They keep going and going and going at the Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic

In order to get some appreciation of an ultra-marathon performance, sometimes you have to take it to pieces. Consider the 50-kilometer race at Gulf Winds Track Club's 37th annual Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic, held at Florida's Wakulla Springs State Park on Saturday morning, 9 December 2017. 60-year-old Thomas Dever started off that race with a 44:41 10K. Now, that's not an Olympic-calibre time, but there are plenty of younger runners out there who would be happy to run 44:41.


After finishing that 10K, Dever kept going and ran a faster 10K.


Then he ran a third 10K even faster.


Still without a pause, Dever's fourth ten kilometers was his fastest of the morning, a 43:04. For his fifth and final 10K, the Terre Haute, Indiana master runner let up a bit, running 43:47. His total time for 50 kilometers was 3:38:23, and it was no wonder that Dever won the 31-mile race with a three-mile lead. Tallahassee, Florida master runner Jack McDermott, who won the TUDC 50K race in 2008 and 2014, placed second to Dever in 3:58:34. Nineteen-year-old Addison Hendricks of Pensacola, Florida took third in 4:05:09.

On 4 November 2017 Tallahassee's Kat Sack had run her first marathon, a 3:26:05 at the Savannah Rock 'n' Roll Marathon. Just one month later Sack was attempting to run eight kilometers farther than a marathon, racing the 50K at the Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic. She was more than successful, placing fifth overall in 4:15:24, the first woman in the race. Johanna Rogers of Islesboro, Maine was the first woman master and second female finisher in the 50K, placing seventh overall in 4:29:29. Tallahassee master runners Jamie Harris and Marci Gray both finished in 5:04:01, taking third and fourth in the women's standings and placing ninth and tenth overall.


A marathon is 26.2 miles, and there are more than a few runners who would be happy to be able to run that distance in under four hours. The longest race at the Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic, though, is 50 miles--nearly twice the length of a marathon. Peter Strickland of Rome, Georgia won the 50-mile at the 2017 Classic in 7:28:37, maintaining better than four-hour marathon pace over a distance that was almost two back-to-back marathons. He didn't do it entirely alone--during the first half of the race, Strickland and Tallahassee's Erik Andersen were running together. After the 30th kilometer of the 62-kilometer run, though, Strickland broke away. Andersen dropped back, eventually finishing fifth overall in 8:28:12. Mark Tombrink of Tallahassee, the 2015 TUDC 50-Mile champion, overtook Andersen early in the second half of the race, going on to take second in 7:58:52.


Jamie Cooper was the top woman in the 50-mile, taking third overall in 8:01:14.


Christopher Knight of Deerfield Beach, Florida was the top master runner and third male finisher, fourth overall in 8:21:02. Sandra Garrett of Tampa, Florida was the first woman master and second female-finisher, sixth overall in 8:30:41.


Geneva, Florida master runner Petya Fernlund placed third in the women's standings, finishing eighth overall in 9:22:59.


45 athletes finished the 2017 Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic 5K, and twelve more finished the 50 mile. Gulf Winds Track Club chip timed both races.


2017 Tallahassee Ultradistance Classic 50 Mile

1. 7:28:37, Peter Strickland (M, 39) Rome, GA
2. 7:58:52, Mark Tombrink (M, 30) Tallahassee, FL
3. 8:01:14, Jamie Cooper (F, 37) Bogart, GA
4. 8:21:02, Christopher Knight (M, 51) Deerfield Beach, FL
5. 8:28:12, Erik Andersen (M, 34) Tallahassee, FL
6. 8:30:41, Sandra Garrett (F, 44) Tampa, FL
7. 8:34:26, Ettore Aldrovandi (M, 56) Tallahassee, FL
8. 9:22:59, Petya Fernlund (F, 44) Geneva, FL
9. 9:28:15, Andre Daigle (M, 56) Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC
10. 9:58:38, Mimi Reeves (F, 51) Pompano Beach, FL
11. 9:58:38, Irma Robinson (F, 55) Fort Lauderdale, FL
12. 10:08:33, Kathleen Wheeler (F, 56) Saint Petersburg, FL

