Pre-Race
3:40 A.M, the alarm goes off. Can I go back to sleep? Nope,
it’s race day! I had everything ready
from the night before, ate some toasted white bread, hydrated a little bit, and
I was out the door by 4:00 A.M. I walk
outside, and what is that? Oh, just my college student neighbor making out with
her boyfriend. Yes, at 4:00 A.M. I turned my car on and scared them off inside
her house. I headed towards Huntsville, Tx, through the foggy roads to be ready
for my 6:00AM race.
I got to the race site, picked up my bib and time chip, and
got ready. During the race I would be
carrying a head lamp (it’s still dark at 6:00AM), a fuel belt with 4 PowerBar
gels, a few salt caps, and a handheld water bottle.
Rocky Raccoon 50K trail race would consist of running two
15.5 mile loops through the Huntsville State Park with 4 aid stations placed along
the course every 3-5 miles. This makes
my second trail and ultra-race, so my goals were simple: finish under 5:00 (PR)
and place top 10 (top 3 if possible). I of course did not want to step on a
snake, trip, or get lost, but these are everyone’s goals as well.
Weather was between 70-80F with a humidity of 60-80%.
The director explained the rules and pointed out some
important information. At about 6:01AM
we were off into the darkness.
Loop 1 (0-15.5m)
I had found a spot at the front of the starting line and
started with the lead group. However,
about two minutes later the lead group of four took off. We were running at about 7:30min/mi and I
knew that if I went any faster I would burn out, so I decided to be patient and
remain at my constant pace. My self and
Todd (who I met after the race) created the second group of runners and stayed
together for about three miles. It was
convenient for us to be together because once he took a wrong turn, and another
I did, so we were there to make sure we stayed on the correct path. This was my first “night” run and it proved
quite difficult. Every root looked like
a snake and everywhere I looked seemed to look like a path. The course was marked with red/white tape
that was tied to branches throughout the course. So if you didn’t see tape for a while, you
are probably lost.
Those first three miles were through single trail. Todd was running behind me, but was slowly
falling behind. After the first three
miles, we hit an old jeep road that would takes us by the first aid
station. This road had some difficult
hills (I’m from College Station, so no hills here) and weren’t too hard given
my fresh state. At the end of the jeep
road, I took a left turn. This would
lead me to the first aid station and it was also an out-and-back point, so I would
get to see how far behind I was from the lead group. I eventually saw their
headlamps and noticed I was about half a mile behind and currently in 5th
place. I did notice that two of the guys
did not have a light source, so they were forced to remain in a group to use
each other’s light. Not having a light
would be disadvantageous in such a dark forest, so I was hoping this would slow
them down so I could catch up soon. I continued
onto the aid station and decided not to refill my handheld water bottle, so as
to save time. I did however needed a
sports drink to replenish electrolytes, but all they had was Heed, which was
NASTY. I needed the substance, so I took
it.
I took off from the aid station and was hoping to catch up
to the lead group, but that never happened.
Then I realized that this was a 31 mile race and over the span of the
next four hours anything could happen. That being said, Ellie Goulding’s new
hit song, “Anything Could Happen,” popped into my head. This would become my theme song for this
race.
The next three miles went through single trails that weren’t
too bad. It was dark and there were lots
of roots, so I just watched my steps and kept on going. I reached the 2nd aid station,
replenished my water supply, drank some Heed, and off I was. This next section was probably the
toughest. It’s a lot of running uphill
with lots of roots. It definitely slowed
down my pace, but still remained sub 8 minute miles. At this point, the darkness was fading
away. I was so concentrated on not
tripping that I hadn’t looked up. When I
did, I realized it was foggy. The fog
covered the trees, it was quite a beautiful sight.
The next five miles were still a lot of uphill with many
sandy parts. I’d been alone since mile
three and no one had passed me, nor had I passed anyone. No one was behind me and no one was in front
within sight. I was me, the fog, and my
legs.
By the time I reached the 3rd aid station, my
pace had fallen to about 8:30min/mi and I was comfortable with it. I had been taking a gel every 30 minutes and
water every mile and as needed, so my body was working perfectly. As I moved on after the aid station, it would
only be about three miles before finishing the first loop. This last part was also quite hilly, rooty,
and sandy. For the last mile and a half,
I would also be running on the same path as the lead group. I saw first place running towards me and
already had about a mile lead, about 1/5 mile behind him was 2nd
place, and about ½ from him was 3rd.
I never did see 4th place, so I assumed he was still at the
aid station. I got to the aid station in
just under 2 hours (under 2:15 was my goal), refilled water bottle, and decided
to take a minute to apply more Vaseline on my feet since I was starting to feel
hot spots. I lost about a minute, but I knew
it would be worth it.
