Featured Running Event of the Week - the Hawhtorn Half Day Ultra

The Hawthorn Half Day Ultra consists of several races within one race.  Reminds me a bit of the 24 Hours of Daytona Sports Car Race - or maybe the 12 Hours of Sebring.

There is a 12-hour relay race, in which teams rotate through members for 12 hours.  Team sizes vary.  There is a 6-hour relay race, same as the 12 hour - but half as long.
There is a 12-hour individual race, in which a single runner tries to log as many miles in 12 hours as possible.
There is a 6-hour individual race, same as the 12, but half as long.
There is a 12-hour walker division - and there are "rules" about what constitutes a walk.
And, finally, there is a 6-hour walker division.  Same as 12, but half as long.

The races start at 7:00am.  The 6-hour ends at 1:00pm, the 12-hour at 7:00pm.  SHARP.

Only laps completed count - so if a participant is still on the course when the clock strikes 1:00 or 7:00 - they get no credit for that - even if they've completed 2.9 miles of that 3.1 mile loop.

Now, to adjust for that, with 30 minutes left in each race (6 or 12) - the race directors open a "short course", which is about 1K long - and participants can complete as many of those as possible within the final 30 minutes to log more mileage.  Same rule though, if a participant is still out there when the clock strikes - that final loop does not count.  So, there is actually a little strategy in running - should the runner go out with 35 to go on the 3.1 mile loop - or wait 5 minutes and complete with several 1K loops?  Hmmm, decisions.  How fast is the runner at that point in the day?  Hmmm??  Yes, actual strategy comes into play.

Because this is an endurance race and not a sprint, runners are allowed to "pull off" the course shortly before the timing mats and check into Runner's Village.  In Runner's Village they have their support staff, or just their own tents and coolers.  They can spend as much time there - or as little.  The idea of the ultra is to log as many miles within the allotted time.  Each runner has their own goal - some are trying for overall 1st, some have a distance in mind, some just want to accomplish it, some want to keep moving - even if slowly, some just want to run for 4 hours.  Whatever - and that's what makes a timed-ultra so unique.  Several runners, several agendas.

Just like sports car racing (and polite drivers on expressways) - slower runners keep right on the track - allowing the faster runners to get by cleanly.  The path is usually 3-wide, sometimes 4-6 wide, and very seldom only 2 wide.  There were no memorable single-wide spots on the track.

This is a lot like a sports car race, for those that follow.  There are faster and slower participants, walkers and runners, some fresh (just hopped into the relay), some not-so-fresh (on mile 5 of individual), some are in it to win it, some are out for a summer walk, etc etc.  But, no matter what, each participant extends courtesy to the others, the trail etiquette is perfect.  Other runners, late in the race, ask slower ones if they are ok or how they are doing.  Some even walk/jog along with fellow runners and converse. 

The trail itself is a 3.1 mile loop at Hawthorn Woods in Terre Haute.  It has 2 significant hills, one of which peaks right where spectators will be.  Nothing like scaling the toughest climb of the day, and have people watching.  Of course, this is motivating.  Approximately 60% of the course is in the tree-lined forest and shady, but 40% is out in the prairie and about 1/2 a mile of that is along side the pond.  And that makes for a hot and humid 1/2 mile.  (and that 1/2 mile is repeated for each loop).  The finish line area is also in a prairie which is sun soaked 90% of the day.  Of course, there are also downhills, so that's refreshing.  The majority of the course is dirt/mulch trail, there is some prairie/grass, some asphalt, and some crushed gravel.  The scenery is ever changing though!  Starting in a parking lot, immediately into forestry, reappearing next to a street and a small wooden bridge, a small parking lot, a prairie along side a pond, back into the forest with some hills, then trough the RV/Tent campground passing many spectators and campfires and cookouts, then a little more forest, grass, and finish area prairie.

Nearly all of the campers watch, and many cheer and post signs - some even offer refreshments!!!  This part also is like a sports car event - people are camping - and there just happens to be a race going by.

There are times on the course where it is just the runner and their mind and the elements, sometimes another runner isn't seen for minutes on end.  And this is when the true test begins, it's hot, legs are tired, it's been 8 hours, etc etc - all those thoughts in the runner's mind - and the runner having to put them aside and push on.

No matter which of the race categories chosen, it's a great race - it is very well organized and the paths are CLEARLY marked the entire way.  The ever changing scenery, especially the trip through the campgrounds, keep it interesting for all 3.1 miles.