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!