The terrain at Bandera State Natural Area in the hill country of central Texas
What a weekend. It finally got cold in Texas - just when we were about to head out for a weekend of camping and running at Bandera State Natural Area in Bandera, TX. The Cactus Rose race was held there on Saturday (October 27th). There was a 100 mile, 50 mile and 4 x 25 mile relay race. We ran the relay. It all started many months ago when I got it in my head that I wanted to see if I was capable of running a near marathon on the hardest coursewithin a few hundred miles in any direction of here. I did my very first trail race here - the Bandera 25k - in January of this year. And I loved it. But it was hard. So hard. It's not just the hills that make it hard, but the technicality of the course. Good portions of it are just trails of loose rock that slip and slide under your feet, and the downhills are just as if not harder than the uber-steep uphills and are murder on your quads. Not to mention that it's littered with sotol and prickly pear and every other pointy and prickly Texas plant you could think of. But this is what makes it fun. You know there's a good chance you're going to fall. You know that you're going to come back at least a little bloody. You know that you probably aren't going to be able to walk very well for a few days after. So when you do make it back and hear that little beep as your timing chip crosses the finish line, well, that's a feeling that makes it all so worth it.
Clockwise course route (Ty's and my loops); Joe and Phillip ran the reverse direction
My team consisted of my good friend and roommate, Ty, our friend Joe and Ty's brother, Phillip. We had had one opportunity to do one practice run all together as a team a couple weeks before at St. Edward's/Bull Creek. We weren't really planning on racing at Cactus Rose. We just wanted to do it. For me, it was an experiment to see where I stood in terms of planning for my first 50k there in January. For Ty, it was an opportunity to potentially set a new PR for this 25 mile course; for Phillip, another race to add to his resume. For Joe, this would be his first trail race and longest run ever by 8.5 miles. We just wanted to finish.
I arrived after dark on Friday and after chatting for a few minutes with Joe and his wife, Courtney, Ty and Ty's family, promptly set up my tent, and we all hit the hay early to rest up for the long day ahead. It was so windy that sometime during the middle of the night, my rain fly blew half-way off my tent. I thought about leaving it until I felt the cold wind blow straight into my tent, so sometime around 3 AM, I got out into the cold and secured it back down. At 4:30, I woke up again. This time to my alarm. Time to go see Ty off. He was running the first leg that started at 5:00. It was a chilly and windy 46 degrees and dark. I must say, I was quite glad to not have to be stripping down to my shorts and thin running shirt at that time.
Ty getting ready to go at 5:00 AM
We saw Ty off, and I went straight back to bed. My intention was to sleep another couple of hours and then get up to see Ty at the last one or two aid stations, but I fell back into a deep sleep and didn't wake up till he was just 45 minutes away from the finish line. Now, in my defense, Ty runs exceptionally fast. He breezed through the finish line in 3:55 - just 3 minutes off the course record!! He finished in second place out of the relays, but just by a couple minutes setting us up well going into our second leg. He didn't even look like he'd just run 25 miles. He was smiling and laughing and seemingly not in any pain at all.
Ty finishes the first leg in 3:55! We're in second place at this point, just a handful of minutes behind the first place team.
Joe is up next. It's still really cold and windy, though, at least the sun is up now. We get the timing chip and bib off of Ty and pinned onto Joe, and he's on his way.
Joe about to start the 2nd leg of the relay. We're about 10 minutes back from first at this point.
At this point, we're all up and moving around as a group to the aid stations. The aid stations were set 5 miles apart from each other at 5, 10, 15 and 20 miles. Now, usually in the Tejas Trails trail races, the aid stations are manned and the tables stocked with water, gatorade, gels, pretzels, candies, fruit and other assorted things that provide runners with the needed salt (electrolytes) and sugar (caloris/energy) that endurance runners require during these events. But this race is different. The aid stations all had water, but otherwise, you had to have all your own nutrition needs covered. We had all gone around to the aid stations before our respective legs and set out drop bags with gels, bananas, dates, salt tablets and any other thing we thought we might need (change of shoes, shirt, etc.). Working as a team, though, the runner never had to look for their own bag and rummage through and decide what they needed. The team would get there first and get things out and ready so the runner could just run through and quickly grab what they needed, take a minute breather and get back out on the course. Also, in this race, you had to make sure you signed yourself in at every aid station. This was to be able to keep track of all the runners and make sure that everyone was accounted for on this long and difficult course. We would also sign in our runner at each aid station, which was awesome because even something as simple as writing down your name becomes a major task once you're 15 miles in.
The second leg was pretty exciting as Joe and the other lead team's 2nd legger were really battling it out. There seemed to be a lead change every aid station. And it was the other team in first as they came across the finish, but Joe was right behind, so he'd made up some of the time we were behind on them from the start of his loop, putting us even closer to first place than when he started. Joe finished in an amazing 4:45. An incredible time and an amazing new longest run by nearly 9 miles.
Joe finishes in 4:45! We're in second place, but Joe gained on the first place team lessening their lead by several minutes.
