El Scorcho: My Mid-Summer Classic

Mid-July means that it is time for the Mid-Summer Classic.  For many of you this brings to mind the MLB All Star Game, that comes to my mind too, but it also brings El Scorcho - my own Mid-Summer Classic.  El Scorcho offers 50K and 25K options and is run at midnight each July at Trinity Park in Fort Worth.  The race is broken down into 5K loops - 5 for the 25K and 10 for the 50K.  This year marked the ninth running, a race that started when a local runner wanted to run 30 miles to mark his 30th birthday.  Registration traditionally opens the day after Cowtown in late February and it typically sells out in a few days.  This race has a quirky, cult like following - part of the added charm!  Not to mention that it benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society - a very worthy cause.

This was my fifth time to run El Scorcho and I decided to add to the challenge of the event by starting the day off with open water swimming.  The race's midnight start time is a little easier to handle with an afternoon nap and what makes one more sleepy than a good swim?  I am not sure how I developed a lifestyle that involves waking up before the sun to swim in a lake and then running 25K at midnight...but I wouldn't trade a bit of it. 

Starting the day with open water swim (Pic: Tri-Now Endurance)

We arrived at the park sometime after 10:00 and set up camp in our usual spot.  Another key to El Scorcho success is arriving "early" in order to let your eyes adjust to the dark.  It also helps to be out of the air conditioning for a little bit so that it is not such a shock to the system.  Earlier, while Mr K and I were at dinner, the news reporters kept talking about how hot it was out there.  I tried to tune it out and remembered the first year I ran El Scorcho.  It was one of the hottest summers on record and the temperatures were still around 95 when we started at midnight.  I ran a little bit scared that night, taking special care to stay on top of hydration and electrolytes.  The 50K race started at 11:00 this year, a change from past years as I think that they are still trying to find a way to efficiently manage that distance. We didn't know anyone running the 50K this year, but we gave them a big cheer as they started their loops.  How anyone runs 10 loops in that park I'll never know.

Pre-race with Bal (Pic: Bal and Michelle)

In the past, I have come into this race in various states of training.  My first year it was my longest race ever, the next two years El Scorcho fell in the middle of marathon training and I even ran an "extra credit" loop to end my night with 18 miles (nuts, I know), last year I was trained for the distance but had little speedwork under my belt at that point, and this year I am in the middle of training for a half Ironman.  Much like last year, I felt confident in the distance but have been running by heart rate based training which is slower than my usual pace.  I usually come into the race with fairly rested legs; however, this time my training is so different and I came in with 56 bike miles on my legs from the day before.  I decided to run the race solely by feel and not constantly check my watch for pace or heart rate.

Lap 1

32:20

Average pace 10:24/mile

5K Rank: 153
I like to think of El Scorcho as five individual loops.  It just works better for my brain that way and feels way more attainable.  I took the beginning mile super easy, noting the changes in surfaces and letting my eyes adjust to the dark.  The race always consists of various surfaces including crushed limestone, grass, asphalt, sidewalk, and even a basketball court.  I hoped that I could maintain a consistent pace over the loops and used this loop to familiarize myself with the aide stations and landmarks along the way.  That is another secret to surviving El Scorcho - learn the lay of the land and use that to your advantage.

Beginning of lap 2 or maybe 3 (Pic: Michelle)

Lap 2 
1:05:13
Average pace 10:30/mile
10K Rank: 143
I came off the first loop feeling strong and didn't need to stop at our home base for any thing.  I simply filled up my handheld at the aide station and set out on the second loop.  The moon was merely a sliver in the sky so parts of the park were dark.  I can't say enough about the volunteers and the spectators at El Scorcho.  They are pretty amazing to give up a night of sleep to come and sit in a hot park and cheer for us.  And have I mentioned the cold and wet paper towels?  Hard to believe that such a small thing could be such a game changer!  I looked forward to grabbing one of those about half way through each loop.  I marveled at the faster runners as they would come flying by me - how could they see well enough to run that fast?  And how do they run that fast in the heat?  Amazing.  Somewhere near the start/finish line I heard a familiar Cajun voice - Byron!  That guy brings the energy, even in the middle of the night.  It is always so much fun to see him!

Special appearance by Byron!

Lap 3 
1:38:56
Average pace 10:37/mile
15K Rank: 126
I made a quick stop at our home base after finishing the second loop for a swig or two of pickle juice and a bit of a breather.  I knew that I was getting a bit slower with each loop, but I was still feeling strong so I was not too concerned about it.  It is somewhere around 1:30 in the morning by this point - one of the most bizarre feelings ever.  I was dialed into my loop routine by now: run out to "Siberia" where the friendly course guides were (the poor guy was all alone in the dark last year - this year he had lights and a fan and people - a nice upgrade for him!), then the cold paper towel people, up a small hill, aide station with the electrolytes, into the dark frog park (the frogs were so loud!), and across the start/finish line.  My friend Stude passed me near the end of this loop - calling out "one more loop!" So speedy, that guy. It is always a boost to see a familiar face in the dark.

Lap 4 
2:12:48
Average pace 10:40/mile
20K Rank: 119
It is a great feeling to realize that I have already run 9.3 miles, but I also knew that the final two loops of the race can be tough mentally.  I still felt great physically, but the loops start to wear on me by this point and I am starting to thing about being done.  I break up my landmarks into even smaller sections and I try to let my mind wander a bit just to pass the time.  It was probably somewhere in this point that I realized that this is some of the best mental training that I can do for the run part of my upcoming half Ironman.  Nothing builds mental toughness like running alone in a park in the dark!  I know that I will feel much like this by the end of my triathlon and I try to soak that in.

