2021 100 Miles to Auburn

The Background

I had finished the challenging 2020-2021 school year.  Wanting to continue running 100-milers, I signed up for the virtual 100 Miles to Auburn.  My journey to ultrarunning began with reading about the Western States 100, so this virtual race referencing the endurance capitol of the word was appealing.

Since I would be off in the summer and have time, the location could be more flexible.  I chose the Caprock Canyon State Park and Trailway.  7 hours away, the drive was manageable.  Inside the park, there would steep climbs up the canyons and plenty to see.  The Trailway is a rails-to-trails from the abandoned Fort Worth and Denver Railroad's lines between Estelline and South Plains.  The plan would be to start off in the canyons, then do most of the miles on the Trailway. 

I drove up the day after work ended, camping in the park.  I set out some provisions at trailheads on the Trailway ahead of time.

The Race

Day 1

I started off with a loop around the canyons on the Upper South Prong Trail.  The first climb was very steep, and at a few points there was a possibility of slipping.  If you fell at Bandera, you would get scraped up; if you fell here, there is a drop to the canyon floor.  It was a little scary but I managed it.

Then I headed down the Haynes Ridge Overlook Trail and climbed to a beautiful view.

By the end of the first loop, maybe 12 miles in, I was tired.  I really thought about quitting, perhaps turning this into a sky 50k for the Franklin Mountains virtual.  Actually heading out on a second loop with the intention to do hill repeats and then quit, I instead just kept going for another loop, finishing that one with 23 miles.

At least on the way there was plenty to see:  prickly pears, bison, and white veins of gypsum.  

There were many crossings over the dry bed of the Little Red River and my feet got muddy.

Thinking that hitting the Trailway might revive me, I drove to the Quitaque East Trailhead, heading out on the flat trails through farmland towards Turkey.  Feeling a bit better, I considered hiking all night.  Then I came across a rattlesnake and jumped.  That was excuse enough for me to plan to head back to camp.  After turning around, on the way back I saw the same snake.  I finished off with 33.7 miles and camped on the Trailway at Quitaque East.

Day 2

I headed the other way out of Quitaque East towards Monk's Crossing.  The trail was mostly wide and clean.

Leaving Monk's at around 10 miles in on the day, 43 miles in total, I'd reach Clarity Tunnel.  Bats lived in the tunnel but they were quiet.  

My goal was reach John Farris Trailhead then turn around at 16.7 miles, 50 for the day.  The sun beat down and a staggered on the trail, sometimes lying down on bridges.

I worked my way back the way I came, finishing the day at 67 miles.  

I had a hotel room, based on the vanished hope that I would be done by this point. I drove to Childress, checked into a Super 8, and ate a burger and fries from Dairy Queen.

Day 3

I woke up at 2:30am, which was good because I had a chance of beating the heat.  I drove out to the Estelline Terminal Trailhead as lighting flashed on the horizon.  It wasn't raining where I was.  

I got a bit scared in the darkness and lighting and didn't want to head too far from my car at this point.  So I started doing mile repeats, running one, hiking the other.  I ran maybe 3 or 4 miles out of 9.  Now I was at mile 76 or so.

Then mosquitos started attacking.  I didn't want to fight that for 24 more miles so I drove to the Turkey Depot, where I expected there to be less mosquitoes based on when I dropped my provisions.

With 24 miles left, I could do a 12 mile out-and-back one way from Turkey Depot, a 12 mile out-and-back the other way from Turkey Depot, and be done.  I first headed towards Tampico Station, knowing I would not reach it in the planned 6 mile leg.

Finishing the first out-and-back, I rested at 88 miles at Turkey Depot.

On the final out-and-back towards Quitaque, again I battled the heat and again lied in the sun at points. But the magic of keeping moving worked, as always, and I grinded it out for a finish.

Reflections

I failed in my plan to run less than 36 hours, in preparation for the Badger 100.  I think if I have a generous cutoff it is difficult for me not to use the extra time - something I could improve upon.

I'm proud I didn't quit.  The scenery was beautiful; someday I can maybe do a virtual in Palo Duro Canyon.

3 100-milers done in 6 months...pretty good!

Results

Strava 1

Strava 2

Strava 3

Strava 4

Strava 5

Strava 6

Triceratops Virtual Marathon

The Background

I had been running pretty consistently short distances.  Terri and I had gone out of town on Saturday to Paloma's gymnastics meet in Irving, my parents graves in Dallas, and Magnolia Market in Waco.  After the busy day Saturday, I was hoping to be ready to race Sunday.

