2026 Woodlands Marathon

The Background

I was excited to run another race with my good friend Jamie for the first time since 2024. Terri, Paloma, Kari, and Owen would cheer for us at the race.

After Jackalope Jam, I did a 2-mile run and 1-mile walk in the seven days before Woodlands Marathon.

When we arrived, there was no parking, so I hopped out and headed to the start to meet up with Jamie.

The Race

Jamie and I chatted as we ran high-10- and low-11-minute miles.  

After mile 10, I let Jamie pull away from me, as I slowed to mid-11-minute miles through mile 14.  

Then, I put on headphones and the music motivated me run a bit faster for a couple miles.  I caught up with Jamie around mile 16.

I high-fived Jamie as I passed him, but he soon passed me again, as I had to run/walk miles 17 and 18, though my pace stayed pretty good at 13- and 12- minute miles.

I slowed a bit with a 15-minute mile 19, then ran a bit picking it up for a 12-minute 20, then a 15-minute 21.

At this point it was getting a bit warm, and I was beat. I focused on hiking as fast as I could.  I made good time with a 14-minute mile 22 and 13-minute miles 23 through 25.

Terri and Paloma cheered for me at Riva Mile along the waterway.

The 5:15 pacer passed me, but I set a goal of getting in under 5:20. A ran a few bits in the last mile, finishing in 5:17.  Jamie was waiting at the finish line, having finished in 5:07.

Reflections

Though I had hoped to run the race continuously and go sub-5 hours, this might have been a bit unrealistic a week after 100k at Jackalope Jam.  I did push as hard as I could and made great time hiking.

It was great to race with Jamie again.  Jamie finished his 10th race of at least marathon distance. Congratulations, my friend!

I'm glad I was only 10 minutes behind Jamie so everyone did not have to wait so long for me.

Well, I have 2 races left in this season.  Let's see what I can do!

Thanks to God, Terri, Paloma, James, Jamie, Kari, Owen, friends, all my family, the race organization, and the volunteers for the support!

 

2026 Jackalope Jam

The Background

I had a very tough week at work, so I knew I would likely not go for 100 miles at the Jackalope Jam. In fact, I had a project deadline, which I finished, but I had to check my email 3 times just in case, which cost me like an hour during the race.

On a happier note, I was excited to race a longer version of the Jackalope Jam for the first time since 2023 (2025 had been the 6 hour).  Though I was mentally exhausted from work, I told myself I had never failed to finish 100k at a longer version of Jackalope Jam.

The Race

I set up a canopy with the help of a kind woman named Monica.  I brought a tent but did not set it up, hoping to avoid the temptation of sleeping through the night.

Though it threatened to rain, it never did. It was mostly cool, though it got a bit warm in the afternoon. In short, great weather and no real winds. 

The Start

I ran 3 or 4 of the out-mile sections to the Cone of Death, but after that it was hiking.  

The Cone of Death

I did push it a bit too hard, because at 18 miles I had to sit in a chair and recover.

Moving on, I chatted with a couple of armed forces veterans and said hi to runners I know Agatha and her daughter Aurora. I told the former that I was working on mini-goals, first to make it to marathon, then 50k. For this race, 28 miles is really marathon at the end of that loop.  I first wanted to make it there to at least get a race finish.

Jackalope Jam is great because of the people!

28 Miles In

The next goal was to get to 32 miles, halfway to 100k. Around this time, I started to develop a blister on my left foot. 

I hit a low point around mile 40.  I found Cal and verified that it would take 64 miles to get credit for 100k.

40 Miles In

Trying to motivate myself, I set a new goal of making it to 64 miles continuously. In all previous years at Jackalope Jam, I had reached 100k or 100 miles by breaking it up over two days with a night's sleep in between.  I also called Terri, James, and Paloma and texted Jamie and Luke.

Shortly after mile 40,  I put on some music which motivated me as I sang along.  An aid station worker got to know my request to fill my bottle with coke and joked about having it ready for me.  They had good food, especially the magic cookie bars.

I stopped the music around mile 48, hit another low, and trudged to 50 miles.  I was ready to give up the goal of not sleeping through the night, but was so tired I skipped a shower and just grabbed a sleeping bag, a couple of blankets, and a pillow and threw them on the ground. 

I slept for what felt like a couple of minutes but was probably longer.  But then I woke up and told myself to get back on the trail.  I was cold, so it took a few minutes to will myself to get up.  I put on my hoodie and headed out on the trail.  The spilt for lap 26 was 1:46, so the break was probably an hour, not any different than a long rest at an aid station. 