Post-race with Stude (Pic: Andy)

Lap 5
2:47:01
Average pace 10:45/mile
25K Rank: 113
Last loop, y'all!  I decided to make a quick porta potty break at the beginning of the last loop, the body can get a little bit confused about running at that hour of the night.  The last loop is tough, but it is also like a victory lap.  I look forward to telling all of the volunteers at the aide stations that this is my last loop and to thanking them for giving up sleep to help all of us weirdos.  One last time through all of my landmarks and one last time to think about how El Scorcho never gets any easier.  I am a true half marathoner at heart, and the miles between 13 and 15 seemed to take forever.  Finally I could see the red glow of the clock at the finish line and I tried to pick it up for a strong finish.  El Scorcho is never easy and I'm grateful to have another finish under my belt.

Time: 2:47:01
Average pace: 10:45/mile
43rd out of 160 female finishers
113 out of 303 finishers
Not my fastest, but far from my slowest - I was very pleased with the effort considering my current training.  As I stood there at the finish line, catching my breath, I was reminded just what a challenge running can be.  Any day night that I can run 15.5 miles is a good day night in my book!  Of course, there are always a few things that I wish I could have done better, but all in all I am pleased.  It was a bit of a shock to look at my watch and realize that it is around 3:00 in the morning.  Mr K and I visited with friends for around a little bit, took a few more pictures, and enjoyed breakfast tacos before we packed up and hit the road.  Last year we discovered another El Scorcho survival tip - if we can get to sleep before the sun comes up then we can keep the sleep cycle somewhat intact and avoid the "El Scorcho Curse" during the following week.  We were like vampires racing the sun back to our hotel!

So there you have it, another El Scorcho in the books.  I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday night smack in the middle of the summer.  This race is so unique and challenging - I hope that I am able to be back again for many years to come!

El Scorcho 25K: The Ocho

Mid-summer brings El Scorcho, one of my favorite races of the year.  El Scorcho offers 50K and 25K options and is run at midnight each July at Trinity Park in Fort Worth. The race is broken down into 5K loops--5 for the 25K and 10 for the 50K.  This year marked the race's eighth running, a race that started when a local runner wanted to run 30 miles to mark his 30th birthday.  It has evolved into a wildly popular event with both distances selling out in a couple of days way back in February.  Not only is El Scorcho super challenging and fun, it benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society--a very worthy cause.   

This was my fourth time to run El Scorcho and I finally felt like I had a handle the unusual race day schedule.  The weather did not do us any favors, as it had in the previous two years, and it was in the upper 80s when midnight rolled around.  Nothing will ever top the first year that I ran the race, it was the hottest summer in thirty years and the temperatures were around 95 degrees at the start.  I have never have never been as cautious about my safety as I was that night.  This year, they offered the 50K runners a chance to start at 10:00 instead of midnight to help them not be so lonely as the 25K runners finished up and left the park.  

Pre-Race with Stude and the Bahas (Photo: Andy W)

We arrived around 10:30 and were able to see Mark L as he came in from his first loop.  Mark started running El Scorcho the same year that Mr K and I did....except this time he went crazy and signed up for the 50K.  In a stroke of brilliance, Mark had a different shirt for each loop and each shirt had the remaining number of loops taped on it in glow-in-the-dark tape.  It was wildly entertaining to see Mark change shirts each time he came back to his family at the start area.  I know having a fresh shirt every 3.1 miles must have felt a little bit like heaven with the amount of sweating we were all doing.  Be sure to read Mark's race recap and check out his shirt plan.

Going into the race, I felt good about my ability to cover the 15.5 miles, but I knew that I would likely not be setting any PRs that night.  I have been covering lots of miles this summer, but I am not in the same place with speedwork as I my marathon training has not begun like it had the last two summers. This also meant that I would not be doing the "bonus" lap after the finish this year to complete my extra miles. While I missed that time with Mama C, I was more than happy to stop at the end of 5 laps this year.

Lap 1

30:29

12:40 AM

Average pace 9:49/mile

I have learned that it is best to think of El Scorcho as 5 individual loops.  The start of any race is hectic and I focused on figuring out the terrain and getting used to the low light.  The course has many different types of surfaces including grass, crushed limestone, sidewalk, pavement, even a basketball court, and this year there were also bumpy ruts in some of the dirt sections.  I noted these ruts as I knew they could be troublesome as I grew more tired.  My goal in any race is to run a consistent pace and I was hoping that I could keep my loop times fairly consistent.  I also used this loop to familiarize myself with the landmarks and aide stations along the way.  I can't say enough about the volunteers and spectators who come out for El Scorcho, I started to look forward to seeing them on each loop.  They bring the park to life with their cheers and encouragement, it would be pretty darned dark and lonely without them.

Lap 2

1:02:20

1:12 AM

Average pace 10:02

I made a last minute decision to make a quick stop at our home base after finishing the first loop.  Mr K and I were set up by Mark's family and it was nice to see their friendly faces.  I filled my handheld and headed out on the second lap.  Between the super moon and the random streetlight I was able to see just fine - now to settle into my "all night" pace and find the rhythm of the loops.  The lead runner blew by me near the second mile of this loop (mile 5 total).  She was moving so fast!!  That's right...SHE....the overall winner was a female!  It was during this time that the gazelles began to pass me and I marveled at their speed - how do they run that fast?  And even more impressive, how do they run that fast in the dark?!  I took a little bit more time at home base as I finished this loop.  It was hot and I wanted to make sure I stayed ahead of the game on hydration.

