Grasslands Trail Half Marathon....How did I miss those cows??

Please excuse my tardiness with this blog...there was no easing back into life after spring break! I have thought about writing it everyday, but either didn't have the time or the energy to get it done. I am happy to be sitting here now, ready to get it done.

Many of you know that I had a terrible experience with this race last year. It was my first experience with trail running and I just didn't have a good time. Those were probably the 13 hardest miles I have ever run--even walking was a challenge at times because the mud was so thick. It was so cold too, I thought that I might have had frostbite when it was all said and done. So many runners that I know love trail running, but I just wasn't sold on it after that experience. I was hesitant to sign up this year and it took some talking from Erik and some of my running friends. I am glad that I did though because the experience this year could not have been more different than last year. The weather, quite possibly, was the most noticeable--it was already in the 60s by race time and would just get warmer. And, incidentally, this is the driest March ever for the Dallas area.

Another difference was that through Daily Mile and Twitter I already knew a handful of friends who would be running. Greg, Corina, and Michelle were running the marathon and Libby and Stacy were running the half marathon. Erik and I laughed about how different our mindset was as we drove out the the LBJ Grasslands in Decatur. Upon arrival we immediately saw Libby and Stacy (whom I met in person for the 1st time). There wasn't much time to get our packets and gather our gear before it was time to meet up at the start line.

I made Erik promise not to leave me and I promised him that I would not be a big baby like last year. He made the perfect pacer for me as he stayed just ahead of me the whole time and I just tried my best to keep up. He was kind enough to loop back at times and to wait for me at the aide stations. The mud from last year was gone...however...it was replaced by sand. Don't get me wrong, the sand was better than the mud--but it sure made running difficult at times. I felt as if the energy was being sucked out of my legs and drained into the heavy sand. Fortunately the entire course wasn't sandy, it came and went for stretches at a time.


At the start line with Libby

We both really enjoyed the race, having conversations with people along the way and enjoying some pretty scenery. I appreciate the trail running scene as it is much more laid back than road racing--the whole attitude is much more chill. There were only 2 aide stations on the half marathon course, but wow--it was like a buffet at each one. We are talking oranges, fig newtons, candy, chocolate, fruit, and hydration.

I found the run to be quite challenging and felt just plain TIRED at times. There is alot more climbing on the trails than on the road and I could really feel that in my legs. Sometimes I felt as if I could fly and sometimes I felt as if my energy was zapped (perhaps that was the sand). I had to slow and catch my breath after some of the climbing sections, but I worked hard to keep Erik in my sights and not slow him down.

I was surprised at how much of the course I remembered from last year. I thought that I had blocked it all from my memory after all of the troubles it had caused me. I am also surprised at how fast the miles click by when running on the trails--it is impossible to focus on the distance when you are scanning the terrain for your next step. Erik found a burst of speed in the last mile and crossed the line about a minute ahead of me. I am happy to say that we got 13.47 miles done in 2:27--a full hour and eight minutes faster than last year. That time also fell within what I had been told--to add about 20-30 minutes to your typical road race times.


We made it!

Even though the race was done, the fun was just beginning. Erik and I gathered up our chairs and a cooler and waited for our friends to finish their races. We had a great time cheering for Libby, Stacy, and Michelle (Greg came in just after we finished so we missed him) and especially Corina. This was a very special race for Corina because it was her 3rd marathon in 90 days and it would qualify her for Marathon Maniacs status. Congrats Corina!! We also enjoyed watching the 50 milers pass by us on their course....50 miles?? Who does THAT?!


The Grasslands Gang

It feels so good to have the trail running monkey off of my back. I understand what everyone has been talking about and why trail running is so cool. I am so glad that I gave Grasslands and trail running a second chance because I think that the trails will fill a void in some of my current training. I just know that the terrain and the little dips and climbs will make me stronger. Not to mention all of the new friends I am making--I even went out to run some more trails last weekend--stay tuned for the story of the newly formed Beer and Bagels Trail Series. We had our first run on Sunday and have one in the books for April.

Oh, and the cows....as we were talking after the race the marathoners mentioned the cows that they saw. I thought that the cows must have only been on the marathon course, because I sure didn't see any. Erik was quick to inform me that we passed several big cows very near the trail. How the heck did I miss those....

Texas Independence Relay...The Race With 40 Finish Lines

At long last I am finally sitting down to tell the story of the Texas Independence Relay. Consequently, I think that I am also finally catching up on sleep from that weekend. Part of the delay is in deciding which stories and pictures to share, there are so many of them! We all had cameras and Corina took 500 pictures all by herself. (Thanks to Corina and Liza for sharing their pictures) I knew that this would count towards my 2011 goal to "add variety into training and races by mixing in different challenges (distances, relays, multi-day events, etc)" I didn't know that I was going to have so much fun, feel so challenged as a runner, and make so many friends.