As I recommenced, I was moving at 19- or 20-minute pace.  I warmed up and switched to a long-sleeve shirt. I played music again for a bit. I had to stop a couple of times at my chair for a minute or two rest.

On the final lap, first light shone. I finished 100k in 21 hours and 45 minutes.

Reflections

I am proud that I even ran this race given my week at work. I improved from previous Jackalope Jams by not sleeping all night.

I had a hotspot which took a while to boot up, then I figured out it was quicker to use Wi-Fi at the start.  If I have to work again next year I could be more efficient, as it cost me a lot of time. Though maybe I will sign up for the 24 hour and just go for 100k.

Thanks to God, Terri, James, Paloma, all my family and friends, fellow runners, Cal, and the volunteers for the support!

 

2026 USA Fit Virtual Marathon

The Background

The 2026 USA Fit Marathon was changed to virtual due to a freeze.  The weekend that worked for me to run was after the Galveston Marathon. I did not run a step between Galveston and USA Fit.  

My friends Jamie, Luke, and another friend joined me for the run from Northshore Park to run loops around the lake.

The Race 

We ran the first mile at an 11-minute pace, then 3 miles at a 10-minute pace.  Luke and the other fellow split off, leaving Jamie and me.

We kept an 11-minute pace up through mile 15, then ran a 12-minute pace for mile 16. Then we ran/waked to mile 20.

Luke was waiting to say hi at mile 20!

Jamie completed his 20-mile training run, so we all said goodbye, and I headed off to finish the marathon.  I mainly hiked the last miles with scattered bits of running. The hiking was at 14-minute pace, which I figured was good practice for Jackalope Jam.

I finished in 5:44.

Reflections

I ran the USA Fit Marathon with Jamie in 2023 and Luke in 2025. God blessed me to run it with both of them in 2026! Thanks guys for running with me!

Now I have Jackalope Jam 48 hour coming up, so I need to continue to work on my powerhiking.

2026 Galveston Marathon

The Background

After Bandera, I got busy, and my knees were slightly sore, so I only did scattered 2 or 3 miles runs.  I had planned to run USA Fit Marathon, but it was changed to virtual due to a freeze.  So I would run that after the Galveston Marathon.

I had the TCTELA conference up until Saturday, with the Galveston Marathon on Sunday.  The morning of the race, I felt a bit tired from going nonstop at work. 

The Race

It was cold at the start. There was a lady with a chihuahua in line for packet pickup, and the dog shivered.

I ran the first 4 miles at around 1 10:15 pace. Miles 5-6 were at 10:40 pace.  I must have felt good, because I sped back up again: mile 5 was 10:15 pace, then I did a couple of 10:20 pace miles. Miles 10 through 12 were at 10:30 pace.  

Somewhere along the way, a young fellow pulled up next to me and said, "You've got a good pace. Can I run with you for a while?" I said sure, and learned he was running his first marathon.  He pulled away from me after a few minutes.

I got tired, and slowed to 10:58 pace for mile 13.

On the second loop, I ran 11-minute miles all the way through mile 21.  I was still feeling decent, but my mind was wrong, so I hiked a couple of miles at a 14-minute pace.

After I passed the finish and headed out to Pleasure Pier, I ran again.  I took a short walk break after the final turnaround, then ran again.  

As I approached mile 25, I saw the same young fellow.  He started walking right after he passed the mile marker.  I pulled up to him and said hi, and he started running again.  Looking at my watch, I knew if we walked then last mile we would be over 5 hours.  I said, "Running gets it in under 5 hours," and we ran, finishing in 4:57.

Reflections

The story of the young fellow and I running to the finish made this marathon memorable.

I could have been mentally stronger not to walk a couple of miles. Still, I pushed and made it in under 5 hours.

2026 Bandera 100k

The Background

After Texas Marathon - Kingwood, I only did a bit of stairs during breaks at work and a 1-mile run.  The latter was to test out a new pair of Hokas Terri had given me for Christmas.  My knees were a bit sore after Kingwood, so I figured I needed the cushioning for the rocks of Bandera.

The Friday before the race was a stressful work day, and I was still answering emails on the road.  The good news was Terri and Paloma came with me.  We got dinner at the Old Spanish Trail and stayed at the Flying Ranch.

