2020 Green Ultra 50k

The Background

I felt pretty good about finishing an off-the-couch Woodlands Marathon.

Then the coronavirus hit.  Work would be shut down, as would a race I had planned to run, the Abby's Alliance 5k to benefit a friend's family.  I'd be sitting around with time on my hands, so I signed up for the Green Ultra at Millican 50k.  I had a good experience running the 50 miler a year ago.  Plus it was inexpensive, an hour and a half away from home, and most importantly still open!

The Race

For the first few miles, I averaged 12 minutes a mile.  Then I started to really slow.  My GPS has been acting funny, but I'm sure I really was slow.  I made it a goal to run the first loop of 15 miles.

The second loop, I ran some and walked some.  I remembered that this race gave age group awards and since it is so small I might get one. I saw a guy behind me roughly my age...no idea whether he was running my race or in his 40s.  Regardless, it gave me a bit of motivation to move.  I ran a couple of miles, then walked some...finished the race running off and on.  It got a bit hot the second half.

Also, I knew I was close to 9 hours. I ran and made it in in 8:56.

I got first in my age group.  But I was the only one in my age group I later found out.

Reflections

Right now I am really slow.  I haven't properly trained but now I have two long runs in.  I also need to work on powerwalking as I was over 20 minutes a mile walking...at least by my GPS.

After the race, the world went crazy with the virus.  My main job is shut down for four weeks.  No races.  I'm going to run the Brazos Bend 50k and Coyote Run 50k virtually to keep moving.

2020 Woodlands Marathon

The Background

I secured a new job which gave me a new lease on life.  It was time to start running again!

I signed up for the Woodlands Marathon about two weeks before the race.  I had always wanted to run it since it is in my hometown; I had always either been in the offseason or had conflicts.  This was the perfect time.

The spur-of-the-moment decision did not give me time to train.  I had been working long hours with my night classes at the University of Houston and UHD, and busy with the new job at Klein.  Just able to squeeze in a few three mile runs here and there, this marathon would be pretty much off the couch.

I did a 20 miler on Spring Creek Trail, running about 9 miles and hiking the rest.  This was all the training I could manage.

The Race

I headed out at a 4 hour marathon pace, knowing I would probably not be able to keep it up but hey, why not try.  At about 7 miles, I fell off the pace.  At ten, my legs were shattered.  I pushed on to the half marathon point.

Running 11 or 12 minutes a mile, legs dead, my mind stayed focused.  At one point, eyes half closed, I sang "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd and "Desolation Row" by Bob Dylan along with my MP3 player.

A goal was to run the whole thing.  Apart from USA Fit 2011 (my first), I had never walked significantly in a road marathon.  I know the run/walk strategy can be effective but I wanted to run it.  at mile 20, I took a short walk break, but then "Elevator" by Strangefolk came on and I decided I could run that long song.

My kids were waiting for me at mile 23.  I made it a goal to keep running to them.  Mile 23 was a special moment.

Mile 23

At mile 24, I took a longer walk break, maybe .6 of a mile to get to the bridge over Lake Woodlands.  then I ran it in.  I knew that at this 13 minute-a-mile shuffle, I'd be cutting it close to make it under 5 hours, another goal.  I crossed the line in 4:56.

Reflections

This was a good race at a good time in my life.  I'm healthy with a good job.  I kept my mind focused, ran the whole way (with a couple of minor walk breaks), and finished under 5 hours.

This race also marked 10 straight years with a marathon finish.

I'd still like to properly train for a road marathon at some point and hopefully break 4 hours again.

I'm excited about running again.  I'm going to try to schedule 1 or 2 races before the summer - maybe Brazos Bend and/or Wildflower.  Then it will be Capt'n Karls of course.

If it all works out, maybe the Badger 100 in Wisconsin....

2019 Colorado Crossing 50k

The Background

I had a tough race at Alamo City Ultra 50k.  Wanting to go into Arkansas 100 on a better note,  I signed up for the Colorado Crossing 50k.  I'd be able to get in one more training run before Arkansas. Plus, this would be the last year TROT would put on the race.  Colorado Crossing features river crossings on boats, so this seemed like an adventure not to miss.

