2018 Capt'n Karl's Reveille 60k

The Background

What had started as a smooth sailing race season had hit rough waters.  During Capt’n Karl’s Colorado Bend, my back pain, which had been off and on for the past year, slowed me down significantly.  I tried to rest and heal before Habanero 100k, which was to be my long run for the Bear 100, but I then caught a cold.  Sniffling, sneezing, coughing, my back still hurting, shuffling along in the 100+ heat, I dropped from Habanero after 12 miles.  Knowing that this was mainly due to being sick and trying to view it as a smart decision, I was okay (mostly) with the DNF. 

I did not run a step the seven days between Habanero and Capt’n Karl’s Reveille 60k, attempting to heal from the cold and rest the back.  With both I was partially successful.  I was still sniffling a bit but not that weak; my back pain was reduced but still present.

The Course

Reveille offers the most scenic course of the series, the highlight being a run across the granite dome.  It’s about a mile and a half smooth trails to the first aid station, followed by four miles atop the dome.  There’s another four miles of mixed rocky and smooth running, then you hit the easy trails again back to the lake.

The Race

Loop 1 was just okay.  I was tired but happy my back wasn’t giving me sharp pains. I didn’t go out too fast, but my energy level was a bit low.

Loop 2 was mentally tough.  This was my first day of teaching classes for the fall semester at UHD, so I left from that to head directly to the race.   Fatigue, the cold, and maybe a touch of burnout from a long season left me in a pretty low place mentally and physically.  My back tightened up and I was moving at a snail’s pace.  I did still try to run what I could, but it seemed I was making not much better progress than fast hiking.

I made it to loop 3 and resolved to soldier on.  Back or no back, I was going to finish the series.  I shuffled along the smooth trails to the first aid, then started hiking the dome.  Not wanting to further mess up my back pounding the rock face, I just decided to hike.  Normally I never just take it easy because I have a cushion to finish before the cutoffs, but this time I did.  I just walked easy.  Several folks passed me but I didn’t really care.  This race had ceased to be competitive for me and my sole goal was to get the buckle.

I had told myself that I would run some of the smoother sections in the last half of the loop but when I tried the shuffle was so slow, my back so tight, I just gave up and hiked.  When I passed the final aid, I did “run” it in.  When I crossed the line, there was no one there at first so I leaned up against a tree to rest my back.  I was in pretty sorry shape:  I had scraped my toe through my shoe on a rock at the last aid; when I got home later I discovered dozens of splinters embedded in my thigh.

Reflections

Despite all of the above, I finished the Capt’n Karl’s series.  In 2013, I came up 18 miles short at Pedernales.  2015, 2016, and 2017 were bad running years for me. In 2018, back injury or no, I  accomplished something big.  I’m proud of that.

So the question is: do I run the Bear?  I’m registered.  I’ve got plane tickets.  I want to run it.  But my back… I don’t want to do permanent damage.   I hate to go to the doctor but I will go see Terr’s chiropractor. I’ll tell them the story and get x-rayed.  If they say I can run I will, otherwise I’ll pull the plug on the season.  We’ll see.

In the meantime, I’m thrilled about completing the Capt’n Karl’s series.  Thanks to Terri, Brad, Tejas Trails, and all the volunteers!

2018 Capt'n Karl's Colorado Bend 60k

The Background

Going in to Colorado Bend, the 3rd race of the Capt'n Karl's series, all was well save my back.  After injury at Night Moves Marathon in August 2017, I experienced off and on sharp pains.  A couple days before the race pain was back, not that bad but noticeable.

Terri couldn't come, so I headed out solo.  On the way to Colorado Bend, I stopped at College Station at the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library.  It had a lot of cool historical artifacts, like Bush's flight instructor's bomber jacket, campaign buttons, a presidential limousine...this made me want to see as many presidential libraries as I can.

The Course

Colorado Bend 60k consists of two 18.6 mile loops, with a lot of rocky sections and some smooth running.  It is definitely a tougher course than Pedernales and Muleshoe.

The Race

I started off at a decent pace even though my back was hurting.  After the first aid station at about 3 miles, there is a fast section of relatively smooth trail for 5 miles to the section aid station.  I made it through that in about an hour, pushing a bit.  I started to feel a bit tired but was still ok. 

Whenever I see a two loop course, I think, "Great, I'll only have to go out twice."  True, but the second half seemed long.  My back was getting beaten up going over all the rocks.