We take food trucks seriously here in Cowtown

Lap 3

1:34:37

1:45 AM

Average pace 10:09
During the third loop I really started to look for my "landmarks" on the route.  They went a little like this: friendly course guide guy at the turn-around, two ladies on the tailgate of a truck, water station, enchanted forest section, water station with cold towels, woo-ladies, start/finish line.  I think that this is the loop where my friend Stude passed me (or it might have been the fourth - details run together).  We talked briefly as he passed and it was then that I realized I was a little bit lonely running by myself in the dark.  I wanted to keep my loops around 30 minutes, but I seemed to be adding two minutes to each loop.  I feel like this extra time came from my stops at home base.  When I finished this loop, I took a shot of pickle juice and took a few minutes at home base to gather myself.  It made me very happy to realize that I had just run 9.3 miles and still felt good.

Lap 4

2:08:57

2:19 AM

Average pace 10:23
I think that the fourth loop of El Scorcho might be the toughest mentally.  It is past the halfway mark, but there are still 6.2 miles left at this point.  The loops started to wear on me a little at this point and I started to feel like I wanted to be done.  I added more "landmarks" to break up the run, the out-and-back section during the beginning of the loop was my least favorite part.  Things started to look more like this: lighted bridge, friendly course guide guy at the turn-around, lighted bridge part 2, ladies on the truck, dark bridge forest, water station, frog hollow (a small super dark section where I could hear the frogs), enchanted forest, cold towels, woo-ladies, start finish.  I could tell that I was moving more slowly at this point, and forward progress was the name of my game.

Lap 5

2:44:49

2:55 AM

Average pace 10:37
It was hard to leave home base for the last loop, but there is a definitely a big mental boost knowing that it is the last time I would have to have to pass my landmarks.  That first section from the start to the course guide guy was the hardest part of the course for me, out-and-backs and that are probably my least favorite thing ever on a run.  I said farewell to the friendly course guide and he shouted very encouraging words to me as I ran by.  That guy was awesome, I really appreciate that he gave up a night of sleep to come stand all alone at the remote end of the course.  Next up I said farewell to the truck ladies - again, so cool of them to give up sleep to hang out in a park all night.  It sure felt like it was taking my watch forever to chime out the miles.  The red numbers on the clock at the finish line are visible from about a half mile out, so close that I could taste it!  One more spin by the woo-ladies (3 ladies that cheered "woooo" every time a runner passed) and I tried to pick it up for a strong finish.

El Scorcho Ocho Bling

Time: 2:44:49
Average Pace: 10:37/mile
39th of 149 female finishers
114 of 294 finishers
Not my fastest, but far from my slowest and exactly where I should be with my current training.  I consider it a win anytime that I can run 15.5 miles in the middle of the night in the heat of the summer. I do wish that my pacing had been more consistent, but I think that was more about rest stops than the actual running itself.  It is always a bit of a shock to finish running and realize that it is 3:00 in the morning.  The race is like a time warp, you don't really have any concept of it while you are out there - just feels like running in the dark.  Now it was time to cheer on Mark L as he finished up his last couple of loops.  It was hard to believe that he had been running since 10:00 pm!  It was a great sight to see him come in and change into his shirt with the number one on it.  Mr K and I found plenty of friends to visit with while we waited on Mark to cross the finish line.  I love this quirky race with its cult-like following.  It is a tough run, but it is a good event and I hope that I can be back for another one next year.  After celebrating Mark's finish, we packed up our stuff and headed off to catch some shut eye. This was the first time we got to bed before the sunrise and I think that it helped keep my sleep cycle somewhat in tact.  I never felt that El Scorcho hangover like I have in the past years.

Celebrating Mark's 50K finish!

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank Marci and Jason for opening their home to us for the second year.  Fort Worth is a long drive for us and it would have felt even longer at 4:00 am.  Marci and Jason were understanding with our odd hours and Jason even made homemade pancakes and bacon for us when we woke up.  They also welcomed our pups kept a watchful eye on them while we were gone.  I hope we can repay the favor someday!

El Scorcho 25K: We're Up All Night 'til the Sun

I can't let the summer days pass without telling you all about El Scorcho, one of my favorite running events of the year. El Scorcho offers 50K and 25K options and is run at midnight each July at Trinity Park in Fort Worth. The race is broken down into 5K loops--5 for the 25K and 10 for the 50K.  This year marked the seventh running of El Scorcho, a race that started when a local runner wanted to run 30 miles to mark his 30th birthday.  It has evolved into a wildly popular event with both distances  selling out in a couple of days way back in February.  Not only is El Scorcho super challenging and fun, it benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society--a very worthy cause.  

This was my third time to run El Scorcho and I had gained valuable experience in the prior two years.  We seemed to catch a break with the temperatures for the second year in a row.  I remember the first time I ran this race it was near 95 degrees...at midnight...that was the hottest summer in 31 years.  Staying upright was a legitimate concern that night.  The temperatures were in the low 80s and felt very manageable, however, the high humidity became much more apparent once the race was underway. 

