TrailHonky

With only one completed 50K under my belt, I thought it would be a good idea to at least attempt the Palo Duro race this year. I’d wanted to do it for some time and heard lots of good reviews of the race and the course. It would live up to its expectations.

Panoramic view in Palo Duro Canyon State Park

I flew up to Amarillo late Friday night and settled into a hotel on the west side of town, practically right on the road that would take me south to the race the following morning. After a few hours of sleep, it was time to get up and start preparing for the journey ahead. The drive down to the canyon was mostly uneventful, but once in the park, I looked up to a magical display of shooting stars and bright twinkles. It had been a while since I saw such a bright sky, and it was an uplifting start to what would be a long morning.

I walked down the hill to survey the start/finish area and look for Deborah, who had kindly picked up my race packet the day before. I didn’t see her (or many people I knew for that matter) so I headed back up to the car to finish my pre-race prep. It was really cold and I didn’t want to turn loose of my fishing pants, but I figured I’d regret it later if I kept them. It was the right choice.

It was getting dangerously close to the race start and still I had not found Deborah. I just kept calm and wandered around. The campfire that was already going sure felt good. It would feel even better after my second loop and almost entice me to make a bad decision. I walked over to the drop bag area and sure enough, Deborah was right there. I thanked her, got out my bib and attached it to my race belt, and walked back near the campfire. After a short prayer, we were told there was about 30 seconds left and that a horn would sound to start the race. I’d not seen such a fancy timer before, but did see on the NTTR list where the race director had purchased a new one.

The start was brisk and I had my polar fleece on to keep warm. I carried a small Princeton 1-LED flashlight. Only seconds into the race, I realized I should probably find the bathroom. After a quick pit stop, I was now at the very back of the pack. I determined that this was the right place for me as I have a bad habit of pushing too early and having no gas left. The second half of my Bandera 50K in 2004 was like this. I was determined to finish this one strong.

I was very content plodding along behind most everyone at this point since it was still dark and I had no desire to twist my ankle in the pretty rough dried mud. I’d have at least 7 hours ahead and there was no need to be in a hurry. Besides, I had come to this race in part to take in the scenery and enjoy the day. I had a very rough goal of where I’d like to finish, but wasn’t worried about it.

After about 1.2 miles, we came upon the first split, where the 50 mile race turned left and the 50K race went right. It was still dark at this point but the sun was peaking out. I stopped to tie my fleece around my waist as I felt warmed up. Shortly thereafter I realized I was near a very chatty runner. I can be pretty chatty myself, but it is part of a conversation. This particular person was just running the mouth without any response from others. I resolved to not let this ruin the sunrise so took my sweet time looking around the canyon for that first 6 mile loop.

Downed tree - not part of one of the trails

Before I knew it, I was upon the Dos Senoritas aid station. The trail went two ways and I stopped to ask for directions. I learned that the currently blocked trail was the short out-and-back that was part of the 12.5 mile loop to be done twice later. I headed out from the aid station to finish my first loop and check out the Lighthouse rock formation. After winding around in a mostly flat section, I realized that that I was experiencing the wind that everyone was talking about. It was one of the few negatives I’d heard about the race. It would get worse.

After making good progress through the last 1.5 pretty hilly miles of the course, I saw the windmill and shortly was on top of the hill where you can see the finish banner. It felt great to be finishing the first loop at a pace I was comfortable with. At the finish area, I dropped off my fleece and flashlight and had my Succeed Ultra pre-measured for a quick refill.

My main goal for this race was to not spend an eternity at the aid stations. Through the first half of the race, I actually did a good job. On the last loop, I would end up spending too much time. The only excuse I could manage was that I was letting a pair of very chatty (they were actually bitching) runners get far enough ahead to where I could enjoy myself.

I was quickly off to my second loop. Somewhere along the path in the trees was a motion sensor chatterbox thing. It almost freaked me out when it went off and I’m glad no one was around to see my leap! I would remind myself to remember it for the last loop. I did, but there was another one in a new spot waiting to trick everyone. Cute. Also neat were the little inspirational signs scattered about along the course. They were great reminders of why I should keep pushing myself to jog instead of walk.

My second loop started out too strong. I got behind a couple of runners that were discussing the terrible storms that seem to follow the Prickly Pear 50K (my only DNF). I realized I was pushing too hard and let them go ahead. Another good choice. The second loop was my first time through the very pretty tree lined area on the far side of the course. This was my favorite section since the trail would run right up against the wall of the canyon on short ups and downs. There were also some nice patches through tall grasses and a few wooden bridge crossings. Not too hilly which suits me fine but also not boring.

