| Map of the 50 Miler. Mostly the same except they have an extra little loop to do that we didn't. |
Another Map of the 50 Miler. | Map of the Park. |
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Anyway, the 100K is 4 loops of 15.8ish miles per the website. You start at 6AM because it's supposed to get hot and you have 15 hours to do it in.
Jamey got permission to go so that was cool. Got me some company.
The deal is is that he was gonna go early down to Texas and visit with his brother and his family. I would fly down on Friday and he would pick me up from the airport and we would go to the hotel to check in and also to race site to both check things out, as well as packet pick up.
I got to Texas without a hitch and off we went. Hotel wasn't ready so we opted for lunch (Subway's) and then Jamey mentioned something about a headlamp and oops... So, we went to buy me one. From there, we drove to Brazos Bend State Park which was really a protected swamp full of 300+ Alligators, venemous snakes, spiders, exotic birds and other wildlife. I LOVE IT!!! I love seeing wildlife so I was excited... We walked a little trying to get the lay of the land and also to try to spot an alligator but didn't see anything close by. We kinda saw one from afar but it was just too far for a photo. Oh well.
We then stopped for snacks and stuff and back to the hotel where we seperated and I did my thing.
The nice thing about the race starting at 6AM, was that you get some running in the cooler weather. The bad thing about the race starting at 6AM, was that you get some running in freezing weather. Also, since I need time for my stomach, less sleep but I manage just fine on that so oh well.
OK - I was FREEZING when we got there. I was in a real bad place. Jamey, of course, in shorts loved it. Most other people loved it. I bought at the Gator store, a cover for my face and sleevies to wear under the long sleeve to try to help keep warm. They helped.
The RD gave his speech and of course the topic of alligators came up. Apparently they can run upto 35 MPH and we were warned not to do stupid things. Stupid things include:
What you're supposed to do is just raise your arm up and yell alligator and a ranger will immediatly come and shoo it away. We joked about that a lot later.
While waiting for the race to start, I started talking to a few people who were doing the race and that group was all doing the 50M, because more than that is crazy... Hm.
Finally, we started. Thanks to the headlamp, I was able to actually see, as it was pitch dark out there. Makes sense as there are no street lamps in a swamp. Couldn't really get a feel for the course as of yet. We ran some of it with our new friends until we hit the section that is different. The 50M have an extra out and back to do so we got seperated. That's ok...
Around this time, Jamey and I hooked up with Cody Cheyne and his friends. We kept leapfrogging with them. I don't remember the other guys names anymore but that's ok too. Cody was in the Navy. Nice guy and we hit it off. He loved the fact that we were Jews from NY and kept announcing outloud that he was with his Jewish NYer friends. Hm. Anyway, while he was not Jewish, he did marry a Jewish girl so he tried to impress us with his knowledge of Jews to which end he loves Matzah Balls. Oh yeah, his wife tries to teach him Hebrew words but again, he only knew Matzah Balls. Worse things to know, I guess. Jamey tried to teach him "Kiss my Tucesh". His pronouncation made me cringe. Cody's was worse. (English translation: Kiss my Ass!). Anyway on/off leapfrog with him and his friends.
While loop 1 was in the dark, loop 2 brought out the sunshine. As I finally started warming up - yay, Jamey started warming up - oh oh. He was drinking. I was drinking a little bit at aid stations. Jamey was drinking a lot as he knew what was coming and he was trying to stave it off. I slowly started taking layers off to revel in the sun. It felt good. We finally saw an alligator in the water with a baby alligator on its snout. I was always proud of myself for never having take a selfie but I was determined that I will finally take a selfie and with an alligator to boot. I did. Got my selfie. After that, it was keeping an eye for more alligators. We also saw some awesome birds. Apparently they have a bird that resembles a flamingo but isn't. We also saw turkey vultures in the air and a pack of them on the ground with one determined to get at a turtle. We saw a huge frog or Toad. We saw some huge shadows on the ground from overhead birds and they may have been an eagle but our eyes, for the most part, were on the ground and in the water. We banked a LOT of time on that loop. At the end of every loop, I would send a group text to the wives, letting them know that we are ok. It was something like "Vertical. Loop 1 of 4 done." I did that as Jamey would get more tailwind powder or reapply chafeing stuff or indoor plumbing issues.
We did see a blow up alligator at some point and of course I raised my arm and yelled alligator. No ranger materialized but I did scare the crap out of a woman coming in the opposite direction. Sorry...
Just like that loop 2 was done. I was loving the weather. It was supposed to get into the 70s. Jamey later told me that it was definitly in the 80s or higher. I don't know. All I know, was that I loved it. Other people there, not so much. I know I am jumping the gun here but so you understand the temperatures better, 26 finished, 17 DNFed and 7 DNSed. I know it seems here and now like this was low-key but the reality was that there were so many different races going on, that in reality there were over 800 people out there racing and then other people were there just to enjoy the beauty of the park.