The Race

I could not take off work, so I ended up going to sleep early, then getting up at 1 am and driving to the Schaffer Bend Recreation Area.

The first 3 miles feature some fun hills.  Then at about 4 miles you get to the first river crossing.  I didn't know quite what to expect, but there was a line of runners waiting with life jackets on.  It took a few minutes for a boat to arrive.  About 6 or 8 got in and we all paddled across, with a volunteer steering us.  It seemed about a football field to get to the other side.  I really enjoyed it.  I remember I got it into ultrarunning because it seemed like an adventure out of The Lord of the Rings...this was like crossing the Anduin!

On the other side of the river were about 3 miles of fast, flat trails.  Then you cross the river again at the same spot.  These river crossings were nice forced breaks that kept me feeling fresh.

After the 2nd river crossing it was a mile and a half back to the start.  The loop was listed at 10 miles, but it might have been a bit shorter than that.  So this would be well below 31 miles.  But that was totally fine with me.

On the second loop, I was still feeling good.  I wanted to prove my fitness, so I made it a point to continuously run to 20 miles, minus hiking hills. 

At the end of the second loop, it got hot.  I've learned heat really drains me in a race but I fought against blowing up.  I walked bits but mostly ran the last loop.

On the last crossing, I was in a canoe with another 50k runner who would be finishing.  And there was another boat that landed the same time with about four runners..who knows if they were 50k or 50 miles.  Regardless, I decided to race.  I left the group of four behind but the 50k runner kept pace with me.  I pushed and left him behind.  So many races when I was running it in the last mile or two, I wouldn't have it in me to keep up with a runner who'd leave me behind.  It felt good to have that strength at the end.

At Alamo, Rob and I had joked that I always look bad when I am running.  At the finish he joked, "There's our worst looking finisher, every race!"  I love it...that's my badge of honor.

I finished in 6:49, 18th out of 47 finishers (top 38%)  and 48 starters (top 37.5%).  This was a good performance for me.

Reflections

Colorado Crossing was a super fun race: hills, flats, boats.  I'm so glad I got to run it before it was discontinued.  I like having a medal that you can't get anymore.

The finish in the top half of the field lifted my spirits and gives me confidence.  Now it is 3 weeks until Arkansas.  I feel fairly fit.  I am going to give it my all and not give up.  I just need to keep moving...18 minutes a mile.

Let's see what happens!

2019 Alamo City Ultra 50k

The Background

I went into the Alamo City Ultra 50k excited about running.  I had finished in the top half of the field at Habanero 100k two weeks earlier.  While it was a tough race, full of emotional and physical pain, the good performance energized me.

I got busy and did little running in the two week interim, three short runs.

Terri and I drove up to San Antonio Saturday.  We were tired so we just went to the hotel and watched Parts Unknown with Anthony Bourdain.

The Course

The Alamo City Ultra is a really cool course.  A 5.4 mile loop, the first mile and a half is steep climbs and descents, like Bandera.  Then follows some smooth trail to the aid station at 3 miles.  There is a short paved section, then you turn off into a soft, smooth trail.  Finally, it ends with the same steep climbs.

The Race

I started off pretty well and the first two loops were uneventful.

The third loop I started to feel fatigue.  Forgetting to bring my buff, I had no system for storing ice, and it was hot.  I also think I got a bit behind on calories.  Whatever the reason, I struggled through the rest of the race: weak, dizzy at times.  I struggled to keep up 20+ miles a mile hiking.

Rob checked on me at the end of the fourth loop and, seeing me still sweating, pronounced me ok.  By the end of the fifth loop, he again asked if I was okay and I said yes.  He remarked to others that its okay, I always look like this.  I said, "Yes!  I always look like crap.  Good race, bad race.  I finished in the top half of Habanero, looked bad the whole way."  We all laughed.  Rob is a great race director.

When I was hiking, I did feel very bad.  But I remembered the depression of a DNF and the satisfaction of a finish.

It wasn't all misery.  Towards the end, I chatted with a guy named Jose who was attempted to finish his first ultra.  I also talked briefly to a runner named Katy who was doing the 50k two days in a row.  Such stories inspire me.

I mixed in a bit of running on the last loop and finished.  Rob high fived me and asked how it was.  I said I felt bad today but a finish is always worth it.

