March 1st, 2015 - This is Happening!

Who wants to crew me for the last 10 miles?
Seriously…
No, really!!!
I'm not even kidding, y'all! Don't let me down. You have months to train. MONTHS!

2014 Cowtown Official Race Photos

My Race Results:

Distance: 50K (31 miles)

Duration: 5:28:56

Average Pace Per Mile: 10:37

Overall Place: 145 out of 451 Ultra runners

550 Ultra Runners Registered. 451 Finishers.

Gender Place: 42 out of 201

Division Place (25-29 yrs): 9th out of 21

 No, I didn't run sideways the whole time. I was checking behind me to make sure I had a visual of my pacer. We were running downtown, probably mile 11. Sure enough the pacer was behind me, but not pictured here.

The Trinity Trails aka the painful miles. Mile 26 'ish.

I heard a spectator yell, it makes it easier if you smile, so I tried to smile. He was right, it helped. 
Sprinting to the finish line. At the end of a 50K, a 10:30 mile is a sprint (for me).

About to cross the finish line! PRAISE THE LORD! Also, holla and food me!

Happy.

I already passed one mat, it's over right? Can I stop now????

Sweet victory tastes like salty sweat.
After I crossed the finish line I sat down to catch my breathe, text and call my friends and family who had been following my race. When it was time for me to stand up, I felt every ache in my body. I saw two gentlemen and asked them to help me up. They laughed at me and called me crazy, but they did help me. Today, I'm feeling less sore. All the foam rolling and stretching has helped.

Similar Post:
2014 Cowtown Ultra Results
http://domandtrey.blogspot.com/2014/02/2014-cowtown-ultra-results.html

2014 Cowtown Ultra Results

I don't even know where to start, so I'll start with the results.
2011 Finish Time: 5:27:24
2014 Finish Time: 5:28:56
Seriously???? Yes. I was nowhere near my 5:17 goal, but to be that close to a PR was a bit tough to swallow.

This year's ultra marathon was a sold out race. There were 550 participants registered. I finished 145 overall and 42nd in my gender.  Here it is….the official results. I was pretty steady, up until the very end.

4:15 am I woke up.
4:30 am I got out of bed and got dressed.
5:00 am Ate blueberry oatmeal.
5:15 am Left the house.
5:35 am Arrived at Will Rogers Memorial for Sunrise Service. There was praise and worship and a devotional service.
6:15 am Bathroom break and tried to connect face-to-face with Sherri
6:50 am Hopped in corral 5 and immediately found the 4:40 marathon pacer. It took me a minute of debating with myself to move closer to the 4:30 marathon pacer.
7:10 am One last pit-stop to the bathroom. No lines. I guess that's one advantage of being in the 5th corral. I made it back, just in time to find the pacer and just like that, we were running.

The first half of my race, not pictured here, was pretty solid. 10-10:20 splits. Mile 22 is when things start to get interesting. I told the pacer, "I'm going to try to hang with you as long as I can." And I did, but things started to unravel between mile 23-24. That's when I lost her. I knew I was going to lose her for sure at mile 25 when the ultra and marathon split, but I so badly wanted to hang out to her until the end.


Unfortunately, Trey did not spectate the race, but my friend Sherri ran the half marathon and then spectated. She called me several times and asked me if I needed anything. She offered me pickled juice and I said, "YES! That sounds wonderful." She ran a little ways with me and encouraged me. When she asked me how I felt, I told her the truth, "I'M EXHAUSTED!" My mom also called me several times, but every time she called, I started to pick up my pace, so thanks mom!

Once I started to run on the trinity trail, my legs had enough. I want to say that was around mile 24. I was so weak, but tried to push on. At that point, I knew I was well ahead of my goal, so I started to take walk breaks...but before I knew it, time was slipping away from me. My 5:17 goal was slipping away. I wasn't mad, I was just like OK. Maybe I can beat my 2011 time???

