BBF Entrants Find Their First Book

The Third Annual Barkley Book Fair was a smashing success!! Ken Childress and his nephews John and Jeff slaved away all day in temps that soared to over 80°. As Ken was putting the final touches on the day run, Brian started setting up the tents, tables, generator, boom box and all the food and drinks. Jeff Largent was the first entrant to show up and he helped set up the start area and put all the tiki torches into the ground.

The premise of this race is modeled after an infamous race known as the Barkley Marathons. The Barkley Marathons is definately worth doing a Google Search on.

The Barkley Marathons is actually a 100 mile trail race in Frozen Head State Park Tennesee. It has a 60 hour time limit and to date only seven runners have ever completed the race. It is five twenty mile loops in which participants must find about eleven paper back books per loop and tear out the page that corresponds with your race number. To finish the race within the time limit all you have to do is maintain a 35 minute/mile pace. Sound easy doesn't it. Well here are some of the obstacles you find along the way.

It has 52,900 feet of climb (and 52,900 feet of descent), more than any other 100 mile race, more than the 33,000 ft. of climb at Hardrock, and more than the 45,000 ft. at Nolan's 14. There are no aid stations, there are thousands of blowdown (trees that you must climb over of duck under) briars that will rip your legs to shreds, snow, fog, swollen creeks, mud and in some years extreme heat.

The race has plenty of "oddness" to it also. The entry fee is $1.55. The 35 entrants per year are selected only by whim. You must write an essay to be considered for that years race. The essay must cover topics such as Why I should be allowed to run in the Barkley." He asks that you include discussion on such topics as unnecessary surgery, Tommy Lasorda, uninspected poultry, duck costumes, investment bankers and unwanted hairs. The form also includes such other off beat questions like the one asking why "You can never know too much about fungus," or the one asking whait is your "favorite parasite?" Once you have completed his form and enclosed your $1.55 he asks you address it not to him but to Idiot.

Many other parts of the race give a good picture of the man. For example the race has no concrete day on which it is run or time which it will start. The day, which is usually April Fools Day ironically enough, is not announced so as to deter bandits, however the time is not announced so Gary can sleep till he wants. Once he has gotten up he blows a Conch shell or horn before the race so that the runners know. Once the runners have assembled he gives a customary pig call and then lights a cigarette, rather than shooting a gun to begin the race. As the runners complete the course they come to the books to take a page. Gary picks titles such as "Never Let Them See You Cry" and "There May Be Thorns." Other race customs include the night before chicken roast and the awarding of the mug. His chicken is rumored to be barely cooked by the runners. The mug is not the normal kind of award that races give out. It is actually a traveling award in which the runner who wins keeps it only for the year after he won. The engraved part of the mug listed "0" as the finishers for 1986, 1987 and 1989 while it lists the Three Stooges for 1990. The Mug however was not returned one year so the Barkley now has no award.

Kathy Hoover started getting all the bib numbers handed out along with having the entrants sign the waivers (hey this is a hardcore endurance event). Most runners also carried a glad bag to keep all their book pages in so they did not get too soggy. As all the entrants began trickling in we got all the Gatorade, water and most importantly the four cases of beer on ice. At 6:46 pm (TATUR never starts anyhthing on time) we sent all the day runners off.

With all the day runners off and running other details were being handled. Since no one actually started a watch when the runners took off we just decided to time everyone by the time of day until a runner came though with a Garmin that would tell us exactly when we started the race. Bobby Michaels and his clan was nice enough to camp out by the finish line and write down the finishing times for everyone.

With six books set out on the trails the entrants were forced to keep thier eyes open so as not to miss any. There is a popular saying about the trails at Turkey Mountain. "If you look up, you are going down" The teemps were in the nineties, with high humidity and no breeze whatsoever. What a great evening to do some trail running.

The day runners learned quickly that although the day run was much more tame than the night run, it definately was no walk in the park. Near the start of the race a large hill was begging to be climbed. How steep is this hill? Take note of the runner or should I say crawler in the background. of the picture below.

The Barkley Marathons course is run on a variety of surfaces, none of which come close to ideal . Around 10% is run on rough dirt roads while 10% is run on old dirt roads which are now overgrown with grass. Approximately 20% is run on rough trails with 40% being on old abandoned trails which are said to be easily mistaken for the deer trails that are actually better. The remaining 20% is run on no trails at all but is actually bushwhacking through the forest.

The day runners finished up sweaty and a bit muddy. The first group to come through was a foursome of speedsters, Scott Herbst, Brad Stumph, Katie Stockstill, and Anjeanette Leving.

The next group to come thorugh the long awaited finish were the wonderful Drew clan. This group of young but experienced trail runners were Eliza, Eva, Margeret and Jacob Drew. This group has done several trail races including Cross Timbers and Turkey & Taturs. Several of them are planning to go to K.C to do a great race called the Psycho Psummer Trail Race.

Next to come through were Jeff Largent for Holdenville then a great couple named Todd and Christie Bullard. Following the Bullards were a group of five including Barbara and Kim Drew, Kim Jackson, Mark Crew and Polly Chase.

