On Saturday, November 30 at 7 a.m., the inaugural Bulldog 12/6 Hour Track Ultras began in Lake Worth, Florida. Unusual weather, cloudy with temps in the low 60s, made for fast starts as runners began their journey around the new track facility at Garcia High School. The race was sanctioned by the USATF and the course was certified, along with timing provided by Florida’s favorite: Mike Melton. Runners changed directions every 4 hours, with Melton leading the charge and playing his air guitar.
The ladies won the day, with Whitney Dancaster, 36, taking first place in the 6-hour race with 38.02 miles, and Loan Vo, 42, taking first place in the 12-hour race with 72.57 miles. These women were forces out on the track, cruising by hour after hour, efficiency in motion. For the 6-hour race, Scott Hoover, 46, placed second with 34.79 miles, and Luis Cocco, 44, placed third, with 34.29 miles.
Once the 6-hour runners departed the track, the race shifted with warmer temperatures, a bit of sunshine and the 12-hour runners getting in their groove as they continued moving around the 400-meter rubberized track. Beyond Vo’s first-place win for the 12-hour race, there were some incredible performances, including second-place runner Jonathan Kier, 31, with 68.84 miles, and third-place runner, Brenda Lips, 51, with 66.36 miles.
The author (front) with Brenda Lips, Monique Barrant, Dorothea Trotter, Katie Jenkins, Whitney Dancaster and Loan Vo after the race. Photo courtesy Jodi Weiss
Race director Amy Bukszpan, along with race creator Jeff Stephens, race staff and runner crews, cheered runners on throughout the event, keeping everyone well-fed, hydrated and smiling. The overall race vibe was upbeat and fun, with lots of family and friends on the track sidelines.
I couldn’t have asked for a better return race after taking off the last six months from running as I work through my injuries. Up until then, I hadn’t moved more than 10 miles, with a mix of slow running and walking, and set a goal to hit 20 miles with 12 hours to do it. My trepidation to race quickly faded once I was among old and new friends in the race-friendly venue, and once I got past the 20-mile mark, I decided to keep going. During the final 3 hours, between the cool night temps, and the camaraderie on the course, I had some breakthrough moments – I was ecstatic to finish 41.75 miles.
Full results here.