2012

Thanks for a great race yesterday but special thanks for the support as my son completed his first 1 mile trail race! He was so proud, as of course am I!
Karly Simmons

Only one snake encounter, no poison ivy yet..life is good! Great job everyone and a big thanks to all the volunteers! Enjoyed the time running with Kelsey and Chad.
Marty Regan

Enjoyed my second 50K at HH. And for the record, I did not see any poison ivy - only a snake on the trail.
Ed Swarthout

Hells Hills was my first Tejas Trail event (and first 50K), it was certainly worth all the hard training I put into for the race. I'm hooked and looking forward to future events (still trying to talk myself into Pandora's Box of Rox, got to see how my legs feel a week from now). I felt like doing a write-up of my experience there; I would describe myself as an aspiring middle of the pack
Dat Le

Finished my 238th marathon / ultra Hell's Hills 50 miler last Saturday. It was a challenging day specially since I tripped and broke a couple of toes. I also lost the car key and was at the ranch feeding the mosquitoes until midnight! I don't know which one is worse broken toes or mosquitoes bites:) I managed to finish in 11:36, 11th overall female out of 25 and 52 overall out of 101 finisher! There was 78% fishers which is not too bad for Joe's races:)
Parvaneh Moayedi

Thank you so much Joe & crew for such a fantastic time at Hell's Hills this year! We enjoyed meeting you Joe & your wife and your crew. It was my 1st Tejas Trails race, 1st Ultra, and the most enjoyable race to date! The course was gorgeous and the volunteers were exceptional! Thank you to all!!! Our boys had a great time too and are looking forward to the next Tejas Trails race!
Bryce Chatland

My family & I had a great time! Thank you Joe and the rest of the crew for making our weekend and racing wonderful! Can't wait to do it again next year!
Bryce Chatland

I had a great time stretching and adjusting the runners at HH yesterday! Thanks to all of you who stopped by and supported Clear Point Wellness. I hope to meet more of y'all at the next run. Great job runners!
Amanda Gibson

Our group from Life Time Fitness Cinco Ranch in Katy, TX came out and conquered Hells Hills this weekend! Four of us did the 10K (my son placed 2nd overall), two of us did the 50K and my husband did his first ever 50-miler! Thanks for the memories! We'll be back!
Mandy Mooneyham-Kleinman

Thanks Joe & Joyce and your trusty sidekicks Henry (Mr Misty) and Crash the Popsicle Meister. Also Bob, Sharpie, and all volunteers. Thanks for letting us enjoy our day on the trail!
Fred Thompson

Thanks again Joe
Hor Hey

Thanks Joe! Awesome event! The wife and I are already looking towards the next couple coming up!
Billy Spring

Thanks. I'm takeing a Lot of Great thinks with me back to Europa! Great Event!!!
Barbar von Pliesznig

Thanks Joe Prusaitis. Was a great first trail race.
Robert Macaulay

Hmmm.... so I guess the chip does not mean chip timed? Still running off the clock time? We started late.... ok, no farting around at the start next time :) Of course the stopping for pictures and leisurely rest stops had no impact... :)
Suzanne Vegas Yashewski

My family & I had a great time! Thank you Joe and the rest of the crew for making our weekend and racing wonderful! Can't wait to do it again next year!
Bryce Chatland

Loved my second 50K in Smithville. Incredible sights...already missing it..
Rebecca Yzquierdo

by any chance, did anyone take photos along the course of the Hells Hills race? there were several really amazing views that i can't get out of my mind. hoping to see some great pics:)
Edgardo Gonzalez

I just want to thank everyone who helped make Hells Hills such an amazing event. It was my first ever ultramarathon and trail run and I couldn't have done it with a better group of people. From the organizers, to the aid station volunteers, to the other racers, to my crew from the RGV...I could not have finished all 50 miles without you guys! See you at the next run!
Marcos Oliva

Joe, next time I will listen better and go with the 50k. Thanks for the post run beer, and a great (although, hotter than Hell) race! Shout out to the aid stations volunteers who were absolutely awesome, and who thankfully had a stock of papaya pills on hand!!
Reece Catron

Joe, by lap 3, I wasn't sure if I wanted to hug you or choke you!
Devon Kiernan

Thank you to all the volunteers at HH you guys are awesome but I would like to especially thank Steven Monte, John Sharp for giving me the boost I needed for my last 10m and Jorge Guevara at the finish!
Elizabeth Gonzalez

