Four loops of 12.58 miles each, on some of the tamest and foot loving surface you can imagine. A thin coat of pine needles sprinkled over a soft dirt trail to comfort the feet and a cover of tall leafy trees to protect me from the sun. Not that we would need it today, as we seemed to flirting with a rain cloud that just couldn’t quite decide to soak us. There were a few sprinkles that escaped the clouds, just enough to cool me gently. I have this idea of the perfect weather in my mind that I often talk about dialing up and directing to wherever it is that I am that day. Well, today it was as just as I asked for it. Ask and you shall receive.

I began the day in shorts and short sleeved shirt and was comfortable that way all day. With a couple trips past my bags, I had ample opportunity to change, but never felt the need for anything other than a shoe change once. A hot spot on my left foot on the 2nd loop was enough reason to swap shoes before starting the 3rd loop. Paul Schmidt and I have run together on many an occasion, so we naturally fell in together immediately from the start. It was a bit crowded, and also quite narrow for most of the first couple of miles, along the single-track trail, through the woods, and up to the jeep trail, but I almost always start to fast, and didn’t mind the confined feeling for now. It would force me to do what I should consciously be trying to do, but cannot. We talked and ran, enjoying the morning.

The jeep trail was a junction of sorts. The route went left for a three mile out and back to this same spot, and then strait past this point. An aid station was here, also at the turn-around point, and then back to this same one again. It was a slightly rolling jeep road that’s much smoother than it has been in the past. The ruts have been plowed under and we know had plenty of room to roam, so the runners spread out and drifted into their own pace. This is also a good place to see anyone who is within three miles of you on either side, which is just about everyone on the first loop. This being my fourth 50-mile run here, I recognized many of the runners before and after me. It was nice to see many of the folks I had missed in the crowd at the start line.

50 yards of sand follow soon after the station, and as the jeep road bends uphill, the 50mile route turns into the trees. The 50K route continues on the road, and I am glad to be off of it. Given the choice, I will always choose the trail over the road. There must be about 400 runners in the 50-mile event, so we are far from alone. Every time we speed up or slow down, we encounter a whole new group of runners, each with their own plan. We reach the halfway point at the dam just under an hour, and stop to top off our water bottles. The next half only has one aid station, and we know it’ll be a good way if we run dry. The weather is perfect though and we won’t have any problems with water today. We drop down out of the station for a small loop through a swamp, over a bridge, and back up the other side onto the levee just across form the station we just left, and just across the lake to the main start/finish area.

The levee is flat and treeless, but the clouds remain. We roll along the lakeside endlessly, crossing bridges, skirting swamps, climbing a few small hills and falling off the backside, but constantly under the cover of trees. This is a gorgeous section of trail, but there are many roots to snag the uninitiated. Experience has taught me to lift my feet just a bit higher, and I am rewarded with nary a trip or stumble for the first time in years. And I don’t forget either as others around me do find the ground in various unflattering methods. Paul has sped on ahead from the levee where I decide it is best for me to begin walking the hills regardless of their miniscule appearance. Paul does not walk hills and I will be better served now without him. Just prior to the big swamp area and the string of bridges, the 50k Trail turns back into us, and we are now on the same trail again. The 50K runners are just completing their initial 10K, and then they follow with 2 loops on the course.

The swamp is crossed by two or three long and crooked bridges, which don’t have any handrails. Tripping on one of these would be messy and possible quite difficult to get back on. I’ve never seen anybody actually fall off, but I’ve wondered about it. After the last long bridge, we turn along the shoreline and follow the lakes contour on into the last aid station. From here, it’s 2.6 miles back to where we began and the beginning of the next loop. It rolls about, climbs and descends, and then drops us back onto the initial section, right where we crosses the paved road. The fast folks are coming back out while I am still going in. The trail is quite busy with everyone coming and going and I’m trapped in a pace line again. Even with all the trappings and relaxed attitude, I still come in under 2 hours. It is just my fate to run too fast on the first loop here. It is my fate.

