So we are all stood there, chatting, and edging for a little more space around the hot air blower at the far end of the big tent, trying to get at least little warmed up. The temperature is around 30 degrees, which for Texans and Texan transplants is just too darn cold. Suddenly we here a buzzer and everyone around us is scampering out of the tent, grabbing bottles, hustling out of those last extra layers and searching for last minute needs. This has to go down as the “Most Low Key” race start in all history. I bet a video of it would be hilarious.
So here we are, all mixed up heading down the trail, heck I was in front of Barbara Hitzfeld and Amanda Macintosh [for the first 400m’s]. Lots of passing and being passed and before we knew it onto the first rough climb, more attempts at passing as the trail gets narrower and narrower and folks slow up a lot. And the Rocks [they deserve upper case, they are an entity worth of it!] certainly surprised a few people. But it was short climb and well worth it, as we crested the shoulder and climbed to the little scenic loop the sun was just peering up at us and promising to thaw out our bones.
At the briefing Joe had said “and then you drop off the side of the hill” I knew this bit of trail and he wasn’t kidding, steep and really Rocky and rough. The field was spreading out by now as we were finding our ‘places’ and altho I was finding it hard to settle into a rythmn I remembered when I had trained out here how I found this section difficult to relax into, so I just reminded myself to be patient and kept on toward Ice Cream Hill. The climb up the back of the hill is probably the longest climb of the course, we could see people heading up it as we got nearer, but once on it the climb wasn’t too bad and not as Rocky as other sections. Around the back of Ice Cream Hill was more runable and our first brushing with the loverly sotol cactus, I was glad for my tights as I heard people getting scratched up where it grew right across the trail.
Soon into Nachos Aid Station, friendly faces, food and music, fantastic but no lingering. The next section I hadn’t been over b4 so was looking forward to them, a little flatter and easier than some of the other sections. We dipped in and out of a creek bed several times, I stopped to help one lad who had dipped in a little too enthusiastically and had fallen and got a cut under his eyebrow. Lots of blood, so I gave him some duct tape and helped the guy [a Dr?] who was taping him up, we made sure he was ok to carry on [he could see in all directions and was mentally orientated] and left him to carry on the 25k with his friend. A long grassy dirt road called the Roman Road by the locals gave a respite as it was a gentle enuf climb to walk, but a little too much to run [unless you are a real stud!] and then in to Paul Stone’s Aid Station at Chapas.
More of the same sort of terrain followed, easier, rolling and only minor Rocks, but I was trying to pay more attention as I knew this would be were the light would be fading next time around. I had hooked up with a friend from Houston, by then, so Rebecca and I had fun on this, she runs faster than me and I walk faster than her, especially on the hills, so we pushed each other on and chatted lots. The run “around a field” that Joe had told us about was indeed long [and boring] but brought us into Crossroads Aid station, more food, music and friends and a chance to hear how others were doing as they did their loop back to here before heading onward.
The weather was warming up now [early lunch time I think] but I decided to keep my tights on as I wanted them for the nite and didn’t want to drop them somewhere and not have them in the right place for later [note to Santa..] and I was definitely glad of the leg protection as I knew this section, the Inner Loop, had a lot more cactus across the trail. Coming over the Three Sisters was fun, great views, a few photo stops, and trying to spot runners on other sections of the trail. We were still making good time and having a lot of fun. Back at Crossroads we stocked up well as I knew the next section was tough, but I was really looking forward to the last bit along the ridge that has such great views. I don’t think Rebecca was quite so convinced, but we made good time, managed the rough climbs and descents, spotted a lot of blood on the trail on one of them, Rebecca wondered if it was human or animal, but I declined to taste test as it was against my vegetarian principles!
Last Chance Aid station provided more great food and then off and UP. Joe was there singing the praises f the next climb, Rebecca went a little quiet at that, but we were soon up it and heading along the bit of ‘trail’ Joe had built. It was actually a lot better than it had been a few months ago, more worn in and easier to follow which was a relief as it would be dark on the next passing. We were soon on the ridge I had been extolling and praising for ages [poor Rebecca!] and the views were again stunning. I managed to spot a few people below running the Inner Loop and then it was that fantastic descent. I couldn’t resist letting go and did a full ‘airplane’ racing down arms out and laughing hysterically. Rebecca was a little more reserved, but she caught me in the start finish transition. We were half way and I was right on my predicted time of 7 hours. I spent a few minutes sorting and restocking and catching up on how friends were doing on their runs. It is so great to see familiar faces at the aid stations. Thank you everyone.