A lot of distance runners say, it's important to take walk breaks to conserve energy, but I'm not so sure that's the right thing for me or at least on this course/this race…and when I started to take frequent walk breaks, it really messed me up. I'd stop running and then I'd feel ALL the pain, 10 times more, which made it that much harder to start running again. My friend Michael who had recently attempted to complete a 100 mile race, was cheering me on at the 27 mile aid station. I slowed down there a lot, which looking back now, was probably my number one mistake. Runners you know, how these stations make you want to get cozy and relax, when you should be high-tailing it to the finish line! Someone said, don't worry - soon the announcer will be calling your name at the finish line! And that was my mantra, to get me through those last brutal miles.

Today, I picked up the girls. They were in Abilene partying - while I was running and recovering. It was so good to see them. We spent the evening together foam rolling.

My ballerina got into it too.
I have lots more to share, but I think this is good for now! Stay tune for more Cowtown Race Weekend chatter.

All Set for Cowtown

This is happening tomorrow….  The girls are in Abilene, so Trey will be spectating!!!! I'm so excited about that! Last year, he decided to stay at home with the girls, while I ran the half marathon.

I finally decided on what to wear… I will start off wearing either this long sleeve white shirt or I'll find a short sleeve shirt and then toss it, when I get hot. Here's the race day forecast. HOT, if you ask me.
Okay, time to go to bed. This feels like the night before Christmas!

The Game Plan for Cowtown Ultra

I pulled up my 2011 Cowtown Race Report, since I ALWAYS have a hard time remembering stuff like that. I can't even tell you what my 5K PR is, I'd have to look that up too. As far as Sunday goes, I'd love to set a PR. Here are the numbers I'm competing against...

2011 50K Race Results

Distance: 31 miles

Duration: 5:27:24
Average Pace Per Mile: 10:33

Here's my Plan:

I will attempt to run the first 10-15 miles at a medium pace, which for me would feel like an easy run, for at least the first half. Typically, when I race, even an ultra I run out the gate like a bat out of hell. I can't allow my race excitement to get the best of me! I'm going to aim for a 10:20 pace for the first half of the race and then depending  how things go, hopefully run some negative splits for the majority of the second half. I'm terrible at pacing myself during a race, but lately my training runs, have been consistent - mile after mile.

Okay, so here are the numbers I want to see when I cross the finish line: 

5 hours. 17 minutes. 45 seconds. 

I hope I don't have to stop for a restroom break.

I'm trying to decide what shorts to wear on race day. I was thinking of wearing this run skirt or...

Maybe I'll switch it up and wear some speed shorts. I'm really leaning towards the shorts. It might be easier for friends to spot me. 

By the way, I took the liberty to sign my friends and family for Text message race updates. So if you get multiple updates by text, that's because of me. I'll be wearing a headphone bud in one ear, so call me if you want to chat. The best time to call would be around noon. I'm sure I will need some motivational words around that time. If I don't answer, it might be because I've sweated my headphones to death. I'm anticipating a hot race.
Here's to giving it my best. 

2013 Rockledge Rumble 50K Trail Race Report

Distance: 31.46
Duration: 6:35:22
Average Pace per Mile : 12:34
Age Group: I placed 2nd!
Gender Placement: 6th female finisher
Overall Finish: 37th place out of ???? I'm really not sure how many runners were out there. The website has not been updated with official results. I took a photo of a monitor at the finish line.
 
Weather: It was around 45 degrees at the start. It warmed up to about 70 at the finish.
10-15 mph wind, but since I was on the trail (thick trees), it wasn't an issue.

Let's talk about the race!
The weather was great! But I made a mistake, at the very beginning of the race. Don't ask me why, but I was wearing a pullover. It only took me 2 miles to feel warmed up and I was ready to get rid of my sweater.

