The Woodlands Marathon gets spicy, in a bad way
It was hot, hot, hot for distance runners this weekend. I go for a run in Missouri.
Hello endurance athletes,
Well, Texas weather, what are you gonna do? Two weekends ago it was cold, rainy and miserable. Then this past weekend the weather for The Woodlands Marathon was stupid warm and muggy. More on that later.
Meanwhile, I was in Missouri visiting family and running up to the highest point in my home state, Mount Taum Sauk. The Saint Francois Mountains in Southeast Missouri were once large mountain and one of the few places in the Midwest that weren’t underwater when most of the present U.S. was under an ocean. It’s lovely, hilly country, the northern reaches of the Ozark Mountains. Which, if you’ve been to NW Arkansas, you know the terrain. I managed to set a fastest known time for the approach I took, so that was fun. It’s always easiest to set an FKT when no one has done that route before. Here’s the full report on fastestknowntime.com.
I used that run as part of my build-up to a local 12-hour endurance run here in The Woodlands. It’s called Find Your Pace and is free but you are encouraged to give to one of the charities. There will be vendors and lots going on it, sounds like. If you around on March 19, sign up and drop in. You don’t have to run the whole twelve hours, it’s a come and go, no pressure event. There’s also a post-race beer mile.
Ironton, Mo, the sleepy little town where my mother-in-law lives has begun to transition into a real outdoor sports paradise. Following a massive industrial accident, the community invested funds from a settlement into what is now a first class mountain biking park. The Shepherd Hill Mountain Bike Park opened just last year, but is now the home to a stop on the Big Mountain Enduro mountain biking series. It is spicy.
That’s one wild video.
The facilities are top-notch too, The Wheelhouse there offers showers, bike cleaning racks and a shuttle service.
If you are into enduro/gravity riding Shepherd Mountain might just get you to drive past Bentonville.
And now, finally, on with the news…
The Woodlands Marathon turns sweaty
As I mentioned earlier, The Woodlands Marathon turned into a pretty warm day for the athletes as the high surged into the upper-70s later in the race.
Hannah Miller, a New Zealander and former SMU track athlete, came in from Albuquerque to get the women’s win in the marathon in 2:38:29. Before the race, she expressed concern that it was a small field and she likely wouldn’t have anyone to push her. She finished with an 11-minute lead on second, so it seems she was correct.
Dallas’ Ingrid Mollenkopf was the second place finisher and top Texan in 2:49:27.
On the men’s side, Kenya’s Edward Kandie came away with a 14-minute win in 2:27:40. Zhao Meng, of Frisco, took second place and top Texan honors in a 2:41:54 time.
Hannah Miller, women’s marathon winner.
Edward Kandie, the men’s marathon winner.
Men’s second place in the half marathon Nacho Hernando.
Women’s first place in the half marathon Kinsey Middleton.
Rachel Baptista, third place in the half.
Kimberly and Michelle Krezonoski who finished fifth and sixth in the half.
Host and RD of the “Find Your Pace” 12 hour endurance run, Van “The Speedo Bandito” Joslin, pushed a chair for the Ainsley’s Angel’s crew and turned in a 1:42 half marathon.
And some more photos from around the course.
Meme of the Week
Featured Events
J&J Race And Trail Running Reunion | 101, 42, 21, 4 mile trail runs, 1 mile youth and 21 ruck | Camp Eagle | March 11-13
XTERRA Bluebonnet Triathlon | Offroad Sprint Triathlon/Duathlon | Burnet | March 26
The Southwest 100 | 104M, 52M, 26.2M 13.1M, 10K, 5K trail runs | Fort Davis | March 26-27
Headwaters of the Frio Trail Marathon | 26.2, 13.1, 12K, 5K trail runs | Leakey | April 2
Brazos Bend 50 | 100K, 50M, 50K, 25K, 10K, 5K trail runs | Brazos Bend State Park | April 9
Snapping Tortuga | OWS 1250M, 2.5K, 5K | Lake Conroe | April 9
Gran Fondo Texas | 88, 67, 31 mile ride | Montgomery | April 9
Ironman 70.3 Texas | 70.3 triathlon | Galveston | April 3
Gator Bait Adventure Race | Adventure Race | Huntsville State Park | April 23
Ironman Texas | 140.6 triathlon | The Woodlands | April 23
Jailbreak 100 / Jailbird 55 Gravel Challenge | Gravel ride 100 or 55 miles | Huntsville | April 23
Wild Canyons Ultra | 100, 75, 50, 25, 10, 5 kilometer trail runs | Caprock Canyon | April 23-24
Cal Tri San Antonio | Variety of multisport events | New Braunfels | April 24
Gator Bait Trail Race | 5K, 15K, 13.1 trail runs | Huntsville State Park | April 24
Texas Switchback | 26.2, 13.1, 10K, 5K trail run | Johnson City | May 7
Gravel Locos | 30 - 150 mile gravel grinder | Hico | May 12-14
Texas State Time Trial Championships | Individual and team trial race | Hempstead | May 14
Possums Revenge | 69M, 52M, 56K, 17M, 8M AND 4M trail runs | Possum Kingdom Lake | May 21
Texas Trail Running Festival | 26.2, 13.1, 10K, 5K, Youth 1 mile trail runs | Krause Springs | June 4
Media We are Consuming
How Bike Club’s decentralized cycling community changes everything (Endurance Sportswire)
More National Parks are Requiring Time Entry Passes (Woodall’s)
25 women in sports to celebrate for Women’s History Month (Fansided)
97-year-old woman surprised after breaking age-group 5K world record (Canadian Running)
Zwift plugs cheating hole allowing in-game height and weight adjustment (VeloNews)
Supreme Court reimposes death sentence for Boston Marathon bomber (NBC News)
Magma’s Crossover Series Grill Wins Innovation Award at 2022 Miami International Boat Show (Outdoor Sportswire)
Full disclosure- The company I work for also owns the MIBS and I never get to go
Zwift becomes title sponsor of Parix-Roubaix Femmes (VeloNews)
L Catterton Acquires Texas-based Lightweight Camper Manufacturer Taxa Outdoors (Outdoor Sportswire)
Get Out There
The Bikes or Death podcast just released an episode on a bikerafting trip in Big Bend. The photos and story are terrific and filled with lots of good information.
The podcast’s website has links to the podcast, of course, but also more photos, route map and a link to the historical companion about the route.
