2025 Trailway 50k

The Background

After finishing the Night Moves Marathon the previous weekend, I ran one 5-mile run the Thursday before the Trailway 50k.  The past two years, Trailway was the last training race before Arkansas Traveller 100.  This year, it would be the last one before Canal Corridor 100. 

I wrote on my Goggins Accountability Mirror post-it note: "Run half Trailway 50k, then run some sections."

The Race

It was cool at the start, but I knew it would get hot later.

I ran 11-minute pace for the first 4 miles.  I felt good, so I naturally sped up to 10-minute miles.  There were a few very slight hills, but my legs felt strong on them. All the stairs I had been doing may have paid off. That is good to remember, because sometimes I only do stairs in preparation for steep courses like Bandera.  

By mile 10, I dopped back to 11-minute pace, but I still felt good.  I finished the first loop at 15ish miles, meeting my goal of running half of the race.  

Since I felt strong, I made a goal of running to 20 miles.  Too many times, I had gone into a 100-miler without a 20-mile training run where I ran the whole thing.  At this point, I had run every step, apart from a second where I ate a cookie. On mile 19, I did start to falter (probably Goggin's mental governor telling me I was near my goal) and I hiked up a couple of the climbs.  But then I ran it to 20 miles.

I hiked miles 21 through 23 at 15-minute pace, with an aid station bumping mile 22 up to a 17 -minute mile.  It took me a bit to recover from the 20-mile run, I probably could have hiked the trails at 14-minute pace were I fresh.  

As I headed toward the final turnaround, I looked to see if there was anyone I could try to chase down ahead of me, but I did not see anyone.  One lady ran past me, and I knew by her pace I could not catch her.

At the final turnaround.

But then on the way back, two runners caught up with me.  One guy wearing a green shirt said, "Good work!" and was about to pass me.  Many times, I would have just let them go by.  But I started running and put some distance between us.  Switching back to hiking, I pushed the pace.  Miles 26 and 27 were at 14-minute pace. At some point, they were going to catch me again and I ran again.  From, that point, I hiked as fast as I could, looking over my shoulder from time to time.  But I never saw them behind me.

I did falter a bit because I saw I could get in under 6:30, but did not have it in me to run the last mile.  I ran a few steps as I approached the finish line.

I finished in 6:31, 11th out of 29 finishers to (37%) and 32 starters (top 34%).  The two guys behind me finished in 6:35, then another couple of folks finished in 6:39.  So if I hadn't pushed it, I would have been in the bottom half of the field.

Reflections

I am proud that I fought not to get passed.  I have improved my performance from 7:38 in 2023 and 6:47 in 2024.  I got in my 20-mile training run, so I couldn't be anymore trained for Canal Corridor 100.

This was my 2nd fastest 50k, behind 2013 Texas Trails Endurance Run at 5:04.

Now I need to apply my Goggins accountability to Canal Corridor 100 and not give up.  I need to:

• I need to not run 20 miles straight at the beginning, just 10 to 12.  Then I can alternate running and hiking, with way more hiking. 
• Complete the 20-mile out-and-back to Akron strong.
• One mile at a time. Bank time hiking under 18-minute pace. 
• Make it to the halfway point.
• Hike to Cleveland at 60 miles.  See the city lights at night.
• Make it to 70 miles.  I have never quit a race after making it to 70 miles.
• Remember that I am doing this to see my ticket in the Western States portal and to not give up on my dream of running 100 milers, which keeps me going.  It is only one night, and the plane ride back in defeat would be worse than hiking all night.
• Do not quit. Not this time.     

Thanks to God, Terri, James, Paloma, all my family, friends, Chris, Tejas Trails, and the volunteers for the support!