2017 Tallahassee Ultradistance Classic 50K

1. 3:38:23, Thomas Dever (M, 60) Terre Haute, IN
2. 3:58:34, Jack McDermott (M, 48) Tallahassee, FL
3. 4:05:09, Addison Hendricks (M, 19) Pensacola, FL
4. 4:12:23, Hugo Guyader (M, 27) Tallahassee, FL
5. 4:15:24, Kat Sack (F, 26) Tallahassee, FL
6. 4:18:30, Jason Hohensee (M, 31) Tallahassee, FL
7. 4:29:29, Johanna Rogers (F, 53) Islesboro, ME
8. 4:32:18, Sam Friedman (M, 53) Roseburg, OR
9. 5:00:46, Gary Griffin (M, 68) Tallahassee, FL
10. 5:04:01, Jamie Harris (F, 41) Tallahassee, FL
11. 5:07:55, Maria Anderson (F, 62) Tampa, FL
12. 5:21:15, Travis Parks (M, 21) Crawfordville, FL
13. 5:23:29, Lori Abbey (F, 50) Tallahassee, FL
14. 5:25:36, Thomas Carney (M, 58) Tallahassee, FL
15. 5:29:11, Mona Antley (F, 52) Tallahassee, FL
16. 5:04:01, Marci Gray (F, 43) Tallahassee, FL
17. 5:37:49, Bud Fennema (M, 62) Tallahassee, FL
18. 5:43:30, Robert Wigen (M, 51) Tallahassee, FL
19. 5:56:19, Ben Hall (M, 41) Blountstown, FL
20. 5:58:40, Sarah Logan Beasley (F, 26) Tallahassee, FL
21. 5:59:04, Le Gibson (M, 48) Winder, GA
22. 6:02:38, Sandra Richards (F, 54) Bolton, MA
23. 6:05:48, Lorna Castellanos (F, 57) Miami, FL
24. 6:07:29, Karl Waller (M, 56) Tallahassee, FL
25. 6:15:35, Bill Hillison (M, 73) Tallahassee, FL
26. 6:20:43, Michael Flanigan (M, 48) Tallahassee, FL
27. 6:37:33, Leigh Ceci (F, 53) Tallahassee, FL
28. 6:37:34, Beth Miller (F, 53) Mobile, AL
29. 6:40:58, Terri Varnadoe (F, 58) Ocala, FL
30. 6:44:40, Vicki Sue Merry (F, 60) Cantonment, FL
31. 6:46:04, Carlos Zapata (M, 72) Tallahassee, FL
32. 6:57:59, Jeff Picker (M, 55) Tallahassee, FL
33. 7:00:43, Donald Vanoteghem (M, 63) Leesburg, GA
34. 7:18:25, Tara Treadway (F, 45) Ocala, FL
35. 7:41:37, George Maxwell (M, 67) Indialantic, FL
36. 7:41:37, Jill Wofsey (F, 54) Alford, FL
37. 7:43:37, Hector Pastor (M, 52) Jacksonville Beach, FL
38. 7:57:19, Liza Warmuth (F, 46) Ocala, FL
39. 7:57:22, Amy Sampson (F, 45) Silver Springs, FL
40. 8:07:09, Imelda Maronde (F, 42) Clarksville, TN
41. 8:26:53, Dana Stetson (M, 61) Tallahassee, FL
42. 8:46:02, Carey Clarkson (F, 50) Pensacola, FL
43. 8:50:18, Mellody Hughes (F, 54) Defuniak Springs, FL
44. 6:17:41, Howard Helbein (M, 47) Pompano Beach, FL
45. 8:57:54, Marsha White (F, 70) Tallahassee, FL

Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic winners, 1980 - 2015
Date	Distance	Men	Women	Finishers
13 December 1980	50 Mile	6:27:05, Dave Sheffield	No female finishers	9
9 January 1982	100 km	8:57:57, John Hesselbart	No female finishers	2
	50 Mile	5:39:43, Kenneth Lord	8:15:45, Rosemary Desloge	9
11 December 1982	50 Mile	5:14:40, Frank Bozanich	10:47:54, Lydi Pallares	16
	50 km	2:51:53, Barney Klecker	3:56:13, Kathe Brookover	18
10 December 1983	100 km	7:31:01, Rick Alderfer	10:34:29, Melissa Uchitelle	21
	50 km	2:53:45, Barney Klecker	3:13:51, Janis Klecker	48
15 December 1984	100 km	7:19:53, Steve Warshawer	9:43:03, Vicki Johnson	18
	50 km	3:25:29, John Cantwell	3:53:05, Donna Miller	40
14 December 1985	100 Mile	14:57:26, Ray Krolewicz	15:12:54, Sandra Kiddy	2
	100 km	7:29:05, Richard Westbrook	10:58:31, Joan Baker	16
	50 km	3:21:04, Ron L. Crawford	4:15:13, Mae Cleveland	42
13 December 1986	100 km	7:47:00, Steve Warshawer	No female finishers	12
	50 km	3:09:25, Mark Dorion	4:19:28, Mae Cleveland	54
12 December 1987	100 km	8:19:20, Richard Schick	9:02:52, Sue Ellen Trapp	15
	50 km	3:06:52, John Devine	4:19:23, Mary Hanudel	38
10 December 1988	100 km	7:58:03, Richard Schick	11:55:07, Pam Duke	24
	50 km	3:21:46, Tom Burr	4:06:39, Shelley Tyler	60
9 December 1989	100 km	7:21:20, Rick Clark	No female finishers	13
	50 km	3:24:30, Joe Burgasser	3:44:21 28, Paula Johnson	37
1990	No Race Held
14 December 1991	100 km	9:01:14, Gordy Hawkins	No female finishers	4
	50 km	3:40:25, Thomas Buchanan	3:57:11, Paula Johnson	14
12 December 1992	100 km	9:09:00, Gordy Hawkins	No female finishers	4
	50 km	3:43:38, Bill Hillison	11:27:08, Peggy Lanier	9
11 December 1993	50 Mile	6:22:08, Richard Schick	8:59:19, Peggy Lanier	12
	50 km	3:44:12, Bill Hillison	5:22:17, Delia Brewster	12
10 December 1994	50 Mile	6:55:40, Gordy Hawkins	No female finishers	11
	50 km	2:54:11, John Viltanen	3:50:00, Paula Johnson	31
9 December 1995	50 Mile	7:19:35, Gordy Hawkins	No female finishers	5
	50 km	3:36:48, David Yon	3:57:21, Carrie Weyant	21
14 December 1996	80 km	6:54:01, Ray Krolewicz	No female finishers	8
	50 km	3:42:29, Bill Hillison	4:04:17, Paula Johnson	16
13 December 1997	50 Mile	7:33:37, Gordy Hawkins	9:03:46, Kathleen Wheeler	9
	50 km	3:54:00, Bill Hillison	4:10:55, Kari Larsen	14
12 December 1998	50 Mile	6:28:19, David Allison	9:22:57, Peggy Lanier	13
	50 km	3:44:58, Scott Ludwig	3:46:25, Jane Johnson	36
11 December 1999	50 Mile	5:57:32, Michael Peck	6:38:02, Nancy Drach	20
	50 km	3:49:06, Bill Hillison	4:51:00, Kathleen Daumer	9
9 December 2000	50 Mile	8:06:14, Gary Griffin	7:07:11, Nancy Drach	8
	50 km	3:52:44, Dave Drach	4:29:56, Kristen Hooper	15
8 December 2001	50 Mile	7:35:27, Dana Stetson	7:41:24, Linda Mason	8
	50 km	3:35:11, Tim Lee	3:57:03, Kelly Murzynsky	26
14 December 2002	50 Mile	6:54:21, Pete Hendrickson	No female finishers	8
	50 km	3:51:46, Bill Hillison	4:30:57, Sandy Powell	30
13 December 2003	50 Mile	7:11:53, Fred Johnson	9:56:26, Kathleen Wheeler	15
	50 km	3:51:58, Bill Hillison	7:11:58, Susan Boardman	15
11 December 2004	50 Mile	5:24:45, Chad Ricklefs	8:41:40, Ann Burke	11
	50 km	3:50:10, Bill Hillison	4:03:10, Kelly Murzynsky	21
10 December 2005	50 Mile	7:41:53, Mitsuhito Tsuchida	7:23:14, Linda Mason	9
	50 km	3:55:07, Fred Johnson	4:38:07, Joan Messick	25
9 December 2006	50 Mile	7:17:49, Blaine Broadbridge	7:30:37, Amy Costa	12
	50 km	3:18:55, Colin Deasy	4:43:14, Susan Lance	18
8 December 2007	50 Mile	6:41:23, Jack McDermott	7:21:47, Amy Costa	13
	50 km	3:30:25, Thierry Asselin	4:44:39, Olivia Swedberg	29
13 December 2008	50 Mile	6:48:14, Dann Fisher	8:50:31, Ann Burke	17
	50 km	3:36:01, Jack McDermott	4:52:44, Kirsten Baggett	33
12 December 2009	50 Mile	6:48:43, Dann Fisher	7:58:10, Susan Lance	7
	50 km	3:43:22, Jon Williams	4:05:40, Jane Johnson	53
11 December 2010	50 Mile	6:26:07, Dann Fisher	7:33:52, Amy Costa	15
	50 km	3:28:17, Cameron Wheeler	3:39:53, Allison Eagen	48
10 December 2011	50 Mile	6:18:45, Sung Ho Choi	7:39:09, Amy Costa	17
	50 km	3:39:47, Pete Kaplan	4:14:19, Kristien Cox	66
8 December 2012	50 Mile	6:34:53, Ferit Toska	8:16:09, Chrissy Coutts	18
	50 km	3:44:50, John Robida	4:09:08, Ruth Levy	66
14 December 2013	50 Mile	6:45:12, Ferit Toska	7:03:01, Madeleine Zolfo	14
	50 km	3:41:28, Daniel Nix	4:19:43, Katie Sherron	66
13 December 2014	50 Mile	6:52:08, Ferit Toska	7:17:59, Madeleine Zolfo	11
	50 km	3:52:56, Jack McDermott	4:45:54, Jennifer Shafer	59
12 December 2015	50 Mile	6:50:50, Mark Tombrink	8:29:05, Holly Bohensky	12
	50 km	3:25:21, Charlie Johnson	4:28:51, Laura McDermott	70
10 December 2016	50 Mile	5:52:57, Gary Gellin	7:38:20, Sheryl Rosen	9
	50 km	3:50:17, Dan Nix	4:39:55, Emma Spencer	41
9 December 2017	50 Mile	7:28:37, Peter Strickland	8:01:14, Jamie Cooper	12
	50 km	3:38:23, Thomas Dever	4:15:24, Kat Sack	45

