Rocky Raccoon 100-Mile Trail Race, Huntsville State Park, TX (by Ben Holmes)

5 Feb 2005

143 starters, 104 finishers

My short report:

This was the third year in a row that I have run this race. Luckily, I've

finished it all three years. This year, I started with fairly even splits, and

a conservative pace to 50 miles, with a time of 10:40. It was all going along

ok, then I had a little bit of trouble the last 30 miles of the race. I suddenly

couldn't put (running) weight on my right ankle and heel, due to severe pain. I

ended up only being able to run uphill for the last 30 miles, because of it. I

finished in 24:56, almost 2 hours slower than last year...but I finished!

I had an interesting conversation with a guy named Allen on the third 20-mile

loop (of the 5-loop course). He asked if I'd ever hallucinated on a Hundred,

before. I replied, "yes, when I was really dehydrated from throwing-up for 20

miles." We started swapping hallucination stories, of course. Just then, a guy

running behind us said, "who are you talking to?" A moment of self-doubt crossed

both of our minds, and we hesitated before busting-up with laughter.

I only developed one blister from the sandy mud that found its way into my

shoes. It was about the size of a silver dollar on the bottom of my left heel.

I let it develop, then popped it by stamping my foot hard on a rock. The pain

was nothing compared to my right ankle and foot. I seem to be OK, (just 2-days

after the race), but have a lot of swelling in my feet and ankles.

At this year's race, I met a lot of great folks, and got to know east-Missouri

runners Jan and Tom. Rocky Raccoon is definitely a fun 100, with great folks

organizing it and aiding it. It's also easy logistically, with the 5-loop

course. The course has rooty single-track, sandy jeep road, and beautiful pine

and deciduous woods to run through, with occasional muddy areas. Lake Raven is a

pretty lake to run around as well, and the frog and coyote chorus at night can't

be beat.

The knowledgeable and helpful aid station folks are definitely tops at this

race. This year, the post-race breakfast had better food than I've had at some

expensive hotel brunches before. Kudos to race director Joe Prusaitis and crew!

This race is a must-do for any aspiring or fun-loving ultrarunner.

Ben Holmes

Kansas City

Results:

