Turning To Go Back Out

Like many other ultra trail runners, I do not think about the entire distance I am undertaking at the starting line of a long trail race; that is just too overwhelming. I mostly focus on the immediate stretch to the next aid station in front of me. That way, whether I am running a 25K or, in this case, my first 100K; it just seems like a bunch of 5 milers strung together throughout a fun-filled day (and possibly night). But, there is one aspect that I think is key to looped courses... the mental game of turning to go back out on the course at the half-way point. Such was the case for me at Bandera a week ago. I covered the longest distance in my life on foot in a single day that Saturday, and got my first belt buckle. :-)

I find my race reports getting shorter as I return to courses; not because I am any less motivated for the event or satisfied by accomplishments. I am more inspired to write about other interesting aspects of the race rather than repeat a detailed account of periodic miles (especially if I have written that kind of report once before for a course).

Bandera will always be special to me, as I'm sure the first one is to just about everyone. It is where I ran my first ultra trail race / 50K two years ago. For those interested, I wrote a long-winded, 3 part series about my journey there.

Bandera 50K Journey part 1... http://youareconfused.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-journey-to-texas-ultra-trail-run.html
Bandera 50K Journey part 2... http://youareconfused.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-journey-to-texas-ultra-trail-run_10.html?utm_source=BP_recent
Bandera 50K Journey part 3... http://youareconfused.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-journey-to-texas-ultra-trail-run_16.html

It seems to me like that was a life-time ago. So much has happened, I pinch myself wondering if I've been dreaming.

Friends Make Miles Evaporate

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not one of those individuals who runs but, deep down, hates to run. I love running, I love being outside, I love both beautiful and ugly courses, I think it's all good. I don't resent the miles and wish they weren't there. But, in a race, a "let's get this done!" obsession seems to slowly take over the mind (which may be the reason why some long training runs are more satisfying). But, running with a friend helps the miles slip under the radar of the psyche, and keeps this obsession at bay. And don't get me wrong, I don't literally recommend running an entire race alongside a friend; I've learned from other experienced runners that everyone should be free to run at their own pace, have their own ups and downs at their own times, etc. Nor do I consider myself constantly chatty either. But, in a big trail race like Bandera, it's almost guaranteed that you will catch or be caught by an old or new friend, for a little or maybe even a long while. I had a blast that beautiful morning joking around with the 25K crowd, seeing friends like Shannon Mitchell and JoAnna Brand, and pretending, for a short while, to be faster than friends like John Kuss, Heimi, Scott Smith, etc. It was a pleasure starting the first 50K loop and being dropped by my now old friend, Brian Kuhn, who helped get me through Cactus Rose 50 Mile past October (can you believe he ran a 72 hour race the weekend before?!). It was a pleasure to be caught by my fellow Tejas Trails trainee Sam Placette and discuss random subjects like how most of the power transmitted across a power line actually travels in a magnetic field outside of the actual metallic cable, and how Nikola Tesla is still ahead of our time, etc. (I'll give fellow Bandera runners one guess what part of the course we were on while discussing this topic); those 15 miles evaporated. My friend Ben Phenix chatted with me for a few while he was tearing through his 50K. I got all sentimental yo-yo'ing with my mentor Diana Heynen through Chapas and X-Roads on the 2nd loop; she is an angel who helped me get started trail running. And I especially want to thank my new friend, Kevin Paladino (Note: Kevin won the 2011 Run Like The Wind 6 hour timed run), for pushing through most of those last 15 miles of the 2nd loop at night with me, when both of our running muscles were shot. There is something about mutually suffering through these endeavors that bonds us trail runners.

Always Be Ready To Adapt To The Weather

As usual, the weather played a critical role in many Bandera competitors' race this year. And, unsurprisingly, on the opposite end of the thermometer. The day got surprisingly warm (not unlike 2011 Wild Hare). Many 50K'ers and runners trying to go fast had cramping issues. I did not. Possibly because I was not pushing it; mainly focusing on conserving, surviving, and finishing. But, I consumed a ton of salt in the afternoon, and the beginning of the second loop.