For many this was their first trail race. Candace Brown was one of the trail newbies. Candace was followed by two amazing runners who traveled from Enid OK to run in the Barkley Book Fair. Nikki Watson and Desiree Powell are not new to trail runnign but deserve the award for "Best Attitude" Both were among the lead packs during the day run and were only about a mile from the finish when they made a wrong turn due to some ribbons being taken off of the trees. They spent over an hour lost in the woods. We sent patrols to look for them, called their cell phones and were really starting to get worried when they one of the searchers, John Childress called to say that he had found them. Minutes later they came through the finish line with smiles on their faces and relief that it was finally over. They were yelling triumphantly that they made it. Not only were they not discouraged, they said that they were definatly going to do the grueling night run also.

Click Here to View Barkley Book Fair Results 

 

 

Click here to View the HUGE Mud Run Photo Gallery         Click here to View Estim8ur Results

Click here to View Get Fit Mud Run Results                         Click Here to View Barkley Book Fair Results

 

 

 

 

TATUR's 2008 Five Mile Poker Run

The Plate Brothers With an Ace Up Their Sleeve

What : Tatur and RunnersWorld Tulsa proudly present the 3rd Annual TATUR 5 Mile Poker Run.

When : Saturday, July 12th at 7am.

Where: Veterans Park (21st & Boulder)

Why: This is a fundraising event to help with the costs of organizing the Annual Turkey & Taturs 50K/25K10K Trail Run on September 14, 2008.

How: Entrants start this non-timed event with one poker card . Run one mile get another card, run two miles get your 3rd card, pass the four mile mark and get card number four and get your fifth card at the finish line. The best poker hand gets first pick at the Gift Table. Second best hand gets second pick and so on. If you are not up to running five mile you can still compete.

Cost: Since this is a fundraiser we are requiring a minimum $5 donation.

How Many: We are limiting this event to the first 150 entrants who sign up. Pre-Register in person at RunnersWorld Tulsa (44th & Peoria) or call 918-244-6918 to reserve a spot.

Prizes: Each year we have lots of high quality technical running fabric gear (shirts, shorts, jackets, hats, etc) that we give away to Poker Run winners. We will also have gift certifacates, free race entries, and many other greta give-aways.

If you, your company, or a race you are promoting, would like to donate ANYTHING (Gift Certificates, product samples, giveaways, race entries, shirts etc.) please email Brian. We will certainly give you some free PR !!!!

Questions: Email brian@tatur.org or call 918-244-6918 or stop by RunnersWorld Tulsa.

2006 Poker Run Results

GREENPEPLE
Trail Run

For Climate Change Awareness

Saturday, June 21st at Pat Murphy Park/Bluff Creek Trails, at the corner of W. Hefner and Meridian.  Registration and event instructions start at 8:30.  Runners take off at 9:00.  Run as many loops as you like on this 3.5 mile course.  One aid station stocked with water, Gatorade, oranges, pretzels and whatever else we think of! There will be a Poker Run! At registration you will receive 3 cards, with an additional 2 at the completion of each loop.  Best poker hand wins… SOMETHING GREAT! Run a lap, get your cards, eat a hot dog, then run another.  No penalty for taking long breaks between laps. But the more laps you run, the more cards you get.  Have your cards ready at 11:30 and 1:30 for the Poker Games.  You are welcome to keep running laps after that, but the aid station will be cleaned up soon after.

This event is not a race.  No bib numbers, no timing chips.  The winners are all participants who will learn about global warming, ways to limit it, recycling and to respect the Earth.  What better way to celebrate the Summer Solstice!

Your $5.00 donation / per person will get you a wonderful event, aid stations during the run, and family entertainment at the Start/Finish area.   Hot-dogs, veggie dogs, beer and soft drinks available throughout the day. Pre-registration is encouraged!
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Name ___________________________________________
Email ___________________________________________
Phone___________________________________________
Emergency Contact/Phone___________________________

I understand that Trail Running can be dangerous.  I assume all risks during this event, and will not hold OKC Trail Running Association, Bluff Creek Trails, Oklahoma City, or any other entity involved with this event responsible.

Signature__________________________________________________

Make checks payable to:  Oklahoma Trail Runners Association – Or register in person at event.
3421 NW 25th Street
 OKC, OK 73107

For more information: cranwell@cox.net or Katharine at 820-2243

Date Changed for 2008 Barkley Book Fair !!

Saturday June 21st at 6:30pm

Are You Brave Enough to Take the Challenge?
Click here to learn more about this very unique event!!!

One of the Barkley Book Fair Caves. Home of a huge turkey vulture!! (Seriously!)

2008 Inaugural Tatur six hour Snake Run Results

Saturday MArch 8, 2008 9am-6pm

50 Starters & 50 Finishers !!!

Conditions: Sunny for most of the day. Start time temperature °19 Finish temperature was °42. Trail conditions were icy puddles at the start and within an hour the ice began meting leaving puddles of mud and water.

Be sure to join us again in May for the 3rd Annual Tatur's Barkley Book Fair !!!

All results are preliminary !!!! Please email Brian Hoover at brian@tatur.org if you see any mistakes or discrepencies.

Sponsored by:

Bold Italics = Female

Masters is over 50 years of age (The Tatur Masters scoring system !!!)