By mile 10, I ended up taking the sweater off and bunching it up into a ball and carrying it. I had my handheld water in my right hand and the sweater ball in my left. ANNOYING! It was my favorite lululemon pullover, but if it was any other one, I probably would've just tossed it in the bushes. I eventually got rid of my extra baggage when I got to mile 22, the "pit stop", where I had a bag of clothes, extra shoes, socks, and petroleum jelly. Once I got to that area, I rested for about 1 minute. I didn't need to change shoes/clothes/sock, nothing. I took it just in case. About 10 feet away from the bag areas was a fluid and aid station. Ultra races have the best food. Think 10 year old slumber party (snacks)….gummy bears, animal crackers, soda, pretzels, M&M's, etc.
My fuel of choice for ultras or at least this one---- chips and PBJ sandwiches. I also drank some heed. It's an electrolyte drink similar to Gatorade. It's not my favorite, but I drank it, I didn't consume any GU's. That's a first for me. I really hate GU's, they weigh my stomach down.
 
What else? What else? The trail itself was not easy or hard. The trail was somewhere in the middle. Now, the distance was hard, but the trail was not, if that makes any sense. There were so many tree roots and rolling baby hills. I spent 95% of the race, looking at the ground because I did not want to trip. I stumbled at least 10 times, but never fell down.

This is where the trail ended. After running 31 miles, I had to run up a flight of steep stairs. Ouch and Ouch.

I enjoyed running Rockledge Rumble and I would love to run it next year! Now, that I'm familiar with the trail -- spending six hours out there makes me feel that way :)
I feel like if I race it next year, I would do a few things differently.
1. I would start off a lot slower. I said I was planning on running slowly, but I raced the first 13 miles of the race. I started passing runners on the trail 2 miles in, that was a mistake on my part. Miles 14 - 21 were not my favorite. I needed to conserve my energy. By some miracle, around mile 22, I started to get my second wind. I felt great and pretty much ran strong to the finish, from that point forward. I took walk breaks and that helped.
2. Next time, when figuring out my goal time, I will account for stopping at aid stations.  

I'm happy that I finished the race and most importantly had a great time. It's not everyday I get to run on trails, so when I do, it's a real treat! Today, I'm feeling a bit sore. Tomorrow, I might go for a slow run or I might cross train. I love ultras and I can't believe I've only ran three of them. I'm registered to run Cowtown 50K, in Feb. so that will be my next BIG race.

A Running Joke & The Cowtown Marathon Bridge Everyone Talks About

It's kind of a running joke, but whenever Trey and I are driving around Fort Worth, it's common for me to say hey -- I've ran over here before. I sound like a broken record because apparently I'm ALWAYS telling him that. When you've ran an ultra in the city, you cover a lot of miles, so yeah, chances are I've ran a good portion of the surrounding neighborhoods near the downtown area.

Last week, Trey and I drove a portion of the Cowtown Half Marathon Course. He wanted to see the  bridge on main street everyone is always crying about. Most of the runners hate this particular part of the course because it's a long and steady uphill battle, right before you hit downtown. I believe this is main street and that historic building is the original courthouse.

Last year, I recall seeing a runner puking his brains out. His head was over the bridge and everything, it was quite dramatic. Yay, for running memories!

Once you reach the courthouse and take a right, you think you've reached the top of the hill, but NO, there's more. Just a little more of an uphill battle and then it evens out, with more gradual hills. At this point there is about 4 more miles to go to the half marathon finish line. It's about 22 more miles for the ultra marathoners. That was me, last year.

We're Expecting Baby #2

I'm pregnant. If you ask me, I think it's Trey's turn to bare a child. That would be incredible. Really, I don't mind being pregnant, however I could really do without the first trimester. Really. Honestly. Please Make it Pass.

So, now that you know the news --- I can start complaining openly how hungry, nauseous, and exhausted I am. Yay for that!

In no time-- I'll be looking like this, again. Oh, dear...I think I'm ready.
That hump there is baby Cheyenne.

