Toughest N' Texas 50K - RunUltra Marathon

My plan was to run the 20 mile race but a week before I got the crazy idea to sign up for the 50k. What's another 11 miles, right? It's a whole different world is what it is...

My longest runs this year have been two half marathons. So it is fair to say that I was pushing it by running 50k. But I knew it was going to be slow & that I would be walking some (a lot). The plan was to go as long as I could & walk it in if need be.

After the first 1/2 mile along the brazos river, the course turns inland & goes straight up. Then down, then up, then down, repeat about 20 more times. I started out with an aggie named Boog right away. We stayed together the whole first lap. We were averaging about 11:00 to 11:30 miles. Good brisk pace, but in hindsight a little too fast. Finished the first loop in 1:49, made a pit stop and started out for the second loop.

Boog started complaining about his IT band not too long after we started lap 2. We slowed a bit, which was fine with me. By the second rest stop, Boog pulled out. I was on my own. An old salt (Jacob) told me it's harder to keep running when you're alone. I started walking the long climbs (which I should have done the first loop). I was able to run the rest of the time. I was still averaging close to 11:30 mile splits. Felt great up to about mile 18. Came into the finish line @ 3:46:00, about 8 minutes slower than the first lap. Grabbed some electrolyte tabs, shed my arm warmers & took off.

Little over 20 down, 10 to go. As I ran along the river, I really thought I was going to do it. By the time I got halfway up that first hill, I was bend over, head down by my knees, thinking it was only a short walk back to the car. I hit the wall. I stood there for a few minutes trying to decide what to do. I finally convinced myself to just keep going forward. So I started walking and after a few minutes I was running again. Not fast, but running none the less. The course had mile markers which gave me goals. 9 more goals to attain. Much easier than one big one! By then my mile spilts were between 14:00 & 15:00. But they were steady, which was good. I was walking more, but I was still able to start running when I wanted. There wasn't any negotiations with myself about running. I didn't have to convince myself to run. I was very happy about that. Between mile 27 & 28 I missed a turn & probably ran an extra 1/2 mile. Right after that I cramped up. I thought I was done running. I walked it out for a few minutes and was able to start running again. The last mile I ran in under 13:00. Came in at 6:26:46.

I finished an Ultra!



Take salt replacement earlier. Eat more pre-race.

2 beers & 3 hamburgers!!


Trail running skill & long run training.


What racing should be!!!