Reflections

I finished way back at the end of the field.  Regardless, I'm proud I kept going.  I felt immense peace at the finish, like always.

So what happened?  Several possibilities:

• I got behind on calories.
• I got too hot because of a lack of ice.
• Maybe I haven't trained enough.  I've tried to use races as long runs and take it easy in between.  Maybe I'm undertrained.  But I ran well at Colorado Bend under a similar training schedule. 
• Maybe I just had a bad day.

The answer is probably a combination of all of the above.  I am not sure that I should train a lot harder, as I want to run a long time.  

I decided to sign up for the Rough Creek Marathon.  Two weeks before Arkansas, it will be a chance to assess where I am.  I missed running Rough Creek anyway, one of my favorite races.  I think I will run a 20 mile long run on the sidewalks to make sure of my fitness between now and then.

Thanks to Rob, Trail Racing Over Texas, and the volunteers for putting on a great race!

2019 Habanero 100k

The Background

Previously, I ran Capt'N Karl's Muleshoe Bend 60k and Colorado Bend 60k.  I only did 3 or 4-mile runs between the latter and Habanero, focusing on rest and longevity.

Before the race, I listened to the TROT podcast with Rob Goyen and Augustine Negrete on Habanero.  They offered advice that really helped me:  long sleeve shirt, never skip ice, let the race come to you. They also said, even if you trained in the heat, you won't be prepared for the type of heat at Habanero, with the sand baking at 120 and radiating up towards your face. I had done heat training and this was true!

I had a pleasant drive west to Cat Springs, passing through the countryside and small towns.  In Hempstead, there was a road race going on with a lot of Army people, which motivated me.

I somehow forgot my gaiters and bandana and bought some at the TROT store.

The Course

Habanero is a 10k loop at 7il Ranch, all sand and grass.  The good thing is except for about ten yards of singletrack, it's all wide trails so I could use my regular headphones and people could go around.

The Race
Loops 1-3:
The heat was brutal.  I was doing 12-minute miles at first, then started hiking more in the third loop.  I just told myself to make it until the sun went down.

Loops 4-5:
I bounced back a bit.  It cooled off some around 5-6 o'clock.  I started listening to music. I remember when I finished Loop 4 Johnny River's "Rockin' Pneumonia" was playing and I was rocking!  I first told to save it up until I had a 60k left, a Capt'N Karl's, then save it till 50k.  Mostly hiking, scattered running.  I made a lot of 16-minute miles hiking, which I thought was good.

Loops 6-8:
Sleep deprivation hit in loop 6.  Wanting to save a couple of bucks, I did not put fresh batteries in my headlamp since I had only used them once at Colorado Bend.  The headlamp shone but that little bit of less power, plus I think the angle I had it pointed, made the trail darker and induced sleepiness.  I switched out the batteries when I got to my dropbag and that helped.  Plus I started drinking Coke and took some caffeine pills.  I ate some food, quesadillas, and it got better.

I was hiking nearly everything.  At this point, the suffering was intense and I did not want to suffer more.  In the end, I don't know if solely hiking reduced the suffering, as it was just one long, endless slog. Maybe running would have made me feel like I was competing more and lifted my spirits.  I did focus on moving fast, doing 16-18 minute miles mostly.  I stopped playing music to clear my head.

I had thought there was something in my left shoe and tried to clear it out, but it turned out there was a blister developing from the sand.  It started to hurt enough to make me seek help at medical at the end of the 8th loop, and I never go to medical!  A kind volunteer taped it up.  This cost over 20 minutes.  My head was so messed up I had to ask if I had crossed the line to get credit for the loop.

Loop 9:
50 some-odd miles in, I hit a profound low.  Despair.  I thought, "How can I run Arkansas 100 if this feels this bad?"  I am nearly incapable of crying, but came close to tears.  Didn't cry though.  I remember thinking I would need therapy after this race!

I probably looked in shock at the end of the loop.  But there was nothing to be done but head out for the final loop.  I wasn't going to quit after 56 miles.

Loop 10:
I rebounded on Loop 10.  Putting on music, I found I could run and knocked off the 3 miles to the midway aid station before I knew it.  I passed some people; who knows it they were running the 100k or 100 mile.  I put in a couple walk breaks and ran it in.

