2021 Cactus Eagle 100 Mile

The Background

I was energized about running 100-milers after finishing the Badger.  I took a month off, then began running short distances in preparation for Cactus Rose.  I had DNFed there in 2019, so I wanted to make it right.   

I had taken Friday off, so I could begin racing and utilize the extended cutoff time of 58 hours.  The plan was to drive up Thursday after work and set up the drop bags in the Hill Country State Natural Area.  

Then, two days before the race, Tejas Trails emailed that the race had been shifted from Bandera to Camp Eagle in Rocksprings, Texas.  This had happened before for Bandera and Cactus Rose due to chance of rain, based park regulations.  I understand why the park wants to protect the trails and why Tejas Trails had to follow the regulations.  Tejas Trails did an outstanding job hustling to tear down the old course and redo everything at Camp Eagle.  Thus, this race would be known as Cactus Eagle.

Camp Eagle is farther from home, so after the 5-hour drive, I arrived in the dark.  There were only two aid stations, the Pavilion and the Windmill, and, unlike most years at Cactus, they would be offering gels, snacks, and energy drink at both.  So I set out my stuff at the Pavilion where we'd start and didn't bother with a drop bag at the Windmill.  Then I set up tent and got some decent sleep before the race.

The Race

Loop 1

It was cool when I started at 7:30, "Margaritaville" playing.  The first section was around 4.5  miles featured a lot of switchbacks.  The whole course was very rocky.  I was running okay at this point.  This section was a loop that returned to the Pavilion.

At the Start

The 4.7-mile second section out to the Windmill was probably the most runnable, but everything here seemed slow.  But anyway, I had some stomach issues which made me hike most of it.  There was a big climb up a wide road up to the Windmill.

Up the Big Climb to the Windmill

The third 5.7-mile section was super rocky and steep, some of it not appearing to be a trail, returning to the Windmill.

The fourth 4-mile section had some more runnable bits in the beginning, but featured a steep climb up the fence line, returning again to the Windmill.

The fifth 6.2 mile section again had some runnable bits up front but then descended to a very rocky section by the river that I remembered from the Nueces 50, which I had then dubbed "The Trash."  Then followed switchbacks which led back to one big climb by the bathhouse, and then back to the Pavilion.

"The Trash" 

I ran with a guy named Austin, looking to finish his first 100-miler.  He did finish!

Along the Course

By 20 miles or so, I was feeling despair.   It was a bit hot.   I was moving slowly, dreading the miles ahead.  I finished the first loop in 8:02.

Loop 2

I ran/hiked the first section.  Then back the Pavilion, a fellow said it would get cold so I packed this year's long sleeve race shirt.  A bit down the trail, I adjusted how it sat in the pack, which was a mistake.  Because when I arrived at the Windmill as it got dark, I realized my headlamp was gone!  Fallen by the rock where I had adjusted my pack, of course.

I asked the fellow at the aid station but he had no extra lights.  What could I do?  I noticed a lady named Seresa who had been moving at about the same pace.  I asked if she would mind if I hiked with her and that it was okay if she needed to leave me behind.  She said sure, and that the extra help spotting the ribbons would be great.  We hiked the tough middle section in the dark, me ahead.  

By the fourth section, I was feeling woozy as we hit a relatively smooth section.  I had learned at the Badger that if I ran, the wooziness can go away.  So in a quick decision, I ran, heading out alone.  I had been seeing pretty well by the light of the full moon.

But when I got to the fifth section and "The Trash,"  I could barely find the markers and had to slowly pick my way through.  Later, I got lost briefly in the switchbacks.  

By 50  miles in, I was depressed and beat.  It was still dark, so the most logical thing to do seemed to be to sleep a couple hours and then regroup in the daylight.

Loop 3

I headed out around 6 or 6:30, 23 hours in. Able to navigate in the dark, I made it to sunrise.

The third loop was a lot of misery, from both being mentally off and the heat.  I thought of James and Paloma.  They would be proud of me no matter what, but I wanted to be able to tell them I finished.

I had thought that I could make it to mile 80 by nightfall, but when I finished the loop in around 12 hours, 6pm or so, I was beat once again.  This time I showered (the race folks kindly directed me to the volunteer room) and ate a delicious double cheese burger from the food truck.  I got to my tent a around 7 or so and slept for 3 hours.  I knew I had to get some miles in before daylight if I was to finish without battling the cutoffs.  I still wasn't sure if I could will myself to head out for one more loop.

Loop 4

I woke up around 10pm and headed out.  This time I was having difficulty seeing and met up with a very nice runner named Chad, who was finishing up the 150 miles.  He offered to give me a headlamp when we got back to the Pavilion.  He was moving at a quick pace, maybe 17 minutes a mile, but I told myself I had to stick with him to get that headlamp.

When we got back to the Pavilion, he realized his headlamp was at the Windmill, which was totally fine.  Coming to my senses, I just asked someone at the aid for a light (this was start, after all)  and of course they gave me two and batteries!  Spirits somewhat lifted, I headed out again.

