Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail 118 Mile Endurance Run
Feb. 17, 2007
Okeechobee FL

1. John Turner, 47M, Ontario CAN       25:28:00
2. Matt Mahoney, 51M, Melbourne FL     26:55:35
3. Trishul Cherns, 49M, NY             30:35:30
4. Stu Abcug, 35M, GA                  30:57:15
5. Yen Nguyen, 44F, TX                 31:29:33
11 starters

Race director, Scott Maxwell, info at gsmaxwell dot com
Unofficial results and report by Matt Mahoney, matmahoney at yahoo dot com

The 118 mile run is a clockwise loop around Lake Okeechobee
on the 32 foot high grassy levee that surrounds the lake.  The race
starts at the Okee-Tantie campground at the Kissimmee River,
6 miles west of Okeechobee.  The first 83 miles are on a 10 foot
wide smooth asphalt path on top of the levee, which is isolated
from civilization by a canal on the left and the huge but shallow
lake on the right, so large that you cannot see the far shore.
The remaining 35 miles after Moore Haven are on double track, 
rocky dirt roads with rough footing.  There were several short
detours where the lake connects to canals through a system of
locks and floodgates where we would go out to the highway, cross
a bridge and get back on the levee.  There were also road
sections from miles 30 to 40 (due to construction) and miles
91 to 96.  There was aid about every 10 miles so it was necessary
to carry a pack with water.  The course was open for 32 hours
although this was not a hard cutoff.

It was very cold.  I camped at the start and there was frost
on my tent.  I know this is Florida.  By the 8:00 AM start it 
had warmed up enough to strip down to 2 shirts, a knit hat
and shorts.  I thought this would be enough for the night section
because the forecast said mid 40's, but it was much colder.  I
would have been in deep trouble if the race director Scott
Maxwell didn't loan me a jacket at Moore Haven.  The high was 
about 60 F.  The next day was colder with light rain in the
morning and gale force winds.

I ran most of the first 8 miles in the lead with Stu Abcug
at about a 10 minute/mile pace.  I have trouble running this slow
and found it more comfortable to run about an 8-9 minute pace
for 20-30 seconds and walk 10 seconds.  But even this was too
fast and he pulled ahead.  I walked until John Turner caught up.
He was running about 12 minute miles, a pace he could do forever,
it seemed, but again I could not run this slow so I would alternately
run and walk, staying within 20 feet.  I found this style 
very comfortable, at least for the next 100 miles or so.

The road section at Port Mayaca began at mile 25 or 26 according
to the mile markers painted on the levee, but the people at the
aid station insisted it was 30 miles.  Whatever it was, John and
I were through in 5 hours, 30 minutes behind Stu.  We went 
through mile 50 in 8:50.  My best 50 mile race was 9:12.
At mile 54 we passed Stu, who was reduced to 18 minute miles,
but still running.

The only people ahead of us now was the group of 3 runners 
who started at 6 AM.  We caught them at mile 60 as it was
getting dark.  Of the three, Jerry Sullivan had already dropped
out with blisters.  Jim Sullivan would drop later with hip
problems and only Yen Nguyen (with her pacer Peter Nguyen)
would finish.

John started taking 5 minute walking breaks every 30 minutes
starting at mile 45.  He could walk about 15 minute miles, and
I had to run a little to keep up.  He did not run at all after
we reached the dirt roads at mile 83.

We were on the 5 mile road detour at mile 92 at 3:30 AM when
two police cars stopped and wanted to know what we were doing.
I told the cop we were racing around Lake Okeechobee.  He
said "OK" and they drove off.

We went through mile 100 in just under 21 hours.  My best 100 
mile time until now was 22:14.

At mile 101 (still dark) I crossed a road but John didn't think 
this was right.  We checked the map and compass.  He saved me
from going many miles down the wrong levee.  The turn was not marked.

I had the feeling John wanted to finish together, but this was
a race and one of us would win.  I told him not to wait for me.
At the last unmanned aid at mile 108, he started running again,
but my legs had nothing left.  He finished the last 10 miles
in 2 hours.  For me it was a 3 1/2 hour death march in the
freezing wind.

Trishul Cherns passed Stu Abcug with 4 miles to go.  Trishul
holds the Canadian 48 hour record with 221 miles.  He ran
the Sri Chinmoy 3100 mile race in 54 days.  I thought he would
surely win.  So I was stunned to learn early on that he was
dead last.  It turned out his plan was just to maintain 15
minute miles.  He gained places as runners ahead of him dropped,
Thomas Moore at mile 40, then Joseph Ninke, then Richard Sitter 
and Michael Melton at mile 84.

I want to thank the race director, Scott Maxwell, whose efforts
went far beyond the $30 entry fee, including giving me a ride
to the race, and Stu Gleman, who rigged a cart for his bicycle to
supply aid for the first 25 miles, and the many crew members
who would give aid to any runner who passed by.

Next year's race will be counterclockwise.