I signed up for this race about 2 weeks prior, and planned to run it as a training run. There are 5 races: 50K, marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K … MORE
I signed up for this race about 2 weeks prior, and planned to run it as a training run. There are 5 races: 50K, marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K – with staggered starts from 5:30 to 8. I ran the Half, which runs a figure 8 of sorts through the north side of the property, and then to the south side of the property (50Kers and Marathoners have to run the figure 8 twice). You’ve got to love a race that states: “RULE NUMBER 1 – IF YOU’RE A WUSS – JUST STAY HOME!”
Logistics: Coalgate is kind of in the middle of no-where, and this ranch is 10 minutes north of Coalgate. The ranch owners have some bunkhouses and cabins (sold out), and they offered up their land for camping the night before. I camped with another runner. It worked out great! They gave us food the night before, there were bonfires, and morning of, I literally rolled over to the start. Port-o-potties were plentiful. Everything worked out.
Course and support: The course is gorgeous! The terrain varied from open pastures to single track to running around boulders with no shoulder on one side. It wasn’t too technical – except for a few parts on the northern loop. I think what made this so difficult was running in full June sun through the fields. Course support was spectacular. I remember at least 4 aid stations, and the volunteers were great!! Super supportive, and really assisting all the runners as they came in (a lot of the volunteers were pro-active and would ask each runner what they needed).
SWAG: The SWAG bag at packet pick-up was good! We were given race t-shirts, plus a bandana with the course map, also a koozie, a first-aid kit, sunglasses, a carabiner clip, and chapstick. Not to mention the included meals (pasta dinner before, barbecue at the finish, plus beer, watermelon, icee pops). There were also medals (I’m not much of a medal person).
Mustangs: There are wild mustangs at this ranch. It’s an eco-tourism ranch, and they provide refuge to wild horses. I think they said that about 170 mustangs live at Mowdy. They corralled most, but left about 20 running free in the field. We watched them at the start and throughout the day. Spectacular. Proceeds from this race are contributed to their upkeep and care.
Final verdict: Yes, loved this race!! It was tough, and beautiful, the people that came out to run it definitely were not wusses. I loved that we could camp ahead of time. Welcome to Oklahoma!
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Run with the Mustangs!
I signed up for this race about 2 weeks prior, and planned to run it as a training run. There are 5 races: 50K, marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K … MORE
I signed up for this race about 2 weeks prior, and planned to run it as a training run. There are 5 races: 50K, marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K – with staggered starts from 5:30 to 8. I ran the Half, which runs a figure 8 of sorts through the north side of the property, and then to the south side of the property (50Kers and Marathoners have to run the figure 8 twice). You’ve got to love a race that states: “RULE NUMBER 1 – IF YOU’RE A WUSS – JUST STAY HOME!”
Logistics: Coalgate is kind of in the middle of no-where, and this ranch is 10 minutes north of Coalgate. The ranch owners have some bunkhouses and cabins (sold out), and they offered up their land for camping the night before. I camped with another runner. It worked out great! They gave us food the night before, there were bonfires, and morning of, I literally rolled over to the start. Port-o-potties were plentiful. Everything worked out.
Course and support: The course is gorgeous! The terrain varied from open pastures to single track to running around boulders with no shoulder on one side. It wasn’t too technical – except for a few parts on the northern loop. I think what made this so difficult was running in full June sun through the fields. Course support was spectacular. I remember at least 4 aid stations, and the volunteers were great!! Super supportive, and really assisting all the runners as they came in (a lot of the volunteers were pro-active and would ask each runner what they needed).
SWAG: The SWAG bag at packet pick-up was good! We were given race t-shirts, plus a bandana with the course map, also a koozie, a first-aid kit, sunglasses, a carabiner clip, and chapstick. Not to mention the included meals (pasta dinner before, barbecue at the finish, plus beer, watermelon, icee pops). There were also medals (I’m not much of a medal person).
Mustangs: There are wild mustangs at this ranch. It’s an eco-tourism ranch, and they provide refuge to wild horses. I think they said that about 170 mustangs live at Mowdy. They corralled most, but left about 20 running free in the field. We watched them at the start and throughout the day. Spectacular. Proceeds from this race are contributed to their upkeep and care.
Final verdict: Yes, loved this race!! It was tough, and beautiful, the people that came out to run it definitely were not wusses. I loved that we could camp ahead of time. Welcome to Oklahoma!