The Second Annual Haw Ridge 50k took place Saturday, April 22nd, at the
LIfe Development Center on Haw Ridge, an Oak Ridge City Park, located
just fifteen minutes outside Knoxville, TN. 

It is a free, grass roots
run that emphasizes runner provided aid and a gift exchange. This year we
asked runners to donate $10 to the Friends of Haw Ridge, the organization
that maintains trail at Haw Ridge. We raised almost $400. Way to go
runners!!

There were thirty-six runners this year, a fifty percent
increase over last year. Runners had the option of running from one to
four loops around Haw Ridge on a 8.5 mile, mostly singletrack course. Due
to a series of very large thunderstorms that dropped five inches of ran
in the days leading up to the run, we had some unusual water crossings
and very slimy conditions as the run progressed.

Last year's fastest
time was 5:24 in near perfect conditions. This year, Jack Kilislian
ran a 5:50 in terrible consitions, wet, slimy, muddy, hot, and very
humid. Congrats to Jack for a well run race. The fastest female was Karen
Beaulieu, a Canadian Transplant running her first ultra, who completed
four loops in 8:13. All runners completed at least one loop, but only
six runners completed four loops, due mostly to the decaying conditions
later in the run.

I would like to thank the City of Oak Ridge, the
Life Development Center, the Friends of Haw RIdge, and the volunterrs:
Carolyn Bechard (my mom), Karen Kadas (my wife), and all the runners who
volunteered to brave the weather and make for another successful trail
run at Haw Ridge. 

Thank you!