Prickly Pear 50K Race Report

(Start of Race)

Last Saturday I ran the Prickly Pear 50K trail race at nearby McAllister Park here in San Antonio, TX. Anyone who knows me well will tell you that I always have mixed emotions about running this race. On the one hand I love it because it is close to home on familiar trails, and because any race put on by Bill Gardner is going to be a well-organized party. I also gained free entry this year by performing a morning’s worth of trash pickup on the trails. On the other hand, the terrain is relatively flat, the temperature usually heats up for the final miles, and the course consists of that dreaded four letter word – LOOP…3 of them to be exact. My goal this year (as with last year) was to break 5 hours. This would require a near-perfect race, but I believed it was a realistic possibility.

Another nice part of this race is being able catch up with friends, and I managed to see several at the start. I lined up next to Larry Pearson (Larry had been sick and was hoping to get in 20 miles), and soon we were off. The first couple miles of the race are on nice winding single track in the woods. While this makes for nice scenery, it can create a logjam of people, which can make it difficult to pass. This isn’t always a bad thing, as it forces you to start slowly, which can pay off later in the race. Larry and I settled in behind a group that kept us from going out too hard. I could tell that Larry was still recovering from his illness. He sounded like he was breathing with a bag over his head – good training for the altitude we will both face at the Wasatch 100 in September. I wasn’t too set on a certain pace for the first loop, but I knew I wanted to keep it under 9:15/mile, assuming that felt comfortable. I checked my watch at the first aid station (about 2.5 miles in) and saw that we were over 9:30. I wasn’t too concerned yet, knowing the start of a race almost always brings a slower pace with all the congestion. I began to slowly pick up the pace, but was cautious about going too hard since the air seemed to be very humid (I usually don’t run well in humidity). The rest of the loop passed by fairly quickly, with Larry and I running together for the first half (I lost him at some point along the way). I came into the start/finish area in 1:32, about a 9:10 pace. Although I felt like I was working a little too hard for my pace early on, I seemed to get more comfortable as the loop progressed. I grabbed a fresh water bottle, some Hammer gels, and headed back out for loop #2.

(Early on Loop #1)

(Larry Pearson)

Early in loop 2 I caught up to John Sharp, a friend and local runner who I knew was hoping to break 5 hours as well. My legs were feeling really good, so I decided to run at a pace I thought I could hold, regardless of how fast/sow it might be. At some point John let me step in front of him and set the pace. Just past the first aid station, we hit a pack of runners participating in the 10 mile race, which started after our race in the hopes of avoiding some congestion. I have run the 50K several times now, but this was the earliest I have ever run into 10 milers, and by far the most 10 mile runners I have ever seen. This was both frustrating and helpful. I felt like John and I spent most of the loop yelling “on your left” as we passed people (John is very good at this), but it always feels good to pass someone, giving you the feeling that you are moving really fast (even when this might not be the case). So, we wiggled our way around the course, passing at least 50 people along the way. I was just running on feel, not too sure how fast we were going. At one point, John mentioned to me that we had a great pace going and that he was having trouble keeping up. That’s not something that is said to me often, so I checked my watch and noticed that we were running in the low 8:00 pace, sometimes even dropping into the 7:00 range. Ouch, this was going to come back and bite me later, but I was content trying to hold on as long as I could. John edged ahead of me after I stopped to refill my water bottle at the last aid station (manned by our friend Edgar Gonzalez), and we cruised into the start/finish area with a total time of 3:05, about 15 minutes faster than my time from last year. I was fairly confident that, if I could stay with John, I would break 5 hours. I really needed to use the bathroom, but I figured the lines would be too long, and I felt too good to stop. Big mistake!!!