Normally I'm reserved, but said to the lady keeping time at the finish, "Jesus Christ, that was tough!"

Reflections

I finished in 18:38, 16th out of 44 finishers (top 36%) and 61 starters (top 26%).  Also, the ultrasignup percentage, based on my time versus the winner's time, will be about 74%.  This is good because mine is usually in the 60s.

I had DNFed my first attempt at Habanero with 2 loops in 2018.  That day I was sick with a cold and suffering from my back injury.  It feels good to come back and finish a race I had DNFed.

I've come to realize I have no way of knowing where I am in the field.  Apart from the last loop, I barely passed anyone on the trail.  Since it was a multiple loop course, it would seem I would be passing people.  I think I do a lot of passing at the aid stations because I try to be quick there.

After the race, I could barely walk because of my blister.  I had to crawl out of my bed at one point.  Terri brought me a medicated blister band-aid which really helped.  I ordered two large pizzas with extra cheese and pepperoni and hot wings.

When I was in my low points, I thought there was no way I would run Arkansas 100.  How could I do a longer race when this one was so bad? But:

1.  Arkansas will be cool.  It was the heat that was the worst and put me in a bad mindset.
2.  I ran 100k at Jackalope Jam and 50 miles at the Green Ultra this year and neither were misery. I could run a good first 100k at Arkansas then figure out the rest.
3. I got in a bad mindset.  The mind is controllable.
4.  I averaged under 18 minutes a mile, which is fast enough to finish, even with intentionally going slow and losing time to injury.  I can finish Arkansas.
5.  I don't want to give up on my dreams.
6. Even if I suffer, it would be a day and it would be worth it.

So I'll run Arkansas.  I've got in my 100k, so I've got my base training.  I'll just try to keep it under 18-minute miles and keep going.  I finished at 6:38 am...I'll only need to make it to noon the next day.

Thanks to Rob Goyen, Trail Racing Over Texas, and the volunteers for putting on a great race!

2019 Colorado Bend 60k

The Background

I raced Capt’N Karl’s Muleshoe Bend and it went well.  I had not planned to race again until Habanero, but an opportunity came up where I was free for Colorado Bend.  I love Capt’N Karl’s races, so I could not resist.

On the way up, I visited the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library, just as I had one year ago before Colorado Bend.  Presidential libraries are some of my favorite places to be.

After both my GPS and my MP3 player died at Muleshoe, I decided enough was enough and bought a Coros GPS watch with a 35-hour battery life.  I wasn’t sure if my MP3 player issue was that it wasn’t charged enough, so I just charged it a long time to see how it would do.

At Muleshoe, I was running as fast as some were power hiking, so I worked on this, hiking 15 or 16-minute miles.

I drove up with the Beatles – Live at the BBC.

The Race

I saw a runner I knew, Jimmy, at the start of the race and we said hello.

I started at a brisk pace, which for me on the rocky terrain was 12-minute miles.

On the back half of the first 18-mile loop, I hit a low and slowed.  My MP3 player died again, which I had only played for 2 or 3 hours.  I really don’t get it.  It plays for multiple runs during the week, then dies at the races.  The loss of music didn’t help.

I rallied on the second loop.  I still wasn’t moving fast, but I power hiked the rocky bits and ran the smoother bits.

Along the way, I saw another fellow runner I know, Jon, working an aid station and said hello.  I chugged ginger ale and Coke on ice at the aid stations.

At some point around marathon distance, I realized that I could possibly finish in under ten hours.   Last year, when my back was hurting, I finished in 10:02, so beating that time was motivation to move it.  Plus, when I hit a smooth bit, running relatively briskly felt good to get some mileage done.

I was in a good frame of mind, knowing the miles would pass, one at a time.

I passed a few people, back and forth.  Hoping to beat ten hours, I went straight through the last aid,

In the last three miles, I passed a runner and tried to put some distance between us in the smooth sections.  Then I saw her headlamp right behind me as I rounded a turn.  I ran hard.

