himself some incentive to return next year.
So once again, I extend the invite to all Billy Bad Asses and Sarah So Swifts (you know who you are) of the greater ultrarunning community, who think that a 50K in Kansas would be too easy and isn't worth the flight or drive; come get some, bring it on, show us your stuff if you think you can! Who knows, if you break five hours, without breaking your face or any other limbs, we may just enshrine you. And to all individuals who have even attempted to complete this course, especially the first-timers, I sincerely admire you all for having the courage to toe the starting line and give it a shot. Finally, a toast to the 76 brave souls who have "gone deep" and finished this course at least once, over the past four runnings (3 of them all four times), your spirit of adventure, determination and true grit, seasoned mildly with a bit of insanity, is a shining example of what our sport is founded upon. Y'all got big balls, or should I say "big rocks!" Until the KUS spring-fling, peace-out!
