Stroller pushin in Texas

I have wanted to do this race for about a year, and it's where they hold the 50 Mile National Championship.  Since the race is an hour and a half away from Del Rio, which is close in Texas terms, I needed to find out what this race was about.

The race was held at Camp Eagle, a Christian Camp located outside of Rocksprings, TX.  They wanted people to come up Friday, stay the night Friday and Saturday nights to enjoy the camp and it's amenities.  It was a beautiful setting.

I woke up at 3:30 and left SA to get to the race by 6:15, the start was at 7:00.  Got to the camp and I registered late.  I didn't get a shirt because I had registered late, so I bummed by that .  6:45 I went out to the start line and there were only about 15 people.  Where was everyone?  At 6:50, all of these trail runners came out of nowhere! Everyone was stocked up with gear.  Backpacks, hand held water bottles, gaiters on their shoes.... They just looked a lot different than a road race.  I surely felt and looked like a newbie.  I placed myself toward the front of the group because I was stuck in the back at the last trail race.

Race started and we were off onto the narrow trail.  This was one big line of runners, I don't think I could pass anyone for the first mile.  Someone yelled out our first mile split, 11:30.  I about died!  We were going so dang slow and I couldn't get around anyone, I was getting really frustrated.  By mile three, we started to get a little faster. By mile 5, things were starting to straighten out.

The terrain was VERY VERY difficult.  I have paced Wasatch 100 in the past and it didn't compare to the shell, hills, and switchbacks of this race.  I had two goals for this race: 1. To not fall. 2.  To not hurt myself.

 I was amazed that there were so many runners walking up massive inclines.  It just took more energy to try to run up the hill rather than just walking.  I was so happy that I had only signed up for the 25k.  I can't imagine doing the 50 miler.  No wonder why they had the National Championships here.  

My watch was behind (of course), so I ignored it and didn't know my mileage.  There were three aid stations, so I had to carry a little water bottle.  It was fine until the water bottle started leaking.  I didn't want to stop to even take a GU, I just wanted the race to be over!  About mile 11 ( I think), I finally stopped on a huge incline to fix my water bottle, turn my ipod on and take a GU.  I did all of that and then I was a lot more comfortable.

By the last aid station, a volunteer said I only had a mile and half left... Never can trust race volunteers, but I hoped he was right. During the last mile we had to cross the springs, on cobble stones...... Ummmm.  I was trying to jump from rock to rock, surely I was going to fall, so I just walked in the water.  And then they had us exit the springs on some really slick rocks.  Danger.  

I ran to the finish, and it didn't feel like a big deal.  I didn't even stop to get my medal, I just kept walking to look at the race results.  They gave me a medal and a strange looking metal donkey because I was third place.  I really didn't know what to think about my time, other runners were telling me I did a really good job.  So I was pleased I finished the race without falling or hurting myself. 

 I really hope to do this race again, such an awesome experience.  I would also like to go up early and spend the night.  It was fun and it was for sure an adventure for me.

Today didn't feel too great.  I used today mostly to recover and go slow.  My body feels sloggy, dehydrated, and bloated.  Great combination.

Ran on the track for 3 miles and it got too hot.  Headed inside and rode the bike for 32 minutes and ran 3 more miles on the Woodway TM.  Boring.   

Super pleased with my Tuesday TM effort today.  1 mile warm up, one mile cool down.

8 miles of tempo stuff. 7:00 AP exactly. 

This was probably faster than it should have been.  Ran around in the wind for awhile. 

Track Thursdays. 

3 mile warm up on track.

Ran the straights, jogged the curves for 3.25 miles.  I just about died!  How will I ever be able to do 400s, let alone 800s??

TM: One minute @ 7.0, 1 min @ 10, repeated 8X. Death death death!!!

1 mile cool down.

Stretches and some ABS.  I have a long way to go until I get wherever I'm getting to.  

5 around the neighborhoods.  Can't believe running up and down the little streets by my house would equate for 4 miles.  Who knew? Super super humid.  

Super humid out.  Really boring.  I ran by the industrial park part of town.  Mile 5.5 I saw lots of ladies panties strewn all over the road.... What the? At mile 6 there was a big bull staring at me as I passed his field.  I then starting thinking ways I could escape from a bull chasing me, if it were to happen.  All I could think of was to climb up a tree.  Only in Texas.

Mile 9 stopped at Wal-Mart to get a drink.  Even though I was in running clothes and looking array, I felt I mixed in with the crowd.   

I got a facebook message from my friend this morning asking me if I wanted to join her on her 20 mile run.  I was so excited, I ran and got dressed and met her at the park. 

We ran an out and back on the Greenway that totaled around 14 miles. I was so so so so so happy to run with a long distance runner that ran my same speed and was a girl!!  We talked and ran and I LOVED it!!  So refreshing to run with someone, I was so happy.  The sunshine and the weather were just as perfect.

1 mile warm up, 1 mile cool down.