Rebecca was a little quiet heading out again, but we were soon joined by a friend of hers, Shan, who was being paced by Mariella so passed some time with them until they went surging off ahead. Rebecca had dropped back a little on some of the descents, her flatlander origins were showing now! But she caught me as I stopped for a spot of foot taping and we carried on to Nachos together. I had left a lite here just incase I was behind time, but decided not to get it, ate some brownies and carried on. Passing the spot where that young lad had fallen and cut his eye I saw blood on the rock, if he had fallen just 10cm to the right he would likely have lost his eye! [I heard later the race Dr had wanted to pull him at an Aid Station, but he was determined to finish, which he did, covered in blood!] The Roman Road and trails leading to Chapas seemed a lot longer this time, temps were beginning to drop and I was on my own. I was very happy to see a young boy calling runners numbers into the aid station. I sorted out my stuff, collected my camelback, lights and some more clothes and had the best bowl of spaghetti ever. Thanks Paul! The light was fading so I pushed on, trying to get as much as I could in daylite, but soon it was time to get the lites out. I was using a new headlite [I had tried it out a little] but was keen to see how it would work.
At this point I will have to pause and sing the praises of my Petzle Myo 5, it was fantastic, comfortable [as any head torch and I have tried a few] totally stable, very good lite on the led setting and superb with the halogen. I loved it.
Anyway, around that long field and into Crossroads for the first time. Unfortunately I was sent the wrong way out of it and was rather shocked to meet Barbara Hitzfeld again and rather expressed it when I asked her why she was this far back in the field. We realized I had gone the wrong way so I had about ½mile to go back to Crossroads and get on the right course this time. I was mad, but accepted it as a few bonus miles, tried to put it behind me. The Inner Loop was fine, altho the glow sticks were a little sparse in places. I hardly saw any runners and was VERY glad I was familiar with the course. My camelback and jacket were making occasional crinkly noises, which freaked me a little.
I took a moment out here, in the middle of nowhere, to stop and look to the stars, it was a totally clear nite, and very impressive. My brother’s friends ‘dedicated’ a star for his stillborn daughter and it was comforting to know that Annabelle was there somewhere watching down on me.
Back at Crossroads I grabbed a spare shirt as I was worried how cold it might get on the last climbs and also found someone who wanted to stretch his legs. It was nice to have some company, altho Steve’s hastily borrowed flashlite didn’t work, so he only stayed with me a few miles till Last Chance. I don’t know how he managed it over the rough ground, I tried to shine my flashlite down for him and my headlite forward, but he still stumbled a few times.
The last section. At last, I was ready to be getting done! Somehow the rough climbs didn’t seem as bad in the dark, perhaps because I couldn’t see as many of the Rocks. But they had one last laugh. I was running along Joe ’s new section of trail, hopping from large Rock to large Rock. I stepped on the far side of one Rock that proved to be unstable and lifted it’s back end to meet my other foot as it was coming forward. Somehow I didn’t make a full face plant, but that was more excitement than I needed on a cold lonely nite so I was a little more cautious. Up on the last ridge I took a minute to look at the lights of Nachos way off in the distance and a few bobbing lites of people in the Inner Loop, and then pushed on. I stayed focused and really enjoyed the last few miles, not just because they were the last miles. I even played on the descent into the finish again, did I say I loved my headlite ?!
I was really happy to finish, 15hr20min, it had been a great race, beautiful day, fantastic trails, despite the Rocks and I had felt good the whole time. Some of my friends were still up so we spent a few minutes visiting before retiring to our tents and hotels for very uncomfortable and restless nites!
The next morning Joe put on a superb breakfast and awards. We all got to catch up and share stories before taking our weary and beaten up bodies home.
A huge thank you to Joe and all of his team. The Aid Stations were all great, well stocked, friendly and fantastically helpful. The course was all you promised and then some. Thank you too to all my friends I saw around the course, all so encouraging and helpful. I had a fantastic time, and before anybody asks, this race has totally validated my post Arkansas Traveler feelings! I felt good and strong, had a blast and then got to “sleep” in a bed and not do the 20mile death march!
Sarah