Well, I woke up pretty sore this morning from the Market to Market Relay yesterday. 6 other guys besides myself ventured from Omaha to Lincoln covering almost 90 miles of rolling hills, gravel roads, paved roads, and trails to the Haymarket in Lincoln, It took us just over 9 hours. We were all over 40 with a few of us over 50. We finished first in the Masters Division and 6th overall of the 185 teams entered. I ran the 7th leg and each was just around 3 miles or more. It was a difficult start for most teams since we pretty much had a blizzard going on with temps in the high 20's. There was a brisk north wind most of the day and it did warm up to a balmy 35 degrees in Lincoln. This was an awesome challenge and I wouldn't have been able to do this without my P90X preparation! Thanks Beach Body! And thanks to Scott W. our coach and driver who kept us motivated and on course, and kept us organized! Oh, and put up with me all day long!
More Market to Market News
1200 Runners Braved Nebraska's 86-Mile Market to Market Relay Run
86 Miles, 21 Exchange Points, 6-8 Person Teams, 1 Unforgettable Day
October 10, 2009 OMAHA, NEBRASKA—More than 1,200 runners took on the 86-mile Market To Market relay race from Omaha, Nebraska to Lincoln, Nebraska on October 11. The endurance race routed 165 teams of six to eight persons from the Old Market in Omaha to the Historic Haymarket in Lincoln, via small towns, rural farms, downtown brick roads, state parks, over rivers and streams and across the plains. The race was followed by a celebration in the Haymarket with live music, local artists, radio remotes and food and drinks.
"The 86-mile course is divided into legs of 2.45 to 5.5 miles. Each team selects a runner for three or four legs of the course," according to Ben Cohoon, race director and founder. "Team distance running events are really becoming popular. My friends and I just wanted to share this fun idea with our home state. What makes these events so cool is that they combine the beauty of running with the competitive nature of team sports."
Running Green
"We want everyone who comes to Market To Market to have a great time, but we also want to establish the race as one of the most environmentally friendly races in the country," Cohoon said.
Runners groups were encouraged to pick up trash on the trails and recycle their old running shoes. All race materials were printed on recycled paper. On-site recycling was provided and the race will purchase green tags to offset the carbon emissions of the vehicles used in the race. Market To Market is also a member of 1% For The Planet and donated 10 percent of its sponsorship money and donations to maintaining local trail systems through the Great Plains and Eastern Nebraska Trails Networks.
Lincoln Running Co – Masters Team - Left to right; Brett Daugherty, Jeff Hansen, Kevin Burke, Ken Lackey. Kerry McDermott, Marty Hughes, and Brian Kelly.
“This year our Y running group was able to field two teams...the young guys and the old guys...creating a little friendly competition amongst us.” The Young Guys competed in the Open Division and the old guys competed in the Masters Division.
Kevin Burke said, “we awoke to a beautiful Nebraska fall day...falling snow. Yep, it was snowing and like 27 degrees when I checked @ 4:00am Saturday morning. Yes...Epic conditions for a little run...like 87 miles from Omaha Old Market to Lincoln Haymarket. The first few stages in Omaha were virtually dark with about 2 inches on snow and slush on the roads and trails. Creating memories.
In the end the Young guys got the Old guys...but not by too much. Young guys Mizuno team - 4th overall, and Old Guys - Lincoln Running Co. 6th overall and 1st place masters team.
We all had a great time that I'm sure none of us will forget.”
Open Champion: Team Nebraska Brooks Men (8:21:55 - 5.43/m)
Mixed Champion: Ndorfopaedic (8:53:55 - 6.05/m)
Women Champion: Team Nebraska Brooks Women (9:34:44 - 6.33/m)
Corporate Champion: UP Men (9:51:27 - 6.44/m)
Masters Champion: Lincoln Running Company (9:17:51 - 6:21/m)
Mixed Masters Champion: Tiger Coaching (10:40:57 - 7:18/m)
Women’s Masters Champion: Lady Road Runner Renegades (12:09:14 - 8:19/m)
6 Person Team Champion: Nebraska Orthopaedic Hospital (10:05:06 - 6:54/m)
Academic Division Champion: Prairie Wolf Alumni (10:56:44 - 7:29/m)
Armed Forces Champion: Omaha Police (10:30:55 - 7:11/m)
Run Club Champion: Lusaka Track Club (10:22:55 - 7:06/m)