Links

• Complete results of the 2017 Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic at gulfwinds.org
  
  • 50 mile: http://gulfwinds.org/raceresults/2017/TUDC50Mile2017.html
    
  • 50 km : http://gulfwinds.org/raceresults/2017/TUDC50K2017.html
    
  
  
• Fred Deckert's photos of the 2017 Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic
  https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMcm7zPDhNia07Z5Fp7HJdHzGHzpYwqX11y9Or6fDyG8_WbaJlrAAKnQJ6geJZwJw?key=Ynk5eWgwQTUwSExaOXFnZy1XbTVXVHdpVWJleDZR
  
  
• Dale Pearson's photos of the 2017 Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic
  https://www.facebook.com/dale.pearson.790/media_set?set=a.10212861857893175.1073741857.1591214617&type=1&l=1425795d4f
  
  
• 2015 story, “Mark Tombrink wins the Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic 50 mile”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/12/tudc-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Ferit Toska makes it three in the 50 at the Tallahassee Ultradistance Classic”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/12/tudc-2014.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “A nifty fifty for Toska and Coutts at the Tallahassee Ultra”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/12/tudc-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Testing limits at the 2011 Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/12/tudc-2011.html
  
  
• 2010 story, “The tradition of the long run goes on at the Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/12/tudc-2010.html
  
  
• Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic
  http://www.tallahasseeultra.com/
  
  
• Find upcoming races at more civilized distances in the Tallahassee region
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

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