2020 Snowdrop Ultra 55 Hour Virtual Race - 100 Miles

The Background

This fall/winter season, I had run four virtual races: Release the Kraken 50k, Freddy Yeti 50k, Trivium Marathon, and  Possum King 50k.  

While in theory this should have gotten me in shape, and I did do 20 straight miles of running before hiking at Possum King, a month had passed.  I had gotten busy, tired from work, and I pulled out of a couple of virtual marathon opportunities.  I had finished the Turkey Trail Trot 13.1, which originally was to be a marathon, to get enough miles for the TROT Milestones 750 mile jacket.  With limited running in that month, I was less fit than I would have liked.

Big picture, over the past 6 years, I had DNFed at 100 mile goal races: 2015 Rocky Raccoon, 2018 Bear, 2019 Arkansas, 2019 Cactus Rose.  I had planned for a 100 miler during the spring/summer TROT virtuals and didn't do it.  At times, I thought the 100 mile distance was beyond me, despite 2 previous finishes.

But the dream of running a 100 mile race stayed with me.  Noticing in a Facebook comment the Snowdrop Ultra Virtual 55 Hour Race, I thought this might give me a better chance of success because of so much time.  

But the thought of completing 100 miles was still daunting.  

My neighborhood loop would be a recipe for mental disaster after running hundreds of miles on it this year.  Parks and trails around me close at dusk.  

So I decided to rent a cabin.  Scanning the Texas State Parks website, there was one available during the winter break at McKinney Falls State Park.  It had some cool features to check out: waterfalls on Onion Creek, a 19th century homestead, a 500-year-old tree.  There was a 3 mile paved bike trail around the cabin plus miles of natural surface trails on the other side of the falls.  I made a reservation for Sunday, December 20th, checking out on Wednesday December 23rd. The cabin had electricity, AC, a fridge, and a microwave.

Terri had to work, so I drove up solo.  Arriving, I checked out a bit of the trails so I'd know where I was going the next day.  

The falls were really cool.  I would have to leap over small sections to cross to the other side.

The Falls

   Ruins of a Mill

Horse Trainer's Cabin

The Race

I started off at 7:10 am Monday in the cold.  Running maybe 3 miles on the bike trails, up and down the moderate inclines, I quickly decided to start hiking.  Mentally not quite there and unsure of my fitness, I focused on knocking out 16 or 17 minute miles.  Throughout the rest of the race, it would be a little bit of running and a lot of hiking.

The short Picnic Trail connected the bike trail to a limestone beach.  Then I crossed the falls, loving the adventure of jumping across.  

Dawn on the Falls

On the other side, climbing a short trail, I found the Homestead. The home of Thomas McKinney, trader and co-founder of Galveston, the Homestead was built by slaves on McKinney's horse racing ranch in the 1850s.  Looking at it reminded me of the sad legacy of oppression in America.

The Homestead

Moving on, I found the trails muddy and my shoes were soon caked.  Nevertheless, I hiked all the trails on the other side of the falls, crossing back at about 13 miles.  Not wanting to be slowed down by the mud, I decided stick to the bike trails and the Homestead area.

I figured out a 5-mile-and-change loop: the cabin to the Picnic Trail, across the falls, up to the Homestead, the bike loop, and back to the cabin.   

The weather warmed to high 60s as I kept moving.

At 19 miles, I staggered, weak, dizzy, and sleepy.  Returning to the cabin, I ate and lied down, dozing a few minutes.  This repeated at 22 miles.  In the second rest, my watch beeped and somehow jumped ahead a half mile; I made sure to note the discrepancy so my distance would be accurate.

Heading out again, some music helped, in particular Crowded House's "Don't Dream It's Over" and Bob Marley's "Redemption Song."  

I got through the day and it was maybe 35 miles in as night fell.  

Sunset at the Homestead

Mentally shaky, cold setting in, I decided to break for the night at mile 40.  My A goal was to run the race continuously until I finished, but a combination of mental weakness and a desire to be conservative led me back to the cabin.  I showered, ate a delicious Buck-ees roast beef sandwich, and then slept till the morning. 

