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Heartland 100 & 50 Mile 2001 Report(KS): Eric Steele

KANSAS ULTRARUNNERS' SOCIETY (KUS)
Second Annual Heartland 100 & 50 Mile Races
October 13, 2001
Cassoday, KS

Running in the prairie is a new experience for many of the first time
participants in the Heartland 100.  William Least Heat-Moon in his book
Prairie Erth describes the prairie as, "Whatever else prairie is - grass,
sky, wind - it is most of all a paradigm of infinity, a clearing full of
many things except boundaries, and its power comes from the apparent
limitlessness; there is no such thing as a small prairie any more than there
is a little ocean, and the consequence of both is this challenge."

Temperatures were in the mid-40's for the start of the second annual
Heartland 100 as a cold front had just moved through the area.  Winds were
out of the north and would become an obstacle that the runners would have to
deal with throughout the event.  The projected rain never materialized and
the sky was crystal clear by late morning providing the runners with
unsurpassed views of the Flint Hills tallgrass prairie.  High temperatures
for the day were in the upper 50's and by early evening the winds lessened.
As the runners were enjoying an evening of running under the clear star
filled skies Mother Nature decided it was time for some more Kansas wind.
The increasing wind along with temperatures that were falling to the low 40'
s caught many runners off guard between their drop bags.

Returning champions Charles Stodter and Monica Scholz were in the field
along with 48% of last year's participants.  Phil Sheridan set the early
pace covering the first 50K in 4:03.  Mark Henderson and David Wakefield who
was running only his second ultra followed him.  By the turnaround it looked
to be a two-man race with Phil reaching the 50-mile mark in 7:05 followed by
Mark in 7:33.  Phil was forced to retire from the race at 83 miles and Mark
continued on his mission of redemption after his second place finish last
year and finished in 17:17:50 with an impressive course record.  Charles
Stodter demonstrated the same consistent pacing as last year and finished in
20:40:06.  At the awards ceremony he proudly displayed a perfect Indian
arrowhead he had found on the course during the race.

Early in the women's race, Monica Scholz and Yen Nguyen were close, however
Monica's consistent pace allowed her to gradually pull away from Yen.
Monica went on to defend her women's title, set a course record of 20:32:34
and finish second overall.  What makes her performance even more impressive
was that she had an equally fine performance the previous week at the
Arkansas Traveler.  Yen continued on to finish second in 25:56:31.

James Maher won the 50-mile race in 8:02:28.  Dave McGuire and Raul Flores
finished next and then helped crew and pace Monica to her victory.

For runners looking for a different adventure, or looking for a good race
for their first attempt at 100-miles, the openness of the prairie will
present challenges and views that are uniquely different from other races.
We look forward to seeing everyone next October for the third annual
Heartland 100.

Randy Albrecht RD



Jack Menard adds:

The October issue of Ultrarunning contains over 39 reviews of ultras across
the nation.  This attests to the number of races being offered.  My wife and
I wanted to run something different for my first 100 miler and her first 50
miler.  The Heartland 100/50 looked good and was also within driving
distance from our home base of Denver.

It is easy to be humbled when running a mountain race.  We were to find that
same feeling while running beneath a blanket of stars where only the
unending horizon fills ones vision.  This race is unique, to say the least.
It is no cakewalk.  The 6042 feet of climb through the Flint Hills tallgrass
prairie provides a serious challenge.  Nowhere else can you run with a 360
degree field of view with nothing but open space.  Occasional oilrigs churn
with the same sounds they have made since the turn of the century.  Cattle
crossings become welcome distractions from the pace.

Forget pasta at the pre-race dinner.  This is Kansas and meat is king. The
Cassoday Café (founded in 1879!) catered a great menu of home cooking'. In
addition, the aid station at mile 31/62 offered Dave's famous " Prairie
Power Pellets"-a unique blend of some prairie bean mixed of course with
wieners.

Our thanks go out to all the great volunteers.  We made a lot of new friends
who we hope to see again.