2022 Jackalope Jam 48hr - 100k

The Background

In planning my race season, I may have been a bit overly enthusiastic signing up for a 48hr race in between Rocky Raccoon 100k and J&J 101mile.  Suddenly, race morning was here and I felt unprepared.  I had been super busy at work, and had worked all weekend previously at the TCTELA conference.  After teaching my class Thursday night, I went to bed without even packing.  When I packed race morning, I forgot essentials like pillows and blankets for the tent; I had to go to the store to buy Band-aids. Long story short, I was not mentally ready.

The Race

At 7IL ranch, Jackalope Jam is a  1.5-mile out and back on easy trail, the turnaround being the Cone of Death.

It was cold, windy, and later rainy.  On the "out" section there was a headwind.  I called it the "vile wind," remembering the first paragraph of George Orwell's 1984.

I ran the first 10 miles at a good pace.

By 15 miles, I was in a bad place.  I felt mentally exhausted - mainly from working so many days straight.  I went to my car and sat, dozing for maybe 50 minutes.  Almost set to drop, I looked at the folks at the aid station on the way back and decided to head out again.

I rebounded, pushing on, telling myself at least make it to marathon. Then I said, make it to 50k; that way you could finish half today, half tomorrow for 100k.  By 50k, I was still feeling good, so I made it to 42 miles.  I had been fueled by sliders at the aid stations.  After sitting at the aid at 42, I got the chills and decided to rest for the night.

I was so disorganized that I had left the tent open; rain had entered.  My mattress was deflated.  I pumped it up as much as I could, but by 2am or so I was sleeping on the ground.  I got up and went to my car and slept more, starting again at 6am.

I had 21 miles to go to make it to 100k.  I mixed in running with hiking.  It started to rain for real towards the end. I finished up the 100k after 27 hours and change.

Fighting the Wind

The Cone of Death

Reflections

I had hoped for 100 miles at this race, but made the B goal of 100k.  My thinking was that with a 101 miler coming up, it was better to save the mental and physical energy for the final race of the season.

The conditions were really unpleasant.  That, combined, with my mental state, made making it to 100k at least respectable.  I'm glad I plodded on and finished that.

I might need to pare down my race schedule a bit.  For example, I want to do both Snowdrop 55hr and Bandera 100k one week apart - obviously not wise.  May have to make a tough choice and cut Snowdrop.

I decided to buy a camping mat the rolls up to use instead of my inflatable one so I don't have to mess with that.

Coming up, I have J&Js 101 miler with a worse problem: I have to teach until at least 7pm then drive to Rocksprings.  I'll get there after midnight.  Hopefully, I can set up my tent rather quickly and get some sleep by 1am; maybe get 5 hours sleep before the 7am start. I need to have everything ready by the night before for that.

 

2022 Rocky Raccoon 100k

The Background

I was excited about the Tejas 300.  I had finished the Cactus Rose 100 Mile and Bandera 100k, leaving Rocky Raccoon 100k.

Originally, I had signed up for the 100 mile, but some slow finishing times led me to switch to the 100k to avoid fighting the cutoffs.

A winter storm hit the US.  No rain or snow in Huntsville, but low temperatures would be in the 20s.  Plus, I had a cold.

Terri was able to come and stay for the first loop, which was great.

The Race

After a 2-mile short loop, there would be 3 20-mile loops.   I kept a good pace the first 10 miles, running 10 to 12-minute miles.  I slowed a bit from miles 10 to 20, then hit a low point.  I had been blowing my nose and coughing, and probably got behind on my calories, and began to move very slowly.

I saw Terri at 22 miles and she encouraged me.

Able to rebound a bit, I pressed on, but hit another low at 26 miles before the turnaround for that section.  Then I ran a bit and snapped out of it.  I chatted with a fellow who had finished a marathon on each continent and another looking to finish his first 100k.

Hitting another low around mile 36, I really wanted to quit.  I thought if I was staggering around at a slow pace at night when the temperature would drop to 30, that would be miserable.  

I felt a bit better by the final loop, 42 miles in.  Even thought I had many hours before the cutoff, I avoided taking a rest in my car, just grabbing extra layers of clothes for the night.  I kept going and was able to rebound.  I continued running.

By mile 50, I couldn't run anymore, but I was able to powerhike at a 16 or 17-minute pace.  Which was great as I could generate heat through the night.  I did run short bursts at times.

I chased headlamps, always a good sign.  There was one guy behind me for miles and I ended up finishing right in front of him.

Reflections

I was so happy to finish the Tejas 300, a goal going back to 2013.  2013-2014 I DNFed Cactus but finished Bandera and Rocky; 2014-2015 I finished Cactus but DNFed Bandera and Rocky. 2015 to 2017 I was barely running, finishing only a handful of races, and 2018-2020 was trying to finish a 100 miler again. COVID wiped out a year of live racing.

But now I finished the Tejas 300.  

I really felt like quitting, but made it through, which always feels good.

I was really happy at my powerhiking pace.  A lot of races I had told myself I'd powerhike at a 17 minute pace late in the race; here, I did it.

I learned that extreme cold is manageable if I can keep moving and generate heat.

At this pace, I could have finished the 100 miler.  It would have been close, but possible.   With better training (running 20 mile training runs), I think I'd have a shot. Maybe next year.

I will run the J&J 101 Miler to try to add to the mile total for the Tejas 300 in the standings...