2011 Recover from the Holidays 50km race report

Just before 8 o'clock in the morning, 127 runners assembled together to listen to pre-race instructions. The race director described the course, mentioned the sponsors (Fleet Feet and Hammer Nutrition), covered the last minute reminders and then talked about the process if anyone should decide that they wanted to drop out of the race. Having dropped out of this race three times himself, Eric Charette noted that should a runner indicate that they were done, they would be asked three times if they were sure. Having said "no" twice and then "yes" the third time in other looped races, he felt it was important to make sure the runners were completely sure they wanted to be ruled out before marking them off the list. Being a race that many people use as a long training run and never intending to finish, this process would provide comedic relief all day long as runners answered the question in a variety of ways. Charette also enticed the runners with a challenge; if any male could run under 4:00, or any female under 4:30, that he would buy pizza at lunch for all runners.

With 127 runners starting the race, it marked a new all time high, which was up from 85 runners the year before. At 40 degrees, the weather was a little warmer than average, with temperatures forecast into the middle 60's for the late afternoon. In years past their had been rain, snow, wind and even warmer temperatures in 2010, so the runners found this weather for the last day of 2011 to be perfect ultra running weather in Huntsville, Alabama. With a 1-mile loop, followed by ten 3-mile loops totaling 31 miles ahead of them, they took off from the start of the Cross Country Running park at precisely 8:00 am.

Photo Courtesy of Gregg Gelmis

Like a slow speed chase, the runners at the front mostly stayed together on the first small loop, using it as a warm up for their legs. Taking the early lead were Brandon Mader and Blake Thompson, followed by the rest of the pack. This would prove to be the story early on as the pace picked up and the leaders created some separation. Mader seemed to get stronger as the race went on, but Thompson hung around, while last year's winner and top seed DeWayne Satterfield and top local ultra runners Tim Vinson and Erik Debolt ran closely behind. Mader built quite a lead throughout the day and by the 25 mile mark was back at the aid station in under 3 hours, but was dealing with leg cramps. Despite being in very good spirits, he slowed slightly in the next lap and decided that it was the best decision to call it a day early, considering he had only intended to run half of the race. This put the ever steady Satterfield in the lead and he would stay there through to the end. His finishing time of 3:50:59 was the 7th fastest time in the last six years (he also owns the second fastest time with a 3:44:18 in 2007, the fourth fastest with a 3:47:34 in 2009 and another sub-4 in 2008 at 3:59:51 for the 9th fastest time).  Satterfield entertained the runners and many volunteers by wearing a shirt and tie during the entire race, noting that he was "going to tie one on today."

Photo Courtesy of Gregg Gelmis

Not to be outdone, Tim Vinson also broke the 4-hour mark with a 3:56:35. Between these two guys, they helped to earn that pizza for the other 125 runners. Coming in 3rd place was Kari Salomaa from Helsinki Finland with a time of 4:10:01.

On the women's side, Tammy Tribbet from Manassas, Virginia lead from the start and never looked back. Like Satterfield, she ran steady all day long and with a 4:25:30, she was just 36 seconds off of the fastest female time since 2006 and was 9th overall. Tribbet had come down to Huntsville specifically for this race in her efforts to run an ultra marathon in all 50 states. Finishing second female was Patti Holmes, running 5:19:47 in her first 50km race. In third was Sarah Tierney with a time of 5:35:30, which in just her second 50km race, set a personal record by almost 90 minutes.

Photo Courtesy of Gregg Gelmis

This year the 81 finishers were also a record high, up from 55 in the previous year. These record numbers can be attributed to the perfect weather, the race date falling on a Saturday and online signup. Beyond that, the running boom continues as the Huntsville Track Club shows that race attendance is up at nearly every event and the number of new runners attempting ultra distances has also gone up.

For the second year in a row, finishers received with a hand made finisher award with the race logo and date laser engraved onto the front of the "medal".  The race would not be possible if not for the many volunteers counting laps, stocking the aid station and handing out awards!

There were many laughs, many personal bests and fun times at the 2011 Recover from the Holidays 50km brought to you by the Huntsville Track Club.

Photo Courtesy of Gregg Gelmis

Full Results

Top 10 Finishers
1 DeWayne Satterfield, M47 - 3:50:59
2 Tim Vinson, M47 - 3:56:35
3 Kari Salomaa, M34 - 4:10:01
4 Brett Wilks, M31 - 4:12:25
5 Eric Patterson, M39 - 4:14:45
6 Chad Davis, M45 - 4:17:30
7 Nelson Armstrong, M38 - 4:20:30
8 Erik DeBolt, M29 - 4:21:30
9 Tammy Tribett, F39 - 4:25:30
10 Brett Addington, M34 4:27:12

2011 RFH50km
150 registered runners (108 male, 42 female)
127 runners started (97 male, 34 female)
81 finishers (64 male, 17 female)
1179 miles run by all runners

2010 RFH50km
102 registered runners (80 male, 22 female)
85 runners started (65 male, 20 female)
55 finishers (40 male, 15 female)
805 miles run by all runners

2009 RFH50km
52 finishers (47 male, 5 female)

2008 RFH50km
44 finishers (39 male, 5 female)

2007 RFH50km
40 finishers (28 male, 12 female)

2006 RFH50km
32 finishers (25 male, 7 female)