I had a feeling, more of a naueous, I might vomit kind of feeling, leading up to the race, that I was preggers. I wasn't worried about completing the distance if I was, because I had trained for the race -- months of training, so I felt like I was healthy to complete 31 miles, carrying a little baby. Pea Size.

Several months ago, Trey and I discussed, the idea of me being pregnant during ultra training --- he was fine with it, as long as I knew my limitations. So, that's that.

Cheyenne is extremely excited about being a big sister. She's the one who shared the news with Trey and our parents. She told them, "Momma's gonna have a baby." She kind of butchered the sentence when she told Trey and he didn't understand her the first time, so I had to whisper it in her ear and then she told him again. He is over the moon excited. He was like, OH MY Gosh! I've gotta tell the guys, I work with...right now!

Part 3: Palo Duro 50K Trail Race 2011

Distance: 31 miles

Duration: 5:50:43
Average Pace Per Mile: 11:15

Weather: At the beginning of the race it was around 47 degrees with a wind gust at 6 mph. By the time I finished the race, temps were creeping into the mid 80s. 

How does this compare to the Cowtown Ultra 50K -- I ran in February? Well, I ran that road race in 5:27:24 (10:33 pace). HUGE difference! Trail running is so different from road racing. It's in a league of its own. I can't even compare the two races. Sure it's the same distance, but it's different --- no, different isn't even the word --- IT'S HARDER.

Ultra Marathon Eve: 

We ate at Texas Roadhouse: I had a sirlon steak, a sweet potato, broccoli, carrots, and a few rolls. Before calling it a night, I laid out all my running gear. I crawled into bed around 9 pm and slept alright. No race nightmares for me.

Race Morning:

My alarm and Trey's back-up alarm went off at 4:00 am sharp. Before I knew it, I was bathing myself in petroleum jelly. I put the jelly in chaffing prone areas and I even bathed my feet. I ran for almost 6 hours and did not have any chaffing on my body or blisters on my feet. Shortly after that, we drove to Ihop for breakfast. Ihop was Trey's idea. I had to eat something and I knew Ihop was a better option than say McDonald's (I guess). I fueled with 2 eggs, 2 turkey bacon strips, two pieces of toast, and fruit. I also ate what was left of Cheyenne's egg breakfast. I was full, but not stuffed.

We arrived at Palo Duro an hour before the race. Like most marathoners, I was stressing about using the bathroom. Emptying the tank, if you will....My body cooperated and I ran the entire trail race and did not have to use the bathroom. YAY!!!!

6:30 am - It was so dark in the canyon. There were a few lights around the start area, but a lot of runners had headlamps. About 15 minutes before the race, Sherri found me, I don't know how she saw me, since it was so dark. I was ecstatic to see a familiar face! She was camping with her family and woke up early to see me off at the start. That was so nice of her! We chatted and it helped distract me and kept my mind off the fact that I was about to be running for hours. 

Race Details: 

It was 7 am and I was running my first trail race. I could barely see the ground beneath me. The headlamp that I had was not bright enough, so I ran close to runners who had bright lights. The first mile I knew something was wrong. I felt like I was going way to slow, but my effort was 100%. I was using RunKeeper an iPhone app and I heard the first audio cue: One Mile in 11:07. WHAT?! And that's when I hit The Wall. Yes, most people hit the wall at mile 18 of a marathon, I hit the wall at mile one. ONE! At that point my whole race plan changed. It had to. 

 

Why I changed the plan: 

The Palo Duro trail is more advanced than I anticipated. It was hilly, rocky, sandy, and technical than the trail I trained on. I was basically running up and down hills for over 5 hours. The hills were not long and gradual, they were short and steep. I'll take short and steep any day, over long and gradual, BUT it was still draining. It zapped the energy out of me. Even though, I never maintained a 10:30 pace, like I was hoping -- I held on and moved forward. I felt strong for a good portion of the race. 

It's not a trail race until someone goes off course and gets lost: 

After I completed my first 6 mile loop, I slowed down for a moment to hi to Cheyenne and Trey. I then picked up the pace and I started running and accidentally ran off course. Volunteers started shouting at me, "The trail is over here! Come back!" Oops! 