(Feeling good)

Two of the kids I coach in track/cross country were there to volunteer for the race, and they handed me a new water bottle and some gels for my final 10+ mile loop. Up to that point, I was averaging a low 9 minute pace through 20 miles, easily the fastest I had ever run a trail race. I took off on my last loop, putting on my headphones for a musical boost. About a half mile into the loop, I knew that my decision to skip the restroom was not a good one. I had to stop several times to re-assess my situation and soon realized that I would have to find a restroom – IMMEDIATELY. Luckily, I know McAllister Park fairly well. After some bushwhacking off the trail, I spotted the road that would take me to one of the pavilions and a much-needed restroom. I will spare everyone the details, but let’s just say this side trip ended up costing me nearly 10 minutes of precious time. Even worse, John was long gone, and I now had no one to run with. At this point, my legs felt ok, but my mind and body were fatigued from pushing hard on the first 2 loops. I did some quick mental calculations and knew I was going to have to push harder than expected if I was going to break 5 hours. The final loop of Prickly Pear is always tough, as the heat is usually out in full force (relative to what we have had in the preceding months), and the 20+ miles of flat running has worn you down. I wasn’t able to hold the pace I needed and ended up coming in at 5:13, still a solid PR. Had I not had my “detour”, I would have been under 5:05 for sure and might have been able to hold it together long enough to break 5 hours. John ended up running a great race and finishing in 4:46, good enough for 10^th place overall. While I was disappointed that I didn’t break 5 hours, I was happy with my time and excited about my fitness heading into the Bull Run 50 Miler (assuming I get into the race) in April.

After the race I swore that I was (again) done running this race and that I would stick to being a volunteer. So, I guess I’ll see everyone at the start line in 2012 

Snot Pots and Humidity

Seems like I never get sick unless I have a race coming up. Sure enough, I woke up Monday with congestion and a wicked cough. I was told that using a neti pot might help. For the uninitiated, a neti pot (I've been referring to it as my "snot pot") is essentially a small tea pot that you stick in one nostril, allowing the solution to drain out the other nostril, along with all the snot you have inside your nose. Sounds fun, right? It seems to be working. In addition, I have been taking an immune booster called "Kick Ass Immune Booster". I think they should re-name it "Tastes Like Ass Immune Booster". Maybe it will work.

In addition to my cold, the weather has warmed up (been around 80 the past few days), and with it the humidity has set in. I already despise running in high humidity, but it is made much worse when compounded with my sickness. Should be fun trying to breathe on Sunday at the marathon.

I ran my last easy run this morning (6 miles) and will take tomorrow off (from running) to work the Austin Marathon Expo for Brooks. I have always been a fan of Brooks shoes, and the past several years I have had the pleasure of being a part of their ID (Inspire Daily) team, and more recently their PACE team. It should be fun to be a part of their team at the Expo and help out. I just hope my head and chest clear up before the race on Sunday.

Ideal Conditions

I should have known I was going to have a good run yesterday. It all started on Saturday, when I spent the afternoon in Austin at REI and Hula Hut. 65 and sunny is pretty ideal for a day in Austin (really there is no bad day there). Fast forward to yesterday. I stopped at Valero on my way to Government Canyon, where I was meeting Liza for the first part of my 18 mile “tempo” run. I grab my customary pre-run coffee, and the guy at the counter just looked at me and said, “Don’t worry about it. This one’s on me.” Free anything is good, and free coffee is really good! I arrived at GC a few minutes early, thinking I would get ready and fill out the necessary paperwork before the ranger arrived to open the gate. Suddenly a truck drove up, and a man got out and started unlocking the gate. I looked at my clock – 6:55AM. This must be a mistake. Everyone knows that Government Canyon NEVER opens early. Sure enough, he waved us on through. Free coffee, gates opening early…this was shaping up to be a good day.

