Randy Ellis - "Randy Reading"

Randy Ellis

Randy Ellis is an accomplished ultra runner who has even ran across the country once and wrote a book called Running With Payne to chronicle his journey.

Randi is married to his wife Marcy and had a daughter named Nicole. Randy lives in Sapulpa and enjoys the challenge of running distances up to and even betond 100 miles.

FIVE TATURs COMPLETE DESERT RATS
Five local TATURs started and completed the grueling Desert Rats race June 12-18.  The 148 mile takes place in six stages ranging from 9 to 50 miles and takes the runners from Grand Junction, Colorado to Moab, Utah.  The race includes plenty of mountains, canyons, heat, and the joy of sleeping in tents each night.  22 of 31 starters finished all stages.

Those finishing the race and the finishing times were:

Jason McGinnis - 29:07 (3rd male); Kurt & Shelley Egli– 31:25 (ran each stage together; Kurt 5th male; Shelley 4th female; Lisa McGinnis – 33:12 (5th female); Vicky Arterburn – 35:18 (7th female).

Congratulations to our TATUR Desert Rats!!   
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 MARVIN LEE RUNS KEYS 100

TATUR Marvin Lee travelled to the tip of Florida to take on his first 100 mile race, the Keys 100 on May 14.  The Keys 100 is a tough challenge to take on as one’s first 100 mile attempt.  The race is on the highway going to the Florida Keys, including a 7 mile bridge where there was no aid or crew access. 
As you can imagine, the heat and humidity took a toll on the runners, as only 45 of the 81 starters finished.   And yes, Marvin was one of the finishers as he persevered through stomach issues and finished in 29:41:39. 

Congratulations, Marvin – one tough ultra runner.
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 TATURs ROCK ROCKIN’ K
On April 2, four TATURs ran remarkable races at the Rockin’ K Trail Races at Kanopolis State Park, Kansas.  The trails in the park are difficult and prove that Kansas is not totally flat.  In the 50 mile race, Shelley Egli ran an amazing 9:54:57 to win the women’s race and set a new women’s course record.  This race has a long history: a women’s record is a wonderful accomplishment.   In finishing 6th overall out of 38 starters, Shelley showed she is back to her very fast times after battling an injury last year.

            Finishing just behind Shelley in 7th place was Jason McGinnis in 10:08:39.  Jason is one of the most improved TATUR runners over the past year and is running some very good times.  In 8th place was Kurt Egli in 10:28:09, running well after recovering from a broken collar bone last year.  Speaking of recovering well, Lisa McGinnis, recovering from a recent knee injury, ran the difficult marathon trail course in 5:51:52.  What makes that time incredible is the fact that Lisa finished 26th out of 71 starters.  Lisa is obviously running well after coming back from the injury.
Congratulations to these runners for representing the TATURs so well!

TATURs COMPLETE 3 DAYS OF SYLLAMO

TATURs Michael Scoggins, Jason McGinnis, and Stormy Phillips completed all three stages of the Three Days of Syllamo March 11 – 13.  On three successive days, they completed races 20K, 50 miles, and 50K on difficult mountain trails in times shown below:
                                                        20K                  50M             50K                  Total
Michael Scoggins                               2:33:40           11:11:45         6:27:56            20:13:21
Jason McGinnis/Stormy Phillips          2:31:31            11:16:11          6:36:42            20:24:24               (Jason/Stormy ran together as a team)
Additionally, TATUR Doug Harrison ran the 50K race in 10:22:03 and Brynna Schelbar ran the 20K in 2:37:07

GREAT WEEKEND FOR TATURS
TATUR members turned in some great performances during the weekend of March 5/6, running races in four different states.

Congratulations to the really ultra ultra running TATURs: Kathy Hoover, Bill Ford, and Ken Childress who completed the 126.2 mile Rouge race along the Mississippi River levee from Baton Rouge to New Orleans.  Kathy and Bill finished together 33 hours and 37 minutes, with Kathy winning the women’s race and Bill finishing third male.  Ken finished in about 40 hours.  Roman Broyles and Caroline Glenn ran the two-person relay portion and finished the 126.2 miles a few minutes ahead of Ken and was the top coed team.                     

Closer to home, at least 4 TATURs ran in the A-OK races in Atoka, Oklahoma.  Kurt Egli finished first overall in the 50K with a time of 4:39:33.  Right behind Kurt was rapidly-improving Jason McGinnis in 4:39:52.  Completing an Egli sweep, Shelley Egli won the women’s 50K in 4:50:00.  Lisa Kedzuf-McGinnis , coming off a very recent serious injury, ran very well, finishing the 25K in 2:46:00.  