Now there were two ways it could go if I were to reach my goal of 100 miles.  I could repeat another 40 miles on Tuesday, then have enough time for 20 on Wednesday, or just knock out 60 and finish.  

60 miles left.  I had run 100k twice in 2020...I could do this.  

But the mental distance to 100 miles was still daunting.

Day 2 started off well with 16-or-17-minute miles.  At dawn, I found Old Baldy, the 500-year-old bald cypress that had lived the same time as Leonardo da Vinci.

Old Baldy at Dawn

At mile 50, I texted my friend Cesar.  He rooted for me for the rest of the race.

I moved well, then hit a mini-low at maybe 54 miles.  This time I did not lie down but sat at the cabin table and ate pepperoni, cheese, and crackers, drinking coke.  Repeated the low and the break at 59 miles.

I had told myself to save music until 100k, and beginning another loop at 64 miles, the songs brought me back to life.  

I reached 68 miles, the farthest I had run since 2014 Cactus Rose.

My son James called me at 71 miles as I hiked on the limestone beach towards the Picnic Trail; Paloma was in gymnastics practice.  James asked if I was running and I said I was hiking; only elites could run 100 miles straight.  James said if I could do 100 miles, I was pretty elite!   My kids rooting for me was a reason to finish.

Sunset on Day 2

I hit another low at maybe 76 miles as the sun set.  I staggered in the night to 80.  Having reached my minimum goal for Day 2, I set out for more.  Finding myself in bad shape, I switched to the shoulder of the park road, moving at 30 minutes a mile, my right knee suddenly inflamed.  I made it to 83 miles.

At the end of Day 1, I was perhaps a bit weak mentally, slept too long.  At 9:30 pm on Day 2, it turned out to be wise to rest.  I showered, ate, and slept a few minutes, my knee hurting.  Waking up at around 11:45pm, straight out of bed I walked down the road to see how my knee was.  

I could move. I changed back into to my running shorts and started out.

I did the bike loop, as I was worried about my knee hopping across the falls.  My knee ended up feeling fine, so at 86 or so miles, I decided to do the whole Homestead + bike loop.  This I calculated would take me to around mile 93.

The Homestead at mile 89

After moving pretty well through the loop, I was at 93 miles. Less than 7 to the finish. One more loop and then some change.  

Calculating the time, I could finish in under 48 hours.  This motivated me, as it would prove I could do 100 miles at future 48 hour races maybe.

Heading out at 20+ minutes a mile, it was mental work but I was not in a tortuous place either.  

  Mile 94.  Trying to capture the falls in the background.

After crossing the falls and seeing the Homestead one more time, I made it back to the bike loop at mile 95.  Turning on my MP3 player, I listened to Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" and some other songs, but my head couldn't really handle the music and I shut it off after a while.  But the music helped get back to the park road, back towards the cabin.

I calculated 1.9 more would take me to 100.1 miles.  .95 out, .95 back.  

It was the same as all the other races: grind it down; the time would pass.  I hiked down the park road, down the bike trail to the turnaround point.  99.15 miles.  Then I hiked back to the cabin.  

Because I recorded the distance in segments, I quickly added up the recordings.  I wasn't quite sure if it was all correct so I did .16 miles more to make sure.

Then I was done at 6:11 am Wednesday.  47:01 hours.  I had finished a 100 mile race.

Reflections

I had accomplished my dream of 6 years.  It was not a 100 mile race through the mountains or a traditional 30 hour 100 miler.  I didn't run it continuously like I had hoped.  But I didn't give up and found my way.  

I was grateful for my spiritual journey.  God guided me on the right path.  I was grateful for Terri, supporting me through so many races.

Paloma called me the next day; she said, "100 miles!  Really?" I was glad I had finished.