Thanks so much to everyone out there supporting!!! What a beautiful course and day (albeit hot). Can't wait for the next one!
Josh Geisinger

Hells hills was awesome. Loved the course and the aid stations, but glad I was signed up for the 50k and not the 50 mile! Thanks so much to all who were involved.
Jennifer Halabrin Kimble

Finished my race report of yesterday's race. Hells Hills was my trail racing anniversary! Thanks, Joe and Joyce, for a great event again!
Libby Hallas Jones

Great race!! Had so much fun seeing everyone again! Great race organization and wonderful volunteers as usual!
Paula Ring-Stephens

Thank you for hosting a wonderful race. The weather was as hot as hell this afternoon but I was glad it wasn't humid! I had a hard fall Lol. All is good. So glad Eric and I made it and I was so happy we introduced our very good friend Cynthia to tejas trails's HH race. She made her first 25k!
Meli Emmons

Manny Gonzales, yes the trail was very very brutal!!! I had to brisk walk for the last 2.5 miles because of my knees and hip. I want to thank Eric Emmons and Meli Emmons for introducing me to trail running. I really love it!! Definitely will sign up again. Also, i want to thank to the organizer and all of the volunteers for everything. Amazing race! Thumbs up!!
Cynthia Louise

Thanks for a great race. The aid stations were awesome!
Aaron Douglas Millhench

Thanks to Joe, the volunteers, and Rocky Hill Ranch for a great race yesterday! Great course and even better people.
Jamie Koon

Huge thanks to all of the volunteers at Hells Hills yesterday, but especially to John at the first manned aid station on the last lap. He refused to let me drop out of the 50 miler so close to the end, and thanks to his concoction of Coke and jelly beans, I even managed to jog most of the way home (well, except for those inclines).
Brad Batig

Thank you Joe, Joyce, and all of the volunteers for a challenging, but incredibly satisfying, race yesterday!
Kimberly A. McQuire

Thanks to the fabulous host and hostess and many volunteers yesterday. Loved the spirit and humor of all I encountered. Fun race. Will be back!
Arlene Schneider

Thank you Joe & Joyce for setting up a great race event, Hell wouldn't be Hell without the heat, and Hills, what hills? See ya' at the next one, Pandora's Box of Rox.
Tina Orndorff

OH my gosh!!! and the VOLUNTEERS that were out there supporting the aid stations, thank you sooooooo much, you guys/gals were soooo very helpful.
Tina Orndorff

Thanks to Joe/Joyce, Tejas Trails and all volunteers! Great race:). So good to see Trail friends and meet new ones!
Brenda Baker

Thank you Joe & Joyce for putting on another great race! Also, special thanks to John Sharp, Henry Hobbs, & Mark Crash Triprock Johnson for running great aid stations out there! I loved the car wash & popsicle - great cooling combination! Thank you to all of the volunteers as well!
Thomas Bowling

Thanks for my Bruise Joe and Joyce! hahahaha! No it was a great race with awesome volunteers! thanks
Stacy Kincy

Thanks Joe/Joyce...Carter and I had a great time! See you at Pandora!
John Reed

Thanks for the HH 50k Joe, I only fell once!
Marvin Jacob Puente

Thank you Joe, and all the volunteers for making my husband and I's first trail run awesome! What's a 50k without a little injur
Tracy Spring

Great race today Joe and Joyce!
January Cummings

Awesome race today Joe and Joyce. Many thanks to the volunteers and the awesome aid stations. Yes Joe, I am addicted to all your races. See yall at Pandoras Box of Rox.
Manny Gonzales

Great Race! Thanks;-)))
Barbar von Pliesznig

Awesome race today
Sunshine Pham

Finished the HH 10k. It was GREAT! Can't wait to do another trail run now....maybe a 25k...
Shelly Dean Lowery

Hell's Hills trail race done! Great job to Leah Fisher Nyfeler, thanks to Henry Hobbs for the aid station volunteering, and hats off to Joe Prusaitis for another excellent race!! Brian Donald Watt, you missed out! :)
Celeste Domsch

