Salado Creek 8 mile trail run

We were asked to raise our right hand and recite the trail runners pledge before the race. "I will not leave any trash on the course." And Roger added, "I will not complain to Bart (race director) about anything." Even though the course is actually 8.7 miles and not the "8 miler" as it is billed. Bart said he wouldn't charge us extra for the .7 miles.
The race began with a light but steady drizzle. The rocks were very slippery. Some areas of the course had very large uneven rocks we had to walk on or slip and fall. Most sections were soft dirt with many tight twists and turns. Low hanging tree branches made it difficult for really tall guys. The very narrow single track made me keep an even, steady, but relaxed pace. This kept me from pushing too hard at the start. I ran behind Brian up to the 3 and a half mile mark, then I picked up the pace. I was feeling really good. Up ahead I saw the guy who beat me for second place in the 50-59 age bracket last week. If I could keep him in sight I have a chance at third place today. With Roger Soler and Ty also running I had no chance at anything better than third. I say I run for the fun of it, but in these short races I push it. It's the competitiveness we all possess. I reeled this guy in and stayed close for the next mile and a half. I was relaxed and fed off his pace, I must confess. It would be unsportsmanlike to hang here and pass him on the home stretch so I decided I have to pass him soon and give him a chance to overtake me. At the six mile mark the trail opened up a bit and I passed him. I kicked hard and set my sights on a girl about a hundred yards ahead. I locked into her stride and reeled her in. Post race I would meet her and tell her how she helped me. Passing her I still felt strong and again set my sights on a runner up ahead. I passed the next runner with half a mile to go. With 2 tenths of a mile to go we're back on the road and on an incline. I heard a grunt behind me. Could he be gaining on me? I didn't look back and pushed a little harder. I crossed the finish line just over 1:17:00 in third place and a medal!
A pasta buffet followed with Shiner Beer and again, Great music by "I Ching Gatos"
Another great race put on by Bart Childers.

Newbie!

She was excited about coming out to run at Eisenhower nature park. Sabrina is new to trail running and was looking forward to meeting us for our group run today. She got lost driving to the park and called apologizing and insinuated she'd understand if we'd just go on with out her. Heck no! I thought. I told S we'd wait for her. It's always fun to introduce someone new to trail running.
S arrived and we were off. I told her the first mile is a climb, and to let us know if/when she needed to walk. She chuckled. when we hit the climb I slowed the pace and power hiked as S asked "can I run?" Then I chuckled.
We ran the outer loop of Eisenhower which is 3 miles. At the 2 mile mile mark we are at the steepest and rockiest climb. When S saw it she remarked "Oh my God!" I told her, "Its the last climb I promise." It was great to hear her say "But it's fun, I like it".
As we finished the run, S was smiling but looked at me in amazement when I said "you did good! We need to stretch even though it was only a 3 mile run"
Only a 3 mile run!?
I hope she comes back. I think she will.
Afterward at Willies, John and I caught up with Chris and Brian. We shared great laughs and trail running jive.

Supporting the local races.

The crowd was small at the Eisenhower 10K trail run today. Many folks were out at the Austin Marathon. This made for a really nice laid back race with lots of elbow room. There may have been 60 runners at the race this morning. I met some new friends. Trail races are cool like that. I met Mark who was at his very first race. I set him at ease by assuring him that his longest run of five miles was enough for him to do well at the 6.1 mile event. I explained to him that When training for an event, you don't "train" the event. In other words, you don't run the full distance of your upcoming event while training. I also met Scott who is new to trail running and was wearing the "Merrell Trail glove" He was impressed with the trail experience but remarked that "you have to look where your stepping." Scott took home a souvenir, a sweet looking scrape on his knee.
Have I ever mentioned that I always start too fast? Well, I do. and I did today. I'm like that little puppy who's been penned up and is let out to play. It felt so good. Not so good when people you've passed early on sneak up on you and pass you later. Only one guy did that to me today though. I managed to take third place in my age group. Always a big event for me to place. It doesn't happen very often. Sure, there were not many runners, but hey! The event was publicized. They must have been ducking me. :-)
I met Vidal post race. Vidal ran his first ultra at the Bandera 100K last month and is running his next one at Nueces 50 miler next month. We had a great time exchanging Bandera experiences.
Bart puts on great races. There was Live Music, Beer, Hamburgers on ciabatta bread just off the grill, honey milk, fruit, chips, etc, and live music. Barts next race is the Salado 8 mile trail race With a buffet lunch, and the same great music by the "Chingatos"
Support your local races!

