25th annual Arkansas Traveller 100, which was the 9th 100-miler when it was first run back in 1991. This is a race with a rich history in the ultra community, and after finishing second in 2013 and first in 2014, I was back for my third year in a row with my sights on a course record.
On a perfect, early autumn day in the Ouachita National Forest, I repeated as winner and set a new course record by 53 seconds.
15:36:33.
I ran alone in the lead through Mile 35, where I was passed by Hal Koerner. I continued running alone, in second, through Mile 69, where I chased down Hal to reclaim the lead that I never relinquished. After making up 16 minutes on Hal along the rolling Forest Service Road hills between the turnaround at Mile 58 and the Powerline Aid Station at Mile 68, I pounced on the opportunity to surge ahead.
With a renewed confidence, I knew I still had an outside chance at the CR. I pushed through the Lake Winona Aid Station at Mile 84, having expanded my lead on the field, and I grabbed my headlamp for the final push in the dark. Digging deep, I gave everything that I had and hoped for the best.
"Stay present, stay focused, and do my best."
I flew down the hill from Mile 97.5, with only 19 minutes left, and accelerated into sub-7:00 pace for the final mile on the paved Hwy. 324.
It was a thrilling achievement after multiple years of high mileage and hard training. I was so fortunate to have my wife, Diana, with me all day. She probably never thought she'd become an expert crew chief when she married me, but without her, this day would not have been possible.
Wesley
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