It was very cold as the race started.

Terri would take Paloma horseback riding as I began the race.  Paloma later said that this was a core memory!

 

The Race

I ran the first couple of sections through Boyles Bump, Cairns Climb, and Sky Island at a medium pace.  While still running, after a few miles I purposefully slowed, trying not to go out too fast.  

Right around the Three Sisters, 11 or so miles in,  I switched to hiking, which I would continue for the rest of the race except for scattered bits of running. Miles 23 to 25 in the field after Chapas were my best bit as far as pace, with a couple of 16-minute miles and a 14-minute mile. I slowed a bit in the rockier last section leading up to Lucky's Peak. I finished the first loop in 8:48.

On loop 2, I felt pretty low the first two sections. I was coughing a lot, tired, and emotionally drained from the work week. Terri was there Boyles, which lifted my spirits.  

Approaching Boyles

Then I saw Paloma and Terri at Equestrian. I sat on an inflatable couch and ate mashed potatoes and bacon, which helped revive me.  I gave Terri logistical information, estimating it would take about 7 hours to cover the last 21 miles.

Rebounding, I moved as well as I could, but most of the miles were above 20 minutes through mile 52 as I made it to Chapas.  As the course got easier, I worked to keep the total time under 20 hours, with several 17-minute miles. The only miles after Chapas that went over 20 minutes were the YaYa aid station and Lucky's Peak. 

I finished in 19:47. I was in the back of the pack, 233rd out of 265 finishers.

Reflections

This Bandera was another slog. I did keep myself in decent shape and avoided a major blowup.  I definitely did not want a DNF with the family there. On the other hand, with the Western States qualifier already earned at Dinosaur Valley, I may have been guilty of not pushing quite as hard as I could.

I am glad I worked to get it in under 20 hours.  At least this was not my slowest Bandera, though my 2025 20:18 finish was at Camp Eagle, a harder course.

Also, I did not let the stress of work derail my race, as I had in 2023.  I remembered that whatever I was worried about in 2023 was not important in the grand scheme of things, and I only regretted the DNF.  This time, I kept my mind focused.

Overall, I was thrilled with another Bandera 100k finish, 3 in a row, 4 in 5 years, and 6 total finishes.

I do think for next Bandera I can be a bit less conservative and go for a faster time.

A few hours later, we had breakfast at the Old Spanish Trail, which is my reward for finishing!

Special thanks to Terri and Paloma for braving the cold weather to be there.  Thanks to God, James, all my family, friends, Chris, Tejas Trails, and the volunteers for the support!

2025 Texas Marathon - Kingwood

The Background

I took three weeks off running after Dinosaur Valley 100k, and started again after the UHD commencement.  I was so excited to get running that I ran through a bad cold.  I also did some Stairmaster at the neighborhood gym in preparation for Bandera.

I did a 11-mile and then a 10-mile run at 10ish-minute pace.  But without a 20-mile training run, I was not in marathon shape to start the season.  As always, Terri and I watched Dick Clark's Rockin' New Years Eve and fireworks from our backyard before getting up early to head to Kingwood.

The Race

The Start

It was a bit cold at the start, but it warmed up quickly to be a beautiful day. I headed out at a 10:30- to 10:40-minute pace and held that for ten miles.  I chatted with a fellow named Alfred who had finished many marathons and was getting into ultras.

Finishing a Loop

Holding sub-11-minute miles through half marathon, I still felt good.  At 14 miles, I put on some music, "Old Time Rock and Roll," "Across 110th Street," "Yellow Ledbetter," and sang along.

At some point after 17 miles, I had to walk a short bit.  But I rebounded and only took short walk breaks, telling myself to keep running to get in a 20-mile training run. As I approached the end of the 3rd loop, Alfred saw me and asked how I was doing.  I said, "Crashing and burning!"

After 20 miles, I made it a goal to walk no more than half a mile then run another half mile, which averaged out to 14-minute miles.  I did that for the rest of the race, finishing in 5:15.

Reflections

I had hoped for a sub-5-hour marathon and running it continuously. To get that, I would have had to train harder.  I probably could have done it, but I also just took a short break after Dinosaur Valley 100k, so maybe it was all for the best long term.  

I am proud I did not just walk 9 miles after crashing.  I fought as hard as I could.

Thanks to God, James, Paloma, all my family, friends, the race organization, and the volunteers for the support. Special thanks to Terri for once again getting up early on New Years Day to be there!