Triceratops Virtual Marathon

The Background

I had been running pretty consistently short distances.  Terri and I had gone out of town on Saturday to Paloma's gymnastics meet in Irving, my parents graves in Dallas, and Magnolia Market in Waco.  After the busy day Saturday, I was hoping to be ready to race Sunday.

I wanted to try out a new trail so I headed to the eastern end of the Lone Star Hiking Trail that passes through Sam Houston National Forest.

The Race

After about a half mile, I decided I was tired and didn't want to run.  So I hiked.

Mosquitoes swarmed and whenever I stopped I was bitten.

By the halfway point, I was tired and slowed to 18-20 minutes a mile.

On the way back, I noticed was on the wrong trail (blue marker instead of white).  Rookie mistake, instead of backtracking I looked at my GPS and thought following it would connect me to the main trail.  It did, but in the wrong direction!  Long story short, I found myself on the road hiking back, with 3 miles extra to go.

Halfway Point

Reflections

I noticed in this race and the last my GPS seems to be about a half mile short per marathon, based on the posted mile markers.  Not to much in a marathon, but in 100 miler that's two extra miles.

If I do the Lone Star Hiking Trail again I need bug spray.

I was not moving well, but at least under 36 hour pace.

2021 Stegosaurus Virtual Marathon

The Background

It had been six weeks since I raced.  I had maintained some fitness, regularly running the 1.9-mile loop around my neighborhood.  Looking to train for a couple of 100 milers in the summer, it was time to run a marathon.

Originally I was going to run on the Lone Star Hiking Trail, but it was raining.  I went to Dennis Johnston Park to run on the Spring Creek Greenway.

The Race

It was cool, and only lightly rained off and on during the race.

On the spur of the moment, I decided to make it an out-and-back, running with 72-oz.  hydration pack full of Gatorade and one extra 24-oz. bottle.  

I ran 5 miles or so, then started hiking.  I kept up 16-minute miles, up until mile 18, when I ran out of Gatorade.  Hitting a low, my pace dipped to 20-minute miles.

With one mile left, I realized I could possibly make it under 7 hours.  I tried to run 3 times and couldn't do it.  Finally, I told myself I'm just going to run a quarter mile and was able to start running.  I stretched that to a half mile, then kept running to the finish.

Reflections

I was happy I could do 16-minute miles, even though this was on pavement.  I bonked with the lack of calories, but maybe this was good practice for lows in the next 100 miler.  I need to get a 100-oz. hydration bladder.

It always feels good to finish another marathon!