I wanted to try out a new trail so I headed to the eastern end of the Lone Star Hiking Trail that passes through Sam Houston National Forest.

The Race

After about a half mile, I decided I was tired and didn't want to run.  So I hiked.

Mosquitoes swarmed and whenever I stopped I was bitten.

By the halfway point, I was tired and slowed to 18-20 minutes a mile.

On the way back, I noticed was on the wrong trail (blue marker instead of white).  Rookie mistake, instead of backtracking I looked at my GPS and thought following it would connect me to the main trail.  It did, but in the wrong direction!  Long story short, I found myself on the road hiking back, with 3 miles extra to go.

Halfway Point

Reflections

I noticed in this race and the last my GPS seems to be about a half mile short per marathon, based on the posted mile markers.  Not to much in a marathon, but in 100 miler that's two extra miles.

If I do the Lone Star Hiking Trail again I need bug spray.

I was not moving well, but at least under 36 hour pace.

2021 Stegosaurus Virtual Marathon

The Background

It had been six weeks since I raced.  I had maintained some fitness, regularly running the 1.9-mile loop around my neighborhood.  Looking to train for a couple of 100 milers in the summer, it was time to run a marathon.

Originally I was going to run on the Lone Star Hiking Trail, but it was raining.  I went to Dennis Johnston Park to run on the Spring Creek Greenway.

The Race

It was cool, and only lightly rained off and on during the race.

On the spur of the moment, I decided to make it an out-and-back, running with 72-oz.  hydration pack full of Gatorade and one extra 24-oz. bottle.  

I ran 5 miles or so, then started hiking.  I kept up 16-minute miles, up until mile 18, when I ran out of Gatorade.  Hitting a low, my pace dipped to 20-minute miles.

With one mile left, I realized I could possibly make it under 7 hours.  I tried to run 3 times and couldn't do it.  Finally, I told myself I'm just going to run a quarter mile and was able to start running.  I stretched that to a half mile, then kept running to the finish.

Reflections

I was happy I could do 16-minute miles, even though this was on pavement.  I bonked with the lack of calories, but maybe this was good practice for lows in the next 100 miler.  I need to get a 100-oz. hydration bladder.

It always feels good to finish another marathon!

2021 Jackalope Jam Virtual 72hr - 101 Miles

The Background

Finishing the Snowdrop Ultra 55 Hour 100 miler was a breakthrough for me, and after some time off I followed it up with the Brontosaurus Virtual Marathon.

I had planned to do two more virtual marathons leading up to another 100 mile virtual run during spring break.  But work got stressful and tiring. I was weary.  I bailed on one marathon attempt.

Nevertheless, I did keep up a bare minimum of fitness, running the 1.9 mile loop around my neighborhood regularly.

I had told some people I was going to run 101 miles over Spring Break - not as a brag, but as a trick to motivate myself to actually finish.  This would be the Jackalope Jam 72hr Virtual Race.

I had chosen Government Canyon State Natural Area for the Hill Country terrain. It was a good choice because of the miles of trails and interesting features.  Driving up on Monday and camping, I was set to race on Tuesday.

Day 1

Day 1 was humid and overcast but not too hot.

Government Canyon has some relatively smooth trails in the Front Country, the 5-mile Lytle's Loop and the 2-mile Savannah Loop.  But even these had a lot of rocks.  I ran for 2 miles on these, then switched to hiking.

I wasn't really motivated...I was feeling some of that existential depression that leads me to run in the first place, and I felt like giving up. If I hadn't told people what I was running, I might have quit or switched to a shorter distance.  But I went on, hiking.

I headed to the Back Country, which has steep, rocky trails like Bandera.  First, I headed up Joe Johnston's Route, a three mile trail leading to dinosaur tracks.  One set of tracks was submerged, the other visible.  Amazing to see the footprints of dinosaurs from millions of years ago!

Less than a mile up the trail is the Zemelman House. Built in the 1880s, no one knows its purpose and it was never lived in.

Next I took the 2.5-mile Caroline's Loop and the the 1-mile Overlook Trail, which runs across a cliff overlooking the dinosaur tracks.

Then I headed down the 4.5-mile Sendero Balcones, an up-and-down, very rocky trail. By this point I was 18 miles in and hitting a low, my pace slowing to 20+ minute miles.  Again, I thought of dropping but pressed on.  