If the bones ain't showin', keep goin': 

One of my fears was falling down and hurting myself. At mile 6.25, I started thinking -- I hope I don't get lost again. Race volunteers marked the trail with bright orange survey ribbon. The ribbon was on trees and bushes, it was placed every 100 yards. It had been a while since I last saw orange, so I started scanning the area and that's when I tripped and fell down. It only took me a moment to see, I was not bleeding and I wasn't in any pain. I got up, shook of the dirt, and kept going. After that I tripped at least four or five times, but only fell down once.

Thought Process:
If I can run the marathon distance, I can finish the ultra. This is hard. It hurts. My back. My lower back. Any moment now, I will get my second wind. This is REALLY hard. Crap, I got a pebble in my shoe! This view is gorgeous! I don't want to wish this race away, I trained too long and too hard to wish it to be over. I wish this person behind me would stop chasing me and just pass me already. That guy almost spit on me. What is this my third or fourth wind? This is great! Kick it home to the finish line. 

Who needs all those spectators when you have the best aid stations? 
I've read about it, heard about it, but this was my first time to experience ultra trail aid stations. Everyone says, they  have the best aid stations. Palo Duro, lived up to the hype. They were well stocked. 
Water, gatorade, snickers, M&Ms, potatoes, chips, pretzels, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, graham crackers and more. Here is a picture of one table. The flies were flocking near the food, so voluenteers kept the food covered. It's funny, most of the stuff, runners should avoid during training is the food that is served during the race. Potato chips, potatoes and snickers worked for me. M&Ms not so much. 

The volunteers were the best! Seriously! Every time I would roll through, they were so helpful. What can I get you? Here while you eat, I'll fill your water bottle. Here's another gatorade. Let me put some ice in your bottle. What can I do for you? What can I get you? I overheard a palo duro veteran warn another runner about the aid stations. She said they are like magnets, once you stop, you don't want to leave. You have to be careful, just grab what you need and then keep moving. She's right.  I felt at home when I stopped and refueled. I'm sure I could've saved more time, if I would've just grabbed stuff faster and sprinted off. I asked Trey, if runners lingered around the aid station and he said they did. 


The course
At first, I thought the loop course was going to be boring, but I loved how Trey and Cheyenne could see me multiple times during the race. I think I saw them four times.

As I sprinted to the finish line, I heard Sherri and her family cheering for me.

Trey was waiting right at the finish line to congratulate me and to take pictures. He spectated for 6 hours. He's amazing! It was Trey's idea for me to take my sunglasses. The race would have been miserable if I didn't have anything to protect my eyes. Good idea, Trey!


This guy asked me, "Did you just finish the 50K?" I answered, "Yes." He asked, "Then why are you still running?" I don't know.

The finish line banner.

The flags represented

I think my Lulu socks are permanently stained red.
The 20K was the only chip time race. The 50K and 50 miler was timed, but we didn't have chips. I'm still waiting on the offical times to be posted. Waiting. Waiting.
After the race, there was hamburgers and hot dogs for everyone. Unlike the two marathons I've ran, I was actually hungry after this one. I ate and drank lots of water.
So, after I ran 31 miles I had to climb this hill, to exit the canyon. Ouch.

Can you believe this is Texas?

I'll take trail race traffic and parking any day over road racing. This race was so organized. So, who is running it with me next year? 20K, 50K, or 50 miler? Let's do it. Maybe we can even go camping out there.

Cheyenne made a friend. This is Sherri's niece.

Right after the race Trey said, "Maybe next year, I'll walk the 20K, so I can see the canyon." What?! Umm, that would be awesome. You can do it Trey!
 
Similar Posts about Palo Duro Trail Race 2011: 

Part 1: Palo Duro 50K Trail Race 2011

Part 2: Palo Duro 50K Trail Race 2011