Liza could only run for an hour, so we headed off under a cool, clear sky towards Far Reaches. Up Far reaches and down Sendero Balcones, then back to the car. We did this (nearly 7 mile section) in exactly one hour, which is fast for me, especially since I had another 11 miles to go. I bid Liza farewell and headed back out, not too excited about trying to maintain my “fast” pace. I decided to run JJR and go up Wildcat Canyon. At the top, I ran Sendero Balcones the opposite direction and linked up with Twin Oaks, a really fun trail to run down. At the junction with JJR, I took a right and headed up and over the Overlook Trail, stopping to admire the beautiful morning and look down on the trail I had just run. Back down Overlook to JJR for a 2 mile stretch back to the car, then a mile cooldown in the front country. I looked at my watch when I had finished – 2:45 total for 18 miles. For me, this was one of my best runs at GC (maybe anywhere). The cool weather and having Liza push me (I’m sure it felt slow to her) at the start really helped. I was dreading this run from the moment I awoke, but I was really glad I did it.

One track day this week and a few easy runs, then the Austin Marathon on Sunday. As if running a road marathon isn’t bad enough (I much prefer trails), the forecast is calling for warm/humid temperatures and showers. Great. Can’t wait.

Sports Bras and GI Issues - My Day At Rocky Raccoon

I spent this past weekend in Huntsville State Park, home of the Rocky Raccoon 100 mile trail race (there’s a 50 mile version too). The race consists of 5x20 mile loops. Those of you who know me know that I will probably never run this race because: #1 – it has more than 2 loops….I’m not a multiple loop guy, #2 – there are no mountains to look at…100 miles is going to hurt, so at least give me some mountain views to take my mind off the pain. Anyway, I was there to help pace my friends Liza Howard and Anabel Pearson. Along the way I even told another friend that I would pace her as well (yikes).

Part I - Liza

Kelli Newlon was pacing Liza from mile 60-80, so we met up with Eliot (Liza’s husband) and Amanda McIntosh (Liza’s coach) to help crew and to stargaze at all the big name runners who had shown up. I even got into full stalker mode and took lots of pictures as they came though the aid stations. It was amazing to watch these guys make running 100 miles look so effortless. Liza won this race last year, and her goal for 2011 was to win – and set the course record! No pressure for her, or for her pacers.

Liza was under course record pace through mile 43, but she didn’t look like herself. Everyone has low spots in an ultra, but she looked particularly uncomfortable., more so than I am used to seeing her. We saw her again at mile 56, and she didn’t look any better. Side note here….As we were hanging out at the Park Road Aid Station waiting for Liza, we had the privilege of watching the top men cruise through, making it look easy. Ian Sharman came blazing through (he would go on to win in course record time, running a 7:30 pace for 100 miles!!!), followed by Zach Gingerich, then Anton Krupicka and Hal Koerner, with Karl Meltzer not far behind. My favorite (by far), was seeing Scott Jurek. I had briefly met Scott a few years prior at the White River 50 miler, where he was working an aid station. He might be THE nicest guy in all of ultra running. When he came into Park Road, you would have thought the Beatles had arrived. One woman screamed so loud I thought she was hurt. After taking a picture with Scott, she proclaimed, “my life is now complete”. He stayed around for at least 10-15 minutes, chatting with volunteers and taking numerous pictures. Here is arguably the greatest American ultra runner of our generation (look at his entire career), and he is taking time out of his race to mingle with his fans. What a class act.

(Ian Sharman coming into Park Road aid station - mile 56)

(Anton Krupicka - mile 56)

(Hal Koerner - mile 56)

(Karl Meltzer - Park Road aid station)

(Scott Jurek with his fans)

(Eliot crewing for Liza at Park Road - mile 56)

Back to the real reason I was there- to pace Liza and Anabel. Kelli and I drove to the start/finish area so Liza could pick up Kelli on her 4^th loop. After a quick re-fill of key items (gels, water, Immodium), Liza and Kelli were off. I rode with Eliot to see them at the Nature Center aid station (mile 63), where Liza still seemed to be struggling. After she passed through, I headed back to the start/finish area to rest up and change before my pacing duties began. I met up and hung out with David Brown, who had run a great race and taken 3^rd overall in the 50 miler. Soon the men’s leaders were passing by, headed out for their final 20 mile loop. At this point, Ian Sharman had a 30 minute lead over Tony and Hal, and he seemed to be getting stronger as the race progressed.