Pre-race Frunner hang out

The day of El Schorcho is a little bit like Christmas Eve, I was so excited to run but knew that it was going to be a long time until midnight rolled around.  Is it time yet?  How about now?  Maybe now? Can we run NOW? Mr K and I had a delicious brunch and took it easy (pretty novel for a Saturday as we are usually up and running before the sun) until later in the afternoon when we headed to Marci and Jason's place in Fort Worth.  Marci and Jason were so very generous in sharing their guest room with us so that we would not have to drive home right after the race.  The Ninja family and Dat joined us later and we all went to a local hole-in-the-wall for a pizza feast.  Mr K and I tried to catch some shut eye until it was time to leave for Trinity Park, but it was nearly impossible as we were all very excited about the race.  This was the first year that I didn't get any sleep during the day and I was somewhat concerned but also knew that it was beyond my control.

Jaoquin the Powah Monkey

We headed out to the park around 10:00 and staked our claim to a great spot just beyond the start/finish line.  We saw a return of Jaoquin the Powah Monkey (look for the inflatable monkey) and soon enough the whole frunner gang had assembled.  There were glow sticks a plenty as we readied ourselves to run.  The 50K runners were off and running at 12:01 and we gave huge cheers to Robert and Dat as they passed.  After they cleared, all of us 25K-ers made our way over for our 12:10 start.  The announcer was pretty hilarious, reminding us just how nuts the whole concept was and how it was likely to be a difficult evening.  I knew that I would have to run strong and steady in order to PR, but I also felt confident that it was well within my reach.  Mr K and I always start races together, with the intent to run together...until we are not.  He crossed the start line two seconds ahead of me, take note of this as it is a key detail later in the race. 

I'm proud to be a part of this crew

Lap 1
30:59 min
Average pace 9:59/mile
This 25K is more manageable when it is broken down into 5K loops and I tried to think of each one of them individually.  The start of any race is crowded, but this one has the added element of figuring out the changes in the surface.  The race surface includes crushed limestone, grass, pavement, and a basketball course--no one wants to face plant amongst the starting mob! My goal is always to run as consistent a pace as possible and I had planned for each of my loops to be very close to each other in pacing.  The course was slightly different this year due to some construction on one end of the park.  I  think that I might like this version a little bit better and I quickly settled into a routine -- up a slight hill, fill handheld at first aide station, grab wet paper towel at second aide station, then cruise through the park to complete a loop.  I always look forward to the wet paper towels as I would squeeze it over my head and then cram it into my shirt.  Coming back to the start/finish line always boosted my energy as there were spectators cheering us on.  I can't say enough about the volunteers and spectators who come out for El Scorcho, without them it would simply be a lonely run in the dark.  They really do turn the park into a party.  As I approached our home base, I grabbed a gel and heard the crew (Erin, Jason, Anne, and the Ninjas) encouraging me to "go catch Mr K!" I confidently called out "don't worry, he will slow down before the end" over my shoulder as I ran off.  Their cheers put a pep in my step for the next loop.

 

It is Marci -- our gracious host

 

Lap 2

30:49 min
Average pace 9:56/mile
I elected to ditch my headlamp after the first lap, I felt that I had plenty of light between the moon and the random streetlight.  The headlamp only showed me how much dust was in the air and I preferred not to think about that.  My eyes had adjusted to the dark by then and I had little trouble negotiating the course.  I worked hard to find the sweet spot between "I can go all day/too slow, not maximizing race effort/too fast might bonk" paces.  During this time some of the gazelles started to pass me. I couldn't figure out if they were 50K-ers or fellow 25K-ers, but they were pretty ridiculous and I marveled at their speed as they retreated into the darkness.  The start/finish area became visible from at least a half mile out and I was pleased to see that I hit both laps in the neighborhood of 30 minutes. More encouragement from the frunner pack and I was on my way again.


Our crew-Erin and Ninja- hit the food trucks during our laps

Lap 3
30:21 min
Average pace 9:47/mile
I was really in the swing of things now, soaked from the humidity but otherwise feeling great.  I was using the changes in terrain to my advantage.  I felt as if I could run faster on the pavement so I sped up in those sections and used the grass and limestone parts as a pseudo-recovery. I seem to do really well with running at this weird hour--around 1:45 am at this point, my brain just knows that it is dark and I train in the dark two mornings a week.  I am fortunate that I did not have some of the digestive struggles that some of my fellow runners have.  This was my fastest lap of the night, I came through the start/finish line again and the frunner pack let me know that I was gaining ground on Mr K.

My extra loop buddy -- Mama C

Lap 4
30:50 min
Average pace 9:56/mile
I was having a great time and was really surprised at how quickly the race seemed to be passing.  I saw Mama C and Bal early in this lap and then Elaine later on.  I love that about looped courses, always an opportunity to look for friendly faces.  I spotted Mr K ahead of me on one of the out and back sections, but I knew that he was still a little bit out of my reach.  I added an extra stop for electrolytes during this lap, so humid!  I made a game of talking to people during the last two laps, encouraging other runners as I passed them.  It made the time pass quickly and also made me smile. Through the park, over the start/finish line and over to the frunner pack where I slammed a pickle juice shot and readied myself for the last lap.  They were so excited telling me that Mr K was just there and that I should go and catch him.