Reaching camp at 22 miles, I focused on the smoother, Front Country trails to make time in my low state.  I did two 5-mile loops on Lytle's, then went out on Savannah's to make it to 34 miles.

My Plan A was to treat this like a 36-hour hundred miler and push through with minimal breaks.  The way I felt, finishing 101 miles at all would be a victory. So, a third of the way through I stopped for the day.  

The showers next to my camp were under renovation so I washed off with a garden hose.  I drove to In-and-Out Burger and ate, then played scrabble online before sleeping.

Day 2

Day 2 was clear skies, getting slightly hot in the afternoon.

I started off on the Far Reaches trail, a 3-mile, long, uphill climb past a Sotol Overlook. 

Then I headed across the 1.5-mile Wildcat Canyon trail, then went to the Bluff Spurs, a short trail with a couple of canyon overlooks. I was feeling pretty good at this point.

I hit a low at around 46 miles in, and did the Savannah Loop, taking a couple of long breaks.

At mile 51, I hit another low by the Zemelman House, stopping on a bench to lie and rest. Reaching camp at 57 miles, I rested again, then did the Lytle's and Savannah loops to get to 67.5 miles.

This time I headed to Cane's for food. The night was very windy; the tent shook.

Day 3

Waking up on Day 3, two-thirds done, my spirits finally lifted. Even though I had blisters on both pinky toes, I could move.   I headed up Sendero Balcones, having fun rock hopping and mentally planning other races.  I headed back down Joe Johnston, reaching camp at 82 miles.  

Then I headed back up the Far Reaches.  I had debated doing Caroline's Loop again, but I was starting to get low.  I crossed over Little Windmill, then back over the long downhill of Twin Oaks.  Heading back down Joe Johnston, I reached camp at 95 miles.

Mile 95

5.7 miles left. I headed up the Far Reaches, then turned back around, hitting camp at 100.  I actually ran mile 99 as the sun set.

Mile 98

Using a trick I learned at virtuals, I hosed off and changed, burning up .25 miles moving around with my watch on. My feet were swollen, barely fitting into my regular shoes.

I headed down the park road, flashlight in hand, looking up at a crescent moon and the stars. Then at 101 miles I was done.  

101 Miles Done

I had used up all the time for my campsite, so I drove home, listening to the Beatles Revolver, Magical Mystery Tour, and Please Please Me, getting home at 1am.

Reflections

Six years trying to finish a 100 miler, then two done in three months.  Who would have thought?

I haven't really made any progress since Snowdrop.  In fact, I slept all night on night 2 as opposed to a quick nap, which led to a 60:32 finish instead of 47 hours at Snowdrop. 

But I got it done and didn't give up.

Using a hydration pack instead of bottles worked out.  I'll probably do it again.

This race reminded me of why I love racing in the Hill Country, rock hopping.  Good news is this was perfect practice for Cactus Rose with its 60 hour cutoff.  I basically did exactly what I need to do to finish that one on the same terrain.  I wasn't trying at all to my manage sleep.

I still want to do a 100 miler where I don't sleep all night, just short naps maybe, and run more to get in under 36 hours.  At Cactus? Who knows?

But I'm a 100 mile runner again.  It feels good.

Thanks to Rob Goyen and Trail Racing Over Texas for the race and  Terri and Cesar for the emotional support!

Results
 

Strava Part 1

Strava Part 2

Strava Part 3

2021 Brontosaurus Virtual Marathon

The Background

After finishing the Snowdrop Ultra with 100 miles, I felt really good.  I had accomplished my goal of 6 years.  And the race was not torture either; hard work, to be sure, but it was manageable.  

I took 6 weeks off and rested.  I finished up my conference at TCTELA - a huge weight off.

Then I made it a new goal to try for the J&J 101 miler during spring break.  Still not wanting to race live because of COVID-19, this would be another virtual to lead up to it, I planned 3 marathons: Brontosaurus, Stegosaurus, and Triceratops.  These were from a virtual running company and really cheap - helpful when planning a wedding.

But I was busy and did not run a step between Snowdrop and my first scheduled race, Brontosaurus.  I figured I'd be out of shape but not too much.  I hoped to run at least 6 miles and if necessary hike the rest.  Like the past couple few, the first race would be off the couch and designed to get me in shape.

The Race

I made it to W.G. Jones State Forest by 11:30 on Saturday.  I felt pretty good as I ran to 7.8 miles.  Then I started hiking and hiked the rest, making pretty good time at 16 or 17 minutes a mile.  My GPS malfunctioned a bit and did an extra .75 miles to make sure I'd done a marathon.  I finished just as the sun was setting.

