Rocky Raccoon Trail Run - 50 Mile - RunUltra Marathon


View Member's Race Log View other race reports
Huntsville, Texas
United States
Rocky Raccoon Trail Run
50F / 10C
Precipitation
 		Total Time = 10h 43m 52s
Overall Rank = 88/366
Age Group =
Age Group Rank = 0/
Pre-race routine:

Camped at Huntsville State Park the night before with the wife so I could just get up and run and not worry about driving early in the morning. This was a GREAT idea! It was so nice just to wake up, throw the running clothes on and go. On the downside, it began to pour rain at about 4 in the morning. Our little dome tent couldn't take the downpour and we began to take in water and get wet around 5. well, it was time to get up anyway at least. So it poured and poured all morning before and during the race. So we hopped in the car, I changed into my running gear and got ready. I had prepared my drop bags the night before. My wife bought a tackle box for all the little first aid type things so it would all be easy to find. Also, a great idea! I had three extra pairs of socks, two shirts and other items in another drop bag and I waterproofed it all in Ziploc bags since it would all be uncovered. Had some fig newtons, a banana and a gel and I was ready to go. No coffee this time.
Event warmup:

No warmup, it was raining hard and everyone was just huddle under a tent near the start line waiting to begin.
Run
  • 10h 43m 52s
  • 50 miles
  • 12m 53s  min/mile
Comments:

Best things about trail running: I can whip right off the trail to take a leak and dont have to worry, because everyone else is doing it too! Also my head was so congested and full of mucus, but I could blow snot rockets all day long and clear my sinuses up real good!

My left knee began hurting around mile 8 (IT Band), so I took 3 Aleve over the course of the run to get through the run. Changed my socks out after each loop, ate a gel every hour or so and drank lots of water. Ate salty foods (Pringles!) at all of the aid stations and made sure I didn't skip one.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing really, I thought i ran a good race given the circumstances that I was a bit sick and it was so rainy. No GI issues, no foot issues (not even a blister!). All in all I would say a good day!
Post race
Warm down:

None. walked to the car. we had to drive 4 hours home because our tent was soaked. So I made sure we stopped often (god bless my wife!) so I could stretch and pee. Got home and crashed.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Besides the rain, mud and my cold? nothing.

Event comments:

This is a REALLY fun race put on by some great folks. I love all the Tejas Trails races, but this one is especially fun. The Ultra running community in Texas is amazing, unlike any other. I can't wait until next year to do this one again.




Last updated: 2011-11-15 12:00 AM
Running
10:43:52 | 50 miles | 12m 53s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/
Overall: 0/366
Performance: Good
First lap was 3:14, second lap I came in at 6:49 (3:35 split), and came in at 10:43 (3:54 split). So I did slow down a bit in each lap, but not too bad.
Course: 3 loops of 16.67 miles each. The trail is fairly flat, but the amount of rain made it tremendously muddy. It was so bad people were taking spectacular falls all around me, and I had to help someone who lost their shoe in the mud. My intermediate goals were to 1. Not fall and 2. Not lose a shoe. I met both of those goals. My main goal was to come in under 11 hours to qualify for Western States, which I did as well. Aid stations were about 3-4 miles apart, so I just focused on getting to the next one and it wasn't too bad mentally.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 5
Physical exertion [1-5] 5
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 5