So my blog is titled 'Sights from the Middle' because I typically run and finish somewhere in the middle of a trail race. There are, of course, extremes and I've even won my age group in a 25k and 50k race before (and there were even more than 5 in my age group). However, after the Bandera 50k I might just need to change the title of my blog to 'Sights from the Middle - Unless it's Bandera'!

Pre-Race

My goal race is next month's Rocky Raccoon 50 mile. As a 40 year old new runner I needed plenty of training to get there. 2011 saw me run 2 Marathons, all three Capt'n Karl's 30k Night races and two 50k Trail races. In the 55 days prior to Bandera I ran the San Antonio Marathon and the Escape from Huntsville 50k. I finished that 50k (with a PR to boot) ready to keep running! I wasn't sore and felt like I could have given more of myself in the race.

So...I was feeling REALLY confident about this race!

Once more my wonderful family gave up their weekend to camp with me at a race site. This race was a bit more exciting as our daughter was still home from college for the winter break and could go with us. My brother-n-law, Joey, was also joining us and was running his very first 25k Trail race.

We arrived Friday night and decided to setup camp away from the masses as we had our 2 large dogs and the puppy one would bark with all the excitement. We found a nice, empty campsite just near the Ranger Headquarters and got all setup. After the requisite s 'mores we turned in ready for the next day.

Race

Got up at 5am to eat our camp breakfast staple of Bagels and Lox. Yummy! It was chilly but a good cup of Starbuck's VIA made all the difference. Joey and I headed to the race (a couple of miles up the road) and get checked in with time to chat with some other runners. My brother-n-law seems to know everyone even though it was his 1st Trail race!

The three race distances started at different locations and we wished each other well and headed to our start areas.

I ran the 25k last year and knew that some of those hills would be tough so I decided to start toward the back. I usually start conservatively and then keep a running tally in my head of the number of runners I pass in the 2nd half of any race. I usually pass quite a bit and find I have the right amount of energy for the final push. Haha - that was BEFORE I ran the Bandera 50k!

Started off and was having a great time. It was chilly out and I was loving it. Made it over Cairn's Climb and Boyle's Bump with no real issues. Filled up my Nathan vest at Boyles and the very nice aid station volunteer told me I was doing a good job with the amount of water I was drinking which was actually very encouraging to hear as I usually do NOT drink enough and end up bonking, dehydrated etc. I've run 50k races where I never once stopped to pee and I know that's not good so my goal this time was to watch the hydration especially close.

My legs felt good and I was having fun. Got over Sky Island and was starting to get worn out. Decided to up my GU and Electrolyte caplets to counter the bonk feeling. Going up Ice Cream Hill, while beautiful, did me in. A male runner behind me just before the top of the hill asked if I saw the Ice Cream. I was disappointed that I did not! I took some pictures and let him pass me. Then I tucked in behind him as he was charging forward looking strong. I must have stayed behind him for a good 10 miles just pacing myself off of him. Thank you runner whose name I don't know but who saved my race!

I was really starting to slow past Nachos when the 'runner-who-saved-my-race' yelled back to me that the 1st 10 miles was the worse and it just got better from there. Shortly after that I saw the power lines that indicated I would be coming around the corner and see my campground! I was very excited and could really use the motivation at this point. I was listening keenly for my barking dogs but didn't hear them. Came around the bend and....they were gone! I mean - totally gone - like they never existed! 3 tents, 6 chairs, a cot, dogs etc. - all gone! In thier place were horses! I knew something must have happened and they had to move the camp but it was a total letdown to not see them. I spent many miles coming up with possible explanations such as 'abducted by aliens' to 'haha - let's play a joke on mom and go to the movies' . That entertained me for a bit and I was looking forward to the explanation. Turns out we pitched our camp in the Equestrian Overflow and my husand and 13 year old son moved the entire camp by themselves while the rest of the family stayed at the aid station.

After the letdown of not seeing the camp I looked ahead and my 'runner-who-saved-my-race' was almost out of view. This was a low point for me and if I couldn't keep him in sight I didn't know if I could finish. Those 4 successive hills had taken their toll on my legs and I was tired! I caught up with him and tucked in behind him again.

