January 13, 2003
Traveling to Bandera, a “must visit” cowboy locale for anyone searching for the stereotypical Texan riding his horse into the sunset, I envisioned the perfect Texas trail running race. It would be a deserted state natural area, big enough to provide miles of rugged, rocky, hilly, Texas terrain with wild boar and abundant deer leaping over cactus and armadillos around every corner. Add a little sun, some heat, and 50K of trail running (that’s 31 miles for us Americans), and what more could I thirst for on this cold January weekend?
My reality was almost shattered though, as Kent and Jennifer reminded me that it was January, and cold, and our day was to be filled with fighting off the rain gods, in hopes of at least a dry trail in 40ish degree temperatures. We stopped in for dinner at the local smoke filled OST diner on the corner of downtown Bandera. We received glaring stares from the locals that could have branded cattle with their bare eyes. But more importantly, we received a belly full of home cooked chicken fajitas that could hold their own at any cook off competition. The abundant chicken was surpassed only by the numerous John Wayne pictures peering down on us from the surrounding walls. Though our tummies were swollen, Kent ate extra…heeding my warnings to find every calorie we could before daybreak.
I tossed and turned until our wake-up call at 5:30 a.m; I was glad Jen had requested it after hearing my watch go off shortly after…a noise only an alert cat might have heard if it was injected into his ear canal. I shoved down the normal pre-race ritual of bagels w/peanut butter, a banana, & a protein shake. We showered, put on one more coat of New-Skin on our feet to protect from blisters, and hit the road for the Hill Country State Natural Area.
A short 10-mile drive landed us at the starting line with enough time for me to make my numerous trips to the Honey Bucket (Jen & Kent’s terminology for the Port-o-Pots). They were very nice…even had mirrors inside to check the tilt of my hat and whether I had applied too much lip balm. The warmth of this place was much nicer than the starting line, but with 2 minutes to start, I hustled out and over to the congregation of runners.
I had altered my reality a bit, to allow for the cold I was feeling. I wore tights (for the cold, and to protect myself from the sotol cactus we were warned about) and my light rain jacket over my long sleeve shirt. I also wore my lucky smart wool socks with purple ankles that my boys gave me for Christmas. This, I knew, would bring my Texas Tale some good luck and get me to the finish line. A friend, Dr. Jackson, wore an insulated cap with foldable ear covers and his number pinned to it. It reminded me of Dr. Seuss’s hat because the number made the hat look taller and squared off at the top. I checked with Dr. Dave (good to have so many Dr.s in attendance) to get the proper altitude for my watch, and as I was setting the altimeter, the race director started us. No problem. Just a walking start for me as I finished my watch tuning…this would be a long day!
The lead pack disappeared around the corner as Kent, Jen & I joined forces and found we were all running the same pace. The race started off with a climb, climb, climb. The trail had already lived up to the race director’s claim; there was nothing easy about it yet! We walked the really steep parts to save energy for later in the race. We ran when we could, but it was hard to get a rhythm on the loose rocky sections, and the downhills were bone jarring with each foot needing to be carefully placed to protect yourself from a fall. We were all excited; what fun!
Around mile 4, we run across the lead pack rustling back toward us through the Sotol Cacti. It included Joe Constantino, Dr. Dave & Carlos. They had gone so fast they missed a turn and told us we were about to run a loop and end up right back where we started. We could see the trail marked in front of us, so we continued on. We found the trail; I could see where it would be easy to miss it. It is a new section that isn’t even a trail yet and you basically have to step down carefully through some rocks and grass and cactus and cut over to the next section of trail.
We arrived at the first checkpoint 5 miles into the race. We had been out for 58 minutes already. We could hardly believe how long it took us to cover 5 miles. At this pace, it would take longer than 6 hours to finish the race. The second 5 miles was difficult as well, but the last stretch winding through a creek bed flattened out, and we were pleased the water level was low enough to allow us to hop the rocks across without getting our feet wet. Though the course was flat here, I had my first “low” of the day and lost contact with my running buddies, Kent & Jen.
At mile 10, we had another aid station, and our clothing bags were there for us if needed I got into Jen’s medicine box and took an Alieve, anticipating a long day of pain at this rate I saw Jen & Kent for the last time here, as their fast little legs were too much for me today We had bountiful choices of food to choose from at the rest stops, but I quickly grabbed some M&Ms, asked for a half water bottle, received a full one, and I was off At this point in the race, the pack had thinned out, and there just weren’t a lot of folks to keep you company out there. In fact, there were no animals either, not one Everything must have been hiding or hibernating. I met Juan and Chris as I left the transition (they were doing the 100K run), but when Juan ran off into the distance, I saw only one other person for the next 10 miles.
