February 1-2, 2003
There we were, 104 crazy runners standing on a starting line in Umstead State Park in Huntsville, TX, wondering why in the hell did we get up this early just to kick our own asses over a rocky and muddy 100 mile race course? Just to give you a visual of the race, it takes place in a Texas state park on a combination of single-track trails and fire roads. The course is a 20-mile loop that you have to do 5. Each lap starts in front of a cabin at the entrance of the state park and immediately goes into the woods on a single track for about 5 miles until you hit the first aid station. From there the course is on a dirt fire road for another 3 miles until you reach an aid station called "Larry's", because some guy named Larry was working it and I guess they have to keep things simple for the Texans. This aid station ended up being a very difficult point because the section following Larry's was a very hilly out-and-back for four miles. An out-and-back means they tell you to run to the end of a road and when it deadends you have to touch the tree and come back. So every hill and difficult section you see going out, you have to do coming back. After Larry's, the course goes back to the start on mostly single-track trail through woods and swamps. I did want to make an early important note on why this race was truly special to me. It is because it is the first time I would have family at such a big race: my cousins Mike and Stacey (Mueller) Ibarra live 30 minutes from the start and were kind enough (another word for “crazy”) to agree to be my crew for this event.
Key moments:
4am-Start
I call this section "The Start", (we’re keeping it simple for the Texans). I always like to start race day a little early so I have time to sit in the shower for about an hour and cry. I then go through a ritual of lubing up every part of my body that moves. This is key to avoid blisters in areas that should be left without them. Around 5, Stacey came out bright-eyed and not so bushy-tailed asking if she needed to make me breakfast, which she did and she spared no expense and brought me a plate full of Taquitos. This is an elf's version of a burrito; they actual tasted good and agreed with my stomach very well. With our bellies full, Stacey and I made the drive to the start. Mike did not make the morning drive (I guess Texans are not early risers). Once we arrived at the park, we had a few minutes so we wandered around and admired all the freaks running the race; at 35, I was one of the youngest ones there. I usually have to take a crap before every race but for some reason the gourmet Taquitos did not cause me bathroom urges. At 5:50, all 104 entrants started to migrate to the start and with Stacey as my moral support, I couldn't have been more unsure of what I was doing.
Start-Mile 40
Mile 1-20 3:51:50
Mile 20-40 4:08:04
I like to call this the morning section, because it's in the morning! (Still keeping it simple for the Texans.) Seriously, this is the most dangerous section because it is very dark outside and the trail is fresh and untracked, which means no one knows where the big mud holes and tree roots are. I felt pretty good during this 40-mile section. My only big mistake was I forgot my headlamp and flashlight so I had to run really close to all the other runners so I could mooch off their light. In preparation for the race, my Crew and I talked about our game plan, and I knew they wouldn't be at the 20 mile mark when I finished my first 20 mile lap, because I really needed them to rest up, because crewing can be very boring and long hours just waiting around. The best part about this section is everyone is still very happy and talkative. You really can meet some cool eccentric people on these types of runs, like doctors and engineers, which means with all the friends I made at this race I can get all the drugs I want or get a really nice bridge built! This first 40-mile section was very uneventful and I actually felt pretty good most of the way. The only big event was at mile 35 when we received the news of the Space Shuttle disaster. This hit home because we were running within a few miles from the launch area, but we didn't see or hear anything. By mile 40, the 100+ person pack started to thin out and I really only ran with one or two people.
Mile 40-80
40-60 4:27:00
60-80 5:31:00- Started to get tired
I like to call this the "middle section", you know why! (If not, you must be Texan or just call me and I will explain it.) During this section, the course started to get a little boring and lots of runners started to drop out. Even Ann Trason (World Champion) dropped due to some knee problems with all the rocks and roots that were on trail. I don't remember much of miles 40-60 except for the fact that my crew was at the mile 56 aid-station to cheer me on which was a big help, and Mike actually ran in with me to the start which was nice to have the company at this point, since I had not seen anyone in hours. At the 60-mile mark, I always change my socks and clothes and re-lube all the necessary body parts. This transition usually takes me about 15-20 minutes, but with Stacey and Mike there, I was in and out in 5 minutes. They were like a pit crew: I ran into the aid-station and while I was being weighed in to make sure I had not lost too much weight, Stacey was getting my bag and clothes out. She had food ready and while I was eating she took my shoes off and filled my water bottle for me. I cleaned my feet and put on the Vaseline and once I was done with the feet I had to lube up the other parts (balls and ass, luckily we’re family and I am afraid that after what Stacey saw we are legally married in Texas). Before I took off on the final lap, I analyzed my watch and determined I only had 5 hours to finish the race in under 24 hours, which is a big goal of most 100 milers. I kept looking at my watch when Mike kept telling me I could make it and I said it would be tough with only 5 hours left and he was quick to let me know I couldn't tell time and I really had 6 hours. So with my crew’s love I was off.
