2019 Muleshoe Bend 60K

The Background

After taking a couple months off running, it was time to train for a new season.  This time the goal race would be the Arkansas Traveler 100 Miler. 

I chose this race because it is a Western States qualifier.  I haven’t gotten a qualifier since 2014.  Arkansas is drivable from home which will save on costs.  Further, while the Traveler is a huge challenge, it is not at Hardrock-Qualifier level of difficulty.  I need something a bit more manageable than the Bear, which I DNFed last September, for a return to the 100 mile distance.

I planned three training races leading up to Arkansas: Muleshoe Bend 60k, Habanero 100k, Alamo City 50k.  The plan is to race less to be fresh for the Traveler.

I got in a couple of 50 mile weeks leading up to Muleshoe.  My one 20 mile run included some walk breaks.  So training was ok but not great.

On the way to the race, I visited the LBJ Presidential Library.  I have a goal of visiting as many presidential libraries as I can.

The Race

Despite arriving to the race early, I forgot to put on band-aids!  When the race began with a short out-and-back, I had to swing by my drop bag to get them. This meant I was at the very end of the 60k group to start.  This was actually okay as I had less pressure and like running solo. 

I had a moment, as I often do, in the early miles where the distance seemed big and I questioned why I do this.  But this was brief.

I passed a few people but chugged along at the back of the pack.  I probably passed more people at aid stations than on the trail.

I listened to music for the first half with one earbud, but then my MP3 player died!  I forgot to charge it ahead of time and I don’t think I charged it long enough in the car on the way there.  I switched to my GPS watch for motivation to play the game of chipping away to miles.  But I knew the watch would die before the end too.

I never hit a really bad patch.  I was tired sometimes but kept running, albeit slowly.  

Along the way I saw Jimmy, who runs a lot of the same races at a similar pace.  We chatted a bit and  finished about five minutes apart.  I felt good enough to try to chase headlamps and passed some folks.  

There were a few moments of profound peace.  I was where I was meant to be doing what I was meant to do.

I finished in 9:49, middle of the pack.

As always, there was great satisfaction in completing a long race.

Reflections

I need to sort out my technology.  First, I need to see how many hours battery life my MP3 player has and get a backup.  I also need a GPS watch that won’t die in four hours.  I can invest a bit in my running.

Don’t forget band-aids.

I ran the whole way, minus some very brief walking breaks due to terrain or just to take a breath. This is good given I did not train super hard.

When I ran with Jimmy, his hiking pace was the same as my super-slow running pace!  My running pace varied, but this is a signal I need to work on my power hiking.  

This was my fourth finish of Muleshoe.  I like finishing races multiple times. And I love the whole feel of Muleshoe:  a night race, Grateful Dead music and quotes, a tough but manageable distance. 

Average pace was 15:49, which is about a 26 hour 100 miler.  Obviously, you can’t clearly extrapolate the time, but this gives my confidence I can finish the Arkansas Traveler 100 in 30 hours.

When I began running again after the break, it improved my mood and outlook.

I’m excited about running.  Next stop is Habanero and I hope to dial it in for that.