Thanks for putting on another amazing race.
Jody Koehler

I apologize for the long and rambling comment, but, I just wanted to let you guys know that you are the best in the business, and again, hosted a quality event. Tejas Trails knows how to put on a trail race. Joe & Joyce, you guys excel as Race Directors, and know how to attract an excellent volunteer base. I wanted to especially acknowledge Henry Hobbs, Ann Glockzin, Kyle Wilke, & Jonathan Judge. I am slowly learning the names of your other volunteers, and hope to know them all soon enough. Ann always has a smiling face and knows how to make us feel like one of the trail running family. Henry's organization and helpfulness is greatly appreciated in each event. He was able to tape my feet up after some serious blister problems 12 miles into the race, allowing me to make it back to the start/ finish where I was able to change out my problem shoes. I was ready to drop at mile 7 due blisters. When I got back to the start/ finish, Ann summoned Jonathan Judge over and he took his time, and fixed my feet, enabling me to finish the final 33.4 miles relatively pain free. And finally I want to recognize Kyle, who manages to keep track of all the different events, with the various start times and distances, I don't know how he is still able to smile, and keep up his sense of humor after all that. Again, I just to say again, great job everybody!
Bruce Evans

Joe and Joyce, I wanted to say thank you to you both. It really is a pretty big deal, to consider the seeds you plant in a young child. My children have grown up in trail running--we brought a new Baby Noah to the inagural Bandera--but it is different to see them fiding their own way to access this world and the lessons it has to offer. I want to thank you for the warm support and affection and encouragement you have shown accross the years. Again, you just never know the seeds you plant. In my context (psychiatriy, medicine, hospitals, pastoral counseling) we have tons of data to show that young people--esp girls--who get into stuff like this just do better: less teen pregnancy, less addictions, better in school, more energy to focus on good choices. Anyway I thought of that this morning when my 5 year old Miriam Rose was eager to put on her brand new light blue "trail runner shirt with the lizard" for school. For the boys too, it is simply incalculable, the impact of a few grown ups (NOT your parents) taking time to believe in you and to assume "of course you can do that!" Thank you, thank you, a million thanks for this and all the other countless blessings you've granted us without even knowing it. How can you measure dreams coming true? And how can we imagine the synergy of it all? Because it is not just about my kids. They all learned something poignant and meaningful that day as they went back to help Reese and chear him on (Joyce, you handled that in a marvelous way). They saw how hard he worked, they imagined how fragile life is. They also ran faster simply by playing that morning with Gabriel and Adrian, and therby having some "reason" to try harder...so much magic. Anyway, that's it for now.
Matt Crownover

Before 2012

Thanks, the race was great, very well organized, great support. The location was awesome. See you this Saturday at the Prickly Pear. Bill Gardner has a another great race planned. This will be my first attempt at back to back.
Bart Childers

Thanks for putting on an awesome race. I had a lot of fun. You do it the way it should be done. I use you as a model for putting on a great race and website. Thanks
Bill Gardner

Just wanted to drop a note of thanks. Saturday was my first ultra, and second trail run (Grasslands half-marathon was first), and I had a great time. The volunteers were the best I've ever encountered. Job well done.
Brody Fanning

I wanted to thank all of you who organized Rocky Hill---it's a wonderful race and you guys did a great job! I look forward to coming back again next year. Thanks again,
Darra Loest

Just wanted to thank all the aid station people for taking such good care of me (us) Saturday. I especially want to thank whoever refilled my water bottles as I stumbled through the aid station at mile 25. I know it wasn't Shan - she just wanted me to do a cartwheel. I vaguely remember sitting and trying to get rocks out of my shoes (turns out I was trying to dump out a blister) and someone putting my full water bottles WITH ICE back in my belt. THANKS. And thanks to the gal who poured water down my back at mile 30. I even was able to shuffle a little bit after that. You guys were all great.
Duane Lewis

Well the last I saw, Ferd was spread eagled on The Wall trying to shift his pacemaker into high gear, Kelly E. was making a poison Ivy bouquet, Padre Crownover was praying forgivness for his evil thoughts about the early Sat AM drunks in the tent next to him and his wife and baby, Max R was looking for some 61/2 size gaiters, Neil was looking for a skin graft for the 2" blister from his new orthotics, Jennifer was smiling serenely as usual, Antje was causing trouble at the finish line, as usual. Joe P. was driving around the course offering $5.00 cab rides, Joyce P was working her rear off, as usual. Butch Allmon was parking cars (this was the first year they charged $2 for parking) and Robert Tavernini was no where to be found. At the end of 25K the temps were 90 and climbing and I was praying in thanksgiving for not signing up for the 50K. The burgers and fries were great. The country/folk/newage band was NOT playing Friday nite, so that was good. I think Paul Tidmore was there but he is getting so fast he is just a blurr and I may have been mistaken. Sarah Brown had our banner prominently displayed in front of her Popup trailer in the camp ground. I ran the last few miles with newmember Lori? who was moving gingerly on a twisted ankle. This made my day as I was able to bore her with my vast amatuer medical advice until she finally dropped back and put in her ear plugs. She did comment on how nice the NTTR clubmembers are and how much she enjoyed trailrunning. She must have been brainwashed by Jay Norman. Wes was grinning idioticly the last time I saw him, and was having a great time in the heat for his first 50K. There may have been others but Mary was dragging me off to play golf in Bastrop,. (in the heat) so I may have missed a few. Finish times do not count at the Rocky Hill Ranch. The first few winners in the 25K were young, buff, healthy, strong dudes and dudettes. ( Obviously not NTTR's) And I just avoided being lapped by the 50K winner. "3:50 something." (He needs one of our shirts to cover his massize pec's) Joe is going to have start stud grading the race. Us old ex-studs need a handicap over these road warriors he is importing from Houston and UT. Either that or we need to drug test. (Well, in Rocky Hill ranch, maybe not) So there you have the Ferd report. If there are any inaccuracies they were intentional.
Fred Holmes

