Prairie Fire Marathon in Wichita, Kansas, number 26 for calendar 2017. A cool, flat, suburban race through Kansas’ largest city. The last few miles started to get toasty, but we all miraculously survived thanks to copious community support, and a friendly atmosphere. Karen Andersen’s 50th state, Jim Diego’s 50th marathon, and Stacey Bolyard’s 100th marathon. Congratulations to you all. People I inexplicably did not take a picture of: Andrew Martin, Jody Reed, Joe Iovanisci and Glen Anderson. Fun fact: In 1880 Kansas banned the sale of alcohol. Nevertheless saloon owners persisted during the boomtown cattle days of 1890s Wichita. Enter Carrie A. Nation, militant, hatchet-wielding Prohibitionist, who, together with her acolytes, smashed up enough saloons to get her arrested 30 times. Her persistence payed off. Kansas forbade the sale of alcohol until 1948. They never ratified the 21st amendment ending prohibition, and Kansas maintains some of the strictest liquor laws in the nation to this day including prohibitions on liquor by the drink, except in private clubs.
Race director Bob at the pasta dinner
Maniac Kevin from Tulsa beats the heat.
Jim in formal attire for his 50th
So I see this guy with what appears to be a baton and I know this race doesn’t have a relay, so I have to ask. He is doing the marathon with several cousins in memory of his brother, who passed away earlier this year. Everyone has a story.
And my goofy hairdo stood up (so to speak) the whole time
On course jazz orchestra
So while I was cleaning up my medicine cabinet I found this old gel that advertises itself to be “marathon hold”. Not one to trust marketing, I decided to give it a shot. The Ed Grimley look I had kind of organized managed to stay put for the most part, except losing some volume down near the scalp where I was sweating profusely. Now I just need to go back to the 90s when hair gel would be acceptable use of product. Upper right is 10k (6.2 miles), lower left is half marathon (13.1 miles) lower right is marathon (26.2).
Cade setting the prairie afire
Public art
Champagne toast. As one does.
Stacy Bolyard making it triple digits.
The historic Allen-Lambe House was built by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1915 for a budget of $30,000.
Karen conquers all 50.
Andrew rockin’ his elite bib number.
First time I’ve seen signage in German on an American course.