Loop 2 (15.5-31mi)
I left the aid station and 4th place had not left
yet, making me the new 4th place.
Patience. Anything could happen.
I ran into Todd, who was about half a mile behind me. This gave me a good gap, I just had to keep
it up. As I was running through the
single trails before the first aid station, I was starting to feel the effects. Though I was still keeping a descent pace, I was
thinking about the future, would I still have enough energy for the hills after
the second aid station? Could I keep this gap?
I was considering walking the up hills of the upcoming jeep dirt road,
my inner me had really good points and I was about to accept the offer. Then something happened. As I was running through the trail, the 10-K’ers
were running in the opposite direction. We
exchanged “good jobs” and kept running. But a very enthusiastic older gentlemen pointed
out, “good job guy, you are in 4th place, keep it up.” I knew I was in fourth place, but he made the
idea click in my head. I was going to
run strong and with no regrets, whatever happens, happens. Anything could happen.
As I headed toward the first aid station, I would get the
opportunity to see exactly how far behind I was from everyone. First place guy already had a two mile lead,
so no reason to worry about him. 2nd
place was about one mile in front of me and 3rd place was about 1/5
of a mile in front. I go to the aid station,
refilled water, drank Heed, and ate a cookie.
I got encouragement from the volunteer, telling me I could easily catch
up. Anything could happen. Thanks
volunteer! I kept running and could not
see 3rd place, it took three miles to finally see him. It seemed as if he was starting to hurt, but I
wasn’t running much faster than him, so it would take a couple more miles to
pass him. Unless, he is too tired to run
up the hills, in which case it may be my opportunity to pass and create a gap. He knew I was behind him, so he stopped by
the aid station and left quickly. I
replenished my water supply and quickly started the chase. In my mind, he was the injured antelope, and I
was the fierce lion. He was running to
survive, I was running to survive.
To my surprise, I was correct. He was too “injured” to run up the hills. It took a lot of energy for me to run up, but
I did, and I passed him, and I created a gap.
My plan was now to keep this spot and don’t let anyone have it. Second place had been too far in front of me
and he looked pretty strong the last time I saw him, so I didn’t think I’d be
able to catch up. But what would you
know, at mile 22 I saw him walking about 100 feet in front of me. 2nd place within reach! Anything could happen.
I kept pace and once I got to about 50 feet from him, the
inevitable happened: my right calf started to cramp. I immediately stoped running and took two salt tablets. The last thing I wanted
now was a full blown calf cramp that would make me limp to the end. I walked for about 30 seconds and decided to
run the next mile slow and using a heel strike (as opposed to mid-foot, since
heel strike uses less calf muscle). I
clocked a 10 minute mile and at this point, Jose (2nd place guy) was already out of sight. I attempted to pick it up to my original
speed, but again the cramp warning would get me and in addition my right hamstring was also starting to cramp. I again walked for 30 seconds and again
started running at 10 minute pace. At mile
25 I once again had Jose in sight. He was
running slow and seemed to be hurting, but so was I. The injured lion now chasing the injured
antelope.
For some reason, I thought to pour water down my hamstring and
calf to try and keep the muscles cool.
Surprisingly, it worked, but I had to keep pouring water down my leg
every two minutes. This helped me remain
within 10 feet of Jose. My dilemma came
down to either try and pass Jose and maybe cramp, or remain behind him and hope
for the best. I took the first option
and off I went. I was now in 2nd
place and four miles left in the race.
Anything could happen.
I got to the 3rd aid station, drank three cups of
the nasty Heed, refilled water bottle, and left. This aid station had a small out and back
portion and as I left, I didn’t see Jose.
I had at least a minute lead and no matter what, I was going to keep
it. Even with cool water running down my
right leg, it still wanted to cramp every 30 seconds. I then decided to use my left leg as a
crutch. The left leg took the shock
going downhill and did most of the climbing, while the right did as little effort
as possible. Best idea? Probably not,
but it was the only way to continue.
 |
| Finish Line |
I ran the next couple of miles and ended up finishing 2nd
place overall with a final time (and PR) of 4:19:54 (Results). I was quite upset to find out there were no
overall awards, just the finisher’s prize.
But then again, I can’t complain since the race website never said there
would be any.
If I can say so myself, I came, I ran, and I conquered the race.
If I can say so myself, I came, I ran, and I conquered the race.
 |
| Shirt and Finisher's Prize |
Post Race Remarks:
1.
Thanks to the race director and all the
volunteers
2.
Patience is a virtue
3.
Anything could happen
4.
I myself learned a lot about racing, especially
about mid-racing strategizing
5.
Why make-out with the BF at 4:00AM in the morning? Schedule
dates during normal hours like normal people.
Thanks for reading!
--Ruben