Genuine

“You know, One day we’re gonna have to let her go.”
Those were words spoken to me by our friend John after a Sunday morning run with Liza Howard some years ago. He said this because he and those in our group knew how talented she was very soon after she began running with us. And that she would go on to great things in the realms of Trail Running. I remember saying something like, “yeah, she’s a very talented runner. She’s gonna do very well in Trail races. And she’ll be pulled away. But somehow, I believe she’ll never truly leave us. Liza is a genuinely good, caring, and wonderful person. “
The win at the Rocky Raccoon 100 miler last weekend was another great performance by Liza. First Female and fifth overall! She still remains humble and thankful to all those that were there for her, and also those that couldn't be there but sent well wishes. She recognizes and thanks her old, new, and future friends with true fondness and passion. We wouldn’t expect anything less. That’s the Liza we know.
And what is she looking forward to this week? Our group run, so she can share her stories with us. How fortunate we are.
Liza is now an outdoor Ambassador for New Balance! Well deserved. She’s Bonafide! New Balance is fortunate to have her too. As is the Trail Running community.
She’s our friend. And she’s Genuine.

Trail running jones

As long as I have been forced to take some training down time I may as well go all out. Grilled Chicken and Sausage are on tap for today's meal. Of course I'll include some good stuff too. Pinto beans, Open fire baked potatoes, raw Bok choy, and Guacamole! The chicken is free range and the sausage is Kiolbassa with no MSG, No sodium Nitrate. You've got to believe the Kiolbassa folks. They're good South Texas folks who's Polish ancestors came to this area over 160 years ago.
I've got to get back on the trail soon. A walk on the Leon creek trails this afternoon was a quick fix. Trails are in my blood. Must be something I've inherited from my ancestors who've been here a while too. And who hit the northern bound trails way back in the day. My meal today may have resembled their meal (substitute Mesguite Beans for the bok choy)

Photo from "The Traildrivers of Texas"

One eye

Thursday morning I checked in to the hospital to have the Pterygiam removed from my left eye. My pre-op nurse was a very nice lady of my approximate age. We shared stories about each other as she took my vitals. I like listening to peoples life stories. We were sharing and smiling when all of a sudden a look of shock came over her. She noted my pulse was 39! "they like to see at least a 40 something" She said. Then she asked if I have seen a cardiologist. I explained to her that I am a runner. She was still skeptical and asked how much I run. "Oh about 30-40 miles a week." I said. She calculated how much that was per day. I told her most of it is on the weekend though. Again she asked how much. Her mouth opened as I told her 12 -15 on each day of the weekend, then her jaw dropped when I told her I ran a 62 mile at Bandera last month. She then mentioned her daughters friend ran that race. She wondered whether he had been pulling her leg. She couldn't imagine anyone running that far. She calmed down, shook her head as she looked at me, and wrote down 43 as my pulse.
The surgery went well and I was sent home after an hour in recovery. Those of us who are fortunate enough to have two healthy eyes take for granted how they work in unison. As I write this I am having a little difficulty focusing with one eye.
I've got to get to the Doctor this morning to have my patched eye freed, but the main roads are closed due to ice and snow on the road!
I know some back roads I can take. I hope the Doc can get to the office.

And Windy has wings to fly

The digital sign at the street corner reads 34 degrees as we started our run. O and I headed north on our 3.5 out and back pre-boot camp run. Flags on poles were whipping violently in the stiff north wind, tugging on the cable as though wanting to break free. Our route begins on San Pedro Ave. just north of downtown San Antonio. The road is wide with not much to block the wind. Cutting through the San Antonio college campus there are large trees to help block the biting wind but this doesn't last Long. We're back on a wide street running uphill into the wind. I'm wearing long pants but O is in shorts. I am tempted to ask O if he'd like to cut it a bit short. Then, I do. His response was one I wanted to hear, but would not have argued if he had agreed. We continued on even though O said his legs felt numb as a result of the cold wind biting them.
Ah, relief and relax as we turn around. Now with the wind at our backs we pick up the pace. Running near a school, kids are running to cars as their parents arrive for them. Always aware more the usual when running on the road, I watch for stationary and moving cars. As I run by a parked car the drivers door suddenly opens in front of me. My trail running skills come into play as I jump to the left out of the way just in time. "Excuse me! I'm sorry!" says the lady. I wave in a manner that I hope she interprets as, no problem.
Arriving back at our building for boot camp, the sign reads 31 degrees.