Getting ready for my leg. Joe will be here in just a couple minutes. The girl behind me is the 3rd leg of the first place team; Gotta' run her down! (That's Roscoe, our race ambassador, in the foreground. He also really likes to chase flashlight beams.)
Joe passes me the 'baton'.
Ready or not, here I go. I take off and round the corner away from the start and out onto the trail to toward Lucky Peak. I quickly find my rhythm and look down at my watch - a 6:46/mile pace!!! 'Slow down, Laura, you've got a long way to go.' With the adrenaline at the beginning of a race, it's so easy to just take off at a pace that you know is unsustainable but that feels okay right then because of all the nervous and excited energy. I'm trying to work on holding back so that I have more in the tank for those later, really difficult miles at the end. So, I backed off, to a 7:46 or so pace. Still faster than I told myself I was allowed to run, but it felt good, so I went with it.
Shortly after my watch clicked over to two miles, I hit a dead end. What? Where is the pink flagging tape? Where are the yellow signs with arrows? Why isn't there a red 'wrong way' sign somewhere? What happened??? Oh no, I'm letting the chance of passing that girl, of our whole team winning, slip away. Where did I go wrong? Did I miss a turn? Is the trail right here, and I just don't see it? What do I do?
I decide to turn around and back the way I came. Every step is an agonizing second guessing of whether I should keep going back or go back to the dead end and keep looking for a marker. Precious time is slipping away. And then, finally, there! I see a yellow sign with an arrow pointing off the road I'm on and down a trail. How did I miss that before? Oh well, just keep going and hope that those 5 minutes spent aren't the difference between first and second. I worry the whole next three miles about how far ahead I let first place get, but lo and behold, as I come out of the woods into an open field, I think I catch a glimpse of her up ahead, at the other end of the field. Maybe we're still okay!! I come up to the aid station. I'd planned to not stop at this one, as the first 5 miles of the clockwise direction aren't too difficult - just one big hill, but otherwise an overall downhill grade. I exchange my empty water bottle for a full one from Ty and ask how long ago first place came through. 'She's just right there!' he tells me, and I'm off to run her down.
Ty telling me that first place is 'just right there!' as I come through the first aid station.
The next 5 mile section was really easy. More downhill grade, no major hills. I just open up and go for it. I passed the first place girl just on the other side of the aid station, and in an attempt to put some space between us, I run miles 5 and 6 hard, at under 8 minutes per mile. I was feeling good and feeling the distance widen between us as I came into the second aid station at mile 10.
The third section wasn't so bad, either. There was one big hill then some flat area with a little up and down in it, but still really runable, and I held the same pace through this point into the next aid station. I had finished the first 15 miles in 2:16 - about 45 minutes per segment so far. But I knew the last two were going to be slower and harder. All the biggest hills were coming up, and they were all smashed together, one right after the other. Plus, the miles were starting to make themselves heard on my legs. But, the adrenaline of being in first, plus the boost I got from seeing my teammates and supporters at the aid stations propelled me on.
'Okay', I tell myself. 'Two big ones. Two big ones and you're at the next aid station.' I headed into miles 15-20 ready to tackle Three Sisters and Sky Island - the two biggies in this segment. When I got to Three Sisters, I tried running it, but quickly decided a better use of my energy was to powerhike it. Spare the legs. Still a lot of miles to go. I hiked up it, and once on top hear myself say 'One!'. One down, one to go. I ran down the other side. Running down is fun when you get your steps just right - scanning the ground for the most stable place to put your foot, zig-zagging side-to-side on the really steep parts. When you don't get your steps just right, though, if you're not in the rhythm, then running down can be quite scary and a little precarious. Either way, it rips up your quads.
I get to Sky Island and hike up this one as well. As I reach the top, I come up on the second place 100-miler. He turns around when he hears me coming and says 'I hope you're a relayer!' I assure him I am and we chat for a bit. It turns out we ran together for several miles during a 25k race in April. He and another guy had been a welcome distraction for me during that race. They ran right behind me chatting for a good 10+ miles. I chimed in here and there but mostly just listened and used their conversation to take my mind off my pain. It was nice to run into him here again and to see him doing so well in such an amazing feat of endurance - the 100 mile race. I think to myself, 'Okay, if he's still going and has an extra 50 miles on his legs, then I can keep it up the last 8'. I head into the last aid station with a time of 1:07 for this segment. I slowed down a lot, but I tell myself it's okay - it was a hard section, but I need to pick it up in the last one. My team tells me I have at least 10 minutes on the next team, but a lot of things can happen between those aid stations. I need to run hard the last 5.
Coming in to the last aid station. Just 5 more miles and two big hills left!
