The Post Oak Challenge is a series of races of various lengths over three days. Lots of people “Double” or “Triple” meaning that they run two or three of the races. That is awesome, and I am not at the level of awesomeness. This year I ran the Quarter Marathon on Sunday morning. The races are held at Post Oak Lodge north of Tulsa. It is a really nice, well run place, and they are great hosts for the race.
Don’t know why but the first thing I did after getting out my car is to check out the resorts one golf hole.
And then go over to the pond and take a few pics. The Lodge is located in the Osage Hills and I think the area is beautiful.
And then I waddled over to the starting line and go to see the Half Marathon start. The thing I like about trail races is its lower stress level. Everybody is pretty relaxed and there is no pushing and shoving at the start.
And then I walked into the nearby lodge and planted myself in a chair in front of the fireplace. It was cold outside. I wasn’t going to warm up. I figured I will have six and half miles to get warmed up.
And here we are at the start, and off we went.
Every year the route is different. There are lots of trails to pick from. This year we looped in close to the lodge for a few miles before heading out.
My fellow runners come in all shapes, sizes, species.
The route alternated twisty turny, rocky intervals with long straight stretches.
We went up “Holmes Peak” the highest point in Tulsa County. My friends in Colorado and other mountainous areas are probably much amused by our “peak.” They can laugh all they want. That peak kicked my butt.
After my butt kicking, I got a pretty good view. That is downtown Tulsa way over yonder, home of high rises that don’t look so high from here.
I get passed a lot in races. Men, women, children, they all blaze right past me.
I always enjoy running by the zip line towers.
I like “tree tunnels” like this.
There were lots of rocks on this course. I am wary of rocks cuz I don’t like falling. I stumbled a few times on this race but didn’t fall.
My camera’s battery gave out so that is it.
After the race I made it back to the lodge. Got my two designated beers all at once along with some fritos and a brat. I chatted a little with my friend Rick who was Logan’s Cub Scout Den Leader way back when and is still one of the nicest guys you would ever care to meet.
And then home.
Our World Tuesday
And here is my run, complete with all sorts of metrics.
