Anton Krupicka, Akos Konya, Jorge Pacheco all came thru the 20mi point together at 2:27. Just 10 minutes back was the next pack of four, including Jenn Shelton. By mile 40, these 3 had slowed a few minutes and had sorted themselves in this order, Anton, Akos, and Jorge. Anton's second 20mi split was 2:30 and total time was now 4:57. Jenn's split was 2:39 and total time at 5:20. By mile 60, Jorge had moved into 2nd, but Anton still lead with a 2:38 split for a total time of 7:35. He still had 15 mins on Jorge and only a few more mins to Akos. Anton's third 20mi split was 2:30 and total time was now 4:57. Jenn's split was 2:39 and total time at 5:20. Jenn's split was 2:39 again and total time at 7:35. .Jenn's split was 2:52 and total time at 8:12. By mile 80, Jorge had moved as close as 8 mins to Anton, who posted his slowest split of 2:56 and a total time of 10:32. I had wondered if he could break the course record. This lap removed that possibility, but he was still well under 14 hours, Akos was still only just minutes back or Jorge as well. Jenn posted a 2:02 20mi split and a total time of 14:57. Everybody appeared to be running very well, but Jorge was the first to lose his edge. He started walking and was soon out of the race. It was way too cold and you had to run to stay warm. Anton picked up a pacer for his final 20mi loop and ran a 3:00 loop for a finish time of 13:32:20. Akos final loop was 3:53 for a finish time of 14:51. Jenn's picked up a pacer to push her final loop at 3:36 for a strong finish and a new course record by an hour for a 14:57:18. Thomas Whalen in his first 100miler was 3rd in 16:00:48. Tracy Thomas at 18:28:13, and Maria Lemus at 19:58:24 took 2nd and 3rd in the Women's race. There were 242 starters with 169 finishers for our largest field in 15 years.  

Our 50mile race was also at it's largest, with 112 starters and 103 finishers. Patrick Russell stood alone on the start line though, and led from gun til done. They ran three 16.67 mile loops, and Patrick's splits were 1:57, 1:55, and 2:08, bringing him in with a new course record of 6:01:07. Last year's winner, Larry Hall was 2nd in 7:27, followed by Justin Snow in 7:34. Michele Jensen was a repeat winner, finishing in 7:53. Jacqueline Obrien-Nolen 8.09.27, and Anna Hern 8:14:01 was 2nd and 3rd.  

The real report:  

It was bitter cold. Race morning, it was in the mid 20s and way to long in warming up. The Texas humidity combined with the stinging cold bit with a vengeance. The alligators watched the 6am dark start from nearby Raven Lake, but stayed mostly below the surface which was much warmer. The weather these last 3 weeks had been very nasty, with ice storms taking down trees and then more rain that usual. The course was a mess of mud and had at least one solid section of water that would not likely be gone soon. The park usually drains well, but the weather had not allowed for this until now. Question was, how fast would it drain. An hour after the 100mi, start, we turned loose the 50mi runners. With 354 runners now on the trails, maybe they'd pound the slop into a suitable path before too long. And that is pretty much what happened. That and Paul Schmidt who worked on laying out boughs of pine needles and sticks to create a few land bridges over the worst sections. It sure didn't slow down the runners. Those who could stay warm, ran very well, setting new course records in the both races. The temp peaked around 3pm in the low 50s and then started sliding again through the late evening and night back into the mid 30s. For most, it was a perfect day. For some, it was way too cold. The finish rate was right at 70%.  

