One year ago, Deb and I signed up for the Bandera 100K in Bandera, TX. We ended up not going because her son, Josh, was scheduled to leave for basic training for the Army on that same day. We had no idea what we missed until this year.

We had not thought much about going to Bandera this year because we have other plans this Summer that will use up all of our vacation time, but we did need to visit with Deb's family, who live in Fort Worth and Deb's brother Drew was running his first race over 50 miles and wanted us to come down, visit and then go run the race.

As a side note and before I get into the run itself, I thought I'd mention something that happened on the drive to Bandera. We had about a 5 hour drive south to Bandera from Fort Worth and on the way we listened to some local radio, which was the livestock auction and competition for school aged children. It was happening in Lampasas (sp) and as we were driving through Lampasas we decided it would be a good place to stop for lunch, so we (Deb, her brother Drew and his wife, Trisha and crew, Denise) stopped in this small restaurant in town that had a cafeteria style serving....as I was walking through with my tray, I watched to see what Deb ordered because I didn't recognize anything that they were offering. Deb is a born Texan and was thoroughly enjoying this food. I made the mistake of asking the woman serving what something was and after she looked at me suspiciously (I have a Boston accent), she said "You never had CATFISH before?" I said no and she just shook her head. I asked for some to please the locals and then asked Deb what else I should order, now that the cat(fish) was out of the bag. We had black eyed peas, collard greens, smoked brisket, some catfish and a big piece of home made lemon meringue (sp) pie. After a bit the woman came over to me and asked how I liked the catfish (which was deep fried, of course) and if I'd like some tartar sauce to go with it. I didn't dare say no.

The Bandera 100K (and 25k and 50K) is run in the Hill Country State Natural Area in Bandera, Texas, which is basically a large ranch that was donated to the state to be used as a state park. This area is all you would ever want for a trail run. It is just what you'd expect in Texas...dirt, rocks, dust, cactus, Sotol....as Joe says in his course description, everything in Texas (plants, critters and people) either bites, kicks, stings or scratches you. While running Bandera it seems that for we hill running ultrarunners, it should be no big deal...but all the hills that you are continually going up or down and sliding in the dirt or kicking the rocks, add up and before you know it, you are in the middle of the second loop thinking that you are running along the Short Mountain section of the Massannutten loop. Legs are aching, feet are sore and you still have 15 miles to go...in the dark! Oh yeah, Joe also said to beware of Cougar Canyon, which is aptly named and you will be going through in the dark on the second loop. I also almost forgot to mention the Texas Sotol...Joe dares runners to run without pants. These plants are similar looking to an Aloe plant only they have reverse barbs on the edges of the leaves so when you try and run through them, as your legs push the leaf away from you, they try and dig into you. What the purpose of this plant is I don't know, but it's hard to explain why everything in Texas wants to hurt you. All the bare legged runners had tiny droplets of blood all over their legs that soon had sweat running into them. Youch! You had no trouble staying on course, just follow the blood trail ;-)

Anyway the race began on a crisp 30 degree morning, but within a few hours it was already in the 60's and the sun reminded me of that sun you see in those cowboy movies where the guy is crawling through the desert in search of water. I felt like that guy several times.

Bandera has a perfect blend of just about everything you'd want in a trail race...just when you're about feeling like you need a change from running, there's a hill in your face. Joe states on his website that here in Texas we have no switchbacks, you go straight up and straight down the hills that look tame until you start going up them and the sun is beating down on you and the dust is filling your mouth and shoes, well you get the picture.

I was trying to run this as a training run, keeping my heart rate down in my aerobic zone, walking all of the hills, stopping to take pictures and I felt very relaxed most of the day! I even had some 25K and 50K runners go by me saying that they knew I was running the 100K by my relaxed stride. I felt very much within myself, enjoying every aspect of the run. I love the west and westerns, so it was really interesting and enjoyable to see all the old, abandoned structures left over from the bygone days of the old west.

Soon I was at the S/F area to refill my Camelback with my liquid fuel and head on out onto the 2nd loop. It was 2 pm and the sun was high in the sky, but I felt incredibly good and eager to get back on the course. Nancy Halpin (Hardrock friend from NM) had been with me off and on and she came in right behind me, and caught me as I walked up a steep hill. We stopped and goofed around taking some pictures...what a way to spend a day with your friends! We walked and jogged together during the hottest part of the day talking about life, and one thing I kept reminding her was that she was within reach of 5th place woman and could get some hardware. We soon reached an aid station which I just went in and out like I did all day...Nancy stopped to have her crew help her and soon recaught me, passing me, saying something about going after 5th place.

So for the rest of the day and night, I was alone, which is what I prefer sometimes and soon the sun set and I took several pictures of the beautiful and very different from the East coast sunset. Next up was the long run around the prairie to get to the Crossroads aid station, mile 47 and I see Deb up ahead. She had run into some trouble early on and stopped at the 50K and was out to help me and the other runners get through the night. She filled my Camelback with some more fuel, handed me my flashlight, took the camera and off I went into the Texas night. It was starting to get tough now with my legs aching and feet starting to hurt from all the rocks, but the night was beautiful...and cold! I really enjoyed walking along and listening to the coyotes in the distance, but the cold was getting to me...It really cools down fast out there in the hills, so I stopped and put my second shirt on. After this was just run/walk my way through the final 15 miles. I was having trouble drinking the fuel after doing so for 10 hours and was just surviving on the soup I was getting at the aid stations, which I'm well used to doing in most of my ultras. Passing one last runner who was cramping, I took one last look out over the lookout before heading down the final, long hill back to the finish. I was ready to be done...

Bandera was a very unique event, at least for me, and I will return next year. Joe and Joyce Prusaitis do a great job with the complete package. From the pre-race meal the night before to the wonderfully stocked aid stations during the run (where else can you get brisket during an ultra, only in Texas) and the post race meal and awards the next morning. I rank Bandera up there with all of my favorites and I highly recommend it as a great winter get away. The town of Bandera bills themselves as the "Cowboy Capitol of the World" and I don't doubt it. Take a walk around town and you get the feel of the old west with the storefronts and the local residents walking around with Cowboy hats, boots and Spurs (I didn't see any holsters and six shooters).

Here are a couple of links to the pictures Deb and I took during the run, but we also made a CD with Music that you have got to see to get the real feel for the Bandera experience! Link1 Link2

Steve Pero
Jaffrey, NH.