The last 5 miles I started questioning myself. I'd only run past 20 miles once ever before - when I did the marathon in April. And those were the most painful miles I've ever run in my life. 'Can I do this? Can I keep up this pace?' I think I can physically, but will my mind stay in it? 'Don't think, just run, Laura. Five at a time.' This has been my mantra the whole time - 'Five at a time. You do five mile runs all the time. You can do this. Two more hills. What goes up, must come down. Just get to the top, then you can run down.' Though, running down is pretty painful by now too. My knees ache with every pounding footstep. My quads are tired. My calves are tight. My hamstrings are thinking about cramping up. 'Just five more miles. Your team is counting on you.' At this point, I'm talking to myself. Out loud. Giving myself a little pep talk with each step. It's working. I shake off the doubts and the pain and just keep on going. Somehow, I get myself up and over the last two hills. The end is close now. Just a few more turns....
Finally! I run around the last turn and hear my team cheering me in. I can see the finish line and I sprint to it. I did the last five miles in 53 minutes, finishing in 4:16. My goal going in had been 5 hours. I am so happy. Happy with my time. Happy to be done. Happy to have been able to use what my team had given me and work us into first place. Happy that I gave it my all. I had nothing left. I left it all out on the course. My team helped get the chip and bib transferred over to Phillip, and he started his leg with a 30 minute lead on second place.
Phillip takes off on the last leg. We're in first place by 30 minutes!
Shortly after Phillip takes off, it starts getting dark. I miss his first aid station stop as I'm in recovery mode still. Everything is difficult. Standing, sitting, changing clothes, everything..... I think it took me a good 15-20 minutes just to change my clothes. Every move aches. My arms are sore. Why are my arms sore? Everything hurts, but it doesn't matter. I feel good. I have a recovery drink of Odwalla juice with protein powder in it. The protein powder doesn't dissolve and the whole thing looks a little gross, but it's okay. It's much needed nutrients. Plus, I really want a cookie, but I don't get my cookie until I get in the juice.
Right after the race drinking my not so appetizing but very necessary protein shake. I have to finish this before I can have my cookies. So, for that reason, I chug it down.
After a little while, I feel well enough to rejoin my team at Phillip's second aid station and help cheer him on.
Phillip comes in to the second aid station looking good. He's running fast splits and maintaining our lead.
Phillip mentions cramping at the second and third aid stations, but by the fourth seems to be feeling great. He got there much faster than we anticipated. In fact, Ty and I were just getting out of the car to come up and start waiting for him when Joe ran down to say, 'He's here!!' An amazingly fast fourth segment seems to all but have sewn up first place, but no one wants to say it lest we jinx ourselves. You never know what can happen out there - especially in the dark.... We get Phillip's water bottle refilled, give him a gel and sign him in, and he's on his way - the last 5 miles of our 100 mile adventure. We take off to the finish line to set up chairs around the heat lanterns and wait for his arrival.
Forty-five minutes later, a bright light comes down the final stretch. It's the first place 100 miler who broke his own course record by an hour-and-a-half. Amazing. He ran 100 miles in 17:38! We thought having fresh legs every round would easily allow us to beat any 100 miler, but these guys are just amazing, and Steven Moore crosses the finish line first out of everyone - 100 milers and all relay teams. Some 50 milers are still finishing too, and every time lights come up the path, we all jump up and wait anxiously. Is that him?
Then, yes, finally, at 17:48, here comes number 89! Phillip crosses the finsh line, and it's official. We won the 100 mile relay!!!!! Joe Prusaitis, the race director comes over and congratulates us and gives us our Cactus Roses. He is talking excitedly about how entertaining it was to watch the relay saga play out and takes our picture.
Team Nannergy with our 1st place trophies - our Cactus Roses.
From left to right: Ty, Phillip, Joe and me
We wait around at the finish line to see the second place relay team finish still 20 minutes behind us. We congratulate them and wait around for the second place 100 miler - the guy I saw back at my mile 17 or so. He held on to 2nd finishing somewhere around 18:35 or so, his time also beating the previous course record (18:38 or something like that). It seems that a lot of people had an amazing race today.
It's nearing midnight and the excitement of the win is beginning to be overpowered by the draw of our sleeping bags, so we pack up our chairs and walk back to our tents, congratulate each other one more time and call it a day.
I wonder if I would have been able to run so fast if I had been on my own. Knowing I had my team's support, and knowing that I was running for them and not just for myself, kept me moving when I wanted to give up. Running is such an individual sport, and so it was really nice and really fun and rejuvenating to get to make it a team event. Even if we hadn't been in the running (no pun intended) to win, the camaraderie and support of the relay would have had me on the high that I'm still riding this morning as I write this. It was an amazing experience and one that I will treasure. I not only owe thanks to my awesome team, but to those who were out there supporting us as well - to Courtney, who was sick, but never let it be an issue and to Ty's family who were there at nearly every aid station for all of us. And to the other runners. By the time I went, people were going in all directions, and every time you would pass someone going the other way, both parties would say, 'great job!' or 'keep it up!' or 'looking good!', and every single one of those comments was a little, much needed boost to keep on going.
I ran my first trail race at Bandera in January - the 25k. And this is my last race for this calendar year. An appropriate way to end a truly amazing, life-changing year. And this experience only has me more excited and motivated to start out next year back at Bandera again - this time for the 50k. A new year, a new distance, a new challenge. And then, who knows......