Fueled by pickle juice

Lap 5
30:55 min
Average pace 9:58/mile
There really is a terrific mental boost about heading out for the last lap.  I had a plan to come out for extra miles after the race, but I knew that it was the last time I would see the landmarks, spectators, and volunteers under race conditions.  I traveled along, keeping my steady pace, and really only became tired/impatient just after mile 13.  I always laugh that I am a true half marathoner because I usually have a bit of mental fatigue around mile 14.  Things were about to get interesting though...a little over a mile from the end I spotted Mr K...and I was gaining ground on him.  Pretty soon I was running just behind him and planned on keeping a low profile until the very end.  Another runner crossed the path in front of me at the paper towel stop and I was certain that Mr K heard my voice so I revealed myself to him--big mistake.  By now we were just under a mile until the end and Mr K picked up the pace.  He always does, no way he is going to let me beat him...and I'd have it no other way.  I was SO CLOSE and gave it all that I had as we approached the final stretch.  He crossed the finish line a couple of steps ahead of me.  It appeared as if he beat me, but a check of the results would show that we tied...down to the very second!  Remember how he crossed the start line two seconds before me?  Well, I crossed the finish line two seconds after him...thus a tie.  How fun is that?!

Always chasing this guy

Time: 2:33:53
Average Pace: 9:55/mile
30th out of 167 females
95th out of 327 finishers
Also....a shiny new PR!!  I managed to top last year's time of 2:37:32 and was way better than the 3:00 finish from my first year.  I was most proud of my super consistent laps, all within about forty seconds of each other.  Just as last year, my marathon training plan required extra miles--I needed 18 this time--and just as last year I took off with Mama C for her last loop.  My legs revolted at first, wondering what I was thinking as they were pretty sure we were finished.  I rarely get to run with Mama C, my Rangers commercial co-star, and we had a great time chatting about all kinds of stuff as we traveled the final 3.1 miles in the dark.  Once we finished we settled in to cheer on Robert as he continued on his 50K journey. It is always a bit of a jolt to look down at my watch and see that it is well past 4:00 am and then look up and see people who have been running since midnight--many of then with big smiles on their faces.  Robert finished his race like a champ and we celebrated his new status as ultra-marathoner.  It was daylight as we packed up and headed to the car, I have officially been up for 24 hours straight.  All a part of the El Scorcho charm!  We headed back to Marci's and enjoyed some cold pizza before crashing for a few hours.


New Bling!

I love this race and its quirky cult-like following.  It plays havoc with my sleep for a whole week, but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.  I'm already looking forward to next year!

(Thanks to Erin and Mama C for sharing their pictures with me.)

El Scorcho 25K: Run Towards the Light!

This past weekend brought what is easily becoming one of my most favorite running events of the year: El Scorcho.  This was the 6th running of El Scorcho and the first one without any moon thus it was named El Scorcho Sin Lun6, with the 25K bearing the nickname La Scorchita.  El Scorcho offers two race distances 25K and 50K and is run at midnight each July at Trinity Park in Fort Worth.  The race is broken down into 5K loops--5 for the 25K and 10 for the 50K so while it sounds a little bit risky, help is never far.

Last year was my first experience with El Scorcho and I felt like I learned alot during that first running.  The 2011 edition of El Schorcho saw some of the hottest temperatures on record as it was the hottest summer in 31 years.  I remember it being about 95 degrees at the start last year, it was one heck of a summer.  The race weather gods really did us a favor this year and gave us starting temps in the upper 70s.  It felt like a real respite, despite the humidity.

Mr K with Joaquin the Powah Monkey

Mr K and I took it pretty easy on Saturday morning, sleeping in and hanging around the house before heading to our hotel in Ft Worth.  Once there we napped for an hour or so before it was time to meet Mama C, Marci, Jason, and Cherry for a delicious meal of pizza at a small local restaurant.  We hung out at the hotel after dinner, but headed to the park around 9:00 so that we could get a good spot near the start/finish line.  We were easy to spot with Joaquin the Powah Monkey and tons of glow sticks to mark our spot. Soon enough frunners started streaming into the park and we had a sizable group assembled.

El Scorcho Scene

The 50K runners lined up for their 12:01 am start and we gave them a huge send-off before heading over for our 25K start at 12:11.  I was feeling very optimistic about the race and knew that securing a PR would be fairly easy. I am better trained for the distance this year, I have been running better in the heat, and it was almost 20 degrees cooler than last year.  Last year I lost alot of time between loops because it was so hot and I was worried about staying hydrated and I felt like I could make up alot of time right there.  The plan was to run find my "run all day" pace and keep steady and consistent time on each 5K loop.  Mr K and I elected to run together and I was grateful for this since he was wearing a headlamp and I decided to go without.   

The FIGJAM Girls were well represented

Lap 1
30:10 min
Avg Pace 9:40/mile
Mile 1 9:45, Mile 2 9:28, Mile 3 9:31
As with any race, the first mile or so is a little hectic as everyone is trying to find their place within the pack.  The beginning of this race has the extra element of figuring out the course and catching all of the changes in surfaces.  The race surface varies greatly--dusty dirt type path, grass, pavement, and even a basketball court.  I soon settled into that comfortable pace and enjoyed seeing all of the glow necklaces, bracelets, and flashing lights that adorned the runners around me.  My favorite aide station is approximately halfway through the first loop and is visible from a ways out thanks to the huge floodlights.  This stop is manned by volunteers from the Cowtown Marathon and they rock my world with their wet paper towels.  It was one of the highlights of my race experience last year and would be again this year too.  I can't thank these smiling, friendly faces enough.  The spectators start to line up about a quarter mile before the start/finish line and it is always a rush to run by them and hear the cheers.  Thanks to Dallas Running Club and RAW (Grapevine Runners and Walkers) for being out there to give us a boost. 