Jamey was NOT doing well. He started throwing up everywhere. I'm used to him sounding like he's gonna vomit as he gets dehydrated but this wasn't it. He was leaving DNA everywhere. He simply could not keep any liquids or food down. Actually, he would pick up his bottle and before even drinking, would just throw up. It was bad. He kept telling me to leave him but you don't do that. You especially don't do that in a damn swamp. We lost a ton of time but you gotta do what you gotta do. We turn a 90 degree corner as I was looking for a garbage and WHAT THE HELL?!? There's an 8 foot alligator in our path as in blocking our path.
Hm... Luckily, she decided to move away from the main water (against what we were told) and toward the canal opposite us. Besides for another selfie, I took a video of it skulking away as I was walking behind her. She made sure to express her displeasure with the loudest hissing I have ever heard. Make sure to put the volume on it's loudest setting to fully appreciate this dinosaur that we have encountered.
A little while later, we again joined Cody who was on the phone with his wife and he was telling her (loudly) about his new Jewish New Yorkers and that Jamey is trying to teach him how to say something and of course he can't remember it so Jamey reminds him. His accent is so bad, his wife doesn't understand what the hell he is saying and he can't remember what it means. So, he asks us what does it mean and right then and there (PERFECT TIMING!!!), Liz Perez runs by and as she does, she screams out loud, "KISS MY ASS!". As bad as Jamey was feeling, he immediatly felt better as both of us almost fell over in laughter. Unfortunatly that elation was short lived. He still felt bad and it was getting worse.
This loop was the end for Jamey. We really slowed down and he really looked like crap. He kept telling me to leave and I refused but he could barely walk. Finally, when we were about 1/4 mile from the turn around aid station, I aggreed. I told him that I would run ahead and let them know that he is coming. He just needed to sit down for a little while. I told him that once he's ok, to let me know and I would find him. Even if I need to do bonus miles to get him across the finish line, I would. He has come back from stuff like this. He is strong. I ran ahead and met Sharon, the aid station captain. I didn't know at the time but she is a nurse and she just got it. I left and told him to call me and let me know what's up. His plan was to sit for 30 minutes. He didn't know what he was doing at the time and didn't let his wife know quite yet.
He eventually let me know that he is being transported by a Gator (Wow - funny name for a vehicle in a park filled with actual Gators) and he is ok. He gave me the all clear to let his wife know that he is ok and that he will call her. I texted the wives and told them what's going on. Jamey did eventually call his wife and told her that he is ok. He rested, cooled off and went back to the hotel for a shower and a nap. I'm glad he was ok. I would have done an extra loop...
Loop 4 started for me and at the time, I still had not heard from him. I only heard a little while later. In any case, I'm officially alone. I still have a lot of time but I'm a little worried as we lost time. Also, I have no problem admitting that it's scary in the park in pitch black surroundings. I don't know how the wildlife gets. Always good to have a friend. I have my headlamp but it's not dark yet. I took it because I knew, I would eventually be in the dark.
As I started up the small dirt hill, I immediatly noticed 2 things. The first was a female athlete coming back down the hill who at the time was texting. The second thing was something that seemed like a branch in the middle of the road, right in front of me, but for whatever reason, caught my eye. I stopped short. The stick was about 2 feet in front of me and it wasn't a stick. It was a cottonmouth. It was moving but slowly. I immediatly got my phone out to take a picture. Maybe it wasn't the brightest idea thinking about it now but that's what happened. I took a picture and then the snake got a little pissy with the papparazzi and opened it's mouth, showing me those beautiful teeth. Whoa! Got a great picture of that too. Also, perhaps not the smartest thing, I know. Meanwhile the texting female athlete realized that I was stopped and from afar, yelled out to me, "what's that?". I yelled back that it was a snake. She got closer and said to me, "That's not a snake! That's a damn cottonmouth!". She gave it ALOT of space, thanked me and went on her way and on her phone. I get the need to let people know what just happened but maybe instead of texting/calling, she should keep her eyes open instead? Who am I to speak after admitting my stupidity but then again, I got 2 cool pictures so...
I just want to say that between seeing the Gator in our way and this snake, I had the time of my life...
I eventually saw another Cottonmouth all curled up in a ditch, more Gators, a baby gator by itself in the water (where's Mama???), some 2 inch spiders (no parachutes), a rabbit, bunch ot water turtles, turkey vultures and hawks. Jamey saw an armadillo while he was being driven back to the start. I didn't see that...
