**Please note that the 25K and 50K runners will also run on the 10K course referred to by Diana Snyder in this article.

**10K “Turkey and TATURS” Course Review:
An Unbiased Opinion by Diana Snyder

What has 2 legs and ticks? Could it be some kind of walking clock? …. NO! It’s Mike, my husband - the TATUR trail hound!  He has been spending vast amounts of time meticulously finding, measuring, and marking the trails to make the 10K, 25K, and 50K courses. I got a private tour of the 10K course on Saturday and I am really impressed.

The pond at Turkey Mountain

Mike, our two Golden Retrievers (Angel and Baloo), and I (Diana), started at the Pepsi Plant Parking lot off Hwy 44. After applying copious amounts of bug repellant and sunscreen (not really germane to this story, but I do like to use the word “copious” when I can, also “germane.” Fun words….), we loaded up water, snacks, dog-water-dish, bandanas, a distance-measuring wheel thingy, notepad and pen, spray paint and stencils, video equipment, and whatever the heck else Mike had in that huge backpack!

I hadn’t hiked on most of the West Side before and was amazed at the dramatic beauty I saw there. We saw rock-strewn dry creek-beds, deep, overgrown ravines, high cliff-like walls, dry waterfalls, and several ponds and meadows. Mike has worked his tail end off (if you don’t believe me just look at it some time!  His rear-end, I mean.)) to clear paths, pick up litter, and even has used our weed-eater, rake, and handsaw to manicure and make things nice. I know Dana and Ken Childress have also been working to clean it up and make the trails more user-friendly. Please be sure to thank them when you see them. Also, if you see people breaking glass on the trail, you have my permission (and that of my dogs - who happen to go BARE-footed there, Hell-O!!!) to kick their hind-ends!

The view from the Ridgeline Trail

Mike, being the bad influence that he is, awoke my “inner Gang Member”, when he encouraged me to commit an act of vandalism (not REALLY!) involving spray-paint! I think I’m a “Blood,” Yo!… since it was red paint. You’ll just have to run the 25K or 50K if you want to see our handiwork. That’s all I’m telling now. Note: No Nature was harmed in the commission of the “crime.”

After many stops for Mike to record mileage and note the turns along the trail, we came to what he called “Rock City,” but which I choose to spell “Rock Sit-ee” because it’s a great place to sit, rest, enjoy the deep shade, and have a drink and trail mix with your dogs (and Hubby). The rock formations (especially the huge boulders) on Turkey never fail to amaze me and cause me to wonder at their origins and how they got where they are.

Starting back out, having gotten our second wind, and me carrying the backpack (just what WAS in that thing?) we came to beautiful, wide, powdery-soft dirt trails which just invite you to run with joy! So we did, leaping over roots, rocks, and around a dog or two. Alas, the easy, fun part was short lived, as we soon came to yet ANOTHER steep, long uphill climb. I really want to know HOW the trail for the 10K has so many UP hills and so few down?

The sun rises over the Arkansas River

Mike expressed a little concern for how “technical” some of the uphill stretches would be for the racers. My opinion is that they’re a challenge and that’s GREAT! Trail runners SHOULD BE tough enough, and informed enough, to know that this is going to be way more challenging than some flat, 10K road race. You WILL get a good workout, in my humble opinion, and it WILL seem much longer than 10K (It sure did to me!), if you’re not used to hills. I loved the “technical” aspects of it and I think the racers (if they’re tough and sensible) will love it, too.

We spent a long time on the course, having started at 8:00 am and it was nearing noon. The dogs, though swimming in every pond we’d pass, were getting hot in their fur-coats and beginning to lag a little. That’s when Mike saw some deer and tried to point them out to me. They split before I could see them, but not before Baloo did. He decided he would chase them to the top of a tall hilly area, out of our sight, and not return to us. We imagined him saying in his befuddled way, “Come back here! What kind of dogs are you? Oh, we’re running now? Cool. Running, running, running! I think I’m a deer!” Well, Mike had to backtrack on the trail, then head up the hill to try to find him, calling his name dozens of times. Finally, he came back with his tongue hanging out, his breath coming in choking little pants, and his tail drooping (Baloo, not Mike). When Mike caught up to us we continued on.

I spotted the coolest little green snake near the trail and called Mike back to see. It resembled green and yellow jewels glittering in the sun. I told Mike to make it move, which was all the provocation he needed to launch into a bad Steve Irwin accent and say “Now watch while I stick my thumb waaaaay up its bum. Oh, he’s mad now! Crikey! He’s a Byoooo-tay!!!” For the record, we left without harassing the creature and no one stuck anything anywhere on it. Mike cracks me up!

Mountain bikers also play up at Turkey Mountain

We came off the trail and into the YMCA camp, which I had never been to before. It’s GREAT! We rested at the large covered picnic area, where I counted seating for about 100 people. Mike turned on the “misters” which are installed in the ceiling, and they really work to cool you down. We refilled our bottles at the hose, and he explained how there would be a showerhead there, and "porta" potties on race day. There are electrical outlets for our use, and lots of room to set up the cookout equipment, so it should be an excellent start-finish place with all the comforts of home.

I’m getting so excited for race-day now! I’m volunteering for a shift or two (5 hours each?) at one of the four aide stations and hope to be at the finish line (as I LOVE to CHEER people in at the top of my very loud voice). I’m also bringing our “needs-list” and “donation forms” (found on TATUR website) to meetings at work this week and to Reasor’s and some other places where I shop to beg donations. I will also happily buy needed items with my own money, and donate as much cash as I can manage. Remember, the proceeds go to help with scholarships to the YMCA camp for deserving children.

"Turkey Roots"

Everyone, listen up now, please… A LOT of TATURS have put in a lot (copious amounts) of time, money, sweat and energy to make this race happen. However,  MUCH MORE is needed, if it’s going to be as great as Mike and Brian have been envisioning it! This “Urban Wilderness Area” is as wonderful and incredible as the people who are working so hard to promote this thing. It’s time to really stand up and rally behind them now. Volunteer, donate, SPREAD THE WORD!!! Turkey Mountain is a treasure and so are the people of TATUR! We can do this thing! Can’t wait to see everyone at the race!

Baloo says, "Nothin' Runs Like a Deer!"

*Please note that the 25K and 50K runners will also run on the 10K course referred to by Diana Snyder in this article.