I learned a mini-sleep can recharge me.  I was proud that I kept going during Tuesday night after a short break.  Definitely later I was glad to be done before dawn and not having to go into a third day. 

Conversely, I could have done better on Day 1...I could have gone to 50 miles or taken a short break instead of all night.  

But overall this was great.  Over the years, I knew that if I did not reach my goal of 100 miles it would trouble me.  

And 2020 was a great year of running. To finish first on the TROT Spring/Summer Virtuals  Leaderboard and end with a 100 mile finish...what more could I ask for?   Running kept me going when my spirits were low amid COVID-19.

What for the future?  I have no idea at this point.  But I love running and look forward to more adventures.

Thanks to the Snowdrop Foundation for putting on the race and Terri, my kids, and Cesar for the support!

Results/Strava

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

2020 Possum King Virtual 50k

The Background

With Thanksgiving week off, I got in ten miles on Saturday and 10 miles on Sunday, broken up into short runs / hikes.  Feeling fitter and training for the Snowdrop 55 Hour Race, it was time to run the Possum King 50k at WG Jones State Forest.

The Race

The weather was cool and cloudy.  I made up my mind to run to 15. Figuring the best plan for Snowdrop is to run the first miles but switch to hiking before my legs get shot, 15 seemed a good number.  I ended up running to 20 and I did slow more than I would have liked: 18-19 minute miles.

Hiking the last 11, I was pretty at peace.  The work on spirituality is paying off in racing, I think.  I haven't felt the mental agony / panic I'd sometimes feel before in races.  

I could have run a few miles at the end but I have a marathon planned before the end of the break.  Plus, I want to log miles daily for Trans Texas so I figured I'd save my legs.

Reflections

Another race where I feel fitter.  Another peaceful race.  Up next is the Brontosaurus Marathon.

Hill Country Trivium Virtual Marathon

The Background

I'd been running a bit more consistently, despite a busy schedule.  Just 1.9 mile loops around the neighborhood, but I felt more in shape than at Freddy Yeti.  November 15 was the last day I could run the Hill Country Trivium Virtual Marathon.  

The Race

I felt good running in the cool weather at WG Jones State Forest.  By 15 miles, I was still in decent shape so I decided to try to make it running to 20.  20 miles had always been my standard training distance so this was a chance to do it.

By 18 miles, I had slowed to a 15 or 16-minue-a-mile shuffle.  Not much faster than power hiking, but I still ran to 20 miles.  I felt good about that.

I hiked the last 6.2 miles.  At one point I tried to run again but my legs were  done.

Reflections

I felt good after this marathon.  I like the medal.

Up next is the Possum King 50k.

2020 Freddy Yeti Virtual 50k

The Background

I got busy, so a month passed between my last race, Release the Kraken 50k.  I did get in several short runs and a 14 miler, so I thought my fitness might be better than the last off-the-couch race.

The Race

I went back to WG Jones so I could socially distance on the wide trails.  Weather was cool.

I ran the first 12, then hit a wall.  I started to feel a bit bad physically and mentally.

I had dinner plans with Terri, so I needed to be home by 5:30pm.  That meant finishing in 8 hours, so it was good motivation for me to push it.  I hiked then threw in short runs of like a mile or so.  

At about 25 miles, I lost my car key!  My running shorts got torn up, so I was running in regular shorts.  My key feel out of my pocket when I got out my MP3 player, so I had to retrace my steps a mile and a half.  Luckily, I found it so I wouldn't be walking home.

I managed to finish in 7:57.

Reflections

A bit fitter for this race.  My goal for this short winter season is the Snowdrop 55 hour race, so I'll get as fit as I can.

2020 Release the Kraken Virtual 50k

 The Background

I was burnt out by the time I finished the TROT Spring/Summer Virtuals.  Finishing 1st place on the leaderboard was a triumph but came at the cost of weeks of heavy running and mental fatigue.  

I took 2 months off.  I had been signed up for the Cyclops in Flip Flops and Leaping Luchador 50ks, but I skipped them.  The time off was good, as work resumed with the chaos of going back to school amid a pandemic.

