Often a new year starts with a look back at the old year, and what a year 2008 was for our RUT team! We got off to a great start with our traditional kick off at Winter Witchy Wolf run in Omer, MI. Pictures of that event are on our website! Then we had a first ultra runners class which met on Sunday mornings. A dedicated few of us ran the trails every single Sunday, regardless of snow, ice, below freezing tempratures or 40 mph winds. If those aren't memorable moments, I don't know what would be!

Then there was Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky. I think we took winter down there with us, because instead of the usual 50 degree temperatures, a winter storm blew in and dumped 6 inches of snow on the trail the night before the race. However, we were well prepared for such weather and stuck it out to finish the race strong.

Dances With Dirt Gnaw Bone was next, taking an excursion down to the course to run it before the race in April. We had a great time, running the 18 mile loop on Saturday and Sunday morning before heading home. Then there was the race itself! A little bit different with the six miles we had left out heading over the muckiest, dirtiest horse trails in the midwest. It was quite and adventure, that's for sure!

This summer we had several RUT members try for a 100 at the Mohican trail run in Ohio. It proved to be a story-generating trip for everyone involved, Dave Dysert, Ken Arble, Rick Armes, Jeff Leigh and Al Durham. Everyone ran an excellent race. The race is recapped excellently in Ultrarunning Magazine, and most of our runners are mentioned. It was a proud day (and a half) for anyone who is a RUT member.

The late summer had some new races, the Wild West 100K in Lowell, Michigan, and the Silver Lake 50/50 right here in our backyard of Pinckney, Michigan. We had several RUT members doing each race and I think a great time was had by all!

September was a busy month, as usual with Dances with Dirt and the North Country Trail races TWO weeks apart this year. Many RUTsters could now do both instead of having to choose one or the other! Dances with Dirt, Hell was a riotous good time, as usual, and the RUT tent was busy with traffic from both the 50K and the 50 mile. North Country was a little bit more serene, and the nice, soft rolling trail was a welcome break to the bushwacking of the race before

We have done many events in 2008 and we look forward to many many more! Join us in 2009 and make your own Ultrarunning Adventure!

Soon and very soon we will be revitalizing the calander. Please tell me if you have any suggestions. Email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it