http://www.hillcountrytrailrunners.com/docs/RockyRaccoon100m_res_2005.txt

Race Information: http://www.hillcountrytrailrunners.com/raceRockyRaccoon.html

Rocky Raccoon 100

Huntsville TX

5 Feb 2005

1 14:14:12 Jorge Pacheco 37 CA

2 15:14:09 Andy Jones-Wilkins 37 CA

3 15:35:28 Paul Frost 34 TX

4 15:55:25 Scott Eppelman 38 TX

5 16:58:12 Dave Bursler 40 DE

6 18:01:53 Luis Guerrero 41 MX

7 18:11:53 John Dove 40 GA

8 18:48:20 David Washatka 50 AL

9 19:24:41 Peter Vrolijk 46 TX

10 19:30:02 Julie Fingar F 29 CA

11 19:47:53 Eugene Trahern 42 OR

12 19:53:05 Jeff Holdaway 46 VA

13 19:56:17 Ryan Loehding 32 TX

14 20:19:58 Paul Pomeroy 43 CO

15 20:29:38 Kevin Sayers 45 MD

16 21:05:46 Jeff Heasley 37 CO

17 21:25:03 Dan Brenden 53 AZ

18 21:34:35 Frank Probst 61 VA

19 21:41:36 Dale Perry 47 CO

20 21:46:16 Bob Combs 37 OH

21 21:55:54 Shane Sampson 41 OH

22 22:00:16 Don Ryan 56 MO

23 22:01:45 Norman Richardson 49 MA

24 22:31:48 Bobby Keogh 55 NM

25 22:33:56 Kevin Griffin 50 CA

26 22:36:59 Noora Alidina F 48 FL

27 22:40:54 Pete Mehok 26 TX

28 22:43:15 Beth Simpson F 46 WI

29 22:46:30 Gary Moroney 38 TX

30 22:50:40 Matthew Watts 48 CO

31 22:57:22 Chris Clausen 20 WI

32 23:03:52 Paul Tidmore 36 TX

33 23:09:55 Bob Engel 49 OH

34 23:10:10 Bill Losey 33 KY

35 23:13:06 Linda Mcfadden F 42 CA

36 23:14:28 Joe Johnson 55 MI

37 23:15:11 Letha Cruthirds F 51 TX

38 23:19:56 Mike Farris 49 MN

39 23:23:03 Richard Hayes 53 CA

40 23:24:04 Scott Olmer 33 CO

41 23:28:11 Gretchen Lammeman F 32 TX

42 23:36:51 Kipley Fiebig 34 TX

43 23:38:29 Diana Heynen F 50 TX

44 23:39:29 Hans-Dieter Weisshaar 64 GER

45 23:41:04 Rene Villalobos 46 TX

46 23:44:42 David Berdis 46 TX

47 23:44:58 Mark Buescher 45 TX

48 23:45:42 Meredith Terranova F 30 TX

49 23:58:35 Kevin Dorsey 34 TN

50 24:19:42 Dennis Drey 53 NM

51 24:56:30 Ben Holmes 47 KS

52 24:59:04 Bill Nictakis 44 MO

53 25:14:24 John 'jb' Bridgeo 46 HI

54 25:22:30 Robert Calabria 63 NC

55 25:29:02 David Allen 46 TX

56 25:32:04 Jane Ball F 44 AZ

57 25:38:32 Elise Harrington F 43 CO

58 26:05:22 Rolly Portelance 62 Ontario

59 26:09:38 Axel Reissnecker 51 TX

60 26:11:55 Vince Gerber 50 CO

61 26:23:10 Dan Carothers 46 CA

62 26:23:13 Paul Stone 43 TX

63 26:24:08 Shannon Farar-Griefer F 43 CA

64 26:27:15 Jan Ryerse 59 MO

65 26:40:37 Dennis Jensen 56 NV

66 26:44:32 Stuart Abcug 33 GA

67 26:46:47 Phil Wright 61 CA

68 26:48:52 Troy Pfeiferling 42 TX

69 26:48:52 Daryl Lazauskas 40 TX

70 26:49:07 Ernesto Grane 39 CO

71 26:50:39 Maxwell McIntire 51 CA

72 26:53:36 Davy Crockett 46 UT

73 26:56:04 Geneva Stephens F 45 MI

74 27:11:47 Kim Sergeant F 46 TX

75 27:28:50 Jill Andersen F 27 CA

76 27:34:00 Christopher Rampocek 53 TX

77 27:39:44 Brian Tidmore 42 TX

78 27:53:47 Merty Metzger 43 TX

79 28:02:38 Evan Groutage 55 TX

80 28:07:00 Lee Norris 57 TX

81 28:10:58 Steve Williams 54 TX

82 28:12:17 Tom Pelsor 60 OR

83 28:22:43 Yen Nguyen F 42 TX

84 28:25:36 Nofal Musfy 62 TX

85 28:25:36 Shirley Musfy F 53 TX

86 28:35:05 Fran Cox F 43 TX

87 28:35:57 Robert Heynen 55 TX

88 28:41:54 Edwin Demoney 71 VA

89 28:44:59 Joe Barry 58 TX

90 28:56:57 Lori Donson F 40 OH

91 28:56:57 Leonard Martin 51 TN

92 29:20:09 Ronald Dunbar 54 TX

93 29:23:07 Ava Arzola F 42 TX

94 29:29:09 Grant Holdaway 73 UT

95 29:36:07 Brian Franklin 31 OK

96 29:40:09 Marion Landry F 60 Quebec

97 29:40:09 Donald Landry 59 Quebec

98 29:41:43 Deborah Sexton F 47 TX

99 29:55:07 Dalton Pulsipher 27 TX

100 30:46:43 Jeff Lynn 55 TX

101 31:08:47 Donna Squyres F 52 TX

102 31:19:00 Louise Mason F 51 IL

103 31:51:20 Tony Reeves 35 TX

104 31:53:07 Robert Melendez 58 TX

143 starters