I tried just to do the next right thing and work seemed to be going okay.  Having signed up for the Release the Kraken 50k, which had to be run on October 3rd, I thought this was a good time to start up again.

I managed a 2 mile run, a 2 mile run, and a 3 mile run before the race.  So this would basically be off the couch.

The race had to be run on trails, so I picked the WG Jones State Forest.  I knew there were wide trails there which would help with social distancing.

I used my car as an aid station with a cooler of Gatorade and skittles, getting started at 7am.

The Race

I felt good for the first 10 miles or so.  I took a walk break then ran again to 14.

By this time, my legs were hurting.  I'd hike the rest of it.

I was able to find a good 4 mile loop.  I hit a minor low point from maybe 17-22, but when I found I had two loops left I started to feel okay again.  Trying to use some of the spiritual approaches I've learned, I tried to do the next right thing and be at peace.  I did feel more at peace in those final miles than most other races.

The time and the miles passed then I was done.

Reflections

It felt good to be racing again.  I liked the feeling of peace at the end of the race.  It wasn't easy by any means, but I'd like to replicate that feeling of acceptance for other races if I could.

Well, now to decide what to run next...

2020 TROT Spring/Summer Virtuals Season Recap

It all began in March and I was feeling a bit down. I ran the Woodlands Marathon off the couch. 

The next week COVID-19 hit. Not knowing the magnitude of the pandemic, I ran the Green Ultra 50k. The race was so small social distancing took care of itself as I was alone on the trail the whole race. 

When it was clear racing would be halted, Rob and Trail Racing Over Texas began putting on virtual races. I signed up for the first three available: Coyote Run 50k, Brazos Bend 50k, and Colorado Crossing 50k. I ran these and chipped away at my time, getting in shape: 

3/21 - Coyote Run 50k 7:41 

4/4 - Brazos Bend 50k 6:57 

4/10 - Colorado Crossing 50k 6:42 

Then I decided to run long. I was going for the Blazing 7s 100, but by the time I made it to 100k, I called it. In retrospect, I should have kept going when I felt good. Nevertheless, I finished the Crazy Desert 100k. 

By this point, Ed Shelton had created a distance leaderboard for the spring/summer virtuals. The thought occurred to me that, as a slow runner, I rarely have a chance to top a leaderboard. But with this, I would have a shot at doing well. The races would continue until August 1st and I made up my mind to compete. 

A highlight was Brazos Bend 100k, where I barely made it in under the 16 hour cutoff. I strained the tendons atop my right foot in the race, which sidelined me two weeks. After that, I came back and was fine. 

For most of the spring and into summer, a lady named Jillian was in the lead. I moved back and forth from 1st to 4th place. 

By the time I had finished the Rising Phoenix 200k series, I was getting tired. I switched over to marathons, running Mystery Marathon and Wildflower Marathon multiple times. Still running one or two races a week, I kept plodding along. I had run the races in March, April, and May by first running 20 miles then throwing in walking. I shifted over to run/walking my 1.9 mile neighborhood loop as I was tired and also wanted to avoid injury. 

Around the middle of July, a gentleman named Wayne ran the Rising Phoenix series a second time, opening up a 140+ mile lead...not sure of the exact mileage at this point. This coincided when I got a bit down emotionally and didn't run for 12 days. 

What could I do? I decided to run what I could. Two weeks with back-to-back marathons on weekends plus mid-week marathons:

7/14 - Mystery Marathon #7 6:52 

7/18 - Mystery Marathon #8 7:22 

7/19 - Wildflower Marathon #2 6:41 

7/23 - Wildflower Marathon #3 6:27 

7/25 - Wildflower Marathon #4 6:26 

7/26 - Wildflower Marathon #5 6:56 

Wayne ran another 50k at some point, putting him up 20+ miles. The final week of the season was heavy on work for me: professional development all day plus teaching at UHD. Normally, I did not want to run races under a marathon but this would be all I had time for. I ran the San Felipe Shootout and Possum's Revenge 8 mile Monday-Wednesday. This, by my calculations, would put me up by 4 miles. Wayne and I had distanced from the field by over 100 miles, so unless someone had not reported a bunch of miles, we would go one-two either way. 