On the second loop, I got a little dazed / dizzy.  I'm not sure if it was the caffeine pills I was taking for the first time or fatigue.  Also, I realized I probably needed more water instead of only Tailwind.  Regardless, I kept my head and kept moving.

The second-to-last section is a 5.2 mile, mostly rocky stretch.  I started to feel good again, as I have in the past few races, like I was just going for a morning jog.  I made some time, particularly on a smooth part over halfway through the section.  I passed only one person the whole second half of the race; I barely saw anyone.

Right before I reached the last aid, my watch started to die.  I had been playing the "mile game" where I work on one mile at a time since the start of the second loop.   I didn't want the watch to die and have no data at all, so I turned off the GPS.  This really messed with my head and what was a good feeling a few minutes ago turned to agony as I counted down the minutes.  I figured I would finish this 2.9 section of rocky, up-and-down trail in under an hour at least.  I had a shot at this point of finishing under 10 hours.  

After interminable fast hiking, I popped out of the single-track to a short double-wide path that lead back to the start.  I knew I'd come up a couple minutes short and finished at 10:02, 17th out of 24 finishers (bottom 30%), 17th out of 40 starters (top 35%).  Not to offer excuses, but with the back not hurting I think I could have gone faster.

Reflections

I didn't feel the elation I normally finish after an ultra.  Maybe it was how my head was messed up by the watch issue on the last section.  Maybe it was knowing I had a 4 hours  drive back .  Maybe it was just mental fatigue at this point of the season: I've run 5 races since May.  

I did experience a peaceful feeling a couple days later, after catching up on sleep.  I am proud I finished the third race and am set up for a Capt'n Karl's buckle three weeks later.

I ordered a $99 Epson GPS watch with a 20 hour battery life.  We'll see if it works :-)

So I have my long run at Habanero 100k in two weeks, followed by Capt'n Karl's Reveille Peak a week later!  Good news is as I'm typing this on Tuesday my back feels better.  Habanero will be a real test...the heat plus I haven't run 50 miles since Cactus Rose 2014.  I am starting to get psyched for the challenge!

2018 Capt'n Karl's Muleshoe Bend 60k

The Background

I went into the 2018 Muleshoe Bend 60k on a roll.  Training for the Bear 100 had been going well, no major injuries, and I finished Pedernales Falls 60k with strength and excitement. 

Preparing for the elevation of the Bear, I started focusing on stair repeats, summiting the 9 floors of a local parking garage over and over.  My long run between Pedernales and Muleshoe consisted of around 8 miles of road running (to and from the garage) and 40 repeats of the 9 flights of stairs.

I was energized about a chance to finish Muleshoe for a third time (2013, 2016) and continuing the quest of the Capt’n Karl’s series.

Wanting to live a little, I drove out early with Terri to visit the Austin's Blanton Museum before heading to the park.  We packed sandwiches and I loved Teresita Fernandez’s Stacked Waters and Ellsworth Kelly’s Austin.

Stacked Waters

 

Austin

The Course

Muleshoe is pretty similar to Perdernales as there are no climbs with only a bit of rocky terrain on an otherwise runnable course. Muleshoe is four loops with aid stations 3.2, 3.5, and 2.5 miles apart.

The Race

Loop 1

Loop 1 was pretty uneventful.  It was hot and humid but training in Houston made this barely noticeable.  I started off at an even pace, not too fast, and finished in 2:01.  I got a bit tired at the end of Loop 1.

Loop 2

The wheels fell off at the beginning of Loop 2.  All of the sudden I felt a wave of fatigue and sleep deprivation.  I think it was a combination of (1) waking up at 6:30 am (2) perhaps needing some calories and (3) my headlamp being low.  The latter might have been the strongest factor, as the darkness made my body and mind want to sleep! 

Whatever the cause, I hit a major low.  I’ve suffered sleep deprivation at both my 100 mile finishes and a couple Capt’n Karl’s, and these have been my most painful race experiences.  Dizzy, weak, staggering down the trail: not fun.  As some of my sleep deprivation episodes have lasted all night, I began to despair that a good race experience was not in the cards.  Thinking seriously of dropping, I limped down the trail, tons of folks passing me and asking if I were OK.  At this pace I would be fighting the cutoffs.  Not even halfway through the race, I just wanted to curl up in a ball and fall asleep. 

But I knew the days of regret that followed a DNF.  I knew I’d be forfeiting my shot at the Capt’n Karl’s buckle.  I’d missed that buckle by 18 miles at Pedernales 5 years ago. 