With Marci and Jessi

Lap 2
30:31 min
Avg Pace 9:47/mile
Mile 4 9:37, Mile 5 10:18, Mile 6 9:36
We spent no time at our home base as we finished the last loop, I grabbed a cup of  water from the volunteers and we headed off again.  It was always super fun to pass through our frunner area as there were lots of people to yell and cheer for you.  My favorite was the "MK" chant as I finished one of my loops.  Frunners are the best, they gave up their sleep to cheer for us!  Continuing through loop 2 I still felt really strong at my "all day" pace.  There were times when I felt like I could go faster, but felt it would be wise to hold back a bit for the end of the race.  I was getting into the rhythm of the race--I find it essential mentally to break each loop into segments from water stop to water stop.  I also tried to take water or electrolytes anytime they were offered to me.  While it was was technically "cooler" this is still summer and it was still "hot".  Mr K and I were still running together at this point and took a slight stop at the home base to take a gel and get a good drink. 

Sheer running joy? Or lost my mind?

Lap 3
30:21 min
Avg Pace 9:44/mile
Mile 7 10:03,  Mile 8 9:52,  Mile 9 9:27
After gel-ing and drinking we were on our way again.  I was still feeling pretty good and felt super familiar with the loops now with all of the changes in terrain.  I had the routine down--wet paper towel stuffed in sports bra halfway in, up a small hill and another water stop, through the dark park, and over the start/finish line.  The big red numbers on the clock became visible from almost a mile out and I was thrilled to see that I was still maintaining approximately 30 minutes/5K loop.  I was even more happy later to see that I pulled a negative split on this one.  However, fatigue was starting to set in, after all it is somewhere around 1:40 am!

Post Race Shenanigans

Lap 4
32:12 min
Avg Pace 10:19/mile
Mile 10 10:37, Mile 11 10:13, Mile 12 10:10
Another pass through our home base area and grab a handful of ice and cram it in the sports bra--it is a time tested secret used by all good Southern runner girls.  By this time I am starting to feel the fatigue in my legs....it is like my bones are tired, like I have been on my feet a really long time.  The great thing about a loop course is the opportunity to see some friendly faces out on the course--certainly adds to the shared energy (or the shared "what the heck are we thinking?").  Mr K is running stronger than me at this point and pulls away after the second water stop.  This is the darkest part of the park and while I wasn't scared, it was a little unnerving in that section.  Fortunately, I knew from the first three loops that there were no curbs or obstacles to trip over. I knew that not wearing a headlamp was my choice so the only person to blame was me. This is where I began thinking "run towards the light, Carol Ann" and it made me laugh.  Lots of things make you laugh when you are running at 2:00 am....

Pre Race with Marci & Corina

Lap 5
34:16 min
Avg Pace 10:59/mile
Mile 13 11:55, Mile 14 10:39, Mile 15 10:23 Last .6 9:30 (by Garmin)
My mind was starting to falter on me now and I had to push hard to keep Mr K within my sights on this one.  I ran past Alicia and DK early in the loop and heard a voice from the darkness say "don't let him beat you!"  It made me smile to myself, I always have my cheerleaders....poor Mr K. My Chicago Marathon training plan called for 20 miles and I was planning on running one more loop after I finished the race.  This thought became a little bit overwhelming during this last loop as I kept thinking about passing all the volunteers and aide stations one more time.  It was hard not to get down mentally.  It was about that time that my watch chimed mile 14 and I realized just how close I was. I had lost sight of Mr K as this point, but  I wasn't as unnerved by the dark sections this time as I felt comfortable with the course.  He was running so strong and I was so proud of him, he ended up coming in two minutes ahead of me.  It makes me smile to see the final kick in any race--the body always has a little more left than we think it does.  Crossing the finish line felt awesome--thanks again to all of my friends who were there and made me feel like a rockstar!

A Very Happy Team K

Time: 2:37:32
Distance: 15.6
Average Pace: 10:05
And approximately a 23 minute PR!  I was tired, but felt great about how I ran the race--such an improvement over last year.  However, I had a decision to make...my work here was not done.  I grabbed a drink and threw on my compression sleeves just as Mama C came in from her fourth lap.  She gave me a minute to decide--going with her or not?  I never get to run with her and could not pass up the opportunity.  We made our way through her final loop in grand style!  When it was all said and done I had 18.7 miles on my feet.  I am so thankful that she was there because I would not have gone out for that extra loop on my own.  Sometimes it takes a village....a village of frunners.

My extra loop buddy

We had several friends who were running the 50K and now it was our time to cheer and provide support for them.  The race party scene starts to thin a little in these wee hours of the morning and those who are still plugging along need the cheers more than ever.  So we hung out, we snacked, enjoyed a beer, made fun of the race dj, took pictures, and danced (okay, so maybe I was the only one who danced).  It was nearly 7:00 am when we walked out of that park--the sun was already up and shining!  Mr K and I were just in time for the complimentary breakfast at the hotel (Texas shaped waffles!!) and fell into our bed for a few hours sleep before making the trip back home.  You know it was a good race when you find two of those wet paper towels stuffed in your sports bra.

Yes, El Scorcho is completely unreasonable.  It will rob you of your energy and mess with your sleep patterns for the whole next week.  Your schedule and life is a little bit whacked, but it is worth it.  I can't wait for next year.

(A huge note of thanks to Mama C and Byron for the fabulous pictures that bring this story to life!)

El Scorcho Part II: The Run

I am not always the most prompt blogger, but I didn't want to keep you waiting too long for the rest of the El Scorcho story. Part I included the basic timeline and logistics of a 25K run at midnight. Now let's get to the best part...the running.