Running alone, I had lots of time to think. The terrain turned friendly at this point and I felt like I was flying. In my reality, I was. I made it through the next 5 miles in just less than 45 minutes. Much better than the first technical 5 mile time. Wow, the trail was so much tamer in this section. Feeling good, I ran the next 5 miles the same way. This was definitely the fastest section of the race for me, and most everyone else. I ran across “yellow jacket” man and exchanged hellos as I passed. I noticed the lines of salt etched into the sides of his face through the corner of my eye. I wondered how hot he was inside that sauna. I felt hunger pains now, and so I ate a fig newton bar I had been carrying in my pack.
Back at the mile 20 aid station, I got into Jen’s medicine box again and down the hatch went another Alieve; my lower back was beginning to feel the miles of carrying the water bottle holder around my waist, and my knees were beginning to talk as well. Jen and Kent were nowhere to be seen, but I thought if I hurried on down the trail, there was no telling what the future would hold. As I ran on, the sky began to drop a slow drizzle. I turned around to go back to the rest stop I had just left and get my rain jacket. I was only about an 1/8th of a mile down the trail, but as I was running back, I passed another female. “Rats!” I thought. Now I am behind her. She asked me if we were going the wrong way, and I told her “No, I was just going back for my jacket.”
Rain jacket on, I left again, but “white shirt” lady was nowhere to be seen on the trail ahead. I didn’t care though This was my first 50K, and I was happy at this point to be seemingly nearing the finish. The reality was, I’ve never run this far in my life before. My heart and mind were telling me, “You are in God’s country, isn’t it beautiful?” The next 2 miles were easy. Nothing but me and my reality that I was going to finish. As I rounded a corner, I met up with a horse lady and a “team of horses” pulling a cart. I was instructed to talk to the horses as I passed by. And so I talked, “What do you guys want me to say to you on a day like today? I’m a human, you’re a horse, good to see you, gotta run.”
Back to business now, because the trail ahead contained several miles of hills; one, two and three. The 3rd hill was the prettiest of all, where you could see all around you, including the next aid station at mile 24. I scampered down the hill, now on a “runner’s high”, taking note of about 5 people in front of me I could catch (one being a white shirt).
I stopped at this checkpoint only long enough to empty a small pebble out of my shoe, asking for a half a bottle of water, and receiving a full one. I caught back up to Juan, the 100k guy, and this time he was running with a new partner named Bill. They ran with me, and after a while, we caught two more guys, one had braided hair and carried a big camelbak, the other had the “white shirt” on. Dang. No woman in site. Oh well, I was feeling strong, so I passed all 4, but Juan and Bill hooked on to my attack and the three of us rustled off down the next hill and up the jeep road. As we neared the aid station at mile 27, I began to feel my “runner’s low” and started to bonk. Bill shared his Hammer Jel with me and they talked me through my down time. I grabbed a coke, some more M&Ms, a pinch of salt, and asked for another half water bottle refill (received a full water bottle refill), and we were off.
Unfortunately, my “high” never returned. The final four miles were indeed tough, with a fairly steep climb with an even steeper descent. The sign with the 3 arrows pointing down was strategically located halfway down this hill to warn of the steepness. Maybe it got pushed from everyone grabbing shrubs and stuff to hold on. I grabbed a cedar branch as Juan said, “Yea, grab anything you can to hold on to!” Bill and Juan coaxed me to the finish, and in return, asked for my prayers to chase off the rain gods a little longer (another 6-10 hours) for them to do another lap. I assured them I would, and that is the last I saw of my two new friends.
I finished the race in 3rd place with a 5:34, just 3 minutes behind “white shirt lady” (Dianna Hager). Jen went on to set a new course record and win 1st place in 5:18. Kent helped keep pace with Jen, and finished beside her. I hooked up with them in the Talamini’s warm van, and we changed clothes and filled our tummies with burgers, pasta, and cobbler. Joe Constantino was first place for the men, and Dr. Dave & Carlos crossed the line together with a sub 5-hour time as well. Tracy Fee came in 4th for the women and Dr. “Action” Jackson and his bulletproof cordura MTB knee-length pants crossed the line in 20th for the men. We all hugged and huddled around the heater in the food tent.
Bandera is a beautiful place. I’ll be back next year for more fun, and maybe one of those horses will give me a ride next time! You should come too!
Side notes:
- I never fell down
- I never got cut by the Sotol Cactus
- I never got my feet wet!
- I never felt like I wouldn’t finish
- I figured out I was not improperly asking for a half-full water bottle, but the reality was the volunteers were being 150% helpful
Women 50k:
1st Place – Jennifer Berry, Team Wheels in Motion
3rd Place – Kathy Duryea, Team Wheels in Motion
Racer D 
Leave a comment