2025 Houston Marathon

The Background

I ran the Bandera 100k the previous weekend.  I did not run a step between that and the Houston Marathon.

I dieted to get my weight from the 180s to the mid 170s.

I had to work at UHD downtown Friday, so after my duties were done, I walked over to the George R. Brown Convention Center to pick up my packet at the expo.  They were giving custom shirts, which were made on the spot with a choice of 4, so there was a 30-minute wait to get the shirt.

I woke up at 2am race day and couldn't go back to sleep. The weather was very cold.  Terri and I arrived at the GRB at 5am and waited for the start.  

Then, when I got to the corral, I had another long wait, shivering.  Poor Terri was cold too waiting for me to start.

The Race

I warmed up pretty quickly.  The only problem with the weather was a blasting wind from time to time, but it was not a significant factor.

I tried to go out brisk but conservative, finishing the first 6 miles at around 10-minute pace.

Then I said to myself, reign it back in for the first mental check in at 10 miles, finishing the next 4 at around 10:20 pace.

I was still fresh at 10 miles, I only added a few second per mile as I made it to half marathon.  Still feeling strong, I pushed to the next mental check in at 15 miles, which was a 10:35 mile.

I slowed a bit, but was still in good shape at mile 18 in 10:46.  

I started lagging, and miles 19-21 were in the low 11-minute range.

My legs were pretty trashed by this point, and miles 22 and 23 were at 11-and-a-half-minute pace.  

I was hurting by the last 3 miles, but I said to myself, "I've never walked at the Houston Marathon.  I'm not going to start now."  Miles 24-26 were at about 12-minute pace, but I ran them.  

Seeing the finish line, I calculated I could get in by 4:45, and I ran hard to accomplish that.

Reflections

I gave this an A-level effort.  Despite not being totally in shape, I ran to the best of my abilities.  I ran every step, and I'm proud of that.

Given I ran 100k a week earlier, the effort was doubly good.

I fueled well, drinking Gatorade every time offered and eating several gels.  My energy level stayed pretty good.

I am slower than most of the folks that lined up at Houston Marathon, but I am okay with that.  I'm just happy I can still run, thanks to God.

I'm glad I finished in 4:45, because I feel adequately prepared to pace Luke at USA Fit in 2 weeks.

Next year, Houston Marathon is on the same weekend as Bandera, so I will not be running it.

As always, the hoopla and excitement of a big city marathon was thrilling.

Thanks to God, the race organization, the volunteers, friends, all my family, and especially Terri (who endured the cold to be there) for the support!

  

2025 Bandera Eagle 100k

The Background

A few days before the Bandera 100k, Tejas Trails announced the race would be moved to Camp Eagle.  This changed the travel plans from going with family and staying at the Flying L Ranch to going alone and staying hostel-style at Camp Eagle.

I drove up Friday and arrived by the afternoon. Luckily, the road to camp was smooth; it was a covered in rocks and shook the car last time. The hostel room was nice: bunk bed, shower, restroom, and heat.  This was good, as it was cold.

A runner friend, Jon,  saw me and said hi before the start.  He was not running this year, but I later saw him at an aid station.

I forgot my pack, so I had to carry stuff in the pockets of my hoodie and shorts.

The Race

I felt a little weak early in the race, so I hiked anything uphill.  Many people passed me. The first section the the Windmill aid station has one big climb at the end.

The second section, 6 miles, contains 7 or 8 big climbs, and is what makes Bandera Eagle tougher than the regular course.  Early on in this section, I rebounded for a bit and was running well.  At one point, a deer leaped over an 8 foot fence, hitting its hind legs. It was able to land and run off.

Then the hills beat me up.  I got behind on calories as well. By the time I reached the Windmill aid again, 10+ miles in, I knew my A goal of 17 hours was not to be. 

I decided to take care of myself as best I could so I could finish the race.  Switching to powerhiking, I still strove to compete.   After about 13 miles, the trails got less tough, and I was able to move reasonably well to reach Mi Casa aid station.

