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Pennar 40 Mile Run 1998 Results

  1  Terry Williams  (36)       Pensacola               5:01:09
  2  Richard Schick  (48)       Marietta, GA            5:36:25
  3  Dana Stetson  (41)         Tallahassee, FL         6:11:35
  4  Rodney Hammons  (43)       Sulphur, LA             6:12:21
  5  Jerry Grace  (41)          Jacksonville, FL        6:13:30
  6  Gary Griffin  (48)         Tallahassee, FL         6:22:37
  7  Sheldon Skirten  (48)      Pensacola               6:25:08
  8  Joseph Wills  (42)         Baton Rouge, LA         6:26:24
  9  Fred Miller  (38)          Mandeville, LA          6:34:12
  9  Shannon Allison  (37)      Mandeville, LA          6:34:12
11  Richard Westbrook  (51)     Jonesboro, GA           6:42:03
12  Josh Miller  (31)           Lake Charles, LA        6:49:13
13  Scott Heine  (46)           Panama City Beach, FL   6:51:36
14  Hank Melanson  (48)         Orange Park, FL         6:53:40
15  Peggy M. Lanier  (45)       Montgomery, AL          7:02:37
15  Jeffery A. Blaker  (38)     Surfside, FL            7:02:37
17  Judy Thieme  (42)           Lafaytte, LA            7:19:40
18  John Thieme  (36)           Lafayette, LA           7:24:20
19  Larry Rigsby  (46)          Montgomery, AL          7:24:56
20  Victor Colon  (35)          Pensacola               7:35:44
21  Steven Graber  (45)         Gulf Breeze             7:39:30
22  Mark Colbert  (32)          Bossier City, LA        7:52:23
23  Andrew Colee  (51)          Valparaiso, FL          7:52:45
24  Chip Marz  (51)             Diamondhead, MS         8:15:19
25  Barry Craig  (48)           Charlotte, NC           8:25:41
26  Arlene Hammons  (41)        Sulphur, LA             8:31:00
27  Michael Miles  (39)         Pensacola               8:36:20
28  Matt Miller  (78)           Metairie, LA            8:46:36
29  Jim Barnes  (57)            Pelham, AL              9:12:00
29  Andy Williams  (51)         Pensacola               9:12:00

35 Starters

High temperature & humidity caused a heat index of 110  at the first
part of the week. This had me very worried about heat stress &
dehydration among the runners during the 10th version of PENNAR.
Fortunately a front came through, bringing some cooler temperatures to
the area.  We were staying at the run headquarters on the beach, about 6
miles from town, and did not feel the strength of the storm as the front
passed (although we did get rain and some lightning.) In town the
weather was so violent that one of the local runners called me at 2:00
AM to ask if the run was still on! That call, and the thunder & rain
that I heard in the background kept me from further sleep.
(Incidentally, the weather was so severe in Pensacola that on Friday
night trees were blown down and some areas were without electricity.)

The 4AM start was blessed with no lightning, just a slight mist and a
gentle northeast breeze which would keep things comfortable on the way
to Navarre. There was a brief ceremony before the start as Gary Griffin
presented Gary Hoover a set of long underwear for being the only runner
to drop from PENNAR because of hypothermia! The rain started a coming
down a little heaver and since it was time I delayed no further, sounded
the horn, and started the run.

I enter & run PENNAR myself for several reasons: to check on the aid
stations & their crews, to make sure (as best I can) that there are no
major problems on the course, and the main reason is that I like the
area we run through. Approaching the 9 mile mark I found another reason.
Regina Miles was running personal crew for her husband Mike, and she had
gotten stuck in the soft sand on the shoulder of the beach road.
Shelley was crewing for Richard Westbrook and driving a Jeep. Shelley
had stopped and tried to help but didn't have a tow cable. I had a tow
cable back at the motel. Shelley and Richard were true Samaritans --
Shelley and Richard agreeing to take the time away from crewing Richard
so that we could get the tow cable and get Regina out of the sand. This
was Mike Miles' first Ultra, and the Miles' were celebrating their 17th
wedding anniversary this day. The great community we belong to came
through and showed the newcomers that ultra runners look after each
other!

I was now in next to last place and determined to make up some time --
not to be! The one runner behind me decided to stop, so I was in last
place. Then I passed a runner, but she was having problems and stopped
shortly after I passed her - last place again! Then word was passed back
that I was closing on another runner, but he had trouble and stopped!
(Still last place!) About mile 31 I saw a runner in the distance and
told myself "If I catch him, I'm not going to pass!" As it turned out,
when I did catch up to Jim it was all I could do to stay with him! I had
a good time going with Jim to the finish line.

Terry Williams was determined to win this year's PENNAR and had devised
a detailed game plan to achieve this. If it hadn't been for the head
wind he would have set a new course record I'm sure. Oh yes, about the
head wind!

A little after 8AM the wind veered to the west, directly in the face or
the returning runners, and started to gust to 30+ mph!  Chip Marz was
heard to say: "How did Andy manage to have a head wind both going out
and coming back?"  Richard Schick was amazed that the terns were still
accurate in their bombing runs in a 30 knot wind! The wind turned some
runners into walkers, and whipped the aid stations unmercifully with
blowing sand. The wind started to abate after a couple of hours,
dropping to steady 10 knot breeze.

We always worry about the terns, the sand & wind, the traffic, but this
year something new arrived on the scene.  Just before catching up to
Jim, I passed some Park Rangers searching the beach area. When I asked
if someone was in trouble in the water, they replied: "No, we are trying
to catch an alligator!"  Moving right along ...

Eventually the sun came out just in time for the post-run party, and the
usual lies were told by all. For three years the weather has been
benevolent to the runners (yes, the above conditions are mild by PENNAR
standards!)  If it gets hot again, (and it probably will get hot
again!),  conditions will return to where runners use PENNAR as a heat
training run!

Andy Williams, RD