8.25 speedwork on TM.  6:55 AP  

6 miles, very beautiful out. 

YOGA. :) 

Base 5k today.  I really wanted to run 10 miles but we were leaving to go to Del Rio early so I didn't have time.  I was also with David and we usually don't run a long way when we run 5ks.

Warmed up 1.6 miles.  Started at the front of the pack.  Goal was to save my legs for tomorrow's race.  

Ran the out and back course in 20:44.  Nothing eventful.   

Cooled down for a few miles and went home.  It is always fun running with David. David won in 18:34. 

I signed up for this 5k because it sounded like fun and the prizes were the best in town.  I showed up early because I wanted to run 6 or so miles before the start.  I started running on the course and got a little confused because I went around the course once and it was 1.5 miles long.  Then I realized it was a two loop course.  The course was beautiful but it climbed up and down some pretty big hills.  It was a fun course and I made some few strategies as I did my warm up.  Take it easy on the up hills and fast as I could fly down the down hills.

The race didn't have very many people registered and I could tell there weren't any "fast" ladies as I looked around at the start.  We were off and a girl was trying to keep with me, but I could tell she would fall off on the first hill.  Sure enough, the first hill she was left behind.  I tried to push my pace to keep as close to 20 minutes.  First 1.5 miles I ran in a few seconds less than 10 min.  Ran the second lap and just wanted the race to be over.  Finished and the clock read 20:14.  

I took another lap around the course to cool down.  While I was running I watched a couple in front of me in their 20s cheat the course.  I kind of laughed that they were really cheating on a 5k course.  I caught up to them and jokingly said "Were you cheating?"  The girl replied, "no" and the guy said, "um yesss!"  It just made me laugh.  Toward the the finish line I caught up to a teenage girl and when she saw me, she started sprinting.  It made me laugh.  I guess I helped her finish faster, right?

For the prizes I got a huge purple towel, a water bottle and $50 gift certificate to the overpriced spa that sponsored the race.  I get some of the strangest things for prizes at races.  Oh well, better than nothing and I had a lot of fun.   

18 miles with Melissa on the Greenway and McAlister Park.  

Nose bleed miles 10-16.  I never have nose bleeds!! I scratched my nose and that thing just bled and bled!  I used my shirt to wipe my nose, I eventually just ran with my shirt around my neck, pretty dang gross. I felt bad that we had to keep stopping for my nose.  Didn't know what to do, so I just kept running.

8:45 AP for the run.  Felt nice and easy.  I loved running with Melissa. Melissa+running = Fun and happiness.  Yes, I am corny.  

Came home and soaked waste deep in the swimming pool, so nice.  :)  High of 93 today. 

7 miles around the 'hood. It's officially summer here, no doubt.  I love living in San Antonio and I am very sad to leave this beautiful place.  I ran alongside the beautiful blue bonnets that have been starting to appear in the fields.  Lovely and sunny out.

10 miles on the TM. 1.5 to warm up and .5 to cool down.

Fartlek on the TM.  8 miles AP 6:53.  Went a quarter mile on 8.0, half mile on 8.5 and a mile on 9.0.  Repeated that five times.  On the fifth repeat brought the last half mile up to 9.5.  

Yoga today.  :) 

5 miles on the track.  It was fun to run while people were getting their PT test done.  

Yoga class in a racquetball court.   Lots of fun. 

5 miles with the hubby and 2 alone.  Pleasant run talking to him most of the time.  Extremely humid today.  Ran through a cool mist.

7 with the hubby.  Chatting away, 8:10 AP

5 miles with hubby, 3 alone.  Lots of shopping today, I bought a few clothing items $10 and under, love the outlets.

10 TM miles. 1 mile warm up. .25 @ 8.0, .50@8.5, 1.00@9.0 repeated 5X.  Half mile to cool down.

Weights.  Oh boy, I think I will be sore tomorrow.  Took it relatively easy so I won't be so sore tomorrow.  Legs strong, arms weak. 

Yoga this morning, it was perfect.

8.25 miles

I went to the social run tonight at iRun Texas running store.  I got there a half hour before and ran 3 miles alone.  The store was putting out Easter eggs for the runners to collect on the run, I passed about 4 eggs on the way back up to the store but left them alone.

You can run 3, 4, or 5 miles with the group run.  I decided on the 5 miles.  The route was incredibly hilly.  There were two huge hills we had to go up.  I collected 2 eggs and they were both full of candy.  Some of the eggs had gift certificates to the store, I didn't get one of those.  The end of the run went up a huge hill the runners call "The Beast."  At the top of the hill is the LDS temple, kinda cool.  Really pretty views of the city too. 

5 miles with Melissa in the evening.  Her daughter was at soccer practice nearby, so we planned an evening run.

10 miles in the mid-morning.  I was on FIRE!  I was so hot and I was thankful that I had my little water bottle with me, I was dying of thirst.  

7:54 AP 

9 miles.  8:07 AP 

HAPPY EASTER everyone!