The next section  headed toward Zip Line has about a mile of smooth trail before another climb.

Right after leaving Zip Line, there was another climb, before the trail became more manageable.  At some point, I chatted with a runner named Lesley from the Dallas area. I reached Party Barn aid.

The last section has no big climbs, but a lot of maddening switchbacks before the last couple of miles smooth out.  After running by the river, I reached the start.

I was still in relatively good shape, but I knew I was looking at 18 or 19 hours at least for the finish.  I focused on making it through the first 13 miles of the loop and getting to the easier back half. 

Both times I left the Windmill aid station, I shivered for a bit.  But I warmed up by moving fairly quickly.

Hiking in the night, I said to myself, "Okay, you are not sleepy. You are not cold.  You can move. If you have to do this for 2 extra hours, it is okay."

At one point, a runner I greatly respect, Nancy, said to me, "You are a fast hiker!" That alone made the race worth it.

At some point, I tripped and twisted my ankle.  Luckily, I was okay.

I kept competing, chasing headlamps, trying to avoid being passed.  This kept my head in the race. However, a lot of the trail that seemed relatively fast the first loop was tough in the night with tired legs.

In the last section, the switchbacks seemed like they would never end.  But eventually they did.  A runner was not too far behind, and I avoided getting passed as I made it to the finish in 20:18.

I love the blue!

Reflections

If I want to do better at Bandera, I need to do some Stairmaster.  While my lack of hill training would have hurt some on the regular course, it really hurt at Camp Eagle.  Since every year there will be a chance the race will move, I need Stairmaster training.  Plus, this season I had less of a build up than in 2024, so a bigger training block would be good.

While I did not get the Western States qualifier, I was still very happy with race. Bandera is the race closest to my heart, and I finished despite difficult circumstances.  I have now started Bandera 100k 9 times and finished 5 times, bringing the finishing rate to above .500.  Finishing two years back-to-back felt good.

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

2025 Texas Marathon - Kingwood

The Background

I trained by running 5 mile runs at high-8 or low 9-minute miles.  Also, Luke and I ran a 13 miler and a 10 miler.  Still, I had not run a 20 miler going into this season.

Terri and I watched the New Years Eve CNN and Rockin' New Years Eve broadcasts, and the fireworks show in our new neighborhood before going to bed.

The Race

Prerace

I started off the first few miles between 9:30 and 9:45 pace.  I finished the first 2 laps in 2:09:30, which was 9:53 pace overall.

I started to slow a bit, but still chugged along.  Though running out of gas, I had told myself to mile to  keep running until mile 20, so at least I would get in a 20-mile training run for the season.  I stretched this to mile 21 before beginning to powerhike.

Meanwhile, my GPS watch was malfunctioning, so the only clue to my pace was the overall time elapsed and the mile markers on the course.  I powerhiked two miles, and it looked like if I did not run again, I would go over 5 hours.

I  started running again at mile 23 and ran to the end of the race.  In the last mile, I chatted with a fellow, Cole, who was finishing his first marathon.  I finished in 4:50, 74th out of 151 finishers (top 49 percent).

Reflections

I did not do as well at this race as last year, when I ran in 4:29.  But last year I had a good Wild Hare 50 miler and another marathon in the leadup.

I should have run a 20 miler in training if I had wanted to do better for this race.

However, I am proud that I ran the last 3 miles to get in under 5 hours instead of powerhking the rest of the way.

Finishing in the top half of the field (barely) was nice.

I've finished Kingwood three years in a row.  They have special awards for 5-year finishers, so I will go for that, God willing.

I need to get a new watch at some point. It has malfunctioned too many times.

Well, it is 2025, so what are some goals?

• Run all my solo road marathons in under 5 hours
• Lose 15 pounds to get under 170
• Run a sub 4:29 marathon
• Get a Western States qualifier
• Run 100 miles in 2025

Thanks to God, the race organization, volunteers, Terri Winton, friends, and all my family for the support!