Getting The Hell Out of The Lodge

Joe P. told me there was one main strategy for my 100K race; "...to get the hell out of The Lodge." Basically, that is where he sees most 100K'ers drop on that course. It's easy; you're half-way done, you can drop down to 50K, your car is right there, there's a big party of 50K finishers going on, burgers on the grill, etc., etc. "You need to get your shit and get out of there!" So, I had been thinking about this the whole first loop. Friends would later tell me how good I looked half-way, and was in and out. But, the way I had programmed my brain, if I had come into The Lodge with a severed leg dangling by a piece of skin, I probably would have smiled, claimed "no issues!," and crawled out of there. :-) This mental game of stacking the odds in favor of "Turning To Go Back Out" at the half-way point in a looped course works well, in my opinion. It seals that commitment of getting started on the 2nd half, and you ultimately start thinking about "how much less there is to go" as opposed to "how much further you still have to go." Never-the-less, it was awesome seeing friends like Emily Howell, Lisa, Manny Gonzales, Mike Sawyer, and the elite 50K runners rooting for me as I headed back out. My Tejas friend and asst. coach John Kuss wasn't feeling great at The Lodge, he almost considered dropping. I think seeing myself and Diana Heyen go back out inspired him; he ended up smoking the 2nd loop and having an excellent performance.

The 100K Loop Ends Sadistically

Ending the 100K loop with the hills of Lucky's, (then Last Chance aid station), Cairne's, and Boyle's did not seem to be that big of a deal to me... on the first loop! Of course, at the end of loop 1, I had conserved energy for beginning the 2nd half, and was primarily focused on "Getting The Hell Out of The Lodge" after Boyle's (see above). I remember Scott, Olga, and Roger telling me at the first Last Chance aid station pass that I was looking good, Roger making some sort of crazy-talk prediction like a 15 hour finish ;-), and Olga pre-scolding me not to walk too much (she's so prescient).

But, finishing the 2nd loop with this hill layout was particularly tortuous; especially for those who have run Cactus Rose, which ends its loop after Lucky's. Granted, Getting over the Three Sisters on the 2nd Loop took more energy out of me than I expected. My friend Dave Silvestro said it showed on my face the last time through X-Roads AS on the way to Lucky's. But, in my head, I couldn't forget the wishful thinking that "gee, at Cactus, I'd be done now" at Last Chance. And, so, the brain jumps to a cruel lie of a conclusion; "You're at Last Chance, this is in the bag! Just a short little romp over Cairne's and Boyle's and you're in!" While it may be true that finishing the 100K is inevitable at this point, getting over Cairne's and Boyle's after 55 miles, at night, is the furthest thing from "short." "Short" little Cairne's becomes as long as Boyle's, and Boyle's goes on for frickin' EVER! It's three false tops morph into fifteen. When I started the descent down to Boyle's cabin, I thought it was a lie, and would not have been surprised at all if it started going up again. This must be a taste of what Cactus Rose 100 milers go through.

Always Ways To Improve

It was quiet and peaceful finishing under the beautiful full moon at ~ 12:30 PM. I'll take around 17 hours for my first time. Of course I immediately know how I could have improved, but, it's a new distance for me. I tend to eat well in the first half of these ultra distances, and slowly start to neglect it as I get into "rush mode" in the later miles. I try to make up for the lack of eating at the aid stations, when I really should be eating more between aid stations.

Having a post-finish beer under The Lodge heater with Joe Prusaitis, Diana and Rob't Heynen, Brian Kuhn, Justin and Tania Lincoln, Brenda Baker, and other friends was about as perfect a finish for me as 1000 person cheering crowd. It's amazing how fast the core body temperature drops, and that long walk to my van and waiting to get its heater warmed up turns into another endurance test of the day / night. I heard my good friends Shannon Mitchell and Jeffrey Linwood finished their first 100Ks later that night.

It's all just a dream now. But, sometimes I rub my 100K belt buckle just to remind myself that it really happened. :-)

P.S.
As usual, many thanks to Joe and Joyce Prusaitis, Henry Hobbs, and all of the volunteers that make this race awesome!
The new peepers worked great!
The NB 110s from Chuck Duvall at Rogue Equip. worked great!