(Ian Sharman heading out for his final loop and a course record - with a 30 minute lead)

(Hal Koerner at mile 80)

(Scott Jurek - he dropped after a 60 mile "training run")

I changed into my running clothes and waited for Liza to come in. When Amanda and Eliot returned, I knew Liza would be coming through soon. Amanda and I discussed what needed to be done in terms of pacing. We both agreed that the course record was probably out of reach, but that Liza could still beat her time from last year and win the race as 1^st female. All I had to do was keep her moving and running at a decently quick (think quick after having run 80 miles) pace. No pressure at all!!! I loaded up my pockets with everything I needed, plus some things I thought might come in handy (ginger, Liza’s iPod, etc). I looked (and felt) like a bear storing up for the winter because my pockets were so full.

(Liza finishing her 3rd loop)

Liza came through, changed out her water bottle, grabbed a few gels, put on some warm clothes, and off we went. I asked her how she was feeling, and I got a muffled grunt in return. She told me that she wasn’t concerned about the course record any longer, but that she really wanted to set a PR. I told her to follow me and promised we would get her in under 15:45. About 15 minutes into the loop, Liza asked for a gel, which she somehow choked down. The look on her face told me she wasn’t thrilled about this, but I was pleasantly surprised that she was still eating. Thus began an odd stretch of pacing for me. Around this point, Liza told me that her sports bra was rubbing and that she had an odd request. She asked if I could rip it for her and proceeded to pull up the back of her shirt. Yep, this is a first for me. Chris never asked me to rip any articles of clothing (thank goodness) at Cactus Rose. The problem was, I couldn’t rip it (I found out later that Kelli had been able to partially tear it earlier, which only made me feel worse and questioning my strength training). Soon after, Liza stopped running and seemed on the verge of tears behind me. I asked if she was okay, and she replied that she just needed a hug. Yet another first for me (no hugs from Chris). Before we made it to the Nature Center aid station, I heard a grunt, followed by a thump behind me. Liza had fallen, muttering that she was “a disaster right now”. Luckily for us, we were soon at the aid station, where I asked for scissors (to cut her sports bra). No scissors, but Eliot had a pocketknife, which I took with me.

I knew we needed to run (roughly) a 12 minute/mile pace on this loop to break last year’s time, and at this point were around 12:20 and fading fast. I was beginning to think that I was going to fail as a pacer and not be able to push Liza like she wanted me to. Another mile of running and Liza stopped, asking me to slice her sports bra with Eliot’s knife. This seemed to help, and quickly we were off again. I could tell that Liza was really struggling (can you blame her – she had pushed HARD for 85 miles) and that it was going to take a superhuman effort on her part to keep moving as fast as we needed to go. I kept telling her that she was doing great and that we could make it if she could just keep this pace up. Pacing can be tricky, because you know the runner wants to make a certain goal and wants to be pushed, but in the heat (and exhaustion) of the moment, the runner just wants to be done. All time goals seem to go out the window.

Passing through DamnNation aid station for the first time (we would be back in just over 6 miles), Liza asked me to get her a cup of Coke. The aid station was busy, and it took longer than normal to get a Coke, so when I turned around to hand it to Liza, she was gone! I caught a faint glimpse of her headlamp in the distance, so off I went, running as fast as I could while trying not to spill the cup of Coke I help in my hand. All of this in the dark, on trails covered in roots. Awesome. I eventually caught up to her, managing to only spill about half the cup. She seemed to be moving better now, asking me to let her know how many miles we had left at each passing mile.

