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Title:Paleozoic Trail Runs - Devonian Fall
Date:Saturday November 15th, 2014
Author:Bill & Michelle (RDs)
Report:
Paleozoic Trail Runs
Devonian Fall

[Logo: Paleozoic Trail Runs]
2nd Annual Fall-Season Paleozoic 50-Km and 25-Km
Trail Runs on the Palos Trail System!

A cold quiet-stillness wrapped the Palos forest on Friday, race eve as I ran, marking our racecourse with bright orange arrows and red wire-flags. There were not many others out on the trails. Below average temperatures persisted on race day, but with a bustle of 140 runners the atmosphere sparked with ultra-high energy.

Saturday November 15 race-day conditions: low temperature of 21° F at 7:05 am, high temperature of 33° F at 2:05 pm, WSW winds at 12 mph, gusting to 19 mph, sunrise 6:40 am, sunset 4:32 pm. Historically, November 15th has averages: high temperature of 49° F, low temperature of 35° F.

Volunteers Jeni Goodwin, Patti Downey, Tom Kohler, Bob Thom, Ian Stevens, and Linda Leyden reported early-morning at Pioneer Woods, Grove #2 for aid station set up and to greet runners for their 7:30 am check-in.

Our Paleo-Dev 50-Km was underway at 8:30:44 am, followed by Paleo-Dev 25-Km at 9:30:02 am. Shutters clicked and spectators cheered runners along their first three-quarter-mile expanding concentric parade loop, after which runners disappeared into the forest, taking to the trails.

A midpoint, unmanned aid station was set trailside at approximately 3.6-miles outbound. Full-service amenities awaited, staffed by Patti and Tom at Wolf Road Woods, Grove #2, our turnaround aid station. Paleo-Dev 50-Km runners completed two full laps of our out-n-back racecourse, while Paleo-Dev 25-Km runners enjoyed a one-lap tour.

Late in the day... reports of some runners "going off course" trickled in. Turns out a critical intersection was intentionally sabotaged. This discovered during course clean-up (day after race day) when I found half-a-dozen red wire-flags had been pulled from their original settings, then re-staked to misleading positions. Despite running some extra distance, those runners who fell victim to this sabotage maintained a positive outlook, "taking it all in stride."

Even later in the day... as twilight surrendered to dusk, reports of coyotes lingering along the final mile-of-trail spooked some runners. Indeed, a couple runners even doubled-back and called our primary aid station, before persisting past the menacing forest creatures.

At the finish... customized finisher-medals, white-bean chicken chili, and a warm out-of-the-wind tent greeted all runners. Top overall and masters runners earned very special awards. Top-three age division runners collected special pint-glass awards. More than one dozen Paleo-Dev 50-Km participants earned "My First Ultra" pint-glass awards.

Congratulations to our swift runners of Paleozoic Trail Runs - Devonian Fall!
  • Paleo-Dev 50-Km...
    Top Male Open: Jean-Bernard Flanagan, 48 of Libertyville - 3:40:53.0
    Top Female Open: Shelley Cook, 39 of Waukegan - 4:51:11.9
    Top Male Masters: Alec Bath, 45 of Waukegan - 4:10:45.6
    Top Female Masters: Jennifer Leslie, 49 of Chicago - 5:20:48.3
  • Paleo-Dev 25-Km...
    Top Male Open: Dan Regalado, 27 of Oak Lawn - 1:35:11.1
    Top Female Open: Paula O'Connor, 45 of Oak Park - 1:57:56.4
    Top Male Masters: Lester Arguelles, 48 of Chicago - 1:57:22.7
    Top Female Masters: Stephanie Ebert, 43 of Palos Park - 2:12:09.8
Timing, webcasting, and finish-line scoring... all managed by us through our website at RunRace. Check out Results and our Webcast through the links...
Results: Results on RunRace
Webcast: Webcast with Checkpoint Splits