With a half mile left, the trail breaks out of rocky single track into smooth double track, headed to the finish.  When I popped put onto this, I knew the other runner was close behind.  I ran hard, when I looked back, I saw her headlamp maybe a minute back.  I finished about a minute ahead of her.   I’m proud I fought as hard as I could.

Reflections

This race had a lot of interesting numbers:

I finished 20^th out of 47 finishers (top 42%).

This is my 40^th finish, marathon distance or longer, at age 40. 

This is my 10^th Capt’N Karl’s 60k finish.

I finished in 9:49:22.  Three weeks ago, I finished Muleshoe in 9:49:35 – 13 seconds difference! But Colorado Bend is a much tougher course, so this was an improvement.

I also beat last year’s Colorado Bend of 10:02.  That year I had hurt back which really slowed me, but I will take a thirteen-minute improvement as a win anyway. In running, we take our victories when they come.

This was again a 16-minute pace for 37 miles, which if I kept it up would be around 27 hours for 100 miles.  This gives me confidence I can finish the Arkansas Traveler 100 in October.

This was a really good race.  I kept picturing that headlamp behind me on the trail and battling it.  It made me feel good.

After the race, I got some wings to celebrate.

Next up is Habanero 100k in two weeks. That is going to be epic!

2019 Muleshoe Bend 60K

The Background

After taking a couple months off running, it was time to train for a new season.  This time the goal race would be the Arkansas Traveler 100 Miler. 

I chose this race because it is a Western States qualifier.  I haven’t gotten a qualifier since 2014.  Arkansas is drivable from home which will save on costs.  Further, while the Traveler is a huge challenge, it is not at Hardrock-Qualifier level of difficulty.  I need something a bit more manageable than the Bear, which I DNFed last September, for a return to the 100 mile distance.

I planned three training races leading up to Arkansas: Muleshoe Bend 60k, Habanero 100k, Alamo City 50k.  The plan is to race less to be fresh for the Traveler.

I got in a couple of 50 mile weeks leading up to Muleshoe.  My one 20 mile run included some walk breaks.  So training was ok but not great.

On the way to the race, I visited the LBJ Presidential Library.  I have a goal of visiting as many presidential libraries as I can.

The Race

Despite arriving to the race early, I forgot to put on band-aids!  When the race began with a short out-and-back, I had to swing by my drop bag to get them. This meant I was at the very end of the 60k group to start.  This was actually okay as I had less pressure and like running solo. 

I had a moment, as I often do, in the early miles where the distance seemed big and I questioned why I do this.  But this was brief.

I passed a few people but chugged along at the back of the pack.  I probably passed more people at aid stations than on the trail.

I listened to music for the first half with one earbud, but then my MP3 player died!  I forgot to charge it ahead of time and I don’t think I charged it long enough in the car on the way there.  I switched to my GPS watch for motivation to play the game of chipping away to miles.  But I knew the watch would die before the end too.

I never hit a really bad patch.  I was tired sometimes but kept running, albeit slowly.  

Along the way I saw Jimmy, who runs a lot of the same races at a similar pace.  We chatted a bit and  finished about five minutes apart.  I felt good enough to try to chase headlamps and passed some folks.  

There were a few moments of profound peace.  I was where I was meant to be doing what I was meant to do.

I finished in 9:49, middle of the pack.

As always, there was great satisfaction in completing a long race.

Reflections

I need to sort out my technology.  First, I need to see how many hours battery life my MP3 player has and get a backup.  I also need a GPS watch that won’t die in four hours.  I can invest a bit in my running.

Don’t forget band-aids.

I ran the whole way, minus some very brief walking breaks due to terrain or just to take a breath. This is good given I did not train super hard.

When I ran with Jimmy, his hiking pace was the same as my super-slow running pace!  My running pace varied, but this is a signal I need to work on my power hiking.  

This was my fourth finish of Muleshoe.  I like finishing races multiple times. And I love the whole feel of Muleshoe:  a night race, Grateful Dead music and quotes, a tough but manageable distance. 

Average pace was 15:49, which is about a 26 hour 100 miler.  Obviously, you can’t clearly extrapolate the time, but this gives my confidence I can finish the Arkansas Traveler 100 in 30 hours.

When I began running again after the break, it improved my mood and outlook.

I’m excited about running.  Next stop is Habanero and I hope to dial it in for that.