The damn loop is not much fun, with some little rollers and plenty of roots to trip you up. It’s also the longest section of the course between aid stations (just over 6 miles). Liza was still moving well, but she had to stop every now and again to walk, eat a gel, or have me cut her bra (that sounds bad if you haven’t read the previous paragraphs). In just over an hour, we were back at the DamnNation aid station.

Knowing that we were less than 8 miles from the finish (and another win) seemed to energize Liza and help her push through the pain. The first 1-2 miles out of the aid station cut through the woods on singletrack , and then you pop out on a long (for Rocky) section of jeep road that seems to climb forever (again, relative to RR). I was still out in front, trying to set the pace for Liza. Every time I looked back to see if Liza was still there, I saw her right on my heels, pushing hard up the hill. I honestly was running about as hard as I could, and Liza was not backing off. 92 miles into this thing, and she was kicking my butt! I counted off the miles as we got closer to the last aid station (Park Road), and soon we could see the dim lights of the station in front of us.

Liza again asked me to get her some Coke, and Kelli took care of this as I grabbed a fresh water bottle from Eliot to give Liza. When I turned around to get the Coke, Liza was gone…again. Knowing we were almost done (and carrying 2 water bottles), I threw down the Coke and sprinted after Liza. I caught her in a couple minutes, and she was moving quickly. I jumped in front and told Liza we were 4 miles from the finish. These last 4 miles went by quickly, as Liza was now covering ground with renewed determination. We were hitting low 8 minute pace, which is amazing considering she was 98 miles into the race. As we turned the corner and saw the red glow of the finish clock, I congratulated Liza and stepped aside so she could have her rightfully deserved moment in the spotlight. She crossed the line in an amazing 15:33, a full 12 minutes faster than last year, and again as the first female.

I can’t say enough about the grit and determination Liza showed during the race. For those of us who have the privilege to run with her on a regular basis, this comes as no surprise. It still amazes me how she is able to dig deep, regardless of how bad she may feel, and somehow find the inner strength to push on. It’s truly an honor to get to run with Liza.

Part 2 – Anabel

After Liza finished and we had all chatted in the finisher’s tent, I headed off to the car to change into dry/warm clothes, for my pacing duties were not yet over. I had told another friend, Anabel, that I would help her complete her first attempt at 100 miles. The last time I had seen Anabel ,she was starting her 4^th loop (mile 60) and was having serious GI issues, to the point that the words “drop” were uttered. I knew Anabel was tough and that she would not drop unless she absolutely had to. Liza had finished around 9:30, and I knew it would be at least 2 more hours before Anabel arrived, if she arrived at all. So, I sat and waited, talking to friends who were volunteering during the race, trying not to nod off and fall asleep. Around midnight, Robert Heynan peeked in and told me to get ready, that Anabel was finishing her 4^th loop. She came into the tent for a re-fill of food and water. She looked much better than the last time I had seen her. I asked how she was doing, and she told me she was still having stomach issues. Knowing we would need to keep moving to finish under 24 hours and get the big buckle she wanted, we headed out into the darkness for the last 20 miles.

I was surprised to see Anabel running this far into the race, but she was able to shuffle along at a decent clip. About 2 miles in, the running stopped, as she said her legs were totally stiff (can’t imagine why!). I knew that, if we could just hike at a moderate pace, we would finish before 6AM, earning Anabel the big buckle.

I hesitate to say pacing Anabel was uneventful, but she never fell, asked for a hug, or needed me to cut off articles of clothing. Thus, my summary of this section of the race is much shorter than Liza’s (or maybe I was just too sleepy during this part to remember much). Sorry Anabel. As with Liza, I was thoroughly impressed with her mental toughness and resolve. Never once did she doubt the fact she would finish. Her spirits remained high, even when her legs felt dead. She battled stomach problems for 90 miles. As if running 100 miles isn’t hard enough, try it with severe GI issues. When Anabel crossed the line in 23:42, I was proud of her accomplishment, and glad to be done for the night.