The final day to race would be a Saturday, so I knew Wayne had a shot at running again. I was worried he might run a long race like Possum's Revenge 69 miler. If so, I'd have no chance at catching him. I had my kids with me on Saturday so running a marathon or more was out. I ran: 

7/30 - The Sweaty Yeti 13.1 3:08:19 

7/31 - Double Dragon 13.1 3:19:50 

8/1 - Unicorn Challenge 10k 1:24:10 

This would give me a 36 mile lead if Wayne ran nothing. It was a cushion if he ran a 50k. If he ran 50 miles or more he would beat me. The final results came in and I finished in first place with 814 miles. 

Reflections 

It could be no one else cared too much about the distance leaderboard but me. Regardless, it was fun for me to compete and kept me going emotionally. I had watched The Last Dance about Michael Jordan's championships and that inspired me as well. 

This was the only time I've ever been first place overall in a running event. Given that there were 1500 runners overall, it made me feel good. My pace was 14:39, under the overall pace of the field of 14:44. That was another motivation in the last races, to keep the pace under 15 minutes. 

Apart from the minor tendon strain mentioned above, I made it through 5 months of racing nearly every week without an injury. I finished physically strong, emotionally drained. I attribute the lack of injury to only running when racing, resting on other days. Run/walking the last races too helped. For all the races, I pushed it a bit to give it a good effort but never was redlining it.

I ran on days I didn't want to run, especially towards the end.  I regret not finishing 100 miles when I could have.

I'm not sure I can do this again, but I'll always remember it. 

TROT Virtual Leaderboard

2020 Wildflower Virtual Marathon #5

Final marathon of the TROT Virtual Spring/Summer season. Ran/walked to 13. Hit a low and walked until the last 4 miles. Then ran 3 of the last 4. Mentally very tired. Ran to a couple of the parks to break up the monotony. Depending on what the leader ran or didn't run this weekend, could be in first place on the leaderboard.

2020 Wildflower Virtual Marathon #4

Felt pretty good, the day after getting engaged. Ran/walked. Made pretty good time. Even pace. One minute difference between the marathon two days ago.

2020 Wildflower Virtual Marathon #3

Felt good at first a ran a lot. Kind of crashed at the end. Made decent time.

2020 Wildflower Virtual Marathon #2

Ran and walked loops. At mile 13, felt bad and walked two loops. Ran walked the rest. Mentally felt really bad the last half.

2020 Mystery Marathon #8

Mostly walked this one. Got tired at the end.

2020 Mystery Marathon #7

Feeling pretty good emotionally. Started at 4pm in 100 degree heat. Ran the first .7 mile, then walked to 15. Heat wasn't too bad. Started running off and on when the sun went down.

2020 Mystery Marathon #6

Felt better for this one mentally. Evening run. Ran / walked.

2020 Mystery Marathon #5

Depression still there, somewhat lifting.  Ran one loop, walked another until I finished another marathon.

2020 Mystery Marathon #4

Fighting off depression.  Ran one loop, walked one loop, until I got to a marathon.

Good thing was pace was on par with my overall pace for the virtuals, 14:24.

2020 Mystery Marathon #3

Depression and anxiety hit me bad again.  Wanted to quit at 13, slogged to a marathon to make something of the day.  Walked nearly all of it.

This was marathon #60.

Glad I didn't quit.

2020 Mystery Marathon # 2

The Background

I had strained my back playing basketball with James.  It didn't feel super bad like a slipped disc, more like a muscle strain... I hoped.  

I gave it a few days to heal with an ice pack then decided to run.  I was going for the 100 miler, but my head was full of work stress.

The Race

My back felt very slight soreness at first, then I forgot about it.