i'll be there next year. this has become my favorite race of the year. no doubt. you hear about claire's finger? avulsion fracture. she's still game for more trails, tho. my kind of girl.
Fred.Fletcher

John & I just wanted to say how much we enjoyed your run at Rocky Hill. I don't think people understand how involved it is to pull together all the manpower and stuff it takes to put on a really well-organized race. It's your efforts that make the runs really enjoyable for us not-so-fast runners who depend on your advanced planning to have what we need to get us to the finish line. A job well done - thank you. Happy running!
Ginny Blaylock

Thanks for another great time out at the Rocky Hill Ranch. I looked for you after the 25K, sorry I missed you. I love that course and the race, thanks to you and to your staff for all of your efforts to put it on. Thanks for roping off all of the 'this is the wrong way' places as I would have ventured into them for sure. Thanks for your report Joe and thanks to you and to your crew for all that you do.
Julee Pollock

Just a quick note of thanks for the great race last Saturday - it was superbly hard for me, at least, but I've been needing to expand my horizons (!) The course was wonderfully varied, weather was perfect, the aid stations & volunteers were the best, and I'm more motivated than ever to keep at it. I can only imagine how much work is required to organize these events - so thanks to you & all the volunteers and I hope to be out there next year. Best,
Kathryn Vidal

Outstanding race. Unbelievable aid stations. What a great event. The only problem was that the directions below are wrong. It is impossible to exit onto FM153/FM2104 from Highway 71. You have to take the loop around Smithville to get to 153/2104. At 6:51 AM we finally stopped at the Shell station for directions (after driving from Dallas). We ended up starting the race about 12 minutes late. See you next year.
Ken Ord

No problem. 2 liters of iv fluid at Smithville Regional Hospital, and I was home by 9:30. I was having fun 'til I kicked a root about mile 25 and realized from the cramping that I had sinned. I liked the rain and mud better. Thanks for putting on the race.
Leo Lavender

Indeed! Heart felt thanks and appreciation to Doug, Joe and all the gang. The ice in my bottles was a really nice touch. Thanks!
Liam Douglass

Thanks. you guys did a great job!!!
Elizabeth Kreutz, Kreutz Photography

I had lots of fun and it was nice running the trails again. I would like to try the 50k. The Bandera trails 50k in January, sounds like a winner. I noticed you run that race too. Do you ever get a chance to run any races yourself? Don't worry about the award. I'll see you some time, maybe we can connect at a race. Have a great day!! Thanks for letting me know what place I got. I wasn't quit sure what position I was in the run. Yours In Running,
Lynn Doelger

Thanks, once again, for putting on a terrific race
Matt Harrington

Hey, I just wanted to drop you a line and thank you for the great event you put on last week. Great Race!! Well thanks again for putting on a 1st class event.
Mike Hayes

That was a blast - again. What a fun course. Makes a great change to do a weekend long run in the country - camp out, drink a beer, eat chocolate (that's important to me), see the two of you in your element, admire the sunrise and the dappled light on the forest floor, enjoy the peaceful twisting trails interjected occassionally by the clatter of rocks dislodged by our feet (and occasionally by the babbling of Fletcher when the trails wound back on each other), the wildflowers in slow motion, the friendly waterstops that are worth stopping at, and the camaraderie at the finish. Thanks.
Patrick Hall