Made it to the Chapas Station and realized that I had made a MAJOR mistake. Chapas was the halfway point (not Crossroads where my bag was) - I had no drop bag, no adoring family to meet me and NO SUPPLIES! I also had no idea where Crossroads was at this point. I decided to turn on music and try to get myself in a better spot because with or without my drop bag I still had to finish the race. I flew through the aid station expecting Crossroads to be just a mile or two ahead. This was a very runnable section and I had music so my spirits lifted greatly until I arrived at....THE FIELD.

To me this was the cruelest part of the race. Remember, I had no supplies and I had told my family I'd see them at the halfway at Crossroads. It is now a few hours past that and I am worried that the husband/kids/dogs are worried (no cell reception for texting). I see the aid station...it is just across the road...YAY....and THEN the trail turns AWAY from the station and navigates around THE FIELD for another mile or two. As if that wasn't demoralizing enough, it is now 70 degrees and there is no shade. So, I ended up walking most of this runnable section.

I make it into crossroads - as I expected my family isn't there as they've gone onto the finish to watch my brother-n-law finish. I'm sad about this but then I realize that I'm at 22 miles which means I'm ALMOST DONE!

I get a burst of energy, I have supplies again and I have music! I end up passing my 'runner-who-saved-my-race' at the aid station and heading out. This was the best part of the course for me with my renewed energy. I've learned that if I sing really loud and scare the snakes and lizards and coyotes that I run better! Had a blast on Three Sisters and took lots of pictures of the crazy Cactus in the final sections of the race.

At this point I am really feeling good but getting really tired. The highlight of the race was at mile 25 when I got lapped by Timothy Olson (winner). He was 6 miles'ish from finishing his 2nd lap. I was making my way up #6 Trail when he RAN by me. It was pretty exciting. I then had fun counting out the next 5 or so elite males who passed me before I finished.

I'm still feeling good but getting even more tired. My legs hurt in ways and places that surprised me. I got to Lucky Peak and literally just wanted to sit down. At this point there really is no one around at all. I'm by myself, I'm tired, I hurt and I just want to be done. I know I'm going slow and I don't care. I would take a step and wobble backward and kept telling myself 'forward - slow is fine just don't stop - keep going forward'. At some point an elite power hiked passed me and said something very encouraging to me such as 'slow and steady is the way to do It - looking good'. That was very nice of him and gave me a boost to get over the top. Of course once over the top I kept looking for the sled I could sit on to take me down! That was one steep descent with no footing!! When I did the 25k there were so many people around that everyone seemed to just hang on to each other - this time I had no one to hang on to!

The rest of the course was downhill but my quads were shot and I was pretty much done in. I would use my Garmin to 'just run .15 of a mile and then walk'. Then I would walk and trick myself to run another .15 of a mile.

I came around a bend to the last aid station and saw my amazing family and brother-n-law at the aid station! What a boost!! Of course - I just started crying. I still had .5 miles to go but my family did it with me and I didn't care anymore about running so I just walked in with a smile.

As I was walking that last .5 mile in, the 'runner-who-saved-my-race' ran past me and I yelled at him that he forgot to warn me about that last hill! He was still looking strong!

One of the first things I said to my husband was that with the exception of my youngest sons birth (my children were born at home unmedicated for comparison) this race was the hardest physical thing I had done!

Post Race

I have run marathons, I have run 50k's. I have run injured and with not enough training. But I have NEVER hurt as bad as I did after this race!!

I cannot wait until next year!! I have a date next January to show Ice Cream Hill and Lucky Peak that they didn't beat me!!

NOTE: A cool part of the race for my kids and husband was when an old college friend (Ryan Martin, CO) ran thruogh the campsite and introduced himself to the family. One of my son's was fascinated that he never stopped running in place! That's why he's my 100 mile running inspiration!! He ran through while they were still camped at that site which means he was SUPER fast! My husband (who shares an affinity for good brew) is planning on having some on hand for him for the next race we're both at!