Nueces 50 Mile Race Report

On Saturday, March 3, 2012, I had the pleasure of running 50 miles in the Nueces River Valley, on the western edge of the Texas Hill Country. As usual, Joe and Joyce Prusaitis put on an extraordinary ultramarathon. Their races truly are top-notch, both in terms of the course itself - which is beautiful - and in terms of the organization, volunteer staff, and aid the runners receive. I saw many familiar faces on the trail and at the aid stations, including newly-weds Doug and Jazzy Ratliff (congrats you two!)

My goal going into this race was to just have fun. I wanted to go out there and get caught up in the beauty of being out on the trail - to just do my own thing and listen to my music on my iPod and have a blast. And I did just that.

I drove out to Camp Eagle on Friday, checked in and got my race tags, and parked my car in the camping area and ate oranges and almonds and watched episodes of the Golden Girls on my laptop until it was time to sleep. By 5 am, I was well-rested and ready to start my adventure. I got all my gear together (which wasn't very much: one water bottle, a headlamp, nipple guards, and my iPod. That is really all you need to run 50 miles on Joe's well-organized course) and headed towards the start line.

The first few miles of an ultra are always my favorite miles. Everyone is excited and fresh. You have your headlamps and flashlights out. You feel like you are embarking into the the unknown and you feel anxious and happy, and maybe even a little scared, all at the same time.

Now, if you haven't been on the trails at Camp Eagle, let me tell you you something about them: they are tough! Okay, maybe not that tough, but they are definitely challenging. There are some big climbs throughout the course, and you feel absolute relief when you get to the top of a big hill because by then you have just had it with climbing! Then, you get to the quad-punishing downhill! And the trail is not smooth. It is rocky. You've never seen so many rocks in your life (unless, of course, you have run the Cactus Rose 100 at Bandera).

But, what rugged beauty! More climbs means more scenic views. You get to the top of one hill and you can see a beautiful expanse of the Texas Hill Country. You get to the top of another hill, and what is waiting for you on top? A giant, beautiful creaking windmill set against the rising Texas sun! This course has it all: water (you run along the river for a short portion of the course), bridge crossings (there is one long suspension bridge that you get to run across and several other smaller crossings), and wildlife.

On the last point about wildlife, let me tell you a short anecdote before wrapping up this race report. At about mile 42, I found myself face to face with a big buck standing right in the middle of the trail. Off to the side was a fawn. They both stood staring at me, no more than 10 feet away. I took a step toward the buck, hoping he might move. He didn't. He just stood there. Staring. Now, I've seen one too many YouTube videos of deer going crazy and standing up on their hind legs and attacking with their front legs to take this situation lightly. I mean, come on, I've just run 42 miles! I am tired as hell and have the strength of a marshmallow Peep. If that deer attacked me, I was totally defenseless. Worst case scenario: there were plenty of rocks to defend myself with!

But after a few second of just standing there, regarding each other with mistrust and probably waiting for the other to make the first move to get us out of this situation, I decided to take action. I ran at the deer with my hands in the air and screamed. The thing ran away. And so did I. As I ran towards the finish line, I smiled at what turned out to be a fun little adventure.

Rocky Raccon 100 Course Profile

This entry is part of an ongoing series of course profiles of different 100 mile races that I run. It will be divided into three basic sections: the physical (commenting on the physical aspects of the run, the training that is necessary, etc.), the psychological (commenting on the mental aspects of the race, and what the course entails on a psychological level), and the material (commenting on the gear you will need, supplies, etc.) Leave comments if you have run the course and would like to give advice on how others might better prepare for the race. These profiles are meant as a training tool for for anyone planning to run these races. They are my personal reflections on the race.

When: February 5, 2011
Where: Huntsville, Texas at the Huntsville State Park
Cost: Starting at $132
Type: Looped
Terrain: Flat and soft with with roots
Website: http://tejastrails.com/Rocky.html

The Physical

Rocky Raccoon is a fairly flat course. There are not a whole lot of hills here. The hills that do exist are gently rolling. Nothing like Cactus Rose 100. The trails are soft and covered with pine needles. There are roots on the trails, so watch your feet. There are also lots of wooden bridges on the trails. So, you will also be stepping on wooden planks.



The Mental



The course consists of five 20 mile loops. It's not an especially scenic course. Lots of woods. The view when you get to the lake is pretty nice, though. The good thing about Rocky Raccoon is that it is a huge event. About 700 runners come every year. So, you will have plenty of moral support out there. The aid stations are great. They are well-staffed and stocked with ultra essentials. That is both a blessing and a curse: the aid stations are nice to come across, but you might not want to leave. Seriously, don't stick around too long at the aid stations. It might help to have a pacer, but it is definitely not necessary in this particular 100 miler. You can get along just fine by yourself if you are adequately prepared. However, it can get pretty hairy alone on the trails at night, when you are going through the woods. One more thing about the trails - some parts have roots sticking out. It is almost inevitable that you will fall, especially at night. This can be quite psychologically taxing. Watch your feet on the trail, but be ready to fall down.



The Material

Take all your usual gear. A shoe with a good toe guard might be just the thing for when you stub your toes on those roots at night. Get a good flashlight, too. A headlamp alone will not reveal the relief of the trail; it will just illuminate. You need to be able to see those roots! Take a jacket for thee cold of night. You don't really need much for fueling. You could get by on just two water bottles. The aid stations are well-stocked and close enough apart that you can get by on just two water bottles. But veteran trail runners will probably want to take their own fueling needs. Most runners leave a drop bag at the start filled with clothes, extra shoes, medical supplies, etc.