I ran 10 miles at first, then decided to walk to pace myself for the 100 miler.

My head started to be full of work stress.  I decided no 100 miler today.  I thought about pulling out at 25k...I could register for the race and get credit.  But I thought that was complicated and weak.

So I plodded on, going for a marathon to make something of the day.  I ran I think a total of 16 miles, walked 10.  Slow, but a finish.  The pace didn't throw off my overall pace for the year.

Reflections

I need to work on managing my work-life balance and stress.  It's okay when I have a virtual race and can adjust goal, but for real races there is one shot.

After the race, I did some work and felt better.

I need to work on peace and serenity.

Still, the marathon finish was good.

2020 Unicorn Challenge Virtual 50k

The Background

On Friday, I was all set to attempt the Blazing 7s 100 miler.  Then I saw my watch was not charged.  I had hooked it up to charge it but I guess the wire was not connected properly.

Seeing that it would take 3 hours to charge it, I decided to run the Unicorn Challenge 50k to complete the Rising Phoenix.  But my head was all messed up from the watch issue and I stopped after 11 miles.

My kids were coming over Sunday so I could not take another shot at the 100 miler on Saturday, but I went for the Unicorn.

The Race

Trying  to beat as much of the heat as I could, I started off before 5am on the 1.9 mile loop neighborhood course.

I was a bit mentally tired and started rationalizing walking early...it was the last race of the series, it would be rest for the 100 miler, etc.  But I ran to 20.  I also had fleeting thoughts of just doing a marathon, but I wanted to get the Rising Phoenix series done.

After 20, it was hot and I was tired.  I walked to 25 then ran one loop.  Walked another, leaving one more to go.  Last loop the heat and fatigue left me running in spurts to the finish.

Reflections

I finished the Rising Phoenix series...can't wait to get that belt buckle.  Times were fairly consistent for the series, 6 or 7 hours.

The heat was a issue.  Forecast says it won't let up any time soon.  I think I'm going to try to find a loop with some shade.

I was in 2nd on the leaderboard with 460 milers.

Well, Blazing 7s 100 miler and Possum's Revenge 69 miler are left...

2020 Double Dragon Virtual 50k

The Background

I was feeling a bit burned out.  13 marathons/ultras in a couple months - more than I had ever done in a year - plus the school year ended.  I was tired. 

I tried to run Saturday but my mind wasn't there.  Called it after six miles.  I tried again for Double Dragon, 3rd of the summer virtual series, on Sunday.

The Race

I plodded to 20  miles. After 20, I was feeling kind of mentally bad.  I decided to alternate walking and running loops of the 1.9 mile neighborhood course.  I could have run in in the last 5 miles or so to get in under 7 hours but I took it easier and finished in 7:19. 

Reflections

I had been obsessing over the virtual race leaderboard, where I was in third place.  This took some of he fun out of racing and made it seem more like work.  Plus, just wrapping up the school year led to some of the mental fatigue.

I'm going to not worry so much on my place on the leaderboard and focus on the races I'm signed up for: Unicorn, Blazing 7s 100, and Possums 69 miler.

Maybe I need some mini-breaks of like 2 or 3 weeks.

Regardless, it was a race finish and that always feels good.

2020 Mystery Marathon

The Background

After running Fit'Ness Taco 50k, I took a day to heal.  Wanting to compete in the virtual leaderboard, as I was now 64 miles off the lead, I decided to run the Mystery Marathon.  Marathon is a nice distance - just run 20, walk 3, then finish it off.  My kids were coming over later so I didn't have time to do more anyway.

The Race

It had been raining so it wasn't hot.  I started at 6:20 am. It sprinkled a tiny bit at one point but otherwise no rain.

There was a very slight soreness in my legs and ankles that quickly went away.

I put in the miles to 20, walked from 20-23, then ran it in.

Reflections

So far I'm holding up and over the strain from Brazos Bend 100k. The next morning I was only slightly sore.