Let's give a rousing "shout out" to our race volunteers, many of which are accomplished runners, all of whom performed "beyond the call!"
  • Pioneer Woods Aid Station: Jeni Goodwin (Captain, who provided "Volunteers Rock" care-paks, and extra-special runner treats), Bob Thom (heavy-lifting, clever "quick fixes", provider of heated areas), Linda Leyden (runner-turned-volunteer), Ian Stevens (most dedicated vol in Chicagoland).
  • Wolf Road Woods Aid Station: Patti Downey & Tom Kohler (Bourbon Chase teammates, parents of enthusiastic cross country runners). In addition, Patti & Tom set up / maintained the timing mats and unmanned aid station of Wolf Road Woods.
  • Course Marking / Course Cleanup: Bill & Michelle Thom
Click the "View Photos" tab (above) to see a gallery of photos captured mostly at our start/finish area, "Pioneer Woods." These photos (under the "View Photos" tab) have been optimized for display on the internet... if you'd like a "high-resolution" original contact me and I will reply with an email attachment... be sure to specify which photo(s) you'd like.

Congratulations to all runners of Paleozoic Trail Runs - Devonian Fall... summoned by the primordial instinct to go-long, who toed-the-line and answered-the-call, in these very challenging conditions!

Want more photos? Be sure to check out these amazing shots taken by Paleozoic Trail Runs veteran, David Wiskowski along with his wife, Mersedeh: David Wiskowski Photography: Paleozoic 50k/25k


Links & Recaps as Generously Provided by Participants of
Paleozoic Trail Runs - Devonian Fall!

Tammy Chase, Paleo-Dev 50-Km, #14
Tammy's blog: Run like a mama
Website:
http://www.runrace.net/findarace.php?id=14319IL  Go there or Go there in new browser
Additional website reference address.

