Palo Duro 50K
October 21st, 2006
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!