Then I thought of some advice I had heard from an Andy Jones-Wilkins video or podcast about dealing with race adversity, which went something like, “Ok, this is happening to me.  This is not good.  What can I do?” I told myself I could walk to the next aid station, eat some calories, and maybe things would get better. 

Which is what I did and what happened.  I chugged some ginger ale at the aid, hoping for a little caffeine, ate some cookies, and asked the kindly volunteer to change my headlamp batteries (I hadn’t done this before because on the trail changing the batteries would mean lights out!)  I started to feel better almost immediately.  The next aid station had coffee so between that and Coke I tried to keep the caffeine intake up to forestall another sleep-deprivation episode.

On Loop 1, it had taken me 45 minutes to get to the first aid; Loop 2 took me 1:22.  So I lost 30+ minutes from this low point.  I picked up the pace and worked steadily through Loop 2 in 2:48.

Loop 3

I felt good on Loop 3.  My GPS watch only has about a 4-5 hour battery life, so I switched it on at the halfway point and tracked the miles.  I like to play a game of whittling down a mile at a time.  You start off and you’re at .2 miles before you know it … then you reach a little milestone every 15 -20 minutes at least. 

I ran everything runnable and jogged at a manageable pace. My legs were a bit sore but strong.  Loop 3 was 2:24.

Loop 4

On loop 4, I hunted headlamps. After saving energy on the first three laps, I ran briskly on smooth sections of the trail, telling myself,  “This stretch is good to make some time.”  I passed several runners, some of whom had probably overtaken me in my low point.  I bumped into a runner I knew at the second to last aid station.  After hellos some friendly competitiveness ensued, in my mind anyway, as I headed out of the aid quickly.  I heard his voice at one point behind me on the trail which motivated me to speed up.  In the last mile or so I passed three folks hiking together, which looking at the results later probably bumped me up to the top half of the finishers.   

With strong legs, I remember thinking, as I did at Pedernales, “This is cool.  It’s fun that I’m able to do this.” As I approached the Christmas-light chute to the finish, I sprinted a bit.

Loop 4 took 2:20, so I managed to steadily pick up the pace after the low.

I finished 17^th out of 37 finishers (top 46%) and 73 starters (top 23%).

Reflections

I like racing these days.  I had reached a point of burn-out and unhealthy living where I was limping through races, just for the sake of a finish.  Now I feel strong and energized. It’s fun to compete and feel the peace of a finish.

That being said, any ultra finish is about the journey and not the final standings.  If I were only able to finish dead last, that would be okay as long as I raced to my potential or just kept running and adventures in my life.

I’m very proud I did not drop.  I avoided a DNF and that depression and saved the Capt’n Karl’s series. Further, I reminded myself that lows in races are temporary and can be fixed.  Dealing successfully with this episode of sleep deprivation is especially helpful because that is my number 1 fear for 100 milers.  I’m going to find some source of caffeine, like chocolate covered coffee beans or something, and always put in fresh batteries for races with nighttime running from this point on.

After the race, I napped off and on between watching episodes of Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown.  I utilized the bottle opener of the medal for some Virgil’s root beer with pizza!

I’m very happy with this performance and excited about Colorado Bend in three weeks.  Thanks to Brad, Tejas Trails, the volunteers, and Terri for the support. Onward!

2018 Capt'n Karl's Pedernales Falls 60k

The Background

Heading into the 2018 Capt'n Karl's Pedernales Falls 60k, everything had gone more or less according to plan.  Prepping for the Bear 100 in September, I had started off with my best training block in five years or so, getting in consistent mileage and 20 mile long runs.  I went out too fast at the Wildflower Marathon but finished and ran a better race at Possum's Revenge 56k. 

On a work trip to San Antonio, I swung by the Hill Country State Natural Area and camped for a weekend.  That Saturday, I did a big 3.5 hour loop around the park.  Sunday was hill repeats, 20 times up and down Sky Island in 4:20, with 3000'+ feet of gain.

In between that and Pedernales, I suffered a bonk long run in The Woodlands.  Planning to go 20, I felt a lack of will and energy and ran / walked 18.  Thinking that it might be a sign I needed mental and physical rest, I decided not to push it and just get my long in during the race.

I finished the first draft of my dissertation (!) and sent it to my professor the morning before driving out to the Hill Country with Terri.  That definitely uplifted my spirits.