Paul is dealing with his gear when I come in and he offers to wait for me, but I decline his offer. He’s running much better than I am, so I tell him to enjoy. I’m going to just poke along at my own pace and not run another uphill today. I take my time and move out slowly, eating as I walk. The crowd along this 1 mile section that is joined for both ending and beginning loops is a bit much, and to avoid being pushed, I simply step off the trail to let others go by. I’m still feeling good, and running well when it’s not an uphill, but I’m in no hurry whatsoever. The trail splits off from the incoming runners and I cross the paved road and descend a nice single track, picking up speed as I go. I’m moving pretty good until I find the uphill bend, and slow to a walk. Not even a power walk, but an unhurried and casual stroll to the top. Once on top, I repeat the process again. I like this. It’ll work for awhile.

Back to the jeep trail for the 2nd time, I wind up next to Merchant Seaman from Denmark named Niels. He’s doing the 50K and just seems to fall into the same pattern I’m running, so we talk as we move up and back the jeep trail. Back at the trail split, I wish him luck, as I don’t expect to see him again, and then I’m into the trees again. This time, it is peacefully quiet. I’m alone and enjoying it very much. The next person I see is at the Dam aid station. I stop for some chicken soup and a water refill. Back to the swamp, the levee, and then the long and peaceful section over the hills and through the swamps. I find Niels again at the last station and we continue on together. We must be exactly the same pace. Keeping my run/walk pattern consistent on back into the turnaround in 4:05. As much as I have tried to hold down the pace and be conservative, I have only slowed a bit. This loop took me 2:10. I am just now beginning to feel the run. So far, I have just been hanging out, visiting my friends and enjoying the scenery.

Due to a few hot spots I just felt on one foot, I decide to swap my shoes out. I have been wearing some regular old street cross trainers, but put on my old reliable Montrail Vitesse. I take another GU and pop a few more Succeed Caps for the sodium. I keep an ice chest here also, loaded with Iced Tea, coke, and water. It sure tastes good to down an ice cold Iced Tea after each loop. It just goes down so good and settles my stomach.

The 3rd loop is the most dangerous for me. I approach it more carefully, backing off even more. Of course, I also slow due to the overall depletion I’m beginning to feel. I want to finish well on my last loop, so I back off, hoping to avoid feeling like a zombie. My legs are beginning to get tight and I walk just a bit more beyond the edges of the hills that I’m already walking. The weather is held up beautifully. Usually I’m getting roasted about now, but it’s still cool and even sprinkling a bit. Coming in to finish my 3rd and start my 4th loop is a landmark point. All I have left is one loop left and I always enjoy it the most. The 3rd loop took me 2:29, so my total is now at 6:34. I have slowed another 20 minutes, and now we’ll see if O can go any faster on my last loop. We shall see what is left. Most of the 50k runners are done, and all the fast 50 milers as well. I won’t see more than a handful of people this time and it’s nice to finally have most of the trail to myself. Britt passes me going on and plans to push it all the way. I let him go. I would like to go faster on this last circuit, but do not plan to change my overall strategy. I run and walk much as I had on the last loop. There’s quite a few people walking entirely and a few who are definitely pushing it. I know many of the names that belong to the faces now and say hello and good luck to many of them. The jeep road is finally behind me, and I catch up to a friend from Austin, Bob Wuest. We hook up and waltz on in for a few more miles, through the Dam aid station and through the swamp, on to grandmother’s house we go. Then we begin to yo-yo and hook up with Archie and we hang together for a few more miles until the last aid station. With just 2.5 miles to go, I attempt to go a bit faster and who knows if I actually do, but I finally take it on in to the finish for a final loop of 2:27. An entire 2 minutes faster than my 3rd loop, for a grand total of 9:02. It isn’t my fastest and it’s not my slowest 50 miler, but it’s done and it was pleasant enough again to get top run for the entire day. A few of my buds really had a fantastic run today, and some didn’t. Either way, as long as we can still run!