Speaking of farming - Post Oak Challenge 50k/Marathon double training

Seems like it's been a long time, but our first "training" race of the year finally arrived. The Post Oak Challenge 50k/Marathon double outside of Tulsa, OK. Three years ago this was our first "real" trail run and first double. As I like to tell people, we were woefully unprepared for the rocks and hills on this course and decided we weren't going back. Best laid plans right? So for the 4th year in a row of doing the race we decided to get some GOATz involved and planned on meeting some friends from MN at the lodge as well.

Post Oak is really nice. Seven miles outside of downtown Tulsa, but buried in the hills and trees so it looks like you're really out in the sticks. You roll out of your room and you're on the starting line. Add in a challenging course, great race crew and the fact that our TATUR bros are in charge of 2 aid stations really seal the deal on this one. A definite recommendation.

Friday night was almost as fun as racing. I'll be honest. I love these people. What an awesome group to spend time with. Some things might not be fit for republishing, but these are just random snippits from the two evenings:
Making Mai Tai's for random volunteers and racers along with Dr Pepper and rum for the race director, thus acquiring the official title of "Mai Tai Guy" during the next 2 days.
Learning the fine art of jacking with your competition via the Davis Way.
Explaining how Sexy uses the segue "Speaking of farming".

  The crew in the common area of our lodge
Jeff, Annie, Richelle, me, The BW & Gary

Day one is "K" day. 10k, 25k, 50k.  It's nice to eat in the lodge and then get to hang out with

everyone in the entry way before heading out to the start.

Shannon, me and Henry - Two lottery winners with the Western States vet (Henry)
Shannon took 3rd overall in the 50k and 2nd overall in the Marathon.

 

Capital Strider + The GOATz on Saturday morning

I might not be fast, but I can eat a TATUR breakfast burrito with the best of them

 

Until I have a pic with me and a WS buckle, this may stay as my favorite race picture. Our buddy Rick from MN hamming it up on the climb up Holmes Peak. The top has a great view of downtown Tulsa

 

A GOATz fest in the 50k.
Sexy, Kickass and The Sh!t bring home the Age Group hardware

 

Not to be out done, my "training" run scored the "Most Enduring" award for the 50k as last official cutoff finisher (less early start people). Not that it's a contest, but my award is bigger.

 

 



Sunday was "Imperial" day. 1/4, 1/2 and full marathon. Didn't come close to getting the enduring award this time, but could have shaved off a few minutes if I didn't have to rap with multiple race directors and the entire TATUR crew. Um, and maybe a jello shot and beer. Trekked about 24 miles of the marathon with a lady named Kathryn from OK and showed her how to do the lawnmower across the finish line - mission complete for the double.

Day two of GOATz Age Group domination
Jeff, Annie and Richelle again! No photo documentation but Gary also scored a 2nd place

 

Overall, a nice little 57 miles of WS training with a Garmin reported roughly 7500ft of change on each 25k loop and a few days with some of my favorite people.

Speaking of farming.