I thought about the Jordan documentary, The Last Dance, and how Jordan consistently put in the effort.

Come Monday, I was 38 miles of the lead on the leaderboard.

I seem to be running consistent times.  My 50ks have been under 7 hours mostly and this was about the same time as Wildflower Marathon.  It's good to know when blocking out time to run and it makes me feel good I'm consistent.

2020 Fit’Ness Taco Virtual 50k

The Background

At Brazos Bend 100k, I strained my right shin and ankle. I tried to race the following weekend and ended up just walking 3 miles for the Quarantined Quarter. Later the next week, attempts to race were thwarted by the heat then just mental fatigue. In the latter, I got up at 1 AM before work and ended up doing 9 miles before quitting. I felt unmotivated and in a funk.

The Race

Wanting to beat the heat, I got up at 4 am on Saturday. It was still and humid but the 80 degree temp was not overpowering.

I was moving pretty slowly...a few miles in it was 12-minute miles. I slogged along until 20, then took a 3 mile walk break. Then I ran to 27 miles. I walked another mile then ran in the last 3. Along the way, I had calculated I could get in under 7 hours...even tossing in a 2 minute walk break in the last miles.

Reflections

My ankle was a bit sore, in the Achilles area instead of the front. Not too bad though; I don’t think it is injured. It felt good to finish a race and get out of the funk.

2020 Brazos Bend Virtual 100k

The Background

I had been rolling along pretty well with the virtual races.  On Monday, I felt strong at the end of Mystery 50k.

Saturday was going to be good weather - one of the last cool days of the year probably - so I decided to run long.  Sunday would be Mother's Day so I didn't want to attempt the 100 miler.  It would be Brazos Bend 100k.

Brazos is the only race in the virtual series I was not sure I could finish by the cutoff - 16 hours.  That's 15 minutes a mile and change.  After running sub-7-hour 50ks, I knew if I started with that I could hike 17-minute miles and finish.  But there would no wiggle room if I hit a low point.

The Race

Weather was great as I started on the 1.9-mile loops around my neighborhood.  I made 10 or 11-minute miles of to mile 16. I slowed to 12-minute miles to 20, then took a short walk break.

I had thought about walking longer but was soon running again, all to way to 50k apart from short breaks at 25 and 27.  My 50k time was 6:23, 23 minutes faster than any I had run this season.  Great!  This put me in excellent position for overall time.

I started hiking at 17-minute miles then hit a major low from 35-40.  I sat in the chair in  backyard eating, headed out, got woozy and sleepy again, laid down on the side of the road, then headed back to the chair.  The second time I drank coffee and ate chicken nuggets and a quesadilla Terri made.  Heading out again at 40 after a total of 30 minutes sitting, I finally felt okay again.

At this point, I didn't think I could make it in time.  Having also signed up for the Possum's Revenge 69 miler - with a generous cutoff of 23 hours - I could switch over, an advantage of virtual races.  But I didn't want to lose the shot at Brazos and I definitely did not want to do 7 more miles tonight.

Then calculating the time I saw there was a shot if I hiked sub-17-minute miles.  I started moving and found I could knock these out.

Then towards the end of mile 46 I started to run and found I could.  I ran 11-minute miles to 50.  That made the difference in the outcome.  At first I calculated that 17+ miles would do it, later I realized I was off and had more of a cushion.  Had I not run those 4 miles, I would have not made it or been really fighting down to the wire.

When I started hiking a 50, I felt pain in my right shin muscle.  Maybe a cramp or I pulled something.  It was not severe enough to stop so I kept hiking 15 or 16-minute miles.

By 55, I figured out I had a decent cushion - 20-minute miles would do it - but I kept pushing, partly to not be stressed by coming close to the wire, mainly just wanting to be done. I did 17-minute miles through 59. Mile 60 was 18 minutes as I eased up, knowing it was in the bag.  Around 60, night fell.  A 17-minute mile and an 18-minute miles and it was done.

I finished in 15:44:59 - fifteen minutes to spare!

