I had this event on my calendar as a 6-hour, which I think it usually is? When I got the registration info, it was for either a 40k or a 40-miler. I decided I wasn’t in shape to do 40 miles in the time allotted, but I figured I’d shoot for the 40k and see how it turned out. It didn’t turn out that well. Read More
My 2015 running schedule didn’t end as expected, as I had to drop out of the NYC Trail Festival 50k at the mid-point.
The race was tough from the beginning. I didn’t sleep well the night before, I got lost on the way to the event (luckily hooked up with two other runners who were also lost and we helped each other), and my trail fitness was very low. I knew the 50k distance was kind of a long shot and I came >thisclose< to dropping down to the 25k distance, but I didn’t. At the starting line, I was tired, but optimistic. Read More
This was my goal race for 2013 and I trained long and hard and traveled a long way to get to the starting line. Unfortunately, the finish line didn’t materialize for me. After running three 50k races in the past 18 months, I was anxious to step up to another distance and I chose the Palo Duro Trail Run for a couple of reasons. One, it felt nostalgic and comforting to try something big and new “at home.” Two, I have hiked hundreds of miles in the canyon and I wanted to run somewhere familiar for a change.
Packet pick up took place on the night before the run at WTAMU, my alma mater. We were treated to a pasta dinner and a course overview. There was also a man there known as “The Ancient Brit” who is 86 years old and a friend of the race founder. He came to give a speech of encouragement to the runners and to present a proclamation to the park service from his home city of Westminster, England. It was pretty cool to hear about his experiences and the dinner gave me time to hang out with local runner friends and meet some new people. Read More