LAKE OF THE OZARKS OKTOBERFEST .5K AND 5K RUN/WALK (posted October 18th)

The race results can be found here.

I'll post a link to the photos as soon as they're done, which could take a couple days.

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BIG DOG'S BACKYARD ULTRA INDIVIDUAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP  (updated October 18th)

Weather update:  The bad weather that began on Saturday morning at the Lake should hit Bell Buckle, Tennessee around midnight and continue to about noon Sunday.  Rain, gusty winds and cooler temperatures are going to make for some miserable conditions for those competing at Big's..

The insanity started at 7:00 a.m. Saturday. Here are some links:

Live tracking

Big Dog's Backyard Ultra Run Group Facebook page

Main website

YouTube channel (for livestreams)

Instagram page

Ultrasignup page

Bell Buckle, Tennessee weather

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WEEKEND EVENTS FOR OCTOBER 18 - 19

If you're itching to race, this and the following two weekends offer lots of opportunities.  After that, the pickings will get much leaner, and the weather will be chancier.

We have a local race this weekend.  The third annual Lake of the Ozarks Oktoberfest .5K and 5K takes place on Saturday at The Sanctuary Brewery in Osage Beach.  The race starts at 9:00 a.m., and benefits Wonderland Camp.  Scroll down this column to "Upcoming Events" to get all the details.

Three local women--Margie Gunter, Kim Sovcik and Christina Wilson--have planned for months to run the Detroit Free Press International Half Marathon that takes place this Sunday, but I'm not sure who is still going.  No big deal.  We'll know soon enough. Update: Natasha Boettcher is running the marathon.

It's time again for the high school cross country conference championships.  Osage and Eldon cross country runners will compete at the Tri County Conference Meet in Eldon on Thursday (10/16).  Also on Thursday, Versailles goes to the Ozark Highlands Conference Meet in El Dorado Springs.  On Friday, Camdenton is competing at the CMAC (Central Missouri Activities Conference) Meet, but I don't know where it's being held.  

The Big Dog's Individual World Backyard Ultra Championship starts Saturday at 7:00 a.m.   Seventy-five competitors from all over the world will be competing. I believe this is the official Facebook page.

Elsewhere:

Rolla:

Lion King Backyard Ultra, Saturday

Steelville (Mark Twain National Forest):

BT Epic mountain bike race (Facebook page), Saturday

Kansas City and vicinity:

Garmin Kansas City Marathon/Half/10K/5K, Saturday
Rescue K-911's: The Great Pupkin Run 5K, Sunday (family and dog friendly)

St. Louis and vicinity:

Minnie Ha Ha 6- and 12-Hour Runs, Fenton, Saturday
Gumbo Flats Pumpkin Run 5K/10K, Chesterfield, Saturday
Run for Webster 5K, Webster Groves, Sunday
The Great GO! St. Louis Halloween Race (5K on Saturday; 10K & Half Marathon on Sunday), Eureka

Des Moines, Iowa:

Des Moines Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K, Sunday

Bell Buckle, Tennessee:

Big Dog's Backyard Ultra, Saturday

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BANK OF AMERICA CHICAGO MARATHON (posted October 13th)

Bobbi Snodgrass of Lake Ozark broke her own Lake-area running record at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday.  Bobbi already owns the record for being the only local woman to finish a marathon while in the 60-64 age group.  At Chicago, she beat her previous record of 4:12:47, set at last November's New York City Marathon, by finishing in 4:03:38.  (That finish time record could stand for a long, long time--unless she breaks it herself.)  Bobbi ran a very steady 9:00-9:30 per-mile pace through 40K, before a slight slowdown in the last 2K.  She placed 73rd in her age group. (Bobbi qualified for the 2026 Boston Marathon with her New York City finish; her 4:03:38 finish in Chicago will almost certainly qualify her for Boston in 2027. She's no stranger to Boston. She's run it at least seven times, the most recent being 2021.)

Unlike the past two years, there were no world records set at this year's race.  The men's winner, though, Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda, was on a record pace through 22 miles before slowing down and finishing about two minutes off the world record.  He won in 2:02:23.  Hawi Feysa of Ethiopia won the women’s race in 2:14:56.  That was five minutes slower than the women's worlf record set last year in Chicago, but still the sixth fastest women's marathon in history.

There were two other notable finishers.  Randy Acklin of Marshfield finished in 4:53:25, and some kid--perhaps a newbie runner?--named Todd Raney finished in 6:24:39.  If I missed any locals, you know what to do.

You can read more about the race here. 

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HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY MEET RESULTS FOR OCTOBER 9 - 13th (updated October 14th)

Here are the top finishers for each local high school at this past weekend's races:

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PHYLICIA CARSON MEMORIAL 5K (posted September 16th)

The second annual Phylicia Carson Memorial 5K Run/Walk will be held on Saturday, November 1st at Osage Beach City Hall. Phylicia Carson was an Osage Beach police officer who tragically died in the line of duty on Labor Day weekend in 2024, leaving behind a husband and six children.

Race-day registration will be open from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. The festivities begin at 8:35 with the playing of the national anthem.  The run/walk will start at 9:00 a.m. 

The entry fee for those 18-and-over is $25, or $30 on race day. T-shirts can only be guaranteed for those who register on or before October 1st.  Participants under 18 run or walk free of charge. 

T-shirts can be purchase at the event for $20.

Missouri Concerns of Police Survivors (donate here) and the Pregnancy Help Center (donate here) are the event's beneficiaries. Donations can also be made by cash or check at the race.

Online registration and more details can be found here.

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HONORING OUR HEROES MARATHON, MARATHON RELAY, HALF MARATHON, 10K & 5K (posted October 9th)

The eleventh Honoring Our Heroes race will take place on Saturday, November 15th. 

The 10K and 5K start and end in Rolla.  The point-to-point marathon and marathon relay races start in Salem and end in Rolla.  The half marathon starts at the marathon halfway point, and also ends in Rolla.  Bus transportation is provided to the full and half marathon starting points.

An expo and pasta party (free to race participants) takes place Friday evening.

Complete race information is available here. Online and mail-in registration information is here.

Check out the race's Facebook page for still more information.

Veterans and active-duty military members--and their family members--get a 50% discount on their entry fees.

Seven-time HOH marathon finisher April Leonard of Eldon is a race ambassador, and can provide you a discount code on your entry fee.  (Note: Discount codes can't be stacked.)  E-mail her here.

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