            
The amazing Kirk Robertson finished the Little Rock Marathon in 5:26:36.  What makes Kirk so amazing?  In June 2009, Kirk weighed 340 pounds and was in very poor health.  Today he is running marathons and ultra marathons at 170 pounds.  He can say he is not half the man he used to be and mean it in a very good way.  Also in the Little Rock Marathon, the super fast Tom Brennan had an easy workout and paced the 3:10 marathon group.

Only one week after a Post Oak Marathon, Doug Harrison ran the Nueces 50K run in 9:20:30 held on the trails in Rocksprings, Texas.    I’m sure other TATURs raced over the weekend.   TATURs: anytime you run a race, please let me know about at rellis@aol.com.

TATURS RUN THE POST OAK CHALLENGE

At least 38 TATURs ran at least one of the races in the 2nd annual Post Oak Challenge. on February 26 and 27. The Post Oak challenge is unique in that it offers runners the opportunity to be a doubler, participating in races on successive days. On the 26th, a 50k, 25k, and 10k races took place on the challenging and muddy trails at Post Oak Lodge, a beautiful but relatively unknown resort between Tulsa and Sand Springs. The following day offered a marathon, half marathon, and quarter marathon on the paved Katy Trail, and included the hilly roads between the lodge and the Katy Trail. Following is a list of TATURs that participated. Let me know if I missed someone:

2-9-2011 VERY DETERMINED TATURS

I have thought of several adjectives to describe Kathy Hoover, Bill Ford, and Ken Childress and their taking on the Rocky Raccoon 100 miler in Huntsville, Texas.  The trio exhibited extreme determination, perseverance, concentration, toughness and the ability to stay awake all night…..and that was just on the drive from Tulsa to Huntsville.  The three of them took off from Tulsa late Thursday night and drove all night on absolutely horrible and dangerous roads, thankfully reaching Huntsville Friday morning.  

All the driving adjectives were obviously evident also in the race as all three finished the 100 miler: Kathy and Bill in 23:51 and Ken in 28:25.  Several of us opted not to make the trip and have an admiration for their determination to get to, and to finish, the Rocky.

The same adjectives can be used to describe Caroline Glenn who amazingly drove her own car to Huntsville.  Caroline also gave a great race effort but twisted a knee and had to drop out after 72 miles due to severe swelling in the knee.

Please see Ken Childress’ blog in the adjacent column for a wonderful race report and great pictures. 

2-2-2011 TATURS RUNNING ROCKY RACOON

Several TATURs will be running the Rocky Racoon 100/50 mile trail race on Saturday, February 5 at Huntsville, Texas. The race is in scenic Huntsville State Park which has rolling trails traversing through thick pine tree forests and around a pretty lake. TATURs dreaming of their first 50 or 100 mile race, take note for the future: this is a great race for your first effort at these distances. TATURs running this year are: 100 miles – Bill Ford, Charlotte Lindley, Ken Childress, Kathy Hoover, Caroline Glenn, Randy Ellis; 50 miles – Doug Harrison

2-2-2011 KATHY & KEN DOING THE ROUGE

On March 4 Kathy Hoover and Ken Childress will be running the inaugural 126.2 miles Rouge Orleans race. Yes, that’s not a typo, it’s 126.2 miles not 26.2 miles. The race course follows the Mississippi River levee from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. The race is open to relay teams, as well as individual runners doing the entire distance. Of course, Kathy and Ken will be doing the entire distance within the time deadline of 40 hours.

2-2-2011 TATURS RUN ATHENS BIG FORK

Several TATURs ran the difficult Athens Big Fork marathon race on January 8 in Big Fork, Arkansas. This is one of the most challenging marathons that can be found anywhere and includes climbing up and over 8 mountains - - and that is just on the way out; the same mountains have to be climbed up and over on the way back.

TATURs running the marathon were: Tom Brennan 4:22:55 (breaking his old record) Michael Scoggins 6:08 Jason McGinnis 6:10 Stormy Phillips 6:24 Tammy Winn 7:00 TATURs running the difficult 17 mile “fun run” were: Alex Eaton 4:28 Ken Childress 5:56

2-2-2011 (Update) ELLIS RUNS ACROSS THE YEARS

On December 30 – January 1, TATUR Randy Ellis ran a total of 163.421 miles in the 48 hour Across the Years race in Buckeye, Arizona.  The mileage total set an age record for that race, which has a 27-year history.  Asked if it doesn’t get boring going around a .31 mile cinder track for 48 hours, Ellis said, “No, because the race switched directions every two hours.”

12-25-2010 ELLIS RUNNING ACROSS THE YEARS

On December 30 to January 1, Randy Ellis will be running a 48 hour race near Phoenix, Arizona called “Across the Years.”  The concept is simple: how many miles can each runner accumulate in 48 hours. Ellis’ goal is to exceed the race record for his age of 152.9 miles. 