I started aching between the Phil Spicer aid station and the Dos Senoritas. The wind had gotten up really strong by this time and it was trying to convince me to stop my shuffle and just walk. But it kept running through my mind to: “Run all the runnable sections. If I’m not running these, then when am I running? And if I’m not running, why am I out here? :-)” I played that over and over the entire race and I think it helped me keep my pace more steady. I was walking all the uphills by this point, even the small ones, but I figured most people were, too. I wasn’t passing many people and was keeping pace with the various runners I could see in the more open areas. I got to Dos Senoritas and completed the short out-and-back. On my way back, I decided to have a short sit on their metal picnic bench while I munched a potato chip. Then I reminded myself not to spend much time at the aid stations and headed for the start/finish.

The big downhill right before the finish chute really got at my legs. Along with the wind and temperature, I was really having to convince myself to go back out. My legs were really tight, though not cramping (and never would thanks to the wonders of Succeed Ultra), and I felt my race falling apart. Mentally, I was trying to decide that dropping here would be fine. The campfire was feeling good and the burger smell was enticing. However, I was in before the 4 hour mark which was my goal. After a lot of back and forth, I resolved that even if I walked the entire last loop, I’d still finish within the time limit. After traveling all this way, there was no reason I should stop, and I was making my time goal so far. So I put my fleece back on and headed out on my final lap.

Palo Duro finisher’s chute from 2007 race - it’s always fun to run through all the flags at the finish

I started out at barely a shuffle as my legs were really tight. I think the second little motion sensor/chatterbox loosened me up though :-) Soon I found myself past the Phil Spicer aid station and in the tree lined area. I was starting to get back in my groove. Until I ran upon the chatty bitching pair again. They were really souring things up so at the aid station on the far side (most opposite the Lighthouse), I sat around and talked with the kind volunteers for a while. Before I got too cold, I headed back out. By this time, I’d discovered the very redeeming qualities of a small bite of snickers mixed with a banana slice.

The stretch from that aid station back into Phil’s was the longest part of the course to me. I could never figure out how much further it was even though the mile markers were pretty consistent. I just wanted to get back to Phil’s because I knew that the markers were almost every half mile beyond that point and it felt like you made quick progress. But when I got back into Phil’s, I needed to take a pit stop. The single port-o-john was occupied for some time so I sat on a concrete bench and rested my very sore feet. I saw the lead 50 mile runner come into the aid station and realized that he was only 7 miles behind me. I determined to finish before he lapped me … again :-)

So I headed back out determined to shuffle my way to the finish. By now most of this part of the course was pretty familiar and that was reassuring. I had a few runners up in front of me that I tried to keep pace with to ensure I was making decent progress. I powered into Dos Senoritas and onto the out-and-back. I didn’t stop on my way back in and I was resolved to push on to the finish. I told myself not to look at my watch the entire last lap, hoping that I might make it in under 7 hours but not wanting to get down if I realized the time wouldn’t allow it. I figured the best way would be to give it what I had and let it work itself out.

The last 1.5 hilly miles were taxing and my feet were very sore. It was a welcome relief to see the windmill and the parking area to my left right before I descended the big hill to the finish. I past the two gals I that had put some distance on me since Phil’s and powered down the finish chute. Mentally I was really proud and the clock read 7:07 so I was pretty happy about that. I know if I had not piddled at the aid stations on my last lap that I’d have come in under 7. Something to shoot for next time!

Surface: Dirt
Mileage: 18
Duration: 04:23:00
Pace: 14:36/m
Shoes: Montrail Hardrock

First, something interesting to note: today’s run put me at 1000.7 miles officially logged in my joglog. I know I’ve not logged every run since I first began, but for the last couple of years, I have put everything in.

With a rather weak base, I decided for my mind’s sake I needed to get in another long run before the upcoming Palo Duro 50K I’m scheduled to run Oct 21. Since I now kind of know my way to and around the Northshore trail, I decided to give it a try after a recent rain. I had no idea what to expect. While I did end up completing the distance I originally set out to do, I tried to convince myself to quit. It was just after the 9 mile mark after I set back out to complete the south portion of the trail. I turned around, took two steps, and realized I needed to get this done no matter how much it hurt (and it did, but not too badly!).