Reflections

This was a rewarding race.  After the low and the time lost, I had to fight and I made it.  It took precision and effort.   I got Brazos, the buckle race I wasn't sure I'd get.

I had a strong first 50k, which shows I'm getting fitter.  My powerhiking was good.

If I had been going for 100 miles at this pace, at the end I'd be left with 20 hours for 38 miles for Blazing 7s 36-hour cutoff.

The next morning, my shin was sore but not in serious pain.  Hopefully I can rest it and recover.

I had been watching The Last Dance, a documentary on Michael Jordan's championship years.  It motivated me to watch him execute season after season.

This one was sweet!

2020 Mystery Virtual 50k

The Background

I got it in my head that it would be cool to run a 50k after work.  This was Monday, two days after the Sweaty Yeti 50k.  After my last zoom meeting I headed out on my 1.9 mile neighborhood loop.

The Race

I felt good in the early miles.  It was hot but I enjoyed sweating, imagining for some reason I was running in the 1970s in California.

Then heat got to me.  Starting to think this was a bad idea to run after work, I took a walk break in miles 11 and 12.  I recovered and ran until a short walk break at mile 18.

I had been taking 3 mile walk breaks at mile 20 in previous races and did start one of these.  But after maybe half a mile "Touch of Grey" came on my MP3 player and I started running.  I ran all the way to marathon.

This was good because I had been debating whether I should run the Mystery 50k or the marathon - I had registered for the latter that morning along with the Fit'Ness Taco.  It felt wrong somehow to run the latter without the packet...plus I would not be able to sit next to the medal afterwards.  Since I made to marathon strong, 50k would be just a walk break then run it in.

I walked a little under three miles, then I notice I had a shot at getting in under 7 hours.  At 6:34 with 2.1 miles to go, sub 13-miles would do it.  Starting to run, I found I could do 12 to 11-minute miles to "Purple Rain."  I ran it in and made it in 6:58:26.

Reflections

This showed running a race after work is possible.  I was slow in the early miles but running miles 20.5-26.2 was pretty good.  I still had leg speed (relatively given my slow pace in my 40s) at 50k.

To be honest, a big motivation for running this day was the TROT Virtual Races Leaderboard.  I had been 2 miles behind the leader.  But the next day the former leader took it back with the Fit'Ness Taco 50k.  So I'm still 2 miles behind but otherwise I'd have been 33 miles back.

I'm trying not to let pride rule me.  I need to run my own races.  Whatever happens happens and it's just fun to compete.

The weather should be good Saturday so I need to try for one of the long runs I'm signed up for - Brazos Bend 100k or Possum's Revenge 69 mile.  The former has a 16-hour time limit so if I make it in that I'll choose it.

This is the most marathons / ultras I've completed in a year - 10.  And it's been 2 months of running!  So far my legs and ankles feel good.

2020 Sweaty Yeti Virtual 50k

The Background

After the Wildflower Marathon / 50k Double, the top of my left foot was sore.   I took it extra easy, walking less.  It got better each day enough where I felt like racing.

The Race

I felt good the first few miles, in the moment.  Then my GPS started messing up.  It was showing I was running 9-minute miles and the distance for my 1.9 loop around my neighborhood was well over 2 miles.  Pretty soon it was crediting me with 3 extra miles!

I went in the house and got a sheet of paper and started tallying loops so I could be sure of the real distance.  By this point, my head was in a bad place.  I started walking by mile 16 and pretty much walked most of it to 28.  I felt good enough to run in the last 2.5.

Clearly malfunctioning GPS

Reflections

My watch had been good for all these races...hopefully it will be good for next time as I do not want to spend more money on a watch.

I was probably due for a "bad" race...the combination of racing every week and my GPS messing up left me low.  But regardless, I put in a decent effort, running in the last bit to get in under 8 hours.

My foot felt pretty good afterwards so I'm thankful about that.

Well, first race of the "Rising Phoenix" series done!