Grasslands? More Like Mudlands!
Ultramarathon #113
Another weekend and yet another race I joined last minute. Finished off my Friday work and then relaxed for a bit eating and finalizing my gear packing. A quick nap (sort of) watching a movie and then I awoke around 22:00 to head out on the road to North Texas. I made the 6 hour trek overnight and arrived to Lyndon B. Johnson (LJB) National Grasslands. It will a chilly still night as I pulled into the parking lot scattered with pop up tents and quiet vehicles. Everyone was still getting in their last rest as it was nearing 2AM. I grabbed my blanket and snuggled up in my passenger seat for a quick 2-hour nap before race check in. The rest felt good! Not a full night sleep, but at this point I am very used to doing this half-assed dirt bag style of racing. (One day again, I will actually travel ahead of time and be able to get a full night sleep prior to actual race day).
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| 2024 Grasslands 100 Mi course map. |
The pre-race briefing was held a mere 10 minutes before start. I was half listening, half not. I got the jist of it and listened to the marking portion closely as the course was a mixture of 4 intertwining loops, so I wanted to ensure I paid attention to this. I then walked back to my car to take of my puffy and hat I was wearing to stay warm. As the briefing was winding down all I heard was "30 seconds to go!" That escalated quickly. I briskly went back to my chair and got my handheld and put on my rabbit arm sleeves as I went to line up in the start chute....3...2...1 go, the front of the runner pack started, and I was still getting sorted. I started up my Garmin (in ultramarathon mode) and like that we started off into the darkness. Starting off in the back was somewhat of a blessing as it forced me to slow down as I was trapped behind 60+ runners or so on the initial singletrack where passing was not exactly a given.
The first 5 hours of the race was absolutely perfect running conditions. It had started out in the dark for about 2 hours before the sun rose, but it remained cloudy and cool. I ditched my headlamp and arm sleeves after the 1st loop (YELLOW - 9.2 Mi) which took me just under 2 hours. I had made my way slowly up the pack near the top 6 or so at this point (mind you only 76 runners started the 100 Mi). The second loop (BLUE - 15.0 Mi) flew by as well even thought this was the longest. The 3rd loop (WHITE - 12.6 Mi) cruised by as well, but the clouds were growing darker.
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| Photo: Krsti Robeson |
Arriving back at the main crew stop (start/finish) I was informed that the rain was coming, but not too worry as it was going to pass over the area. I had noticed the darker clouds were slowly engulfing the area, but I figured I might be able to squeeze in another loop. However, something instinctual made me grab my vest and stuff in my rain jacket (rabbit Treeline) just in case. On second thought, I think I have to thank Json Hunley for this as he asked me as I was leaving if I had my rain gear. So glad I did as only about 10 minutes into my 4th loop (RED - 8.9 Mi) the clouds opened up and just started pouring hard! Lighting was making the clouds glow, thunder was crackling, and the rain was relentless. This was no passing rain shower. Time to persevere...
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| Photo: Originally from Dirt and Vert IG. I reposted this on my IG stories. |
The puddles grew deeper as night was approaching. The rain continued...
After my 5th loop (I think?), I treated myself to a pair of dry socks. Man did that felt good to wipe off my feet and get all the excess sand out of my shoes. The mud just seeped your shoes via every little hole and pore, so the dirt would settle in eventually no matter what you did. I started to feel my toes on my left shoe being lifted due to the amount of dirt accumulated underneath my socks. I knew the dry socks would not last long with the conditions out there, but the dry sock feeling was more of a psychological lift than anything else at this point. I trudged on with darkness approaching again. Coming in off my 6th loop out of the 9, which would of been completing the BLUE, I took my time at the start/finish transition area. Lots of people were there now, the drop count was rising as the toll of the conditions was slowly grinding away. As I was getting some foot care done again, Regina asked me if I wanted a pacer as her runner was no longer continuing on. i thought for a minute and took the offer up. Going into the night I was already tired from lack of sleep and the toll of the mud so I figured I could use some company if the offer was there. Regina is always up for some miles and so I gladly accepted the offer if she was willing to brave the mud.