Thanks for keeping after me to try one of these. It was quite an experience. I fell twice in the last 5 miles. On the roads, you can get in a groove and cruise. On the trails, if you do that you will land on your face. I started out too fast before my feet and ankles adjusted to the terrain. I wore the wrong shoes -- Mizuno Mavericks. Not enough outer sole/cushioning under the ball of my foot. I ended up bruising my foot early on in the race. I had to slow down the last half of the race because of the discomfort any time that I hit any sharp object on the trail. It appears that I have reinjured my second metatarsal head. I still have some swelling and my first two toes are discolored. The same injury that put me out of commission several years ago before Spears straightened me out. After saying goodbye, Ellen and I went into Smithville for some antique shopping. We came back out to eat lunch. You were right about the burgers! All in all, it was great experience. I enjoyed the trail (except for the rocks -- I could count each one with my sore foot). I know now to forget about the pace and enjoy the race and the scenery. I plan to try another one of these. Do you know how "rocky" the park is in San Antonio for this weekend's 10 Miler? Thanks again for your persistence!
Paul Seals

I wanted to thank you again this year for a wonderful race. The course is great and the race was extremely well organized. Although I'm sure you've already done this, please let the volunteers, especially the aid station volunteers, know what an excellent job they did. Again, thanks for running this race.
Tommy Prud'homme

Just a quick note of thanks... I had a great time. Thanks again,
Rebecca Watkins

Thanks for such a fantastic event! This was actually my first trail run & I'm glad it turned out to be such a positive experience. I look forward to the next one. Hopefully I'll get to run Rocky Racoon in October. Inbetween then, I look forward to seeing you & others from the trail running world out on the trails around town.
Richard Jones

First thing, Great race! Ya'll did a top notch job again.
Robert Heynen

Really nice work at the Rocky Hill Ranch 50k! It was my first ultra and the organization and support were simply outstanding.
Ron Defries

Thanks for a great though tough 25K. This was my first time on this trail and I love it. There was enough to challenge me without wiping me out. The two little kids at the end were wonderful, with cold water and a towel love it. Will be back again for sure, and a big thanks to your volunteers.
Shirley Musfy

This was my first trail race and 50K distance race. I think the ultra bug has bitten!
Stuart Skeeter

That was my first time at Rocky Hill. Y'all really put on a great race. And you are right - the people at the aid stations were the best... I wouldn't have finished (even as slow as I was) without them.... Thanks...
garland bullock

I have been around road running, triathlons and adv racing for a long time and I (we) tend to forget the labor, sweat and commitment involved in doing an event. Your composition really makes me appreciate all of the effort and passion that goes into making a great event happen. I had a great time and have really enjoyed being a part of the Trailrunners group. Thanks for your hard work and leadership.
Bill Sleep

I think you did a great job in putting on the Rocky Hill race. I have run a little over 20 trail runs and it is really up there at the top. Great t-shirts and packets, scenery, aid stations, photographers, volunteers, hamburgers, etc. I took a tumble early in the race and every one of the volunteers were right there at eachaid station asking what I needed and offering to help me. I've never been in that type of predicament so it was good to know that I was well looked after. I wouldn't normally like being the last finisher but it sure was pretty out there and I'm glad I was part of it. Thanks again,
Susan Rouse

You definitely put on a first class show and everybody got their money's worth!!! Congratulations for a job well done! Sorry that Bill and I will miss Bandera next spring, but everybody tells me it is VERY DIFFICULT. I tried to enjoy the scenery at Rocky Hill Ranch but was too terrified to look up for fear of falling. The rocks, nonetheless, were very pretty.... Take care and enjoy your own running and adventures! Laughter,
Tamara Hew

Thanks so much for a great run on Saturday. I am starting to really get into this ultra running stuff. I may start joining you for your long runs on Sunday mornings. Thanks again,
Todd Gerlach

Yes, Thank You to all the great volunteers. The only thing I couldn't get at any of the aid stations was the one thing I needed most - a kick in the ass to get back out on the trail! I must have spent 5 minutes at every aid station. The buffet style aid stations were a bit overwhelming for this first timer!
Tracy Shaff

Thanks for a GREAT time at the ranch.I say it all went very well for you. THE TORNADOS RUNNING CLUB
Pres. Victor M. Aguirre

Houston Trail Runners EXtreme (HTREX) would like to thank you and all your volunteers for yet another great event. We've been participating since the inaugural run back in 2001 and it just keeps on getting better (and harder!!) The aid stations are great! Specially with the Popsicles and ice baggies...those really hit the spot during the second loop of the 50K! See you again next year!
mariela.v.botella