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!
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.
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.