Its a real pain to get everything we need to Far Side and Dam Road. During course setup, the wet conditions made it even more so. The only way to get there is on the course, so getting it resupplied during the race is difficult. The drive train on one of our two ATVs blew out at exactly the wrong place and it took us awhile to drag it out, Later, the tire blew on the ATV trailer. The road was too mucked up to drive anything but 4WD in so dealing with drop bags and dropped runners was not easy. We came up with unique ways to deal with each issue. The volunteers were awesome, but the cold would eventually weed them out also so that only the hardiest remained. But the cook kept cooking and the food kept getting where it needed to go. We never ran out of anything important, and eventually everything happened either by plan or by accident. Innovation was the word of the weekend. Paul threw together a last minute HAM Radio team. Moogy did packet pickup, helped with awards, made runs to Far Side and Dam Road, and so on and so on. Shawn and Jessi went round and round looking for new things to do. I finally ran Weldon down so far that he was used up when we we're done loading the trucks. JJ & Dawn helped with numerous medical issues, including a fractured clavicle, hypothermia, and a variety of blindness issues. It never did rain any more and the course continued to dry, and by Sunday, we had breakfast and awards on the patio of the lodge under watch of a very warm sun. It did not all go as plan, but it all went well. I didn't start getting the calls for forgotten drop bags and buckles until after we had left the park. The timing was done as good as it is usually is by Angela, and Kyle again managed the data with his usual care, even brining a small network of laptops to display the results in the lodge while the race was going on. Henry,a s usual was everywhere, managing volunteers, the Course, and helping Joyce with aid stations. I worked hard just to stay out of everybody's way, who all did very well without me.  

To the Aid Stations, I pay the ultimate compliment: I never had to think about them. Mariela was invisible to me at the Highway, Site174 was run by Ken Johnson and I never knew a thing, Far Side and Dam Road were attached via isolation to one another and were helping each other. The Lodge, which is where I remained seemed to churn into chaos and then spin down to boredom at odd intervals, but all I had to do was keep the heaters going. Joyce kept sticking food in my hands and saying 'EAT'. Chris Matus stayed OUT THERE and kept up the course, while Joyce & Lauren seemed to be everywhere. Chris tried to do too much and Chris C kept trying to lighten her load by taking whatever she could do. She, and many others did so many different jobs that their positions blurred into Firefighter mode.  

I managed 2 showers between Thursday and Sunday, so the people asked less and less of me as the stink gained power. As my eyes glazed over, and the wild look intensified, even fewer dared approach. By the end, it seemed a wild frenzy of tearing down and putting away, interrupted only by the awards ceremony. Our ceremony had grown very long and I planned to shorten it. So, I asked that everybody remain seated while I read all the lists of accolades: finishers, winners, 5 year winners, Texas Trilogy winners, and so on. Once done, they could come and pick up what they had earned. I delayed only to bring up the 2 winners and the presentation of a few new awards I decided to do impromptu: an Escher looking set of metal cast alligators chasing each other in a circle pattern. To the women had ran her final loop blind, and a volunteer who wanted to make sure she was not sent out alone, and stayed with her the entire 20 miles. To the first person to miss the coveted 24 hour time, and the Oldest finisher.  

Then we went back to tearing down and finishing cleaning the course... by the way, in the middle of an wonderfully perfect weekend, was appalled to see so much trash tossed onto these beautiful trails. We even found one cut full of shit deposited right next to the Far Side aid station. What a treat for my volunteers who worked so hard to help you all, to carry out your load of crap. The ones who did this should be ashamed. Next year, I will be forced to become the next mean old RD, by DQing a few people who are slobs. I have yet to do it, but I have yet to really go after it. It is now time.  

We pride ourselves in our genuine care and hospitality. We do whatever we can to help each runner. We revel in the fast ones but care for all of you the same. The beauty that reveals itself in so many souls is so heartwarming, that it breaks my heart. The tears of joy and the pain of defeat unveil themselves over and over. What a carnival of emotions we all get to experience. Closest friend argue over nothing more than sleep deprivation and total strangers hug and cry over minor triumphs. The social dynamics of it all is a wonder to witness. So many people come up to thank me, but the chain is broken by somebody upset about one thing or another. Why didn't I get a shirt? Why don't I get a refund? Why did I get lost? Where was the soup? What about the mud? Oh its all ok, but it also keeps me in proper balance. It isn't all perfect after all. We are all making adjustments as we go, fixing and repairing and tuning as it evolves. And that is essentially what all the best runners and best volunteers and best crews do... adjust to the situation. Its just a small piece of life, adjusting! If you cannot do it with a smile and a shrug, then you are doomed to being upset, because it aint ever going to be perfect. Life is like that. Just gotta deal with it as best you can.  

So, it is done. You came and snatched the pebble from my hand or you did not. It makes no different either way. What matters is how you felt about it. What did you take with you? What did you learn? And to all, I saw congrats.