So we arrived at Trinity Park around 10:30, took pictures, ate a snack, cheered for the 50K runners, and then lined up for our turn. The race results were broken down into 5K segments (3.1 miles) as it consisted of five loops of 5K around the park. I think that it works best to break this story down into 5K segments.


Start Line: Can You Find Me?

Lap 1
30:47 min
Avg Pace 9:54/mile
Mile 1 10:08, Mile 2 9:44, Mile 3 9:22

Our running friend Gretchen got a last minute entry for the race and she teamed up with Erik and I for the journey. It was great having her and she really kept Team K going at times. I started the race in my beautiful pink running tutu with special flashing lights added for the occasion of a midnight run. However, within the first mile I knew that the tutu would have to go! The first lap was a little tricky because the race surface varied greatly--dusty dirt type path, grass, pavement, and even a basketball court. It was all about getting my bearings and getting familiar with the terrain. The beginning of the race was congested and a runner in front of us did a face plant within the first mile. It was a great reminder to me that I would have to be aware of where my feet were landing all night. Our cheering squad and home base were set up just beyond the start/finish line and it was a huge comfort knowing that they would be there at the end of each 5K. Corina and the girls were just awesome--super soakers, misters, signs, cheering, smiling faces, the whole bit. At the end of this lap we all hit the porta potties and I grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler and gulped it down. The tutu was also left behind...theme for the night: SO THIRSTY!


Gretchen & Me Before Start

Lap 2
33:09
Avg Pace 10:40/mile
Mile 4 11:29, Mile 5 10:25, Mile 6 9:37
I was feeling good on lap 2--I had a better sense of the terrain and knew where the water stops would be. We were maintaining a nice, consistent pace with mile 4 being a little slower due to our rest stop at home base. Erik and I were enjoying a great run with Gretchen. I was feeling so free without the tutu weighing me down--apparently I said to Gretchen "wonder if my tutu is still flashing?" I was so thirsty and made sure to alternate electrolytes and water so that I would get all out of wack and end up getting sick. The heat is a scary thing and I was worried about the effects that it might have on all of us. While I was feeling so thirsty, I was sweating up a storm and that told me that the body was right on track. Once again, we hit the porta potties and got lots of hydration and support from our cheer squad at home base. This is where I remember cheerleader Marci saying "Hurry up! I want to go home!"


Liza, Ben, Erik, and Marci

Lap 3
37:40
Avg pace 12:07
Mile 7 14:06, Mile 8 11:05, Mile 9 10:34
This lap might have been the most challenging mentally because it was smack in the middle of the race. I knew that I had made some real progress by approaching the 9 mile mark, yet the end was still another two laps (6.2 miles) away. The aid station at 1.5 miles in was so brightly lit that I began to look for it as soon as we rounded the bend and headed in that direction. The volunteers there were awesome too--they handed me an ice cold paper towel each time that I passed through there. They also had water and this is the place where I would pop salt tabs and take a gel. We got a little slower when we passed through there, but this race was not about speed--but rather endurance and doing something totally different. Near the finish line we watched two insanely fast guys race it out for 2nd and 3rd place in the 25K. Yep, they finished that much ahead of us--it was fun to witness and we were swept up in their momentum a little bit. Home base was looking good as they cheered us on "Only two laps to go!"


Stacy, Erin, & Michelle

Lap 4
39:33
Avg pace 12:44/mile
Mile 10 14:56, Mile 11 10:34, Mile 12 12:18
I started to feel better mentally at this point, we were half way there. I also knew that this lap would bring me near the top of my usual distance. I am a true half marathoner and rarely run more than 13 miles at a time...in fact, I have only run 25K two times in my life and those were in the dead of winter (aka nice COLD temperatures). I really started to think of the race in segments now going from aide station to aide station. My feet and legs were feeling pretty tired, but it was my bones that felt tired--not the muscles. It was that feeling like I had been on my feet for a really long time. We were taking a little bit longer at aide stations and this is reflected in our pace. This is the first lap where we did not have negative splits (getting faster with each mile) and it looked like that trend might continue. I was still so thirsty, but felt pretty good otherwise. I was always concerned about Erik and Gretchen--especially when Gretchen said that she had stopped sweating. One more lap to go--we can do this!


Finished: Erik Looks Spent!

Lap 5
39:36
Avg pace 12:45/mile
Mile 13 14:19, Mile 14 10:43, Mile 15 12:15, Last .78 (by Garmin) 11:05
We took one last break at home base and headed out for the final lap. Woohoo!! Early into the first mile we came across Gretchen's husband John and he joined our little group as we made our way around the last loop. The mind is a crazy thing and I started to feel so much stronger during this lap. I knew that the end was closer than ever now and I was so ready to be done. I was so happy to pass through the aide stations that last time that I almost told the volunteers that they wouldn't be seeing me again! The red numbers on the timing clock were visible ways before the finish line (fellow runner Felix estimated about a mile) and John pointed that out when they first came into sight. What a beacon in the night! I was just about to do this!! I glanced at my watch and noticed that we would come very close to the 3 hour mark. Once we got close to the finish line we ran it in with as much speed as we could muster and the announcer said "we have a group of 4 finishing the 25K!". A large and very cool medal was draped around my neck and I went off in search of hydration. The race was finished. I did it. A new personal record for distance was set.


