Race Report Courtesy of Lou Joline, Blue Springs Race Director

The Blue Springs 50-mile, 50K, Half & Full Marathon took place on October 25, 2009 in Blue Springs, Missouri.

After a week of rain leading up to our run, race day started out splendid but then turned to more rain in the afternoon.  The half marathon, marathon and 50K events mostly missed the rain, but the 50-mile runners were in it for hours.

The trail surface, normally fast, was very soft and slow from all the rain, so no records were set this year. All the state ultra records have been set on this course, since this is the only certified 50K and 50 Mile in Missouri. 

The Blue Springs 50/50 has the distinction of being the smallest regularly scheduled certified marathon in the country, never topping 100 runners in its sixteen years.  Many runners choose Blue Springs for the their first try at the marathon distance or as their first ultra.

Runners are permitted to move down to a shorter distance while they are running or they can also move up to a longer distance. Muffie Keonin was only the third person in sixteen years to move up. She went from the 50K to the 50-Mile this year.

The 2010 edition will be on Sunday, October 31.  For more information visit the Blue Springs Runners.