Per the race website, up-to-minute race updates will be posted during the race on the website.  Additionally, the website will have a webcam and also have a way to send messages to the runners, which will be posted in the runners’ mailboxes at the race site.   The race starts 10:00 AM Tulsa time, Thursday, December 30, and ends 10:00 AM Saturday, January 1.  Check the race website www.acrosstheyears.com/  any time during the race. 

12-25-2010 TATURS RUNNING ROCKY RACOON

Five TATURs have entered the Rocky Racoon 100 mile race to be run February 5 in Huntsville, Texas:  Bill Ford, Charlotte Lindley, Ken Childress, Kathy Hoover, and Randy Ellis.  The 50 mile is full, but there are still openings for the 100 miler, website www.tejastrails.com/Rocky.html

Any TATUR planning to run at Rocky and not listed above, please let Randy or Tom Dorothy know.

12-18-2010 TATURs Show Versatility at Marvellite Christmas Run

What’s this?  TATURs are known for their trail running and long distance races, but many were spotted among the hundreds of runners participating in the Marvellite Christmas Run Thursday night, December 16.  Runners ran in guided groups of either 1, 3, or 6 miles through beautiful holiday lights in Maple Ridge, Brookside, and Utica Square neighborhoods.  It was bizarre seeing hundreds of people running/walking every which way through the streets of the surrounding neighborhoods.   Neighbors may have been thinking a mass jail break had just occurred.

After running, everyone enjoyed pizza and dessert.  Special guests included Dave Been, former Tulsa Police Chief, who told of the history of the Marvellite Run.  The run has been a tradition in Tulsa since the 1980’s and was initially started by TATUR Marvin Winters.  Marvin was saluted for recently joining the 50 States Club, having run a marathon in each of the 50 states.  Marvin ran a marathon in November in North Carolina, his last state.  Congratulations to Marvelous Marv!

Also speaking was a legend in the Tulsa running community, Jack Wing.  As shown by the mass participation in the Marvellite run, the running community in Tulsa is huge and healthy.  Jack has played an instrumental part in that over the past 30 years.  He is courageously battling cancer and thanked everyone for their support and prayers and urged everyone to keep them coming.  Thank you Jack for many years of encouragement to Tulsa area runners! 

The run was sponsored by RunnersWorld.  Thank you Sylvia Harden, Kathy and Brian Hoover and everyone who helped put on the run.  Also, thanks to All Souls Unitarian Church for making their facility available.

12-16-2011- Tatur Christmas Party

A great time was had by all as 60 TATURs and friends met Wednesday night, December 15, at Westport Apartment’s for TATUR’s annual Christmas party.  The barbeque, casseroles, and desserts were wonderful, but even better was the fellowship of runners visiting about a shared passion.  Memories of races past and dreams of races future were often heard in the conversations around the room.  New friends were made and old friendships were renewed.

Brian Hoover talked about the TATUR vision and a few of the changes that are being implemented.  Keep checking the TATUR website for updates and changes.  Stormy Phillips shared his passion for the Sunday morning TATUR Tots trail training sessions which he coordinates.  Ken Childress informed the group of a new race (100 miles/100K and 50K) he is planning for next November on gravel roads in a beautiful area along the Illinois River in Tahlequah.

Brian acknowledged a few special people in attendance: Polly Choate who does a wonderful job putting together the TATUR monthly newsletter; Flatrock race director Eric Steele from Wichita, OKC’s Nels Benson who this year completed his goal of running a marathon on all seven continents; and Kirk Robertson who has amazed us all by losing 170 pounds and running marathons and finishing TATUR’s Midnight Madness 50 mile race.

                A TATUR tradition is giving out the annual Mr. Potato Head awards.  Recipients were:

Most improved: Vicki Arterburn
Most Inspirational: Roman Broyles
 Best performance: Brandon and Cameron Plate
 Rookie of the Year: Stormy Phillips 
Female TATUR of the Year: Dana Childress 
Most beat up feet: Caroline Glenn
Male TATUR of the Year: Randy Ellis   

Other awards were the “Kiss your sister” award given to Jason McGinnis and Stormy Phillips for finishing in an arm in arm tie for a joint ultra race win.  Lisa Kedzuf McGinnis received the Biggest Boo-Boo award for fracturing her tibia on a fall on Turkey Mountain.   Dana Childress was given a special gift: a caulking gun to be used as a special applicator for her anti-chafing Sweet Cheeks creme.  Who wants to be first? 

For more information on the party and lots more pictures, go to Ken Childress’ blog http://trailzombie.blogspot.com