I was excited to run Pedernales, as it would be the start of the 60k series.  I had attempted this in 2013 but DNFed Pedernales with a stomach virus; I finished the other three.  Here would be another chance to get that buckle and good training for the Bear.

The Course

Pedernales has a couple miles of runnable trails at the start and end of each 18 mile loop, with a bunch rocky sections in the middle.  No climbs.

The Race

As I recalled, Capt'n Karls played Grateful Dead at the start.   The race shirt featured a quote from Jerry Garcia, "Everybody just relax man, we have you all night long."  Also, on the course was a line from "He's Gone," "Nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile."  Two of my favorite things: ultrarunning and the Dead.

At the Start

I headed out in the back of the pack of 60k runners at a conservative pace.  The first two hours or so were uneventful, just plodding along.  I started to flag a tiny bit towards the end of the first loop but nothing major, finishing that in a around 4:15.

Feeling good, I set off at a brisk pace for the first runnable miles of loop two, passing a few folks.  I had turned on my GPS watch, which only has enough battery for 5 hours or so.  I'd play a game in my head of whittling away one mile at a time.

I slowed a bit in the middle, rocky sections.  A bit tired but not at a low point, I was still "running" but really more like fast walking - hopping over the rocks.  I chatted with a guy named Eric for a while.

At one point, I kept hearing two ladies talking behind me.  I tried to stay ahead of them and they never caught me.

In the last half of the second loop, I noticed my legs felt strong.  I thought, "This is cool!" while feeling genuine excitement.   I started running harder.

I passed a few folks as I made my way through the rocky sections to the last aid station and then the fast 2.3 miles to the finish, a few on the trail, a few by making quick work of the aid stations.

When I approached the finish, a headlamp appeared, gaining on me.  I sprinted and made it 3 seconds ahead of the other guy.  Not that my finishing place matters to anyone but me, but I like being competitive when I can and giving it a decent effort.

I love the green!

Reflections

I finished in 9:04, 17th out of 43 starters (top 40%) and 70 starters (top 24%).  This was my 22nd ultramarathon. 

Finding that strength in my legs late in the race gave me confidence for future races and frankly was quite thrilling.  This is a big difference from when I was unhealthy, slowing way down early, struggling just to finish.  It was also nice to finish a race I had DNFed 5 years ago. 

I'm looking forward to the Capt'n Karls series.  Though my ultimate goal is the Bear 100, I'm on a quest for the Capt'n Karls belt buckle.  One down, three to go!

I'm looking forward to Muleshoe.  I like building up multiple finishes of a race and this will be number 3, hopefully. 

Onward!

2018 Possum's Revenge 56K

The Background

After a healthy training block starting late February and a successful, if poorly paced, running of the Wildflower Marathon, I was ready to run the Possum's Revenge 56k two weeks later.  This would be the second training race of the summer leading up to the Bear 100 in September.

Terri couldn't come with me because of a family illness, so I drove up to the DFW area solo after work.  The drive was relaxing and I checked into a hotel in Mineral Springs.

The Course

Trail Racing Over Texas took over the Possum's Kingdom race from Endurance Buzz Adventures.  I had never run this one but it's supposed to be the same course.  For the 56k it's two loops, which I like because going out on a third or fourth loop adds a mental challenge.  The first four miles are a bit sandy and the rest features rocky, up and down terrain with some decent climbs.  Beautiful views of Possum Kingdom Lake, cacti and wildflowers make this course a gem.

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Pre-race view of the lake

The Race

After blowing up at Wildflower, I took off at a conservative pace.  At around ten-twelve miles or so I got off course with a group of four or five runners and lost fifteen minutes or so. The course was well marked but there was a lot of two-way traffic so I worried a lot about going the right way.  After this detour, I just followed the signs and it was fine.

I felt good through the first loop, getting a little tired around the last couple miles of loop one.  I ran with an older gentleman whose son was running the race as well for many miles; he inspired me!  I want to be in my 60s still running.

Starting loop two, I felt strong and ran at a decent pace.  Throughout loop two, I passed a few folks here and there, which is always confidence boosting.  Granted, many of those were probably running the 52 miler, but still it was a big change from my 2016 and 2017 races of constantly being passed.

At the marathon distance I started slowing.  It was 90 degrees and while there was shade and the heat was never oppressive, this combined with the miles added up.  I still kept up a fair pace and split running and hiking.

