OT50M/50K

[runlong4fun]

Congrats to all involved, running or volunteering. It was a great day for a run with lots of great performances. Everytime I am participate or volunteer at an AURA event I am inspired to do more.

[The Pink Panther]

http://www.runarkansas.com/OT50res2011.htm
Other AURA results are found here: http://runarkansas.com/UTSraces11.htm

I had a blast at this race despite that OMG climb over Pinnacle Mountain! I was registered as a 50 miler racer. I felt like I had a pretty decent pace starting out but those darn potty breaks just destroy me. I also made the mistake of getting in the lil duckline of runners that may have slowed my pace down too much towards the turn-around. I made the 50 miler cutoff by 30 minutes but I decided to downgrade to the 50k. I just wasn't feeling an extra 19 miles.

Positives at trail runs are many but this run included:
1. Chrissy Ferguson's great finisher medals.
2. Inspiring notes to AURA girls on bib numbers!
3. Friendly chatter on the 1st part of the course.
4. Great volunteers for aid including a smilin Leah Thorvelson!
5. The turn-around volunteers were exceptionally great. They even helped me even untie my tangled shoe strings and reset my insoles on my dry shoes. They also told me to get my butt up and get going. (I have a tendency to hang out too long at aid station)
6. Scenic vistas and a light cool breeze.
7. We ate great after this race...even had a free beer!
8. Early finishers cheering on the rest of the pack!

My weaknesses on this run were few and unique to me no doubt:
1. Who's gigantic oversized white GREAT PYRENEES dog was wandering alone on the route? It never bared its teeth or barked but I let the lady from California pass me as bait just in case. I am deathly afraid of dogs, especially those without masters. I stayed to the right of that runner and kept on moving. LOL

2. I lost my brand new little bottle of Hammer Gels. I had just bought that bottle from Feltner's and it had 5 gels squeezed into it so losing it in the first 2 miles was like losing a $10 bill!

3. I left my waterbottle at one of the aid stations and started to double back for it then thought I wouldn't make the cutoff so I turned around again and ended up picking it up on the turn-around.

Overall this race was AMAZING and I will do it again! I placed 12th in the 50k among all females and 6th among all female masters runners and 39th overall male/female out of a finishing field of 69 total runners of which about 24 were female. I don't know how many dropped out but some folks did drop but they may have been on the 50 mile course. I finished in 7:31 which is 38 minutes faster than my 3 Days of Syllamo finish time of 8:08 but my first 50k at Bona Dea Trails in Russellville is still my fastest at 5:52! Woo Hoo!

Lisa Vorwerk aka Pink Panther of Dover, Arkansas

[runlong4fun]

The dog lives along the course. I see it out there all the time. It has never shown any aggression (but there can always be a first time).

[Black Stallion]

I did not for sure if I wanted to post so I waited still not for sure if I really want to add , when it comes to dogs the four legged ones not the ROAD DOGS Pink is SCARED of even the the smallest Yorkie named TOTO like cat or in this case the pink kitten she will climb any tree to get away from this terriable bark . we listed you might be a ROOKIE........ willl she just added more .. keeep the dog on the course IT might just make her Pink run a little faster....

[The Pink Panther]

Funny jackrabbit, but I gotta get around the dog before I can be chased by him. Lol.