Corina Welcomes Me At Finish

Time: 3:00:20
Distance: 15.535 miles
Avg Pace: 11:38

My favorite quote is about growth coming when we leave our comfort zones and this was a huge step outside of my comfort zone. A race at midnight in the dead of summer at my longest distance ever...and I did it and came out feeling really strong. As I said earlier, this race wasn't about speed but rather surviving in some rather odd and extreme conditions. El Scorcho taught me so much about myself--it taught me that I am stronger than I ever imagined and capable of so much. It showed me that my training is good and that the hard work is paying off. It has taken 25 half marathons and now a 25K to show me that I AM ready to tackle that first marathon. The fear and trepidation that I felt over the "M word" is be replaced by excitement over the possibilities.


The Bling

And who am I kidding...El Scorcho was just plain FUN!! When can I sign up for next year?

El Scorcho Part I: The Timeline

Anyone who has been following this blog will know that El Scorcho was last Saturday night/Sunday morning in Fort Worth. This was the 5th Edition of the race (El Scorcho Cinco) that includes at 25K (15.5 miles) and 50K (30 miles) starting at midnight in Trinity Park. The race has a cult like following and totally lived up to the hype, at least in my eyes. I have so much to write about that I decided to break this report into two parts. Since so many people have inquired about the logistics and timeline of a race at midnight, I thought that I would share that in Part I. Part II will be the story of the race experience itself and should be posted within a few days. But first let's take a look at the basic schedule of the day's events.

8:30 am I enjoyed a delicious breakfast at Le Peep with Erik, my running partner and the other half of Team K. We were a little unsure of how the meals should play out that day, but knew that we needed a good breakfast. I am usually more conservative, but decided to have some pancakes along with a small serving of scrambled eggs and a side of bacon. I figured that I would need calories for the race and these looked good to me! After breakfast we ran a few errands and went home and packed up for our trip west.

1:00 pm We loaded Maggie and Mr. Sir, our pups, and headed to Fort Worth. Since the race is a solid 50 miles from our house, we decided that it would be easier to get a hotel room and have that function as our home base for the evening. It was easier to take the pups with us than find someone to watch them or worry about them being crated for the night. Fortunately La Quinta Inn has a very friendly pet policy (as in FREE) and the dogs love getting out of the house for an adventure.

2:00 pm We arrived in Fort Worth and got settled in our room and there is another tricky food issue....we never had lunch and are feeling very hungry, yet dinner will be around 6:00 that evening. There was a Subway near our hotel and we picked up a quick bite to tide us over. After eating we headed over to Fort Worth Running Company for packet pick-up and to scout out the race location, parking, etc. I was so excited with the race swag--simply a neon green shirt with the race logo on it--very cool!!

3:30 pm We settled in for nap #1. The best thing about having a hotel, aside from being closer to the race, was the black-out shades and the super cold air conditioning. I am a great napper and fell asleep in a matter of minutes. Erik was not as lucky, but enjoyed the cold and dark room. I woke up before my alarm went off and felt great. Time to find some dinner!!

6:00 pm After consulting the handy iphone for a listing of restaurants around us, we happened upon a lovely little place called Joe's Pizza and Pasta. We decided on pizza and even enjoyed a couple of beers as we talked about the upcoming race. The pizza was so good and if Joe's was closer to home I would be dining there more often. Erik decided that Tiramisu would make a great pre-race treat and took an order to go. Joe's was such a nice little surprise that we plan to make it a tradition for future El Scorchos. Check it out if you ever find yourself in that part of town.

7:30 pm We went back to the hotel and settled in for nap number 2. I set our alarm for 9:45 pm--what a crazy wake-up call for a race--and drifted back to dreamland. Again, I slept with very little trouble while Erik was not as successful. I woke up before my alarm sounded but felt fairly rested was ready to get the show on the road. We got our running gear together, loaded the cooler in the car, and headed out for El Scorcho. Periodic check-ins to Twitter told me that our cheering squad was already set up and that many of our other friends were arriving at the park.

10:30 pm We arrived at the designated parking area, carted our cooler and chairs to the park, and quickly found our home base near the start/finish line. It was time for all of the usual pre-race stuff: taking pictures, eating a small meal (bagel thin for me, Tiramisu for Erik), porta potty lines, visiting with friends, and adding flashing lights to my tutu. The atmosphere was great and I often forgot that it was nearly midnight.


Erik with Liza and Ben Pre-Race

12:00 am Ready, set, GO! The 50K runners started right at midnight and then the 25K runners started about 10 minutes after them. I will tell this part of the story in more detail in Part II of this report.


Rocking the tutu pre-race

3:00 am FINISHED! We pulled our chairs together, enjoyed some water and then a cold beer, changed out of some of the sweat soaked clothes, and cheered for the other runners who were still passing us. It was a really odd moment when I looked at my watch and noticed that it was 3:45 am. I can honestly say that I lost all track of time when we were running and hanging out. It just seemed dark to me, but my brain didn't realize just HOW dark it really was.

6:00 am We packed it up and headed back to the hotel. Our journey was finished and it was time to catch a few hours of sleep before making the drive home.

10:15 am Rise and shine (sorta)! Check-out time was at 11:00 so we began stirring and packed up the pups and headed back to the house. That light sure was bright when we opened the door to the hotel room--it was like we had been dwelling in a cave for the last day. We were starving and may or may not have picked up some deliciously bad food on the way home.

12:00 pm Home sweet home! It was great to be home and reunited with my sofa. We took the rest of the day very easy, napped when we were sleepy, ate when we were hungry, and tried to get back to "normal".

Coming up: Part II...the rest of the story.