On Friday Nov 7, at 5:40 in the morning, my wife Linda is dropping me off Los Angeles Airport where I'll fly to Denver and then to Oklahoma City. I'm scheduled to arrive at Oklahoma around 12:30 PM. I didn't know then that I would be 7 hours late...
After boarding the aircraft we got an announcement that the flight has been delayed for 1 hour. I thought I could sleep a bit and pulled down the shade with unexpected results.
After waiting in the airplane for 1 hour they announced that there's another hour delay and that we had to leave the aircraft. So we went back into the LAX terminal where we were waiting.
After waiting for 1 hour in the terminal we boarded the aircraft again and it took another 30 minutes until we were on our way. The flight was now 3.5 hours late and I definitely missed my connection flight in Denver.
It felt good being finally in the air flying over the coast of Los Angeles. Just up ahead you can see Marina del Rey.
After landing in Denver I not only missed my connection flight but the next available flight was already booked full. So I had to wait there for 4 hours for a flight to Oklahoma. I would arrive in Oklahoma at 7:30 PM -- a full 7 hours late -- missing the race pickup time.
At race morning we met at the finish line to be transported to the starting line. Our first big surprise was that we were picked up by a limousine bus. This is my 2nd limousine car transportation and my first one was at the 2007 Miwok 100.
Isn't this a party bus or what! It sure was comfortable... (go to the next picture)
...until all runners showed up and we all got really squeezed in there. Some runners had to stand all the way since no more seats were available. Good times anyways.
About 1 hour prior the start of the race we found ourselves at the starting area, signed in ourselves in and deposited our drop bags.
The starting line was in Elk City where the largest free standing oil derrick in the world is.
I'm all ready to do this thing. I slept for 6 hours which is not very typical for me. Often I sleep 1 or 2 hours the night prior such a race.
About 20 minutes to go and runners are getting ready to walk to the starting line.
A race official will soon let us know when the race starts with a big "PENG".
With 5 minutes to go we got the announcement that "whoever thinks this is a 5K is in the wrong race" LOL.
And off on our way we were down the road enjoying the most beautiful weather with no clouds and wind whatsoever.
We did run on Route 66, which goes along I40, but we still encountered some traffic we had to watch out like those trucks.
The race officials did an awesome job marking the course. They spray painted signs onto the street and had big signs on every major turn. It was virtually impossible to get lost.
There were lots of old motels along the way like this one in Canute, where our first aid station (unmanned) was.
This race had 3 unmanned aid station, like this one in Canute at mile 8.1, which offered water, HEED and pretzels.
Course marking painted onto the pavement.
yet another death motel...
Here I came down Route 66 about 2 hours into the run between Canute and Foss.
Yeah Baby! Running historic Route 66 in Oklahoma. It's awesome!
A different view on top of an overpass looking back into the course I just ran down.
Being together, forming friendships, running/walking along a beautiful area, experiencing a perfect fall weather and just enjoying life to its fullest --> that's what this kind of races are all about.
For some odd reasons I'm a big fan of courses where I can see ahead for miles and miles. This course had many sections where the street goes straight down a long time.
Dale Perry (left) and another runner, which name I didn't get, having fun and a good time. I've met Dale about 7 months ago at Coyote2Moon 100 miler.
There were many oil drilling stations along the route and they're pretty loud actually.
We were now about 4 hours into the race.
Still felt strong and had a good time.
Nice ride!
After 6 hours I approached the first fully manned aid station which was inside this Route 66 museum.
It did feel good to sit down for a minute since I traveled over 30 miles already. I also forgot to bring any suncream and I got a bit burned out there.
A simple yet fully helpful aid station manned with two awesome volunteers.
Wendell paced Sarah for a couple of miles down the street by yet another abandoned hotel.
I found a new friend at this race; Karen Gall from Minnesota. She paced a friend of hers 2 years ago at the first Mother Road and decided to run it herself next time. She did and finished strong in 24:59:22 and the 8th woman finishing. It was her first 100 miler.
I was on the move for 7 hours and still felt good going ahead pretty fast eventually breaking my 50 mile PR (personal record).
Finally we approached some sort of a little uphill which felt really good on my legs.
Around 5PM the sun started to set and the air got colder too. I'm getting ready for a cold night.
At 5:30PM the sun was just about gone.
While the sunset was spectacular the air instantly got colder and by now I am wearing my running jacket.
Due some construction on Route 66 we had to detour for about half a mile running along-side I40. Was not a pretty to run there at all with traffic speeding by right next to you.
At mile 49 I stopped by a Sonic and ordered their grilled chicken sandwich. I got a few bedazzled looks from people sitting in their warm cars and a cat was right beside me miaoing for some food. She got a piece of chicken when I got my sandwich.
Arriving at mile 50 aid station 10:46:18 into the race breaking my 50 mile PR by over 1 hour, which did scare me. I was afraid that I pushed it too hard but I felt good. I put on long pants, drank some hot drink and was out of there quick.
Since my flashlight never worked I ran through the night in the dark. It wasn't so bad since the moon lighted up the area quite a bit and running on pavement isn't too hard at night. I came by the famous Lucille's Gas Station in Hydro and took this picture in total darkness. Later I was surprised how well the picture came out.
Right before the 72.5 mile Tatur Turn aid station we had to run on a long bridge which had no shoulder to run in. So we had to have an official car drive behind us while we ran in front to be protected by other cars. However, this bridge was long, felt like half a mile, and having to run it killed me pretty good. In front of me were Michael Melton and Eberhard Frixe from Germany.
Arriving at the Tatur Turn aid station, which was like an oasis with all it's light. Pretty bad picture though...