Shelly Cook on Her Final Parade Loop : Saturday November 15, 2014
Image ©: 2014 Thom's: Michelle, Bill, & Bob
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Start of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Start of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Start of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Start of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Start of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Start of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Start of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Start of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Start of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
And They're Off... Start of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
And They're Off... Start of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
And They're Off... Start of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
And They're Off... Start of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
And They're Off... Start of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
And They're Off... Start of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
And They're Off... Start of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
And They're Off... Start of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
And They're Off... Start of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
And They're Off... Start of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Starting the Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Starting the Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Starting the Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Starting the Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Starting the Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Starting the Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Starting the Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Starting the Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Starting the Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Starting the Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Starting the Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Starting the Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Starting the Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Starting the Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Starting the Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Starting the Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Starting the Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Starting the Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Pre-race Instructions for Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Pre-race Instructions for Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Pre-race Instructions for Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Pre-race Instructions for Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Pre-race Instructions for Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Start of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Start of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
And They're Off... Start of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
And They're Off... Start of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
And They're Off... Start of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
And They're Off... Start of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
And They're Off... Start of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
And They're Off... Start of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
And They're Off... Start of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
And They're Off... Start of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Running the Outbound Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Running the Outbound Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Running the Outbound Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Running the Outbound Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Running the Outbound Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Running the Outbound Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Running the Outbound Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Running the Outbound Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Running the Outbound Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Running the Outbound Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Running the Outbound Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Running the Outbound Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Running the Outbound Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Running the Outbound Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Running the Outbound Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Running the Outbound Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Running the Outbound Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Running the Outbound Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Running the Outbound Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Running the Outbound Parade Loop of Devonian Fall 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runners Complete their First Lap : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runners Complete their First Lap : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runners Complete their First Lap : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runners Complete their First Lap : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runners Complete their First Lap : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runners Complete their First Lap : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runners Complete their First Lap : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runners Complete their First Lap : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runners Complete their First Lap : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runners Complete their First Lap : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runners Complete their First Lap : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runners Complete their First Lap : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runners Complete their First Lap : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runners Complete their First Lap : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runners Complete their First Lap : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runners Complete their First Lap : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runners Complete their First Lap : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runners Complete their First Lap : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runners Complete their First Lap : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runners Complete their First Lap : Saturday November 15, 2014
Top 25-Km Merge with 50-Km First Lappers Along the Parade Loop : Saturday November 15, 2014
25-Km First Place Finisher, Dan Regalado : Saturday November 15, 2014
Top 25-Km Merge with 50-Km First Lappers Along the Parade Loop : Saturday November 15, 2014
Top 25-Km Merge with 50-Km First Lappers Along the Parade Loop : Saturday November 15, 2014
Top 25-Km Merge with 50-Km First Lappers Along the Parade Loop : Saturday November 15, 2014
Top 25-Km Merge with 50-Km First Lappers Along the Parade Loop : Saturday November 15, 2014
Top 25-Km Merge with 50-Km First Lappers Along the Parade Loop : Saturday November 15, 2014
Top 25-Km Merge with 50-Km First Lappers Along the Parade Loop : Saturday November 15, 2014
Top 25-Km Merge with 50-Km First Lappers Along the Parade Loop : Saturday November 15, 2014
Top 25-Km Merge with 50-Km First Lappers Along the Parade Loop : Saturday November 15, 2014
25-Km First Place Female, Paula O'Connor : Saturday November 15, 2014
Top 25-Km Merge with 50-Km First Lappers Along the Parade Loop : Saturday November 15, 2014
Top 25-Km Merge with 50-Km First Lappers Along the Parade Loop : Saturday November 15, 2014
Top 25-Km Merge with 50-Km First Lappers Along the Parade Loop : Saturday November 15, 2014
Top 25-Km Merge with 50-Km First Lappers Along the Parade Loop : Saturday November 15, 2014
Top 25-Km Merge with 50-Km First Lappers Along the Parade Loop : Saturday November 15, 2014
Top 25-Km Merge with 50-Km First Lappers Along the Parade Loop : Saturday November 15, 2014
Top 25-Km Merge with 50-Km First Lappers Along the Parade Loop : Saturday November 15, 2014
Top 25-Km Merge with 50-Km First Lappers Along the Parade Loop : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km First Place Finisher, Jean-Bernard Flanagan : Saturday November 15, 2014
Jeff Shoemaker Enjoys a Break at Wolf Road Woods : Saturday November 15, 2014
25-Km Runners Making Their Finish Line : Saturday November 15, 2014
25-Km Runners Making Their Finish Line : Saturday November 15, 2014
25-Km Runners Making Their Finish Line : Saturday November 15, 2014
25-Km Runners Making Their Finish Line : Saturday November 15, 2014
25-Km Runners Making Their Finish Line : Saturday November 15, 2014
25-Km Runners Making Their Finish Line : Saturday November 15, 2014
25-Km Runners Making Their Finish Line : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Second Place Finisher, Alec Bath : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Second Place Finisher, Alec Bath : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Second Place Finisher, Alec Bath : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Third Place Finisher, Scott Gold : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Third Place Finisher, Scott Gold : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Third Place Finisher, Scott Gold : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Third Place Finisher, Scott Gold : Saturday November 15, 2014
25-Km Masters Top Female, Stephanie Ebert : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km 7th Place Finisher, Dominic Lopez : Saturday November 15, 2014
Paleozoic Veteran, Lori Zalewski in the 25-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Runners Make the Finish Line at Pioneer Woods : Saturday November 15, 2014
Shelly Cook on Her Final Parade Loop : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km First Place Female, Shelley Cook : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km 10th Place Finisher, Les Hockenberry : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runners Ed Scheer and Gary Moneysmith, Finish Stride-for-Stride : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runners Ed Scheer and Gary Moneysmith, Finish Stride-for-Stride : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runner Joseph Tota, in at Five Hours : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runner Joseph Tota, in at Five Hours : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runner Mark Carlson, Earns an Age Division Award : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runner Jeff Shoemaker, with His Unique Decorations : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Veteran, John Zalewski at the Finish Line : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Veteran, Ron Baker at the Finish Line : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km First-timer, Kevin Listro Makes it Look Easy at the Finish Line : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km First-timer, Irene Smielewski Finishes as Third Female : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Veteran, Mike Ward at the Finish Line : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Masters Top Female, Jennifer Leslie Surrounded by Mike & Jeni : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km First-timer, Tammy Chase 'Runs Like an Ultra Mama!' : Saturday November 15, 2014
25-Km Runner, Kylene Young Chases her Ultra-friend Tammy to the Finish : Saturday November 15, 2014
Kim Chaput, Melanie Neumann, and David Acheson Celebrate their 50-Km : Saturday November 15, 2014
Ricardo Diaz and Claudia Soria Celebrate their 50-Km Finish : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Veteran, Mike Glennon at the Finish Line of Devonian Fall : Saturday November 15, 2014
50-Km Runners, Olivia Rodriguez and Michael Johnson in Devonian Dusk : Saturday November 15, 2014

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Posted:November 18th, 2014 2:58 pm
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Last View:March 28th, 2024 6:24 pm
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