by John Welch

This feature is a continuation of the Prickly Pear Trail Run coverage in the June 2003 issue of Runner Triathlete News. To get a complete recap of that event, pick up a copy of the June issue of Runner Triathlete News. Subscribe to RTN today!

Californian Rodney King said it first. "Can't we all just get along?" But I don't think that King had trail runners and mountain bikers in mind when he coined that familiar and often anecdotal phrase. And although there were no real altercations between the two factions at the Prickly Pear 50K/10-Mile Trail Runs in McAllister Park on May 3, some differences of opinion concerning the popular Alamo City facility's use certainly made the rounds the day before the event.

Race director Bill Gardner, who was in his sophomore year at the helm having directed the Prickly Pear 10-Miler last year, decided to add a 50K trail ultra marathon to the mix this time around. But that necessitated using more paths and trails, thus upsetting at least one mountain biker, who allegedly either hid or destroyed most of Gardner's directional signs the evening before the race.

But not one to be daunted, Gardner and his platoon of volunteers arrived at the park well before dawn on race to right the wrongs that at least one mountain biker had perpetrated the day before.

"I think it (the race) went as well as could be expected, considering that the course was tampered with the night before," said Gardner, who is a top ultra marathoner himself. "We were out there in the park at 4:30 a.m. (on race day), and then we had to wait till 5 a.m. for the park personnel to get the gates open."

It's not that Paul Frost was oblivious to the problems with the course's markings, but just that he was preoccupied with winning the 50K title from a handful of some top area ultra marathoners. Frost, who is the cross country and track coach at New Braunfels Canyon High School, led early following the pre-dawn start. Frost did commit one faux pas at about five miles, though, when he took a wrong turn, and in the process, added over two minutes to his race.

"I was paying more attention to the course from last year's 10- mile race, which I did compete in," Frost said. "But the director did change the route somewhat, and I ended up taking a wrong turn. I didn't lose lot of ground, though, and when I did get back on the course, I was able to regain the lead pretty quickly."

The miscue ended up being the only chink in Frost's armor, though, as he cruised to the finish line in 3 hours, 43 minutes, 19 seconds, more than 15-minutes ahead of the runner-up (Craig Robertson, second, 3:59:02). Marius Meinrjes, 38, who is a Dallas reproductive physiologist, was third at 4:04:23.

Led by Kelly Woodmansee, a pair of Houston runners finished one- two in the women's 50K division. Woodmansee was the winner in 5:14:51, followed by Mariela Botella who was second (5:16:57). Cyndy Marks, 42, of San Antonio, was third (5:27:28).

Army master sergeant Carl Clark, 39, of Fort Sam Houston, was the mens 10-mile winner in 1:05:15. San Antonian Jose Iniguez, 37, was second at 1:06:33. Leigh Daniel, 24, of San Antonio, who was a Texas Tech All-American in track, was the womens 10-mile winner at 1:12:15. Dana Leonard, 22, of San Antonio, was a close second in 1:12:23.

Daniel, who is more accustomed to running on the track, was pleased with her victory.

"I do a long run every Sunday, but not on the trails," Daniel said. "I'm used to the long mileage, but the footing (today) was something that was different for me."

More than 40 runners participated in the 50K with another 150 competing in the 10-Miler. Both events were sponsored by the San Antonio Road Runners.