Mile 80-100
Time 5:33:18
I like to call this the "end section" (if you don't know why, you should slap your mom for giving birth to you in Texas!) By mile 80, one’s body is really trying to tell you to stop but with the thoughts of beer at the finish line, I found the energy to continue. The best part of the last lap is all the hugs you get from the cute aid-station workers that you made friends with the past 5 times you saw them. Besides that, this lap really sucked. By mile 85, I found my self very alone and I kept hearing noises following me down the trail. I usually have some hallucinations but these noises seemed real, so at a point of desperation, I quickly pointed my headlamp off the trail and there it was! A very scary-looking family of armadillos (I hear they taste like chicken.) I was slow, but I was still able to outrun the hard-shell rodents. Around mile 88. I heard the same damn sound and this time I pointed my light and I saw nothing, at first. Then I went over to the side of the trail "to see a man about a horse" and right when I was about to go to the bathroom, three raccoons jumped out. To do this at mile 88 in the middle of night is like starting a jet engine in a cardiac ward at a hospital! Well, I cleaned my self and kept on moving down the trail passing a few aid stations saying my good-byes to my new friends. At mile 90, I finally came upon a 65-year-old man who was standing next to a tree and he asked me "what time is it" I told him "4 am", he says "crap". I asked him what's wrong, he said now we have to move our asses if we want to finish in 24 hours. The guys name was Rolly Porteiance. Well, Rolly told me to take the lead first and I took off walking / running as fast as I could and he stayed right on my tail. Rolly told me stories of how he has done over 100 100-mile races and that he used to hold many course records. With about 5 miles left, Rolly took the lead and was walking faster then I could jog. I told him I had to take a bathroom break and he said "try and catch up when you’re done". Well, I took less than a minute and when I looked up, I could see he was at least 500 yards down the trail. I finally caught him at mile 97 and we continued our program of switching who was leading, when at one point looked up and we could see the finish 1/2 mile away. I looked over to tell Rolly we’re almost there, but he was already at a full sprint for the finish line. I tried to keep pace but with calves, arms and chest cramping, he dropped me like an ugly blind date. The ½-mile run to the finish went down an old railroad grade with the last 100 yards finishing on a paved road in front of a cabin. Once I reached the paved road, I could see my crew bundled up under blankets and they jumped up and cheered me on to the finish. I finished in 23 hours 36 minutes and 18 seconds, which is 5 hours off of my best time - a huge victory for me, which I owe mostly to my crew and all they did.
Post Finish & Next Day
I call this the Post Finish! (If you don't know why, you are just plain dumb!) This is a boring section, but I need to document it for later jokes. I finished at 5:36am, my first time to finish in the dark. I usually finish around 11am and the sun has already come back up. My crew was gracious enough to pick up all my gear and once I got my Sub-24 hour belt buckle they rolled me into the car with beer waiting. Once I got to their house, they let me crawl upstairs and take a shower while they pulled my gear out, this was the best! Usually I have to ask a hotel worker to help me to my room. I went upstairs and started to take a shower: this is like a science experiment to see what body parts look deformed. I was looking pretty good except for four missing toenails and this amazing ass rash. Well, I got through the shower and that's when I realized I forgot my rash cream so I decided to go to sleep for a few hours and then we could all get up around noon and go to the store. Well, noon came around pretty fast and when I tried to get out of bed I found that my legs were understandably stiff and the worse part was my cheeks were stuck together from the rash. Well, I didn't ask Stacey to help me get them apart, but it would have been helpful. I got dressed and my crew put me in the car and drove me to the store to get some rash cream. Well, in Texas every store is the size of ten football fields, so we got a store wheelchair and they pushed me around. After weaving our way through the Sunday crowd we found some candy and some rash cream, but unfortunately they didn't have my brand so I had to get Gold Bond type. So with my candy and butt cream in hand we left the store, ate some lunch and went back to the house for another nap. Before I tried to take my nap, I decided to put on some of the rash cream. Well I put the cream on and it was the most painful thing ever! It was like someone took hot sauce and poured it on the rash. I came off my bed and ran to the shower and started to weep like a little baby. I actually thought I was going to pass out! Well I survived the world record butt rash and that afternoon my crew dropped me off at the Houston Airport and I flew home a little prouder, a little more humble and a whole lot more grateful for quality butt cream.
Personal Note
I am not a serious person, poet or someone who gives a crap about what people think but I truly believe that there is nothing that cannot be done. Lots of people always say they can't believe people run 100 miles, but the truth to it is, the hardest part to doing anything in life is just showing up.
Interesting Statistics
Mo 104 starters; 76 finishers; 73% finish rate
Back to Race Reports
Back to Newsletter Archives
This page created on December 6, 2006 by Emmett D. Rahl.