Team Mad Dames headed out to Seguin, Texas on Friday morning--there were 11 of us girls and 1 driver/husband. We were divided into 2 white passenger vans which would become our home on wheels over the next 2 days. I was in Van 2 along with Cat, her husband Daniel-our driver, Mel, Kylee, Liza, and Vi. Van 1 carried Libby (our captain), Elizabeth, Corina, Elaine, and Shannon. Upon arrival we decorated our vans and enjoyed an early dinner at Chili's. Elizabeth and Elaine had a tutu factory working back in their hotel room--the same tutus that would become the Mad Dame's signature piece during the weekend. Our wake-up call came at 4:00, it is these times that make me question who I have become. We donned our tutus, pink wigs, feather boas, and packed into the vans for a short drive to Gonzales. Our start time was just after 6:00 am and I would be running leg 1.


The phrase "pink nightmare" comes to mind

After some pictures and the firing of the famous Gonzales cannon (source of the Come and Take It motto and flag) the team was off and running the symbolic 1 mile Prologue. All of the teams run this 1.15 miles around the square in Gonzales together. We were quite the scene as we covered that mile in the dark--feathers and wigs were flying. I am pretty sure that this is not what General Sam Houston had in mind when he pictured his army!


Mad Dames prepare the cannon!

After we finished the Prologue, I ditched my Mad Dames gear (wig, tutu, boas) and took off for leg 1. I was pretty nervous to be one of the 1st runners out in the whole relay and I was happy to follow the blinking lights on a couple of runners in front of me. I really enjoyed the run, it had just rained and was very pleasant out as the dawn broke over the outskirts of Gonzales. There were rolling hills on a small country road and I heard the roosters crowing as I ran. I met up with another runner of a similar pace and we ran the last mile together--there were cattle guards and some small dogs and the other runner mentioned that she was afraid of the dogs and had a tricky time with the cattle guards (thankfully I have big feet and they were not too much of an issue). We came to the end of the leg and I tagged Mel so that she could begin her leg.
Leg 1
Miles: 4.37
Time: 40:02
Pace: 9:09


Handing off to Mel

One of our vans was always "active" or "on duty" while the other was "resting" and our van was the active one first. After I finished running, I hung out in the van and cheered for my teammates. We followed our runner to each of the relay exchanges and waited for their arrival and then saw the next runner off. The rain that I mentioned brought a cool front and some crazy winds and we all shivered and laughed as we waited for our runners. I wasn't cold when I was running, but it was pretty cold while waiting for the other runners.


Home of Shiner...wasn't here long enough...

Everyone in our van had a turn to run and then I finished us up with one more leg before our van went on break. I had no idea that Leg 7 would be 5.74 of the most difficult miles I have ever run. The leg went straight up the highway so I didn't have to worry about any tricky turns....but I had that 30 mph north wind directly in my face for the entire 5.74 miles. Oh and I forgot to mention the hills...at least 3of them--up and down the entire leg....ah...remember it is the Texas Hill Country! I think I went through all of the stages of grief that you hear about: anger (cussing!), bargaining (I promise I'll never complain about the wind again if you just make it stop), laughing (Can you believe this?? You couldn't write a funnier story!), and denial (This can't be real...I think that it is stopping...yep, it has to be getting better). I kept thinking about how that which doesn't kill us makes us stronger and surely this must be making me a stronger runner...somehow. The miles clicked by so slowly and I thought that I would never be done. Thank goodness for the comic relief provided by my vanmates--you know who you are!! I finally arrived in Moulton, Texas and the leg was over. I am quite pleased that I finished this with an average pace under 10:00 because I wasn't so sure at times.
Leg 7
Miles: 5.74
Time: 57:08
Pace 9:57


Hardest run ever...my tutu took a beating!

After that whippin' of a run our van went on rest and we found ourselves a delicious lunch in a little diner in Schulenberg. The small towns along the way were such a treat and the next stop was no different....Weimar, Texas. I had already heard about Weimar from the vets in my van and also because I have a friend from college, Alfred, who lives there now. We rolled in well ahead of van 1 so that we could catch a nap and just hang out. It had turned into a beautiful sunny afternoon and we had a great time waiting on Elizabeth to hand off to Mel. This might have been my favorite stop on the trip, I love the small town and this one had very big spirit!


