Baumann completes 52 mile run in Wyoming

Patrick Baumann, 53, Custer High School class of 1975 graduate and  current resident of Douglas, Wyo., often remarks “Coach Knudson said to....” as he prepares for a running event. He calls coach Knudson saying “Go to the end! You can do it!”

Marathons have become routine, from  the streets of Oklahoma City, Okla., to Lincoln, Neb., to the Mickelson Trail—where on June 5 Patrick  placed 52nd out of 326 racers overall and second out of 33 in his age group in a time of 3:41:02. He rested briefly—and immediately  finished a secondary half marathon in 2:05:55,  as training for his next upcoming challenge.

His son, Mike Zahrowski, also of Douglas, often trains with and competes alongside him. His daughter, Angela Sewalson of Sioux City, Iowa, joined them at Lincoln recently, competing in her first half marathon division. His wife, Ginger Baumann, and mom, Kay Baumann of Custer, compete when a 5K event is offered. 

Pat has nine times finished the grueling, world class Mt. Marathon challenge at Seward, Alaska, as well as numerous mountain races in Wyoming.

On June 19, Pat became one of the 150 starting competitors to take on the annual 52-mile  challenge  run across a section of the Big Horns. This was his first attempt at a race of over marathon length (26.2 miles.)

The race start was at remote Porcupine Ranger Station (6 a.m., with a temperature of 34 degrees) and the finish line was in Dayton City Park, Wyo., on the east side of the mountains.

The first five miles  of the course were through deep snow drifts with alternate mud sections. At a later point, the course demanded a rapid 2,000 foot descent—then turned a "hairpin" and sent the competitors to reclaim those 2,000 feet of elevation. This section is named "The Wall." No portion of the route was easy.

For the first 20 miles (prior to aid station No. 1) Pat remained in the pack of seven leaders. At this point, as he changed into lighter clothing and fresh shoes (packed in by volunteers) he realized he had misjudged his balance of nourishment packs/salt/mineral intake and water along the way. His leg muscles retaliated; cramps set in.

His pit crew (Ginger and parents John and Kay) had access to aid station No.2 at the 38-mile mark. They dressed his blisters and amply applied Ben Gay to his limbs, as they poked fruit and nourishment drink into him. Fighting off the cramps, he was able to proudly finish the course in 11:31:42  for a placing of  eighth out of 18 in his age group  and 43rd out of 131 overall. 

Along the way were persons competing in shorter distance runs—and 157 athletes (95 finishers)  coming in from the 100 mile run, which had begun the day prior to the other events. These latter runners participated all through the night, with head lamps attached and glow sticks to mark the trail. The winner came in at 18:43:37. Triumphant  competitors were yet being cheered across the finish line some 36 hours after  the 100 mile run began. One 60-year-old-runner was honored for having just completed his 50th 100-mile race.

Pat, projects manager for Cloud Peak Energy of Wyoming, thinks he'll stick to (maybe) just another attempt at the 52 mile run, for now, but not in 2011, because that is when he and wife Ginger, along with granddaughter Brooke Mason of Douglas, will be in Africa,  pursuing  other passions—touring and big game hunting.