So this report is SLIGHTLY past due...reminds me of High School. 
Much like Club Fat Ass and my friends, St. Louis Ultrarunner's Group, Florida has the Florida Ultrarunner's Group. FLURs as we like to refer to them. Fun loving bunch, with a few great Ultrarunning events around Florida.
My training for the Croom Fool's run 50k was less than spectacular, in fact, NON-existent. I wasn't too worried whether I would finish but I sure wasn't going to PR this thing.
The great thing about Brooskville, FL is that it actually has some HILLS! I miss those suckers back in Missouri and BC. 
But I'll quit my whining - I'm lucky to have the FLURs to tag along with and ocassionally keep up with.
Croom fools run is a 15.5 mile loop you run twice for the 50k. It's a mostly smooth single track, with some roots and a few small hills. Two of the more challenging aspects of the race for me were the HEAT and the soft "sugar sand" sections of the course. That stuff will sap the life of a runner, especially on the up & down hill portions. It's like an Army boot camp training regimen at 95 degrees and no breeze!
Lauren took the opportunity to volunteer at this one since I wouldn't really need a crew for this distance. She had a good time working this aid-station with my FLUR friend (and soon to be Ironman finisher in Penticton, BC!) Andrea. Here's Lauren (grey jacket) dishing out some fluids for the dehydrated FOOLS:
I was sporting my "lucky" blue CFA shirt, and got so many good remarks on it I had to include a photo of it. Never mind my out of shape belly, I've since addressed that 
Even as hot as it was, I sure was HUNGRY!
As expected, I didn't PR, but I did manage to break 5 hours. I think my 2:01 first loop may have been a bit quick? So, I ended up walking most of the last 7 miles since I was TOAST, but that's ok. It was a heck of a lot of fun, and I'll take a 4:48 6th place finish any day!
Race director, Andy Mathews, and his volunteers were fantastic - thanks everyone! And you can't beat the finisher prize if you're a coffee lover: this slick coffee mug, courtesy of 'Andyman' Mathews!
Comments
Nice run!
Cool coffee mug, too. I'll propose to Karl, John and the Vancovuer Fools that they have beer mugs for runners who finish the Fools series up here.
Nice Run
Hey Jason
I ran the 50 miler last year and really enjoyed it. The course and weather were challenging and the event was well run. I did not get down to see Michelle's family this year, but if we do next year maybe we could hook up and run the same race. Two years ago I ran the 35 mile race from Jacksonville to St Augustine (all beach). Loved it! Hope your enjoying Florida.
Great to hear from you, Andy!
Andy,
You really blistered that 50 miler at Croom last year. Sub 7 is getting it! Any time you're down I'd love to get together for a run. If it's a race day we can meet up at the start and finish, cause there's no way I'm hanging with you at that pace, bro.
I didn't even know about the 35 miler on the beach from JAX to ST. Augustine. That sounds pretty awesome. I've run on JAX beach, but not very far. I'll definitely have to learn more about that one.
Be sure to let me know if you plan to be in the area.
Take care,
Jason
FL
Hey Jason, the Jacksonville race is called Jetty 2 Jetty, very low key event (also a relay). The date varies from Jan/Feb or March.