Reflections

It felt good to be back to running.  I was pleased that I could powerhike sub 18 minute miles.  It wasn't torture to be out all day and I can use that for the 101 miler.

This was my 75th race marathon distance or longer. Also, it's been 10 years since my first marathon...with a marathon every year at least.

2020 Snowdrop Ultra 55 Hour Virtual Race - 100 Miles

The Background

This fall/winter season, I had run four virtual races: Release the Kraken 50k, Freddy Yeti 50k, Trivium Marathon, and  Possum King 50k.  

While in theory this should have gotten me in shape, and I did do 20 straight miles of running before hiking at Possum King, a month had passed.  I had gotten busy, tired from work, and I pulled out of a couple of virtual marathon opportunities.  I had finished the Turkey Trail Trot 13.1, which originally was to be a marathon, to get enough miles for the TROT Milestones 750 mile jacket.  With limited running in that month, I was less fit than I would have liked.

Big picture, over the past 6 years, I had DNFed at 100 mile goal races: 2015 Rocky Raccoon, 2018 Bear, 2019 Arkansas, 2019 Cactus Rose.  I had planned for a 100 miler during the spring/summer TROT virtuals and didn't do it.  At times, I thought the 100 mile distance was beyond me, despite 2 previous finishes.

But the dream of running a 100 mile race stayed with me.  Noticing in a Facebook comment the Snowdrop Ultra Virtual 55 Hour Race, I thought this might give me a better chance of success because of so much time.  

But the thought of completing 100 miles was still daunting.  

My neighborhood loop would be a recipe for mental disaster after running hundreds of miles on it this year.  Parks and trails around me close at dusk.  

So I decided to rent a cabin.  Scanning the Texas State Parks website, there was one available during the winter break at McKinney Falls State Park.  It had some cool features to check out: waterfalls on Onion Creek, a 19th century homestead, a 500-year-old tree.  There was a 3 mile paved bike trail around the cabin plus miles of natural surface trails on the other side of the falls.  I made a reservation for Sunday, December 20th, checking out on Wednesday December 23rd. The cabin had electricity, AC, a fridge, and a microwave.

Terri had to work, so I drove up solo.  Arriving, I checked out a bit of the trails so I'd know where I was going the next day.  

The falls were really cool.  I would have to leap over small sections to cross to the other side.

The Falls

   Ruins of a Mill

Horse Trainer's Cabin

The Race

I started off at 7:10 am Monday in the cold.  Running maybe 3 miles on the bike trails, up and down the moderate inclines, I quickly decided to start hiking.  Mentally not quite there and unsure of my fitness, I focused on knocking out 16 or 17 minute miles.  Throughout the rest of the race, it would be a little bit of running and a lot of hiking.

The short Picnic Trail connected the bike trail to a limestone beach.  Then I crossed the falls, loving the adventure of jumping across.  

Dawn on the Falls

On the other side, climbing a short trail, I found the Homestead. The home of Thomas McKinney, trader and co-founder of Galveston, the Homestead was built by slaves on McKinney's horse racing ranch in the 1850s.  Looking at it reminded me of the sad legacy of oppression in America.

The Homestead

Moving on, I found the trails muddy and my shoes were soon caked.  Nevertheless, I hiked all the trails on the other side of the falls, crossing back at about 13 miles.  Not wanting to be slowed down by the mud, I decided stick to the bike trails and the Homestead area.

I figured out a 5-mile-and-change loop: the cabin to the Picnic Trail, across the falls, up to the Homestead, the bike loop, and back to the cabin.   

The weather warmed to high 60s as I kept moving.

At 19 miles, I staggered, weak, dizzy, and sleepy.  Returning to the cabin, I ate and lied down, dozing a few minutes.  This repeated at 22 miles.  In the second rest, my watch beeped and somehow jumped ahead a half mile; I made sure to note the discrepancy so my distance would be accurate.

Heading out again, some music helped, in particular Crowded House's "Don't Dream It's Over" and Bob Marley's "Redemption Song."  

I got through the day and it was maybe 35 miles in as night fell.  

Sunset at the Homestead

Mentally shaky, cold setting in, I decided to break for the night at mile 40.  My A goal was to run the race continuously until I finished, but a combination of mental weakness and a desire to be conservative led me back to the cabin.  I showered, ate a delicious Buck-ees roast beef sandwich, and then slept till the morning. 

