Captain Karl’s: Muleshoe Bend 30K Race Report

When I stepped out of my car just before race time my phone says the temperature is 101.  I was afraid to check out the heat index.  You always read “never try something new on race day”, but who am I to follow conventional wisdom.  For me just about everything was a first time, some potentially a bigger deal than others.  First time running with a hat, new Ultimate Direction handheld running bottle, first real trail run in my New Balance Minimus trail shoes (had done 10ish around Rice in them), new headlamp, and Hammer Gel at every aid station. 

We line up after the 60K crazies come through the out and back at the start.  A couple guys around me are discussing their Pedernales Falls race and their goals for this race.  It seems we’re all shooting for around the same pace.  I do not run trail races with a watch so I make a mental note to stick with them.  Joe yells start and we’re off, or I should say those guys were off.  Holy crap!  Either they went out way faster than the pace they said or I’m going way slower.  I don’t even try to hang with them.  In contrast to Pedernales Falls, this start is wide open so you can easily jockey for position and settle into your pace before the trail narrows.  About half way to the first aid station I start passing 60Kers and a few 30Kers who went out too fast.  With an extra handheld it’s nice to have water to squirt on my head/neck to cool down.  Pulling into the first aid station I empty my bottles over my head, refill, take a Hammer Gel and head out, which sounds quicker than it actually happened.  Just outside the aid station I realize my hat is still next to the Gatorade jugs and have to turn back to get it.  Part way to the next aid station I pass the guys from the beginning of the race.  Other than it being hot I’m feeling great and hitting the trails at a pretty good clip, really opening it up on the dirt sections and powering through the rocky sections.  A bit later I pass a woman who immediately asks me what distance I’m running.  She’s clearly miffed I passed her.  We run somewhat together into the second aid station.  She has great aid station turn around and is out before the lids to my water bottles are even off.  Same routine as the first aid station and out I go to try and catch her.  About a half mile out a big grin sweeps my face for no real reason and I realize this is really fun.  All troubles are left out on the trail to wander the woods forever.  It takes me about a mile to finally catch her.  We pass people pretty often and head into the end of the first loop.  I have to go to my drop bag and get my headlamps.  I make the decision to run with a headlamp and a backup one in my hand.  Also, I had my shoes from the last race just in case the Minumus weren’t cutting it, but opt not to change them out.  Back out on the trail I go for loop 2, once again off to chase down Anne (I think that was her name). 

Again it takes about a mile to catch her and I can tell she’s not happy to see me again. She went off course a bit and had to come back, I doubt I would have caught her if this had not been the case. At this point I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to keep this pace up the entire second loop but figure I’ll see how long I can last.  Halfway to the fist aid station I wipeout hard.  I hit the ground and both handhelds go flying.  The headlamp that was in my hand is in pieces, but oddly still functional.  My right hand hurts like hell.  In the glow of a headlamp I notice 3 cuts in my hand.  One cut is bleeding pretty good, which I think may need stitches.  Turns out it was more like a razor blade cut, not very bad, but a lot of blood for such small scratch. My confidence in running hard on the rocky sections is lost.  I slowly run/walk the rocky parts into the first aid station where I notice a hunk of wood splinter in another cut.  You could whittle a small pipe with the hunk I pulled out.  This is also the point when I start regretting my decision to not switch out shoes.  The lack of any padding and the rocks is starting to take its toll on my feet.  With each misplaced step a new profanity is created, kind of like that scene from A Christmas Story.  This can't be over soon enough.  About halfway to the second aid station I semi-seriously consider cutting the course, jumping the switchbacks, and taking a DNF.  Fortunately I can’t tell if the people on the other track are ahead of me or behind me so I don’t risk taking a DNF and running extra.  About this time I start regaining a bit of my confidence on the rocky sections.  Telling myself they must be just behind me and picking up my pace as to not get caught.   Increasing my pace a little I'm still playing it safe into the second aid station. At the aid station I dump my water bottles over my head when a volunteer tells me he can do better and proceeds to pour an entire pitcher of ice water slowly over my head and back.  It was amazing!  A couple cups of Coke and another Hammer gel and off I go for the final 2.5ish miles.  This section is quite runnable and I gave what little I had left, finishing 25^th overall and 18^th in my division despite being 24 minutes slower than Pedernales.

Muleshoe Bend was the polar opposite of Pedernales in every way.  This race was run pretty much entirely by myself, which in retrospect was exactly what I needed after the proceeding week.  The first loop was all fun and games but the second loop tore me up.  If this was a 10 mile race this report would have been pure bliss.  If it wasn’t for the post race massages I’m not sure I would have been able to make it to the food table or drive back to the hotel.  Thanks again David for putting my legs back together.  After Pedernales I had no soreness, and running the next day gave me great confidence for TransRockies.  Muleshoe Bend is the opposite.  I can’t remember the last time I was this sore.  My confidence is waning.  Guess I’ll have to see how Colorado Bend goes in a couple weeks.

Notes:

• There’s a special place in Hell for whoever designed the Ultimate Direction water bottle drinking nipple.  Great handheld, shitty drinking design.
• In the dark, shadows and logs look like all kind of crazy things that shouldn't be in a Texas forest.  I can only imagine what my mind would come up with during a 100 miler.
• Nice to know I can go 30K in the Minimus without blisters or any foot issues (provided I wear socks).
• I had a gel at every aid station with no stomach issues.  Three miles apart may be a bit too frequently though as the thought of the last one wasn’t very appealing.
• The closeness of the aid stations was nice, probably could have skipped a few.
• Apple Cinnamon Hammer Gel didn’t do it for me.  The smell (and taste) of the cinnamon wasn’t pleasant during a run.  Ironically written as I eat cinnamon apple sauce.
• It was nice to have the extra fluid with two handhelds.  Next time I’ll try a Camelbak and a handheld as I didn’t like not having a free hand.
• Despite how bad the fall felt like at the time after I cleaned everything up it was only a couple minor scrapes and no bruising.  I was really lucky as I was going at full speed trying to keep up.
• Sorry Joe for leaving pieces of my headlamp on the trail.  I really did try to pick up after myself.