Yoo 231 - Race Recap: Sendero 50k

Well, there's no better way to start this post than by saying...I won!

:-)

It was a very small, low-key race but it's still my first 'W' as a runner so it would be a lie to say I'm not kind of super really happy about that. Plus, I made money on this race?

Keep reading.

The manager brought in bagels Friday morning. He usually does that but I'm pretending it was just specially for my "carb-load". Love it when this greets me at work!




There was a grand early exit from the working place with shouts and well-wishes and even a human tunnel at the door.

Just kidding.

"You heading out already? Slacker!"

"I mean, good luck tomorrow..."

Suby Sue needed to be loaded up!




Then there was a longish drive up (and some traffic) to Burnet, TX and the Reveille Peak Ranch, runner check-in, devouring of Cici's Pizza (probably the worst choice but pizza is what I always seem to crave the night before a long run...), some situating of sleeping things, and then this:

Yes, we were those people sleeping in a car and burning fossil fuels at a campsite to stay warm. It was just for a few minutes to heat the car up. And I'm mostly sorry.

Then, at about 3 in the am, when the Katiefriend and I both realized the other person was awake, there was the usual pre-race laughing fit. Still a mystery as to why I am susceptible to those? Could have something to do with the Kyoo mind starting and finishing the whole 50k about 5 times in my dreams before that arousal.

"Ohmuhgoodness I still haven't actually started the race??"

Which may be why I was late to the start? I got up at the planned 6am but couldn't get myself to do much more than mosey around. And make, I'm certain, 12 trips to the restroom. Most painful part of the moring?

Putting my contacts in.

There was quite the flurry of activity when I realized my race was starting in 7 minutes though.

So flurryful the Katie-ographer couldn't snap a focused shot of me.

"Where are my shoes??"

Frantic. Minutes pass. Ripping through everything in the car. Realization sets in.

"Oh dang it, I'm already wearing them..."

"Are they already walking to the starting line?! What time is it??"

"Oh naturally, these headphones are tangled again...!"

A few commands to the Katiesupport.

"I'm bib 210, can you grab my timer thinga? Over there!"

"Ugh, stop taking pictures and just help me get these pants off!!"

Annnnd we have the makings of a true friend folks.

I might have been a bit late to the start, but it really didn't matter since the race was chip timed. Which I realized after my panic phase, not before, unfortunately. When I did get to the start, I exchanged some nice chit-chat with a few race officials, got my playlist all set, and then unceremoniously crossed the timer mat thing (beeeeeep) to begin my first trail 50k.

The race was long. But so enjoyable. The trails were just beautiful. The weather was perfect (overcast and cold). The support crews were amiable and so willing to meet requests (more gummy bears?). And I ran most of the race all by my lonesome. Which is favorite.

I even stopped once to snag a picture! But only once.




I also saw an armadillo.

And I couldn't remember if those can be aggressive or not. So I said "Hello armadillo, I'm Kyoo. Just passing thru. Mind if I trot by you? Please don't jump 10-feet in the air...or make any sudden movements. I really don't have the energy to respond....thanks lil' guy!"

There was part of the race (oh, the first 22 miles or so) that I really had to pee. And there was this blissful sight at about mile 7 wherein a heavenly glow and singing angels were hovering above a port-a-potty in the middle of nowhere.

And do you know what happened?

A man, right in front of me, stepped inside.

A MAN!

"Use a tree, dude!"

I had to hold it for the next 15.5 miles.

I mean, I could have waited, but I was feeling all competitive at that stage of the race and just wanted to keep moving. And so keep moving I did.

The race was powered by energy gels, honey, gummy bears, and Fritos. I'm not normally a Fritos person, but they had them at the aid stations and they started looking real good at about mile 14. So from then on it was an aid station routine of fill the water bottle, gummy bears left hand, Fritos right hand, back on the trail. Perfection.

I could write a small book about the 31 miles of running and the beautiful trails and the thoughts that I had and the funny things that happened and the trips and stutter-steps and all that is running a 50k, but we'll just skip to the finish now, because that's really what matters, right?

Right.

It was a close finish. By 50k standards. I was starting to feel really drained about a couple miles before the end. But then I looked behind me and saw another runner just 100 yards away. Too close. And that prompted a second wind.

My legs were burning and each minute felt like an hour but I was pushing it. I knew I was towards the front but I had no idea how many runners were in front of me. Another mile went by and I found myself passing a lady. Blue jacket lady. I remembered seeing her quite a ways ahead of me at the half-way turnaround. She was the only person, according to my mental notes, still in front of me.

That spurred me even faster.

"Am I in the lead? I think I'm in the lead now...how cool is this?? Oh my legs burn. It's going to be worth it! Keep pushing!"

And, just a minute or so before blue jacket lady, I crossed the finish line. About ready to fall over.

It was a pretty anti-climactic finish. There was no one there. All the thoughts of running down a chute with camera flashes and breaking of the tape that had spurred me on were dashed. Dashed!

The Katiefriend was chilling in her car, talking to her Katiemom on the phone, and she honked her horn a few seconds later when she noticed I'd just finished.

And then sauntered over to snap these gems.

(personal favorite pic from the race).

And the typical thumbs-up Kyoo.

PB&J. The sweet taste of victory.

It wasn't until later that I actually had it confirmed that I'd won. After I'd eaten some pretzels. And fought off several leg cramps. And taken a really cold, painful shower. And picked out a plant.

They had potted desert plants as the finisher medals. Which I thought was a great idea and LOVED! They were cute and I was super excited to take one home and add it to the dining room window collection.

So I picked out my plant. And then realized they had the results posted so I wandered over to check those out. A few questions ("What's the Open division?" "Oh, they're the overall winners?") and an exclamation ("That's me!") later and they had taken my plant away and replaced it with this:




Gift certificate for a free pair of shoes. Not bad! But I still miss that plant...




We stopped to pick out the shoes on the way home. Which, let me tell you, is a really fast trip with battered, swollen feet.

"Yep, these feel like shoes, let's get out of here."

The shoes came to $108 with change. So I "made" $28 on that race. If you don't count travel expenses. The Kyoo dad told me not to quit my day job just yet. He might be right.

A post-race meal at Texas Roadhouse and a rainy drive back to the Kyoo condo (and also several lengthy conversations with the Kyoo family who FINALLY picked up the phone) and we had a wrap on the race weekend.

But not before the Gregscholar greeted his triumphant trail runner with a big bear hug. (he'd abandoned me to study for and take a final). (the joys of dating a college boy). (I forgave him).

Have a great day :-)