2026 Seabrook Lucky Trails Marathon

The Background

I had struggled mentally the last few races, and my left knee was slightly sore. Since it was spring break, I made a point to rest, sitting in my chair and watching basketball and Oscar movies. I did do one 3-mile run on the Thursday before the race.

Terri and Princess joined me as we drove out to the Seabrook Lucky Trails Marathon.  As always, there were the bagpipes that I love. And they had a backdrop with all the legacy runners' names, beginning at 4 years completed.  I love that stuff, and I definitely will go for 4 years.

At the Start

The Race 

It was good weather, just getting a little hot towards the end of the race. At the start line, I chatted with some folks who had run Jackalope Jam and Habanero.

I started off at 10- or 11-minute miles.  At the end of the first loop, I saw a couple of kids playing with Princess.

Loop 1

Heading out on the 2nd loop, I made a goal of getting to half marathon running continuously and did that. The knee held up with only slight soreness at moments.

Princess Waiting

On the 3rd loop, I set a goal of making it to the bay, which would be 16 miles.  I put on some music and sang along.  After reaching 16 miles, I started hiking, more due to mental weakness that physical fatigue. 

I hiked a couple of miles. I knew Terri was waiting to see me, so that was motivation to start running from 18.25 miles to end of the 3rd loop.

End of Loop 3

I mostly hiked the 4th loop at 14- or 15-minute miles, with scattered bits of running. There were a couple of ladies behind me chatting for miles, and I made a goal to stay in front of them.  I also decided to try to make it in under 5:30. I saw a fellow with a beard, who I knew had run hundreds of marathons, maybe even 1000, which was inspiring.

As I approached the school which was about a half mile from the finish, I heard the ladies chatting again, which was motivation enough for me to run it in. I finished in 5:22.

Reflections

I'm happy that I made it in under 5:30. I gave it a good effort. I improved on my time of 5:34 last year, which at least was some progress.

I failed to run a marathon continuously this season.  I did some decent training, but it could have been better.  Mainly the failure was due to a lack of mental discipline.  I have Houston Marathon coming up in 2027, and I have never walked at Houston Marathon. I can make it a goal to run Kingwood Marathon and Houston Marathon continuously next year.

This really was one long season starting in August with Habanero last year, though I took a 3-week break after Dinosaur Valley in November.  And before this season, I had only 2-months and change since the last race.  So I am due for a good rest.  I will not run for 7 weeks until UHD's commencement.  Then I will enjoy running in the summer to get ready for the next season. 

As far as the season goes, it was not my best, but pretty good. I finished 3 100ks.  I finished Bandera 100k for the 3rd straight year.  I got a Western States Qualifier at Dinosaur Valley. I did manage 1 sub-5-hour marathon at Galveston Marathon.

Well, I do have in mind a possible 100-miler in the summer.  We will see what happens!

 

  

2026 Great Springs Trail Race - Austin

The Background

I had raced the previous two weekends, and work was still challenging.  I did not run between Woodlands Marathon and Great Springs Trail Race- Austin. I watched the Rockets beat the Trailblazers Friday, then got 3 or 4 hours sleep before waking up at 2am-ish in the morning and driving to Austin.

The Race

The Start

Great Springs Trail Race- Austin is a moderately challenging 6-mile course.  There is a .75 mile smooth downhill, followed by a couple of miles of up-an-down single track.  There is a big drop and climb before it opens up to smooth, wide trail for a couple of miles, with an aid station at mile 4.  The last mile has 6 short, steep climbs.

Steps Along the Course

The Big Climb

Soon on the first loop, I felt anxiety and total mental exhaustion.  I had hoped for a better performance than last year, where I stopped competing and just hiked it in, but I knew I was in survival mode. As I approached the end of the first loop, I thought about quitting, justifying it by how thin I had been stretching myself and resting for Seabrook Lucky Trails Marathon. But I told myself I had never quit a marathon for lack of will.  I pressed on, telling myself I could run the downhill to start the 2nd lap, then be only 5 miles to halfway.  When I finished the 1st loop, it was showing my GPS was a little short, which made each loop seem shorter.

I worked through the 2nd loop, and felt a little better being halfway done.  At this point, I was running the downhills but hiking everything else.

 

On the final loop, an aid station worker noticed my Seabrook Lucky Trails shirt, and that led to me sharing how I am running 4 races in 4 weeks. At this point, there was a light rain, and my shoes were caked with mud. To pass the time, I counted the steep climbs in the final mile - 6.  I finished in last place in 7:12.

Reflections

To not give up was a victory given my mental exhaustion.  Also, my ultrasignup rating was sitting at 60.14%, and I wanted to bump it up to keep it above 60%.  As slow as I was, based on the winning male time, it looks like this one will be about 72%, which helps. I did improve my time by 20 minutes from last year.

I rewarded myself by watching a replay of the Spurs coming back from a 25-point deficit to beat the Clippers with a pizza with anchovies.

Last year I had raced 4 weeks straight around March, but I had had a two month break in October and November.  This year, I have been racing since August with only a 3-week break after Dinosaur Valley in November.  It was probably not wise to race so much back-to-back at the end of a long season. 

I have Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday where I am free due to Spring Break.  I told myself to sit in my chair and recharge before Seabrook Lucky Trails Marathon.

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!