One-Eyed Dog: Why You Should Ride 100 Miles of the Rugged Ozark Trail and Eat Tater Tots

 

One-Eyed Dog

100 mile mountain bike race

Sept 24, 2022

Loki Events

Belleview, Missouri

Jess 1st overall female

Joël 1st single speed; 2nd overall male

 

Do this race!

Challenging and fun course within a beautiful forest.  Great camping near the race site; with showers and real toilets.  Amazing aid stations and spectacular volunteers. A race director who really cares about racers and his events.  Super tasty post race meal.  Friendly fellow racers who after miles and miles on the trail together became friends.  Personal awards and cash payouts. Need there be more?

Why is it that some 100 mile races close out in minutes while others, like the Loki Events One-Eyed Dog, have just a select few racers toe the line?  We, the Nankmans, have never been able to figure that out. We have been to the big races that fill-up and close out in minutes and have been disappointed in the event.  In contrast, we have been to the smaller grass-roots events that struggle for entrants and have considered these to be some of the best events out there.

The One-Eyed Dog is an event that more people should attend, more people should race, and more people should enjoy. Every thing about it made it worth doing and worth returning to again.  If the 100 mile distance is not for you, there is also a 50, 24, and 12 mile race.

Course

As per the race description “some of the most rugged and unforgiving sections of the Ozark Trail. Just when you think you can catch your breath going down, you’re facing back up a hill grinding out over rocks and roots. Boasting the only 100 mile, 100% singletrack race in the USA and over 11,000 feet climbing, the OED100 mile is a grueling challenge that tests ones physical and mental toughness. Finishing in daylight is a right of passage for any cross country OED100 mile endurance racer.”  Well, that description by race director Matt Johnson is pretty much right on. 2022 was a two-lap event (some years it is one big 100 mile lap, some years two 50 mile loops).  With the exception of a few miles of rough gravel road half-way through the lap, the course was all single track. Challenging, techy, rocky and rooty, rolling ups and downs but every minute of it was awesome, fun, and beautiful single track. The course was well marked and easy to follow, even in the dark.

Accommodations

Any race that has camping on site is top-notch in the Nankmans book.  This just makes life so much easier.  The event is based out of Council Bluff Recreation Area, with registration, the start/finish, and post race awards and meal all there in one spot. The Wild Board Campground, part of the recreation area and just a few miles from the race headquarters, was open to races.  It is a fee campground and reservations had to be made but there were ample spots for racers.  Nice big sites with fire rings and tables, pit toilets, and easy access to the Ozark Trail made this a campground worth staying not only for the race but also for a few days before and after the event.  The campground did not have showers, however, the beach area where race headquarters was located did have showers available for racers to use.

Aid stations

Thanks to the amazing volunteers who manned the aid stations.  Every person was so friendly, helpful, supportive, and talkative.  In fact, they were always giving Joël and I splits on each other…I think they really wanted me to catch Joël!  They certainly were motivating me to go faster to get to him.  Each aid station was like a buffet, so much to offer.  Sports specific food along with all sorts of other snacks in addition to water and electrolyte drinks.  And of course I shall not forget to mention what Loki Events is know for at it’s aid stations- the best tater tots ever. These tots have some sort of spices on them that give just a little extra flavor and wow to they hit the spot. I couldn't wait to eat some.  Drop bags were transported to each aid station, so riders could have a personal bag at any or all of the aid stations of their choosing.

Fellow racers

Ever been to an event with grumpy riders shouting “rider back”  “passing” and people being snooty and non-friendly. Well, this race is NOT that.  All race distances used the same course, so there was potential for many riders of many different abilities and exhaustion levels to be out there riding together.  No matter when and were on the course, people were friendly, talkative, and supportive. I’ve never seen so many smiles from riders at one race. After the event at the post-race party and even the next day at the campsite riders were still all talking to each other, comparing stories of the event, and congratulating others on a ride well earned.

Race organizer, rider swag, post race events, awards

Matt Johnson and Loki Events is really there to make sure riders have a good time at an enjoyable safe event and on course where each and every racer really earns their finishers award.  Registration was a smooth and easy process where all riders were greeted in a personal manner.  Rider swag from both Loki Events and sponsors was given to each entrant.  No need to buy a race T-shirt like many events are doing these days, Loki Events gives you one. Post race party was a conglomeration of racers hanging out with volunteers and the race organizer.  Endless food, and I mean real food cooked right there on sight, was available to all racers and could be purchased for non-racers. Awards were done in a timely manner with a photo-worthy podium set-up.  Prizes consisted of personal race-specific awards, sponsor goodies, and a cash pay-out.

Individual races and personal account

Both Joël and I thoroughly enjoyed this race. Yes, it certainly was a challenge but that is what we like; raw techy trails through a beautiful forest. Hey, we are mountain biking so lets ride trails.  100 miles of single track is not joke and it certainly was a long day on the bike.  We both needed our Lupine Lights and rode the last hour or so in the dark.

Joël finished in 12:37, coming in first single speed on his Giant XTC and second overall male.

I was gaining on Joël but just couldn’t quite catch him, finishing in 12:50 enjoying the ride on my Liv Pique Advanced.  This earned me first place female and the course record; only two females have ever even completed the course and I am one of them.

Clifford aspect

The race and race venue are dog friendly, so that means Clifford was happily invited.  In fact, the race director even allowed a mid-race course departure (appropriately leaving the course and re-entering at the same spot) to check on Cliff. It was a little warm down there in Missouri but Cliff did just fine but I was worried and needed to check on on him. During his time on this trip Cliff traveled the Ozark Trail, swam in a lake in Daniel Boone National Forest, hit up some trails in West Virginia and ran along the historic C&O canal. What a well traveled guy he is.

 Other notes of interest

As usual, Joël and I turned this destination event into a vacation.  The race was the main reason for the travels but why not see some sights along the way. En route to the race was St. Louis and Gateway Arch National Park. On the way home post race we hit up Daniel Boone National Forest for some camping and hiking.  Stopped in New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia for sight seeing and riding at the Arrowhead Bike Farm.  Camped for the night at McCoy’s Ferry in Maryland and rode the C&O Canal.  As per our trips, along the way were stops at breweries, distilleries, and some small local tourist attractions. Racing and the travels involved with it are always a good excuse to get out and see other places, experience different areas, and make new friends.

-words by Jess

-photos Joël, Jess, and Loki Events

-race support for the Nankmans by Saucon Valley Bikes