I started around 7:30 this morning and the temperature was quite nice. I believe it was in the upper 50s according to radio weather reports. The sun was already providing a lot of light by the time I got to the parking lot so I quickly unpacked my things and set out on the more northern part of the route. I decided to take it first because it is hiller and less runable. I figured if I got it down in a decent time, I’d feel good about myself and be inspired to tackle the second half with no problem. Well, I did tackle it quite well, coming in at 12:00/m right on the nose. Looking back, I really did run a lot of things I should have walked and probably did not rest as much as I should have since I kept a pretty quick pace. And it came back to get me.

During the first half I also got two pleasant reminders that I should be really careful of the terrain. Due to heavy mud in one spot almost to Far Gate, my left foot got stuck in the mud then slid from under me. Though I didn’t fall, my right hand (also carrying my water bottle) did go knuckles-first to the ground. I awarded myself a 9 for technical merit and an 8 for style :-). My second almost disaster came on a nasty downhill rocky section. My left foot tripped over a rock and I went lunging down the hill much faster than I wanted to. I kept my footing and managed to keep from wiping out. That one could have been really bad, including injuries to all sorts of things.

I got back to my truck and was feeling pretty good. The morning was nice and I had carried plenty of fluid. I ate part of a Cliff Bar and downed a bit of water. I spent 7 minutes in all on this stop. There was more of that to come … much more. My time heading to Rockledge from MADD seems to be exactly 1 hour. I spent 10 minutes of that sitting at a picnic bench just absorbing the day and resting. Once at Rockledge, I spent a whopping 21 minutes looking at the lake and laying flat on my back on a picnic table. Then back to MADD, I took a little over an hour without official stops, but with a ton of butt dragging up the hills. I also didn’t have quite enough water for the entire second leg. That mentally got me down, particularly when the new water fountain that some of the club members were sure to point out was dry.

This run was night and day from Saturday. I felt really bad once I finished. Though I went quicker, I don’t feel like it was worth it. I know if I had to go 13 more miles today, I’d have been in big trouble. I actually think I could have managed a smile after 13 more on Saturday. This just reminds me that I should probably go out really easy and keep my slow and steady pace to the finish line.

Today highlighted one of my really bad habits (at least when it comes to making good progress). I tend to want to spend a lot of time just sitting around when I feel like I could use a good rest. During races, I know I’ve spent 15+ minutes at aid stations. Over the course of a 50k, that adds up big time and is probably why my pace has been dragging. But then again, looking at my slow pace from Saturday, even if I didn’t need to rest, I’d still probably be taking it easy. Hmm … how to fix this?

One more thing, I tried Bag Balm on my toes just to get used to the feeling. It felt icky at first but I got used to it. I am not sure if it helped any, but I did not blister.

Surface: Dirt
Mileage: 18
Duration: 04:32:00
Pace: 15:10/m
Shoes: Montrail Hardrock

Since I had gotten lost earlier in the week, I decided to head out early Saturday morning to see the entire Northshore Trail at Grapevine Lake. I was also eager to meet many of the NTTR club members who regularly post messages to the mailing list.

Deborah kindly offered to drive me into the MADD shelter since the surrounding area is a bit messy. I met her at 6:35am in an Exxon parking lot before heading to the MADD shelter. After arriving, I pulled the things out of my paper bag that I’d readied the night before. I had two amphipod 20oz bottles filled with pre-mixed Gu2O powder, a few Cliff Bars, and some new Cliff gummy squares. I finished off part of a Cliff Bar I’d opened the previous night (the brownie one is hard to resist!) and then started chatting with the group as more people arrived.

Before I knew it, we were out on the trail and the morning was quite brisk. There were about 8 of us in all and we headed towards the south section first. Before too long, I realized that the wrong turn I’d taken was exactly what I thought. The group split up around here and Deborah and I continued together for the rest of the 18 miles.

We are both pretty talkative and the miles were just flying by. I was watching my bottle closely to make sure I was drinking regularly but saving enough to make it back to the half-way point and pick up my other bottle.

Around the 4-mile mark, I looked over to the lake and noticed someone going for an open water swim. I don’t know what temperature the water was but the air still had a very welcomed crispness to it. Right after this, we came upon the group of 4 that had split off earlier but somewhere along the way they picked up Letha. I went for a pit stop at Rockledge and then we headed right back on the trail.

The miles really were just slipping right on by and everything was feeling great. My legs weren’t tired, I didn’t feel short of breath, and my feet weren’t developing any hot spots. Our pace was a bit slow, but I figured I would be dying long before 18 rolled around so figured it was for the best.

