- The Heartland 100/50 Mile Endurance Run is a great race put on by the Kansas Ultrarunners' Society. It's a small race with great course support and volunteers. This was my first attempt at an ultra distance and only my second race of marathon distance or longer.
- The course wanders through the Flint Hills and prairie grasslands of Central Kansas. We raced on ranch roads through cattle grazing country. You can see from the course map that there were long stretches that were straight as an arrow. However, due to the near constant up-and-down of the hills, the course was never boring, and only when you crested a hill did you realize you had been walking in a straight line for miles. The turnaround for the 50 mile race was right aftet the Teterville Road Aid Station (where there is handwriting on the map above).
- For some reason I didn't realize the course would be hilly. I'm not sure why I thought that, especially when you look at the elevation chart above! I realize this race doesn't have nearly as much elevation gain as many other ultras, but I wasn't expecting the near constant rolling hills. They really took a toll on my legs!
- Preparations are all made. This is my race day "ready bag," my three drop bags for the aid stations and my Camelbak FlashFlo. I'm ready to go.