Pacing anyone in a 100 mile race is always a challenge. Pacing friends is a challenge but also one of the most rewarding experiences one can have. It was an honor to have paced both Liza and Anabel. My legs were tired (and I only did 40 miles), but it was worth every second. For me, this is what running ultras is all about. The camaraderie, pushing one’s perceived physical and mental limits, and ultimately the relief and satisfaction of finishing all make ultra running worth its weight in gold. I can’t think of a better way to have spent my weekend.

I Won the Lottery!!!

Well, I won the Wasatch lottery, meaning I will spend 30+ hours in September slogging through the beautiful Wasatch Mountains outside Salt Lake City as I run the Wasatch 100. I was also entered into the lottery for the Hardrock 100, which is THE race I really want to do. Unfortunately, I didn't get into that one. My friend Larry also got into Wasatch, so I look forward to enjoying many hours of rocky fun at Bandera this summer in preparation for the race. Should be fun.

Let's Try This Again

About this time last year I decided to start a blog as a way to share my running experiences with friends and family. Unfortunately, sometimes life gets in the way. I never really got things off the ground, so I am going to try again to start this up. As a History major in college, I have always enjoyed writing, so this blog is good for me as a vehicle to continue writing and sharing my experiences on the trail (and sometimes, reluctantly, the road). Here goes nothing...

Bandera 100K - The 2011 Edition

2010 was an up and down year for me, both personally and in my running. Things started great at Bandera (2010), but I had a sub par race due to sickness in the Jemez Mountains in May and had to drop at mile 65+ in Oregon at the Pine To Palm 100 in September due to wet feet (running in the rain for 19 hours will make your feet look like ground meat). Sprinkle in a few other races in 2010, and I honestly didn’t k now what to expect at this year’s Bandera 100K. My training had been sporadic, but at least I was tapered and rested (thanks in large part to low ceilings in the fitness center of a hotel). I had originally hoped to go under 13 hours, but I wasn’t sure I was prepared for it. Either way, I was excited just to get out on the trails for 12+ hours with great friends and to make new friends along the way.

After a great night of sleep (I prefer to sleep in my own bed the night before a race, even if that means getting up earlier race morning), most of our group met at Exxon at 5AM to make the drive to Bandera. Once we got there I noticed one big difference from previous years – the “parking lot” was packed! Joe P has done a great job with this race, and numbers were at an all time high this year. Josh (one of my cross country runners) and I grabbed our race packets and checked in, then headed back to the car to get ready. After a quick picture with some friends (Tom must have been hanging out with his new elite running buddies, Geoff and Dave), we were off, headed down the road towards our first climb of the day.

(Most of our group before the start. Where's Tom?)

My plan was to run the first loop in 6 hours, allowing an extra hour for the second loop and a total time of 13 hours. To do this, I intended to take the first 2 climbs (Sky Island and Ice Cream Hill) easy, then run most of the way into Nachos aid station. Since I was carrying 2 handheld bottles and a pocket full of gels, I could blow right through the aid station without stopping. This seemed to work well, as I settled into a long line of folks making the climb up Sky Island. I knew my pace would be slower early on, but I wasn’t worried since we had 2 big climbs early, followed by some very runnable terrain. Once we hit the top of Ice Cream Hill, I started jogging down the backside to Trail 1. Things are a bit deceiving here, as you can hear the music coming from Bill Gardner at Nachos, but you still have about a mile before you actually hit the aid station. 10 minutes later, I was through Nachos and headed up Trail 7, one of Chris Russell’s favorites (he calls it the “longest 2+ miles of trail out here).

The stretch from Nachos to Chapas was fairly uneventful, although I had forgotten how much of an incline there was from park headquarters up Trail 8. I had planned on running most of this but ended up power hiking portions. I cruised into Chapas feeling ok, changed out water bottles, grabbed more gels, and took off on what is probably the most runnable sections of trail at Hill Country State Natural Area. I was now under goal pace, but my breathing felt labored and my heart rate seemed higher than it should have been. I began feeling low as I headed into Crossroads aid station, definitely not as fresh as I had hoped. I know I was probably pretty grumpy when I came into Crossroads, so I’d like to apologize to anyone I saw. Re-filled water bottles and headed out for the inner Sisters loop.