Despair returned for the next 10 miles.  I'd lay down for a bit on the side of the trail or on the ground at the aid at times.  The Windmill was so welcome.  When I sat, the wind blew and I shivered. I ate quesadillas and later on eggs and sausage.

But with two sections left, I started to rally.  

In the next-to-last section, I told myself, "Just make it two miles.  Then you will be a mile and change from the aid and you won't have to feel despair."  The sun rose as I made it to the Windmill the final time.

Sunrise at the Windmill, 93 Miles In

Then, by the final section, I said, "You are in the final section so you don't have to feel despair."  I had been running consistently throughout the race and ran bits back to the Pavilion. Crossing the finish line, Chris said something like, "You slogged through it!"  I finished in 50:13.

I showered, ate another burger, then drove the 6 hours back home.

Reflections

I need to work on my mental outlook during races.  It may be destined that I have to feel some despair during races, I did not have to feel this badly.  Some mental prep work ahead of time might help; I don't know.

I am thankful for races with long cutoffs!  I am slow right now and races like Cactus, J&Js, and 48-hour races seem like good ones to do.  It could be that the extended cutoffs makes me slower, as I know I don't have to fight the cutoffs like at the Badger.  But at this point, I'd rather have the extra time.

When I was running, I thought my performance was slow, pretty poor.  But looking at the results, 30 people started and only 13 people finished.  Finishing counts for something!  Plus, I only took short breaks for naps rather than sleeping all night...leaving nearly 7+ hours before the cutoff.  The navigation issue because of the headlamp slowed me down. I'm also thankful I was able to problem-solve the headlamp issue.

I'm grateful I didn't quit.  As always, the rewards of finishing a 100-miler are huge.  Plus, I have the wedding coming up and I can go into it with a good mindset.

While not in Bandera, I made right my DNF at Cactus Rose.  

I'm grateful to the runners who helped me, Tejas Trails, and the volunteers!  And of course, Terri, who supported me and let me run so close to the wedding.  She knows how much it means to me.  

2021 Badger 100 Miler

The Background

After the 100 Miles to Auburn virtual run in Caprock Canyon, I had a good summer. Spent a lot of time with the kids.  Watched the Bucks win the finals.  Played basketball and lifted weights with James.  The latter was new...I thought it might strengthen my core.

I had planned on doing some virtual marathons but was kind of tired.  I did consistently run short distances of 2-5 miles.

I flew out to Chicago, then drove to Wisconsin, listening to The Rewatchables podcast on the way.  Went to packet pickup in Belleville.  Checked into the hotel in Verona, 10 minutes from race HQ.

I left the hotel around 4am for the bus ride to Orangeville, Illinois...this race would be three main segments out-back-and-out on the Jane Adams and Badger rails-to-trails.

The Race

I ran to the first aid station in the cool, crisp air. I ran / walked until hitting my first real low at around mile 24. 

It began, which continued throughout the race, that when I walked I got woozy.  I staggered, lying on the trail or sitting at aid stations at times.  This was after the first segment ending at 30.9 miles, on the one-time out-and-back to Dot's Tavern.

By mile 35, on the way back from Dot's, I figured out that if I ran, I wasn't woozy.  I started picking 2-mile chunks to run, telling myself I was running my neighborhood loop.  Start off and before you know it, you are at .25 miles.  Just a bit to make it to a mile.  Make it to 1.25.  Finish up 2 miles.

Often, I'd only be able to walk a bit before the wooziness would return.  I'd either lie on the trail or pull myself together to run again.  The combination of running and stopping averaged out to what it would have been if I had just been hiking straight.

At some point, I chatted with a gentleman from Texas named Don and the conversation lifted my spirits.  We stayed together for many miles.

The sun set around mile 50.

I took an extended break at the Town Center Rd Aid Station, mile 64, nodding off for what could have been a couple minutes.  

Along the way, I went back and forth between several runners.  One gentleman said, "I've never seen anyone come back from the dead like you!" 

I had little choice...running was the only way I could move.  Wanting to quit many times, I thought of having to ask for a ride at an aid station, the drive back to Chicago and the plane ride in defeat.  I kept going.

I basically continued running chunks all the way to the end.  We were supposed to pass through a tunnel, but it was shut down, and the detour was road with hills.  The last time I hit it was at mile 95 or so, and I started chatting with two very nice ladies to pass the time, hiking that section.  No wooziness during the conversations.

Then I was on the trail again with 3.8 to go. I ran 1.25 miles, walked a mile, then ran two more spurts to the finish.  Though I was at the back of the pack, I enjoyed competing, passing a few folks.

As I approached the park in Belleville, they announced on the loud speaker, "100 mile finisher... Stephen Winton from Texas!"  Folks were cheering.  I sprinted across the line.  One volunteer who had seen me dead pointed at me and smiled.  The time was 33:45.

I was kindly offered some pizza and coke and sat at a picnic table a bit before driving back to the hotel.

The next day, I went to see the Jordan statue in Chicago.

Reflections

This race was big deal for me. It was huge to finish the virtual 100-milers with 50-60 hour cutoffs.  Those races count as 100-mile finishes of course. But this was a regular, albeit generous 100 mile cutoff.  I went straight through with only brief breaks to sit a few minutes.  