With around three miles to go I caught up with a 52 miler who was having a bit of a hard time and we chatted a bit.  Then a couple of 56k runners started creeping up behind.  One thing I love about ultras is the balance between supporting one another and competitiveness.  We will stop and help each other and most are not in their own little world like in road marathons.  Nevertheless, it feels good to give one's best and compete with those around us.  I started running, trying to give a decent effort to not get passed in the last two miles.  I even passed another 56k runner in the home stretch. Again, I'm a middle of the pack runner at best and my place doesn't matter that much but I felt good about giving it what I had on the day.

Approaching the finish line

Reflections

I finished in 8:24, 30th out 55 finishers (bottom 54%) of 66 starters (top 45%).  Even though this was a longer, tougher, and hotter race (and I lost time by going off course), I ran this 51 minutes faster than the Isle Du Bois 55k in December.  Granted, I had a cold the previous race, but overall fitness-wise I feel way better.  Progress!

I felt a profound sense of peace after finishing this race, relaxing in the hotel room and driving back.  Finishing an ultra plus living healthy is beautiful.

My training is going well.  I had a nice four week block of twenty mile training runs building up to Wildflower.  I ran a twenty miler the week in between the two races so now I have a another good three week block.  I'll take an easy week then build up to the start of the Captain Karl's 60k series.  The heart of my training for the Bear, this will be four 60k night races three weeks apart each in the Austin hill country.  In between the third and fourth races I'll run the Habanero 100k for my long prep race.

Also, I'll be heading to San Antonio for a board meeting in a couple of weeks and I'll go to Bandera for some hill work and camping.

Lots to look forward to!  Thanks to Rob and Cheryl, Trail Running Over Texas, and all the volunteers for putting on a great race!  I'd run this one again.

Additionally, this was my 30th career marathon / ultra.  This is the seventh straight calendar year I've finished an ultra dating back to 2012.  I want to keep the streak going!

2018 Wildflower Marathon

The Background

Over the past three years, I have worked to get myself back to a better place, both in running and life.  The last time I really felt strong as a runner was when I crossed the finish line of the 2014 Cactus Rose 100.  I got injured in the 2015 Bandera 100k and the past three years of my running and life have had a lot of challenges.

This January, I DNFed Bandera once again.  I had three injuries going in: left calf, right Achilles, strained back.  All three were in pain at 10-15 miles in and I dropped.

Devoting the new year to healing, physically and emotionally, I walked a lot.  By March I was running.

I emerged from this dark time feeling better than my first or second year running.  Clocking eight or nine minute miles on the road, I felt confident about my first race of the season, the Wildflower Marathon.  This would be the start of a series building up to the Bear 100 in September.

The Course

The Wildflower Marathon is a rolling course in Bastrop State Park.  It starts with a mile out and back up a hill to a little house.  Then there are four 10K loops with a few climbs but mostly runnable terrain.  Burned out sections offer little shade, which would factor in to what happened on this hot day.

The Race 

I made a rookie mistake and went out too fast.  Reviewing the previous results, it appeared a 4+ hour marathon would be at the front of the field.  Excited about my road pace, I took a shot at a fast time and it blew up in my face.  Lining up at the front, I sprinted up and down the out and back hill, already feeling I was working too hard but not wanting to block those behind me.

Charging the hill too fast

Settling into a nine or ten minute pace on loop one, I was maybe in fifth or sixth place at this point. What felt like a manageable pace proved my undoing by the end of loop two and the beginning of loop three.  A combination of going out too fast, getting behind on hydration and calories, and the day heating up left me woozy.  I never fell into a death march, but I slowed way down.

I grabbed a hat from my dropbag and headed out on the final loop, feeling a bit better. I'm proud I kept running, even the road climb up the hill to the last 2 miles.

Pushing Forward 

I finished in 5:40, 14th out of 28th runners (50%).  Technically, I achieved my goal of finishing in the top half of the field :-)

Finish Line

Post-race Lunch at the Taco Stand

Reflections

I feel great to have finished the first race of the season and to be healthy.  Obviously, it was dumb to go out so fast, but I'm happy I held on for a semi-decent performance.  I raced this 50 minutes faster than the Night Moves Marathon nine months ago, which I think shows I'm in better shape.

I've got the Possum's Revenge 56k, the Captain Karl's 60k series and Habanero 100k coming up and I'm not going to worry about my time for any of these.  They all will be training races for the Bear 100 and I'll just try to move a decent pace.

Thanks to Rob and Cheryl, Trail Racing Over Texas, all the wonderful volunteers, and my sweet girlfriend Terri for the support!

I'm excited about this season.  It will be an adventure!