(Leaving Chapas Aid Station - Mile 11)

This was the beginning of a very bad patch of miles for me. For anyone who has run ultras, you know that inevitably you will experience some lows during a race, but usually these will pass. Sometimes it takes a matter of minutes, other times it may take a number of miles. In my case, it took 15 miles. As soon as I started climbing the first of the 3 Sisters, I knew something was wrong. Up to that point I had fueled (so I thought) properly, taking in gels and plenty of fluids. Despite this, I had ZERO energy. My legs weren’t dead or flat in the sense that they were tired from accumulated miles. Instead, I just had no energy. Climbing the Sisters is not easy under the best of circumstances, but doing so with a zapped body makes for rough going. To top it all off (again, fellow ultrarunners can relate), my mental state of mind was quickly going down the drain. All sorts of thoughts started creeping into my head. Why am I doing this? I’ll never run this far again. I’m going to quit when I get back to the next aid station. I WILL NEVER RUN THE BANDERA 100K AGAIN!!! These were the things that went through my head, along with all kinds of self doubt. Since gels didn’t sound good anymore, I tried some solid food (peanut butter crackers), but still no energy. On this stretch, I was passed by numerous runners, including Chris, Tony, Tanya, and Tom, all of whom gave me words of encouragement (thanks guys). When I got back to Crossroads, I threw my bottles to the ground and took a knee. I was toast. Since nothing else was working, I decided to fill my bottles with Gatorade and make the 10 mile walk (since running was no longer an option) to the Lodge (mile 31), where I planned to drop.

(Coming into Crossroads From the Sisters Loop - Mile 21)

The next stretch of trail leading to Lucky Peak was another I had planned on running, but today I was relegated to a slow hike. I desperately tried different types of food, but nothing seemed to snap me out of my funk. I felt terrible. I was passed by lots of runners on this stretch, including many in the 50K. I saw several friends (Denver, John F., Larry), all of whom were having great races, but I just couldn’t talk myself out of dropping. I was ready to get to the Lodge so I could hand in my race bib, change into dry clothes, and watch the other racers. Up and over Lucky Peak and down the other side. This is where my race started to change. I looked back and saw Jason scrambling down the rocky backside of Lucky (who named this thing anyway???). He asked how I was doing, and I explained that it just wasn’t my day and that I was pretty sure I was done. He was having none of that. Running his first ever 100K, Jason was determined to finish, regardless of how long it took. He encouraged me to run a bit with him, and we soon pulled into Last Chance aid station, roughly 26 miles into the race and just under 5 miles from the Lodge.

After a quick bite to eat and some food, I trudged off behind Jason. Somewhere up on Cairns Climb, I told Jason to go ahead and that I would see him at the Lodge. He looked back and told me that I wasn’t going to quit and that we were going to finish this thing. His words stuck with me and would help me continue on. During the next few miles I would meet several people, and we would exchange stories, some about running, others about random topics. To me, this is why I run these crazy races. Sure, I get a huge sense of accomplishment by finishing a long race, but I truly enjoy just being out on the trail, seeing beautiful sights, meeting interesting people. These conversations helped take my mind off my own maladies (most of these folks were hurting too) and before I knew it I was at the bottom of Boyle’s Bump, making the turn onto the jeep road that leads to the Lodge. I decided now would be a good time to resume running (after nearly 15 miles of walking), and I trudged towards the start/finish area, where I would loop around and do the same thing all over again. Despite all the walking I had done, my first loop was a respectable 6:50 (although much slower than the 6 hour loop I had hoped to run).