Now there were two ways it could go if I were to reach my goal of 100 miles.  I could repeat another 40 miles on Tuesday, then have enough time for 20 on Wednesday, or just knock out 60 and finish.  

60 miles left.  I had run 100k twice in 2020...I could do this.  

But the mental distance to 100 miles was still daunting.

Day 2 started off well with 16-or-17-minute miles.  At dawn, I found Old Baldy, the 500-year-old bald cypress that had lived the same time as Leonardo da Vinci.

Old Baldy at Dawn

At mile 50, I texted my friend Cesar.  He rooted for me for the rest of the race.

I moved well, then hit a mini-low at maybe 54 miles.  This time I did not lie down but sat at the cabin table and ate pepperoni, cheese, and crackers, drinking coke.  Repeated the low and the break at 59 miles.

I had told myself to save music until 100k, and beginning another loop at 64 miles, the songs brought me back to life.  

I reached 68 miles, the farthest I had run since 2014 Cactus Rose.

My son James called me at 71 miles as I hiked on the limestone beach towards the Picnic Trail; Paloma was in gymnastics practice.  James asked if I was running and I said I was hiking; only elites could run 100 miles straight.  James said if I could do 100 miles, I was pretty elite!   My kids rooting for me was a reason to finish.

Sunset on Day 2

I hit another low at maybe 76 miles as the sun set.  I staggered in the night to 80.  Having reached my minimum goal for Day 2, I set out for more.  Finding myself in bad shape, I switched to the shoulder of the park road, moving at 30 minutes a mile, my right knee suddenly inflamed.  I made it to 83 miles.

At the end of Day 1, I was perhaps a bit weak mentally, slept too long.  At 9:30 pm on Day 2, it turned out to be wise to rest.  I showered, ate, and slept a few minutes, my knee hurting.  Waking up at around 11:45pm, straight out of bed I walked down the road to see how my knee was.  

I could move. I changed back into to my running shorts and started out.

I did the bike loop, as I was worried about my knee hopping across the falls.  My knee ended up feeling fine, so at 86 or so miles, I decided to do the whole Homestead + bike loop.  This I calculated would take me to around mile 93.

The Homestead at mile 89

After moving pretty well through the loop, I was at 93 miles. Less than 7 to the finish. One more loop and then some change.  

Calculating the time, I could finish in under 48 hours.  This motivated me, as it would prove I could do 100 miles at future 48 hour races maybe.

Heading out at 20+ minutes a mile, it was mental work but I was not in a tortuous place either.  

  Mile 94.  Trying to capture the falls in the background.

After crossing the falls and seeing the Homestead one more time, I made it back to the bike loop at mile 95.  Turning on my MP3 player, I listened to Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" and some other songs, but my head couldn't really handle the music and I shut it off after a while.  But the music helped get back to the park road, back towards the cabin.

I calculated 1.9 more would take me to 100.1 miles.  .95 out, .95 back.  

It was the same as all the other races: grind it down; the time would pass.  I hiked down the park road, down the bike trail to the turnaround point.  99.15 miles.  Then I hiked back to the cabin.  

Because I recorded the distance in segments, I quickly added up the recordings.  I wasn't quite sure if it was all correct so I did .16 miles more to make sure.

Then I was done at 6:11 am Wednesday.  47:01 hours.  I had finished a 100 mile race.

Reflections

I had accomplished my dream of 6 years.  It was not a 100 mile race through the mountains or a traditional 30 hour 100 miler.  I didn't run it continuously like I had hoped.  But I didn't give up and found my way.  

I was grateful for my spiritual journey.  God guided me on the right path.  I was grateful for Terri, supporting me through so many races.

Paloma called me the next day; she said, "100 miles!  Really?" I was glad I had finished.

I learned a mini-sleep can recharge me.  I was proud that I kept going during Tuesday night after a short break.  Definitely later I was glad to be done before dawn and not having to go into a third day. 

Conversely, I could have done better on Day 1...I could have gone to 50 miles or taken a short break instead of all night.  

But overall this was great.  Over the years, I knew that if I did not reach my goal of 100 miles it would trouble me.  

And 2020 was a great year of running. To finish first on the TROT Spring/Summer Virtuals  Leaderboard and end with a 100 mile finish...what more could I ask for?   Running kept me going when my spirits were low amid COVID-19.

What for the future?  I have no idea at this point.  But I love running and look forward to more adventures.

Thanks to the Snowdrop Foundation for putting on the race and Terri, my kids, and Cesar for the support!

Results/Strava

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6