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| Photo: Phil Salmeron |
The rain itself finally stopped but the puddles and muddy mess remained. The trails were not drying up anytime. We headed back onto my 7th loop with only 30 miles to go. The company was nice as Regina kept me busy with conversation as we chatted about various things. Not being used to having a pacer it was a good change for me in this case given the harsh conditions. I'm sure Regina eventually got tired of me swearing as I was slipping and splashing into deeper puddles soaking my legs over and over. We kept slowly moving and having Regina slowly setting a pace in front of me seemed to help as she gently encouraged me to keep up. Around the WHITE loop and back for foot care and a third pair of dry socks. Surprisingly Regina said she would keep going and hopped again as we now tackled the RED loop. The runners kept dropping and at one point the volunteers mentioned I was in 4th or 5th place. I did not give much thought to it since my new goal was just to struggle through. Finishing off this 8.2 Mi loop I once again treated myself to my very last pair of dry socks - why not.
Less than 10 miles to go now. The darkness was thick, the mud was deep, my tolerance for running was waning as I seemed to be walking more. Regina stuck it out with me and would eventually pace the entire last ~30 Mi (50 km)....what a trooper in those conditions. After we left the start/finish area out on this final lap we did soon pass a single runner trotting along. We did not realize it at the time but this was the 3rd place runner. This came to light as we rolled into the final aid station which lie about 4.1 Mi from the finish. We slowly wandered in, beaten up by the mud, our pace had slowed. Regina and I both opted for a chair to sit. As the nigh chill was setting in, we ordered a warm soup to help us for this last push. As the volunteers started to warm us up some soup they congratulated me for being in 3rd overall, which came as a surprise to me. Then all of a sudden one of the young men said look her comes another headlight....really?....now I sat here with a slight issue. Do I sit and wait for my soup and just be content with my finish? Or do I get up and battle it out for a podium spot which I was currently holding? Well Regina looked over at me and I got up and said "thanks for the soup, but I got to go....". I got up and Regina followed, we headed out, looking back and sure enough a bobbing headlamp was maybe 30 seconds away from the aid station. Only a few strides down the trail and Regina turned to me and mentioned she forgot her poles and had to turn around to grab them. She told me to keep going and she'd catch back up. My competitive juices started flowing and I took this opportunity to take off. With the adrenaline flowing of a runner chasing me down I was also using the fact thought of if I can outrun Regina back to the finish then surely the 4th place runner won't be able to catch me. And so I pressed hard and ran my fastest couple miles I had run in the past 10 hours or so. I continued hard all the way to the finish. Sorry Regina but thank you very much for the pacing and the motivation to grab that final podium spot!
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| Receiving thanks and my buckle from RD Chris Barnwell. Photo: Phil Salmeron. |
Results
- 25:19:38 | 3rd overall | finish rate was low, only 22.37% (DNFr = 77.63%)
- My 38th 100Mi or more completed
- My 113th ultramarathon run overall
- My 3rd ultramarathon of 2024
- STRAVA: Grasslands Trail Run (3rd overall), Alvord, TX | Run | Strava
- UltraSignup results: 2024 Grasslands Trail Run 100 Mile - Results (ultrasignup.com)
Gear Used
- Jackets - rabbit Treeline rain jacket
- Gloves - rabbit (BOCO)
- Lighting setup - kogalla RA Adventure Light (waistlamp) & Nathan Sports Halo Fire (headlamp)
- Shirts - rabbit SS, LS rabbitELITEtrail team kit
- Shorts - rabbit 3" FKT 2.0
- Headwear - rabbit (rnnr) rabbitELITEtrail team kit
- Shoes - HOKA Challenger ATR 7
- Socks - injinji (x2), Drymax (x2)
- Hydration - NATHAN 18oz insulated soft handheld
- Vest - NATHAN Pinnacle 12L race pack to carry my rain gear.
- Anti-Friction Lube - Trail Toes - applied once at beginning.
- Watch - Garmin fēnix® 6X - Pro Solar Edition
- Gear Bag: Victory Sportdesign (Grizzly Backpack)
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| Check out those mud-caked legs. Photo: Kathleen Hanley |
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| My poor shoes the day after. |
In the end I think the key to
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