Who is Ann Trason?

Ann Trason's first love is long-distance running. The mere thought of competing in a conventional marathon sends shivers up and down her spine.

That is because she considers running 26.2-miles along anything other than wooded trails to be tedious if not downright boring.

"There's is no adventure in it," said the 31-year-old microbiology lab instructor from Oakland, Calif.

Her idea of high adventure is negotiating rolling terrain while dodging branches and skirting an occasional snake.

"It's peaceful out there on the trails," she said. "It's nice to get away from the cars, dogs, and noise."

If peace and tranquility is what she's seeking, Trason will get lots of it on Saturday.

Trason, along with defending champion Steve Mahieu, will head one of the most competitive ultramarathon fields ever assembled at the Third Annual Sunmart Texas Trails Endurance Runs.

Mahieu, 45, set the Sunmart Texas Trail men's 50-mile record of 6 hours, 17 minutes and 31 seconds while winning the 1991 race.

Trason, the world record-holder in distances in excess of 50 miles, is among the favorites in the 50-mile division of the event, which will also include a 26.2-mile trail marathon.

The 50-mile run will begin at 6 a.m. at Huntsville State Park. The marathon will follow at 9 a.m. Participants in the 50-mile run will negotiate four 12.5 mile loops of rolling trail terrain. Marathon runners will complete a 1.2-mile circuit, followed by two 12.5-mile loops of the 50-mile course.

The field will virtually be bursting at the seams with more than 370 entrants. A rather large number of participants, but this field includes distance runners from all across the country.

Runners like Tom Johnson, a two-time champion of Western States 100-mile Endurance Run in northern California.

Other prominent 50-mile entrants in the men's field include Eric Clifton, 34, of Greensboro, N.C., winner of four 100-mile runs in 1992; Tim Twietmeyer, 33, Auburn, Calif., the reigning Western States 100 men's champion and Rick Spady, 40, Great Falls, Mont., winner of the Leadville Trail 100.

Trason heads the women's field which includes Helen Klein, 70, who holds numerous endurance run records including the six-day event; Kathy D'Onofrio-Wood, 28, Truckee, Calif., former two-time winner of the Western States 100; Kris Clark-Setnes, 32, Germantown, Wis., the reigning Vermont 100 champion; Laura Vaughn, 26, Tahoe City, Calif., winner of the 1992 Wasatch Front 100; and Kathy Welch, 39, and Joan Mork, 39, both of Auburn Calif., current co-champions of the Angeles Crest 100.

Trason's introduction to trail running was an interesting, albeit unconventional one.

"It just sort of happened," said the world record-holder in the 50-mile run. Back in 1985, Trason entered her first multisport event -- a triathlon. She quickly discovered that she was better suited as a spectator rather than an actual participant. "I don't like to swim."

Soon afterward, friends encouraged her to participate in a few trail runs with them. She eventually decided to enter the Western States. And the rest, as they say, is history.

"After the first 30 miles, I fell in love with the course."

Since then, Trason has become one of the world's finest female ultra-marathon runners. In addition to the women's world record for 50 miles (5:40:18), 12 hours (91 miles) and 100 miles (13:47:41), she holds the course record and has four consecutive titles at Western States 100.

Despite all the world records, Trason remains unchanged. As she put it, "I just do what I enjoy doing."

Trason recently tried her hand at competing in a road-race. She finished fourth overall in the California International Marathon in 2:39:15, an impressive personal record on the road, for someone more at home on the range.

You can talk to Trason, Steve Mahieu and Helen Klein, today on KTRH (AM 700) Sportsbeat. They'll join hosts Russell Small and Charlie Palillo at 6:15 p.m. today for an hour of questions and comments regarding ultramarathons.

The site of Friday's Packet Pickup/Carbo-Dinner has been changed. Participants in the Sunmart Texas Trail Endurance Run will convene at Del Lago Resort and Conference Center located in Montgomery. Packet pickup begins at 3 p.m., dinner will follow. Entry fee for Saturday's run is $50. There will be no race-day registration. For additional information, contact Rudy Alvarez, 639-5889, or Brent Bergevin, (800) 285-8098.

Terefe Mekonnen of Ethiopia was the overall winner of the Randall's Jingle Bell Run last Sunday. Despite the overcast sky, more than 9,500 runners and walkers poured into the streets of downtown Houston for the annual event.

Mekonnen, who is in town training for the 1993 Houston Tenneco Marathon, finished the 5-mile race in 24:41, a course record.

Second place went to Miguel Gonzalez in 25:43. Scott Durbin was third overall in 25:47. Top female finisher was Theresa Fuqua in 28:50. Bill Duff won the wheelchair race in 19:59.

Carol McLatchie has had a very busy, productive month. She toppled the American female masters record for the 30K by two minutes in the GAC 30K Championship in Sugar Land last weekend. McLatchie, 41, won the women's division with a time of 1:53:59.

Top overall male was Jon Warren in 1:36:52. Top female master was Nancy Prejean in 2:08:45. And top male master was Gene Timberlake in 1:51:43.

Earlier this month, McLatchie won her third national masters title this year when she successfully defended her cross-country title in Louisville, Ky., recording a 36.51 in the 10,000 meter event.