We got back to the MADD parking lot and I had a gummy and some Cliff Bar and exchanged my empty amphipod previously filled with lemon-lime for my one filled with orange. As we headed on the more northern trail, Deborah reminded me that it was a bit hillier and rocky that what we’d just done. I expected it to be a lot worse than it turned out to be but it was nice to have some climbs to mix things up. She was certain to point out the hills that one club member “requires” everyone to run, which I found pretty humorous.

We stopped a couple times to chit chat with club members, the second time was for quite a while. After we’d finished, we realized that we might have actually been going faster on the second half of the run than the first since there was only 9 minutes difference in the split times.

Late in the run, after we’d been talking about electrolyte replacement, working, sleep cycles, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, water ice, gelato (were we getting hungry?), we starting talking about upcoming races and training goals. It was mentioned that I should consider running the 100K at Bandera and then Umstead in March and Javelina next November. I couldn’t get over thinking about the 100K at Bandera. Sure, the training runw as going great, but I still have a pretty big mental block I need to work through. My 2004 Bandera 50K was misery and I was super slow. I can’t imagine putting myself through twice that and for some of it in the dark! But honestly I am pretty psyched right now because I’ve got myself thinking that a 50 mile run on an easier course is within reach.

This was an excellent run for me and I really needed it to get my confidence up for Palo Duro. We both knew we could have gone faster but it was nice to finish it with such ease. I’m looking forward to heading back out there soon to put in the miles!

Surface: Dirt
Mileage: 7
Shoes: Montrail Hardrock

I finally made it out to the Northshore Trail at Grapevine Lake … and after wandering around for a bit, I made it back to where I started. Yes, I got lost on a training run. Originally I had intended to go about a mile further than I did, but I somehow couldn’t figure out how to get to the MADD Shelter heading north. So instead of a 9 mile training run, I wound up with 7.

I wound up at the intersection of Sentinel Oaks Dr and Three Bridges Dr. I turned around and went back down the asphalt and headed towards the lake. After staying left, however, it seemed like I was at a dead end. I could see the small marina to my left but didn’t understand how the trail could wind around near the beach. After a steep climb back up, I walked back to what seems like a parking area in front of some restrooms. There were two pairs of boots strung over a powerline. I’m sure regulars on the trail know exactly where this is. I suspect that I needed to stay right along the asphalt to continue on the right path. I did see two bikers coming from somewhere and I’m guessing that’s where.

It was nice to be back on a true trail and I am happy about my decision to venture out there even on a very hot 90+ degree day. I did take my new handheld amphipod water bottle that is totally easy to carry and not distracting. In the past I have tried handheld bottles and found them unconfortable and irritating. This puppy does the trick. The one thing I need to improve is bringing two along next time. With the heat and the “detour”, I could have used more fluids getting back to my truck.

I like this trail because it has enough scenery and trail changes to be interesting. In ways it reminded me of the days I used to run along the Greenbelt near downtown Austin. This is definitely a trail I will return to in the future. It is much more runnable than the bike trails at L.B. Houston park, though I will have to work on figuring out the path all the way to the 9-mile turnaround point.

A few training notes: I didn’t have as much discomfort in my feet mainly due to the varied terrain. When you have to work on footing, the use of so many different muscles in the lower legs keeps the feet guessing exactly how they will land. I can see how it would be pretty easy to face plant due to the roots and rocks. :-)

Surface: Asphalt
Mileage: 9
Duration: 01:39:00
Pace: 11:00/m
Shoes: Montrail Hardrock

I can’t believe how hot is still is in October. I figured heading out earlire in the morning would be enough to escape the 90-degree temperatures. While it was only in the 80s, I was still burning up.

What struck me as so strange is how I was feeling around mile 3. I had taken 2 e-caps anticipating the hot weather and was feeling great. I was feeling better than I have on a run in a long time. My breathing was easy, my legs didn’t feel tired, and my feet were not hurting. I figured this run would be cake all the way back to the north end of the lake. Gee, how things change. By mile 5, all I was looking forward to was the cool spray stations and the drinking fountains. I also have waves of nausea coming on. In less than two miles, I went from feeling great to wishing the run was long over.

I kept pushing to the end with a few short walks, mainly on the uphill sections and where I felt really overheated. I felt I was keeping a decent pace overall and when I got back to the truck, realized I ran within seconds of my time last week. I did, however, stick to the path on the south end of the lake which added just a bit of distance but nothing major.

Even though some things went wrong, the hot spots on my feet did not seem near as bad as they have been recently. However, my new shorts did cause some irritation on my lower back where the tag is located. I had removed it just prior to the run because it chafed my skin slightly last time out and it was only aggravated this time around.

At the end of the run, all I could think about is how long the 31 miles at Palo Duro will seem.