2011 Gusher Marathon

Retrospective Race Report

After crashing at my first marathon at USA Fit, I wanted to give it another try. At the Gusher, I went out slower, and it paid off.  I ran the whole thing. I remember running past an oil derrick and running on some brick areas.

I remember running towards the end slowly with a couple of guys, one who was wearing what I think was a red bandana and maybe a cowboy hat saying, "We got us a pack going!" I felt like I had been hit with a ton of bricks, but I kept running.

At the time, I thought it was just a okay performance.  As of 2025, it is still my 3rd fastest marathon time. 

I was 3rd place in my age group.  I lost the award in my divorce, which is a great regret.

2011 Frankenthon Marathon

Retrospective Race Report

After I had improved my performance at the Gusher Marathon, I remember waiting for what seemed like forever to race again.  I was not tuned into trail running at this point, and the Frankenthon may have been the next road marathon in Texas. Regardless, I remember thinking the Frankenstein theme was really cool.  I wanted the race-themed socks.

I remember at some point walking a bit in an area like a park or sidewalk.  But overall I ran most of it.  I was 14 minutes slower than at the Gusher.  I think there was a bit of smooth trail, but the terrain was not excuse.  I was not in as good of shape as at the Gusher.  

Still, I was 54th out 133 finishers, so not too bad.

Results

2012 Texas Trails Endurance Run 50 Mile

Retrospective Race Report

I was feeling strong after my finish at Cactus Rose 50 Mile.  I think I signed up for the Texas Trails  Endurance Run 50 Mile after that one, as this season had not been fully planned out. This was at Huntsville State Park.

I think the cutoff was 12 hours or so, and runner at the start said that was fast.

I headed out a a fast pace, trying to compete.  I remember at an aid station asking if there were folks ahead of me, and someone said that a bunch had come through. 

At some point a crashed, but I do not think I walked that much. The pace was 12:06, which shows I pretty much ran most of it.  In 2025, it was still my 2nd fastest 50 miler.

I remember my ex-wife went to a family party after dropping me off, and I had to wait a long time in the dark to be picked back up. 

 

2012 Cactus Rose 50 Mile

Retrospective Race Report

I am pretty sure I scouted out Hill Country State Natural area prior to Cactus Rose and was wearing Hokas for this race.  I do not remember too much other than climbing a hill and turning a corner to head back down and then sitting at the finish in a chair looking at the medal that said 50 miles.  Definitely a good performance for me for my first 50 miler. The pace was 13:55, compared to 13:49 at Bandera early next year. 

2013 Capt'N Karl's Colorado Bend

Retrospective Race Report

I really don't remember anything about this race.  So I will focus on the results.  My pace was 15:35 at Muleshoe compared to 13:55 at Cactus Rose on somewhat harder terrain. So I was really slowing down.  I had not figured out compression shorts and Desetin yet, so I think my chafing issues had begin by this point.

2013 Capt'N Karl's Muleshoe Bend

Retrospective Race Report

I really don't remember anything about this race.  So I will focus on the results.  My pace was 14:16 at Muleshoe compared to 13:55 at Cactus Rose on harder terrain.  So this was a decent performance but shows I was beginning to slow down.

Little did I know that in 2025 Muleshoe Bend would be may race with the most finishes: 7.

2013 Capt'N Karls Pedernales Falls 60k

Retrospective Race Report

I showed up for my first Capt'N Karls race early.  I sat in a chair and waited for a while.  I was feeling sick, I think my stomach.  I made it 18 miles then dropped, which was a shame since I finished the rest of the series.

2013 Hells Hills 50 Mile

Retrospective Race Report

I didn't want to stop racing, so I ran one more ultra.  At first, I was going to sign up for the 50k, a sign I was getting tired.  But my love of ultrarunning won, and I signed up for the 50 mile.

The course was on bike trails with a few short up and downs.  But it was way faster than Cactus Rose or Nueces.  I think I may have gotten dehydrated and staggered along, but my memory could be conflating this with another race.  

Anyway, I was slower at Hells Hills than Nueces, so that shows I was getting burnt out.  I forced myself to take a break of like a month of no running before coming back in June for the Capt'N Karl's series.

2013 Nueces 50 Mile

Retrospective Race Report

After finishing the Bandera 100k, I did not want to stop running.  So I signed up for the Nueces 50 Miler. This was in Camp Eagle in Rocksprings, where other Tejas Trails Races would later be, including Bandera when weather forced it to move.

I do not remember too much about this race other than seeing the giant cross and hiking through the rocky area that looked like a creek bed which I called "The Trash." 

Here is a photo from the internet of that year's race:

When I finished, I was a bit incoherent and Joe said, "I think you need to sit down!" with a smile. 

The time was 11 minutes faster than the previous year's Cactus Rose, but on slightly tougher terrain.  So this shows I was still strong.