Mountain Running in Texas? YES. I was ready and itchin' to race. I drove down on Friday and was able to leisurely hang out and wait for the start of the race. I camped out in my 4Runner and was in bed early at 7:30 pm. It was cold and windy out. The temperature had dropped down to the 30's and the wind had increased and was now howling constantly. Was tomorrow going to be cold and windy? Time would tell. My truck rocked back and forth. No, it shook violently with the wind. Well, I had to wait and see. I woke up at midnight with the the wind still howling and angrily shaking the truck. I warmed up the truck and went back to sleep. Finally at 5:30 I woke up and greeted the day dawning. The wind... it had stopped and when I stepped outside, although chilly, the air felt decidedly less cold and damp. Today was going to be perfect weather for racing. The front had blown through. Indeed it was in the low 50s with a slight overcast sky for most of the race and felt perfect. I ate a muffin for breakfast and called that good. It was enough.
After our pre-race course description by race director Rob Goyen we were promptly off. I decided to race in a short sleeve shirt. This decision had actually given me some consternation all morning but I made the decision and it was the right one. Texas phenom Justin Lange led the group as we ran up a 500 foot hill right out of the gate in the first mile. The terrain was serpentine single track slithering through sage and cactus and bounding over half buried boulders. Half a mile in I took the lead and started rolling with the terrain. My goal was simple: Run honest and up-tempo. Following the first mile we had a 4 mile undulating loop with some of the best footing of the day. I ran controlled in here mostly making sure I did not miss a turn. My lead had grown to about 90 seconds... I tried to ignore my place and focused just on my pace and ensure I stayed on course.
Next up was a steep scramble near the caves followed with a glorious single track with steep drop offs. At this point I was now catching the 50k runners who had started an hour before. Many were timid and cautious, and rightly so with the unknown hazardous terrain. I carefully ran along enjoying the beauty! Soon the trail spit us out on to an overgrown and unkempt 1800's mining road? At last I could get in a solid pace. I ran a mile down the road. Then I hit the infamous Frankly Mountain rocks. Or the Flintstone Rocks as I heard one person name them. There was a trail of loose cantaloupe and orange size rocks just wanting to roll an ankle or trip someone. Now was the time for prudence. I got through Bedrock's main street intact, refueled at the aid station and was off up the 2,000+ foot climb.
The first mile was steep but mostly runable except for a few spots. I made it up with no problems and then had a short section with a smooth road downhill for 300 yards. On the smooth road I took my eyes off the trail for a half second and caught a toe and went flying into the dirt and rocks in front of me. It was my first fall in long time. I caught myself with my hands and slid on my belly for close to a yard. All I was thinking was "Stop Sliding". I did at last. My knee was a little cut up, not too bad; my left had also cut but not bad; my right hand though had a good road rash gouge in it, but would be ok. I picked myself up and spent the next 1/2 mile mentally getting back into the race.
The smooth road turned up the peak and got rockier and steeper. The incline was perfect and I could maintain a slow shuffle up the peak. I kept the pace going and summited the Texan 7,000 + foot peak in 1:59:27. From here I ran right back down the peak. I saw I had about a 15 minute lead or 1.5 miles over Justin. He looked smooth and ready for a solid 2nd place finish. The trail went back by where I tripped and then down the road back to the Flintstones Rocks. Once Again I cautiously ran through them. From there I was directed down to where the race had started and then the course ran right back up the first mile. Perfect: the first and last mile of the course would be the same. I was starting to get a little tired. It had been a great day. I crossed the finish line 2:49:22 and beat the course record by 20+ minutes.
A special thanks to Rob for such a great race experience; to Mike for the drive back to my car in your warm jeep, and to the medical volunteer who cleaned and bandaged all my cuts and trail badges. Without you there would be no race. Thank you!
The day had gone great. I felt phenomenal all day. I drank about 50 to 60 oz of Gatoraid and ate 2 cookies during the course of the run. I wore the Hoka Bondi's for the day. The course promised to be brutal and I need a pair of shoes I could trust. This was the first race in a long time I finished and felt fantastic. I could have run anther few miles with no trouble.
The win gave me:
* 17.9 Miles 5,400 feet gained and lost in 2:49:22
* United States Sky Running Championship 2018
* United States Sky Running Serious Champion 2018
* 3rd time as United States Sky Running Champion (2015, 2017, and 2018)
* 60th Career Win
* 21st Career Course Record
* 103 Career Podium Finish
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