On I went. Mixed emotions. I was loving the wildlife. I was sad for Jamey's DNF but glad he was ok. I was worried a little about the time and def worried about it geting dark. But that's what a LONG ultra is all about. It's a rollercoaster of physical stuff as well as emotions. One second you're feeling great and the other like crap only to switch again and again.
Most of the 800+ people were already gone. The aid stations weren't making fresh food at this point. It was getting dark. I got to the turn around aid station where I left Jamey and I thanked Sharon (again). She told me that he was good. I was happy to hear that. Only about 4 miles to go or something like that. I didn't like the stretch to that aid station nor the stretch back but at least, I was going back down for the last time.
At this point, I ran into Amanda Kelly and her friend but I don't remember his name anymore.
There's a lot to say about Amanda but before I do, the three of us were running and there's a guy lying down on the trail. We stop and ask if he's ok. He says he is and he's just resting. I thought it was a little weird but also dangerous. I don't know what wildlife is lurking around. I already saw 2 snakes a ton of huge spiders. Did that area have alligators? Dude said he was ok so we left. The guy we were with was very upset about that entire encounter. There was a park bench right across from him. When we got to the aid station, we mentioned it to them. Later Jamey told me that when he got picked up, they also picked up that guy. Phew... At least he is safe too.
Amanda's story... Let me just say that people are tough. She is tough. She had a scar on her and I said to her that it was a cool looking scar and that I tell my wife all the time that "chicks dig scars" everytime I get a new one. Well, Amanda told me the scar story. This story isn't pretty and let me tell you that my jaw dropped. I could mention that you can skip the next paragraph but I won't.
Sometime ago, a male friend of hers, knocked on her doorstep. He has a little bit of a history of mental health but was a friend so even tho the knock was unexpected, she opened the door. For this kindness, he grabbed a vase and hit her on the head. He then proceeded to pounce on her and to beat the crap out of her. He also got a knife and started slashing and cutting his way through. When EMS arrived, they took her immediatly to the hospital. I don't remember if she arrived DOA or just coded a few times but she was eventually pronounced dead. Her chest was cut open and bleeding. At the hospital, they stuck their hands into her chest to try and try to revive her but failed. They pronounced her dead. All of a sudden though, she "came back". She's one of those rare percenters who can come back suddenly. Took a while but she got out of the hospital and here she is running a 100K and will be there again in December (with me - yay) running a hundred miles. Did I mention that she was TOUGH??? Did I mention that jaw was on the floor? Her male friend didn't react so he already has heard this before so she wasn't making it up... I recovered my jaw and very apologetically asked if her assailant is now dead. I don't usually add politics to these race reports but I am in full support of the death penalty when a) there is no doubt that the person is guilty and b) when there is no place on this Earth for a person meaning some people cannot be helped... In any case, Texas as a death penalty state, you SCREWED UP! Because he has a history of mental illness and because he didn't bring the knife with him, he was put into a mental hospital. Seriously? Again, apologies for the politics but Texas screwed the pooch on this one. My race report - my opinion.
She decided to post something on Facebook recently detailing her experiece in her own words. You can read it for yourself but please realize that she is undertelling some stuff in my opinion. If you read my version (previous paragraph), you will realize perhaps what I mean.
Let's try to end this on a positive note and agree that she is TOUGH!
The dude at one point left us. At an aid station later on, I also left Amanda. I needed to get this done. About 1/2 a mile from the finish, I see Jamey and he's got spicy nuggets from Wendy's for me. Bless his heart. If we were more than 1/2 a mile away, I would have grabbed them but 1/2 a mile away means I sprint my butt off so I can be done and so I dragged him with me. I finished. Got my cool medal and went to the car. I ate my spicy nugs, drank my lemonade and of course dealt with the on/off shivering that sometimes happens to me in these long events at the end. On the drive to the hotel, I saw a wild cat that could have been a mountain lion or some such.
Another very early AM wakeup, drive to the airport and return the car and we were on the way home.
Lastly, regarding the people are tough part... There was a woman there who was dragging a car tire. Look at the image gallery and you'll see her. I believe she did the 50 miler. I asked and if memory serves, she was dragging the tire to get attention to Domestic Abuse. She does this regularily. Dragging a tire is hard enough but on dirt trails... Wow...
One really last thing... On the drive back to the hotel, Jamey told me that he won't be doing the hundred miler in december. That got me thinking. Also, I was doing the math and if I can do a 14 hour again for the 100K, then in theory, maybe just maybe, I can do a sub 24 for my final hundred. The 2 thoughts together gave me a headache. I would like the company but is he even going to be there at all? Well, some time has passed and he confirmed that he will be doing the hundred miler after all. So what does it all mean?!?
Here is a link to Brazos Bend 100M.
