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The first annual Three Days of Syllamo (pronounced like "SILL-a-mow") stage race was held in the Ozark Mountains north of Little Rock on March 18 through 20, 2005. The race headquarters was located at Blanchard Springs Recreation Area and racers could also camp there. It was a great setup because all of the races started and finished at the campground pavilion so it was very easy to get to and from the races without having to climb in a car and drive. In fact, over three days I only got in a car once, and that was when I drove out of the campground to try and get a cell phone signal to call my family (no luck).
The race consists of three different distances: 20k (12.4 miles), 60k (37.2 miles) and 40k (24.8 miles). Each day consisted of different courses on a variety of different trails: horse trails, hiking trails, mountain biking trails (PDF map here), jeep road. There was some overlap in the courses over the three days, but often the trail from one day would be used in the opposite direction on the next day so the course always seemed new. Although I had raced at distances longer than this (two fifty milers and one 50k) I had never raced three days in a row and never completed this much total distance (120k or 74.4 miles) in such a short period of time. My main concern entering into this event was preserving enough energy for the next day and preventing injuries or excessive soreness.
At SunMart in December I met two really nice women, Marla and Frances. I talked to them about Syllamo and they were very interested so we decided to do it together. We all thought it would be great training for the Heartland 100 Spirit of the Prairie 100 Mile Cross Country Run in October (I've never attempted a 100 miler; Frances DNF'd her only 100 miler at 68 miles; Marla has completed several 100 milers).
We decided to ride together to save money and enjoy the trip. Marla and her friend Kenny drove separately in their Chinook RV; Frances and her daughter Katy picked me up in Dallas and we drove to Arkansas together. It was a nice trip and went faster than we expected. We hoped to get to the campground before dark so we could pick up our race packets and setup camp. We arrived about 4:30 in the afternoon and had plenty of time. First, we picked up our race packets; I've never seen a more beautiful or more dramatic packet pickup location ever. Here is a photo of the packet pickup table, with an incredible backdrop of 200 foot rock bluffs and a natural shelter cavern:
This is the campground pavilion where meals and snacks were served and where the races started and finished.
This is a shot of the campground, packet pickup and the bluffs. The large tent in the distance was our tent; we had a great location.
This is home for four days and three nights. Frances brought ALL the supplies. I kept asking her what I could bring and she asked me to bring two six packs of gatorade! I brought a little more than that, but she and Katy brought everything else. I bought gas on the way there and they way home (plus a post-race meal at Sonic) but Frances sent me $20 in the mail! I feel so guilty!
Tents of other racers. Several people showed up that evening and a few more showed up the next morning, so the campground was fairly crowded. One of the race volunteers started a fire right outside our tent but it wasn't enough to fight the bitter cold. The temperatures on the first night fell into the 20s and we were freezing. I wore a knit hat, sweater with undershirt, blue jeans, two pair of socks, and gloves. I slept inside a sleeping bag rated for 32 degrees, and I had several blankets across my feet. But I was freezing! I had to keep my face inside the sleeping bag or it would get too cold. And I slept curled in a ball with my arms inside my sweater pressed up against my body trying to preserve my body heat. It wasn't a great first night.
Marla and Kenny arrived around 11:30, but they were able to sleep inside their cozy and toasty Chinook RV. Lucky bastards!