All those out-of-state 100 milers I failed at...Bighorn, Bear, Arkansas...I finally finished one.  I feel like a 100-mile runner again, no asterisk.

I ran more than I walked, which is a big deal to me, even if the stopping negated some of it.

I think I need to work on my nutrition.  While I had been very woozy at many races prior, this was the worst it has been.  I basically just drank energy drink and ate whatever at the aid stations.  Maybe a plan with 200-300 calories an hour of gels (ugh!) like I did years ago would help.

This was one of the hardest races I ever ran because of my physical condition.  I probably felt worse physically here than at Rocky Raccoon and Cactus Rose, but my head went to such a bad place at the first two 100s because of being a beginner, they were maybe harder.

I'm so happy I finished.

2021 100 Miles to Auburn

The Background

I had finished the challenging 2020-2021 school year.  Wanting to continue running 100-milers, I signed up for the virtual 100 Miles to Auburn.  My journey to ultrarunning began with reading about the Western States 100, so this virtual race referencing the endurance capitol of the word was appealing.

Since I would be off in the summer and have time, the location could be more flexible.  I chose the Caprock Canyon State Park and Trailway.  7 hours away, the drive was manageable.  Inside the park, there would steep climbs up the canyons and plenty to see.  The Trailway is a rails-to-trails from the abandoned Fort Worth and Denver Railroad's lines between Estelline and South Plains.  The plan would be to start off in the canyons, then do most of the miles on the Trailway. 

I drove up the day after work ended, camping in the park.  I set out some provisions at trailheads on the Trailway ahead of time.

The Race

Day 1

I started off with a loop around the canyons on the Upper South Prong Trail.  The first climb was very steep, and at a few points there was a possibility of slipping.  If you fell at Bandera, you would get scraped up; if you fell here, there is a drop to the canyon floor.  It was a little scary but I managed it.

Then I headed down the Haynes Ridge Overlook Trail and climbed to a beautiful view.

By the end of the first loop, maybe 12 miles in, I was tired.  I really thought about quitting, perhaps turning this into a sky 50k for the Franklin Mountains virtual.  Actually heading out on a second loop with the intention to do hill repeats and then quit, I instead just kept going for another loop, finishing that one with 23 miles.

At least on the way there was plenty to see:  prickly pears, bison, and white veins of gypsum.  

There were many crossings over the dry bed of the Little Red River and my feet got muddy.

Thinking that hitting the Trailway might revive me, I drove to the Quitaque East Trailhead, heading out on the flat trails through farmland towards Turkey.  Feeling a bit better, I considered hiking all night.  Then I came across a rattlesnake and jumped.  That was excuse enough for me to plan to head back to camp.  After turning around, on the way back I saw the same snake.  I finished off with 33.7 miles and camped on the Trailway at Quitaque East.

Day 2

I headed the other way out of Quitaque East towards Monk's Crossing.  The trail was mostly wide and clean.

Leaving Monk's at around 10 miles in on the day, 43 miles in total, I'd reach Clarity Tunnel.  Bats lived in the tunnel but they were quiet.  

My goal was reach John Farris Trailhead then turn around at 16.7 miles, 50 for the day.  The sun beat down and a staggered on the trail, sometimes lying down on bridges.

I worked my way back the way I came, finishing the day at 67 miles.  

I had a hotel room, based on the vanished hope that I would be done by this point. I drove to Childress, checked into a Super 8, and ate a burger and fries from Dairy Queen.

Day 3

I woke up at 2:30am, which was good because I had a chance of beating the heat.  I drove out to the Estelline Terminal Trailhead as lighting flashed on the horizon.  It wasn't raining where I was.  

I got a bit scared in the darkness and lighting and didn't want to head too far from my car at this point.  So I started doing mile repeats, running one, hiking the other.  I ran maybe 3 or 4 miles out of 9.  Now I was at mile 76 or so.

Then mosquitos started attacking.  I didn't want to fight that for 24 more miles so I drove to the Turkey Depot, where I expected there to be less mosquitoes based on when I dropped my provisions.

With 24 miles left, I could do a 12 mile out-and-back one way from Turkey Depot, a 12 mile out-and-back the other way from Turkey Depot, and be done.  I first headed towards Tampico Station, knowing I would not reach it in the planned 6 mile leg.

Finishing the first out-and-back, I rested at 88 miles at Turkey Depot.

On the final out-and-back towards Quitaque, again I battled the heat and again lied in the sun at points. But the magic of keeping moving worked, as always, and I grinded it out for a finish.

Reflections

I failed in my plan to run less than 36 hours, in preparation for the Badger 100.  I think if I have a generous cutoff it is difficult for me not to use the extra time - something I could improve upon.

I'm proud I didn't quit.  The scenery was beautiful; someday I can maybe do a virtual in Palo Duro Canyon.

3 100-milers done in 6 months...pretty good!

Results

Strava 1

Strava 2

Strava 3

Strava 4

Strava 5

Strava 6

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.