Soakin' up some sun in Weimar

After Weimar my van was back on duty and dusk was beginning to fall on the relay. Rest and fueling were an interesting puzzle on this trip and I think that I will have a better handle on that next year. My next relay leg would not be until 2:30 am. Our van had another brief rest and we picked up some fast food and caught another nap at our next relay exchange. When I say nap, I mean our van was stopped and everyone was quiet. I had a hard time getting comfortable and never really got any quality sleep.


My seat-mate Kylee

It was so cool to cheer on all of the other runners during the night legs. Everyone looked almost alien-like with their reflective vests and headlamps. Soon enough 2:30 am rolled around and it was my time to run again. This leg headed straight north again, but the winds had calmed considerably. The exchange point was very busy as most of the fast teams were catching up to us at this point (I'm fairly sure one of the winning teams flew by me during this leg). It was cool to see the big flood lights and many vans out on the highway during the middle of the night--very surreal! I took my handoff from Mel and faced the darkness. This is, quite possibly, the best 5 miles I have ever run. The night was clear and cool and just about my perfect running conditions. The stars were so bright overhead with no big city lights near to eclipse them. I wasn't afraid of running in the dark and had complete faith that my feet would land where they were supposed to. I was never alone as there were always runners in front of and behind me and our vans were constantly leap frogging us. At 2.5 miles into the run I crossed the Brazos River...how cool is that!! I will forever treasurer the memory of this run.
Leg 25
Miles 5.0
Time 45:33
Pace 9:06

After I finished leg 25 and handed off to Shannon, it was time for our van to go to the hotel for a shower and a couple hours of sleep. I hadn't felt too tired until it was time to go to the hotel and then I suddenly became a zombie. We all rolled into the hotel at about 4:00 am, showered, and closed our eyes for approximately 2 hours of shut-eye. After the quickest sleep ever, we were up and headed to Houston by 7:15. Our van would be back on duty after we met the other van for the next exchange. It was a beautiful day too--lots of sunshine and cool (perfect for running) temps for the morning legs. Cat started us out with our first morning leg and then I took over for my last leg of the relay. It was a pleasant run through the Memorial area of Houston. Again--a straight line so I didn't have to worry about tricky turns. Some of the sidewalks were a little bumpy and even disappeared at times, which affected my pace a little here and there. I didn't push speed too hard during this leg, rather just enjoyed the miles and the beautiful morning. It was a great time to reflect back over my previous legs and the whole experience so far. Even though I was starting to feel mentally tired, my legs still felt fairly strong. The best part of this leg--Houston friends Brandi and Wade were waiting for me at the finish. It was so nice to have some "locals" cheering for me as I finished my last run of the day. I visited with them for a bit before it was time to hop in the van and head to beautiful Memorial Park.
Leg 33
Miles 4.47
Time 42:00
Pace 9:24


Brandi and Wade came out to cheer us on!

We spent some time in Memorial Park before heading off to catch some lunch. Our van would be active one more time with Liza and Kylee running the last 2 legs. After more cheering and hanging out, we arrived at the San Jacinto Monument for the grand finale. We cheered Kylee in and then grabbed a few flags and took our Epilogue up to the monument. At the base of the monument we were given our medals (cool replicas of the San Jacinto Monument) and took one last group picture. The only thing left was the long drive back to Dallas. Liza was a champion and got us back safe and sound just before midnight.
Total miles run (according to Garmin): 20.73


Hanging out in Memorial Park

Was this journey exhausting? YES! Would I do it again? HECK YES! I am already thinking about and planning for next year. I cannot describe what a cool experience this was. It was so great to be running for a team and to know that someone was out there on the road no matter what time of day or night it was. This race had 40 finish lines (one for each relay leg) and we cheered at many of them. I learned much about myself as a runner--just knowing that I can handle 20 miles in a 27 hour period gives me confidence as I pursue a marathon. You never know what you are capable of until you push the limits of your comfort zone. I learned that I can live out of a backpack for a weekend (if you know me, you know that this is AMAZING!)and I made some lasting friendships. I ran under a big Texas sky at 2:30 am and I visited some great out-of-the-way places. The Texas Independence Relay is an experience that I will never forget.


THE END

Texas Independence Relay...A Sneak Preview

The Texas Independence Relay was awesome! I have so many things that I want to share in my race report, however, it has been quite hectic this week--recovering from the missing sleep and my day job have taken much of my time. I wanted to leave you with a little preview before the full report comes next week. It will be spring break and I will have plenty of time to get my thoughts in order. For now here are some pics!



My Van-Mates and Me


The Mad Dames prepare the famous Gonzales cannon


Checking out scenes along the way


We spotted a "famous" runner


Posing for a pic in Houston's Memorial Park


Houston friends Brandi & Wade cheered me on my last leg


The epilogue


Our finish line