(Heading into the Lodge at the end of my first loop - Mile 31)

Once determined to drop, I was now seriously considering at least heading out for my second loop and seeing how far I could go. I had come this far, so I might as well tough it out. Besides, I had friends out there, and I didn’t want to be the only one who didn’t finish. I saw Jason at the aid station, having someone attend to his sore IT band. I told him I was going to start the next loop, and he gave me a thumbs up and said he’d see me out there. After tying a jacket around my waist (the breeze was picking up and clouds were rolling in), I grabbed more Gatorade and a turkey wrapped and headed off for another 31 miles of rocky fun. John Palmer mentioned that Chris and Tanya had left about 20 minutes earlier, so I set the goal of trying to stay close to them on the second loop.

Although I was starting to feel better, I still wasn’t moving too quickly. I was able to jog about a mile to the bottom of Big Nasty and then the climb up Sky Island. On top of Sky Island, I stopped and sat on a bench. Admiring the beautiful views of the park, I ate the rest of my turkey wrap and tried to re-focus. Jason ran by, and I tucked in behind him. Down Sky Island and over to Trail 1, headed to Ice Cream Hill. I think at some point I mentioned to Jason that I was content knowing that I was going to finish this race, even if it took me 18 hours. Once on Trail 1, I bumped into Amy, who had been given the highly skilled duty of setting out glowsticks. We chatted and walked for 10-15 minutes, eventually seeing Tom, who was himself going through a rough spell. Making the right turn to Ice Cream Hill, I said goodbye to Amy and asked Tom if he needed anything. He said no, so I wished him luck and jogged on ahead. At this point I felt like a switch turned on. It was as if my race had ended and a new one begun. I had renewed energy, fresh legs, and a positive mental frame of mind. I charged up Ice Cream Hill and over the top, where I ran down with Diana Heynan, chatting about races she and her husband Robert had done and about our favorite breweries in South Texas.

(Feeling Much Better at Chapas on Loop #2 - Mile 42)

I could go on and on about the rest of the race, but this report is already WAY too long, and I can really sum it up in one word – fantastic. I was able to run most of the last 25 miles of the race, passing at least 25-30 people along the way. Never once did my legs feel sore or flat. Only once did my stomach get grumpy (I’m good for one good puke per race, which happened before my second attempt at the Sisters). Hopefully I was much nicer to my crew and people at the aid stations. It was as if I had come back from the dead and had new life. Not only was I going to finish, but it might not take 18 hours! In fact, I looked at my watch coming down the sisters and realized I could even get in under 14 hours if I really pushed it. Through Crossroads I went, over Lucky Peak (really fun in the dark), up and down Cairns Climb, and finally to my favorite section of trail at the park – Boyle’s Bump. I knew I had to push hard, so I turned on my handheld light (had been using only headlamp up to that point) and sprinted (well, it felt like I was sprinting) down the loose rock and into the Lodge. I looked at my watch – 13:58!

If you had told me before the race started that I would run a 13:58, I would have been mildly upset, but content to break 14 hours. Considering how much of my first loop played out, I was ecstatic with my time. This was easily the most satisfying race I have ever completed. Ultrarunning is a funny sport, but one that teaches us that the human body and mind is capable of so much more than we think. By pushing ourselves to the limit and beyond, we often find out a lot about what we are made of. I know I sure did.

Not long after I finished, Tanya came through the finish line, followed by Chris, Tony, Tom, and Jason (both of whom finished their first ever 100K). What an amazing day for our group. Larry and Domingo ran great 50K races. Oh, and I think I failed to mention that Liza ran the race too, breaking the course record by an hour and claiming the 100K national championship, some spending cash, and a coveted spot to Western States. Anabel ran an amazing race as well (she says she won’t be back, but we’ve all said that), placing 6^th female overall. Days like these make me proud to be a trail runner, proud to have such beautiful trails on which to run, and proud to have such a great group of people I can call friends.