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This would be only my 3rd Ultra, and by all previous accounts was a very tough course. They were right! I had photographed this race last year, and now I was ready to give it a go.
The morning was cool and foggy as we left the start area and headed out over the first climbs. I was running with my friend Sarah, who is a stronger runner than me, but was hoping to be able to stay with her for awhile as she was recovering from a bike wreck that involved some surgery. We went out very fast – chit-chatting with friends we hadn’t seen and in general being a little over-enthusiastic. We were ignoring the Sotol cactus, and didn’t linger for the views – they were all fogged in.
When we arrived at the first aid-station (Nachos) I looked at my heart rate monitor and realized just how hard I was working. Luckily, Sarah did too, so we left here with a more moderate pace. Actually, Sarah was in a little difficulty – probably due to the surgery, so as she walked a little more to recover, I hooked up with Dave Billman and ran ahead. At this point Sarah was talking about dropping, so I thought I wouldn’t be seeing her again – I would be proved wrong.
Dave and I made pretty good time through the next miles. The running was relatively flat, and it was still somewhat cool, although the mist had burned away. We stopped a few times for rocks in the shoes, but otherwise kept moving. We went through Chapas aid station with no problems, and soon came to the Crossroads aid-station – roasting pig and all – and Doug was there waiting for me, camera in hand and smile on face. It always makes such a difference to see him along the course.
Dave and I left for the inner loop - the Three Sisters (I was told “we just call the middle one the Bitch”). This is one of the shortest sections between aid, but took what felt like a long time. The three major climbs seemed steeper, the downhills rockier and the sun was hotter. I think the Boy Scouts who were out and about thought we were crazy. And of course anytime we saw them, we had to be running. Somewhere along here we met up with Kelly Eppleman and …Sarah. She had a sit-down a Chapas, changed from her tights into the ever-so-stylish running skirt and had managed to catch us up. Nice recovery!
We all came into Crossroads together, and after a few pictures, snacks and refills, headed out for the last 10 miles. Dave was showing some signs of fatigue, probably due to the Arkansas Traveler 100 miler he run a little while ago. He dropped off the back, and Kelly, Sarah and I motored ahead. W had a nice pace going – a little run, a little walk, good forward progress all the way up and over the last big climb into the Last Chance Saloon.
This aid station was being run by our local club – North Texas Trail Runners – and we were greeted with lots of smiles, and all the support you could want. Doug had made the short hike out here to give me hug. Dave’s wife Paula was there after having run the 25k, and our local “gals” were getting into the swing of things – short skirts and tequila were on the agenda. I bet that place was hopping when the 100kers came through for the second time!
Sarah and Kelly picked up a couple of tagalongs for these last five miles – Kelly’s dog Archie, Paul (a racing buddy of Sarah’s) and Lisa B (a friend from out of state). The four of them and Archie decided to walk the last bit, so I went ahead. There are two BIG climbs on the back, including the infamous Cairn’s Climb (usually when you say that you have to add “that JoeP is one sick puppy”). My legs were starting to scream, and I knew that the quicker I finished the better, so I made a pact with myself, involving bloody mary’s and a bath, that I would run anything that was remotely runnable – the ups and downs were too steep at this point - so I just power hiked them as best I could. The views from up here are amazing – the climbs are always worth the effort, and we had missed out on the early views due to the fog.
I finally recognized the old house that is the last landmark before the finish, so I turned on the juice. Well, it felt like I turned on the juice, but I’m sure it just looked like a shuffle to anyone else! I rounded the corner, ran across the field, and crossed the extension cord that was the finish line. Doug and Paula were both there to greet me, and I got my finisher’s medallion. I was so glad to be done! Dave finished a few minutes later having made some good time over the back, and Sarah et al came in after awhile having enjoyed their dog-walking.
This race is the toughest race in Texas, and probably the best organized. The trails are steep and technical, but Joe and Joyce have managed to bribe some of the greatest people to man the aid-stations so you have all the support you could ever want. Crew access is easy, so the spectators actually can get around – I always run better knowing that my hubby is out there waiting for me.
Special thanks to Joe and Joyce P, race directors, for putting on this monster. I know they went to special efforts to have the trail go straight up and down, and also for putting all the extra rocks out there to make the steeps more interesting. The volunteers were awesome – I never wanted for a thing. As always, I couldn’t do any of this silliness with the love and support of Doug, who not only is the best crew ever, but also makes an amazing bloody mary.
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