Jackalope Jam 2023

 

24 Hours at Jackalope Jam

Ultramarathon #098

#JJ24HR

Another weekend and another last minute signup. I watched my online notifications as the 100hr participants started running on Wednesday, then again on Thursday with the 72hr runners. I saw the social media feed of Trail Racing Over Texas and it got me thinking about maybe hopping into the weekend. So I did!

Jackalope Jam is a very simple race and it is more about the atmosphere and just a personal challenge. I mean the course is a simple 0.75 Mi out and 0.75 Mi on the same ranch road. A great benefit of this event is you are constantly immersed with all the other runners as everyone is always passing each other. If you are ever in Texas in February and need a trail running party this is the place to be. Most runners camp out in their vehicles on the row of the course with their tents and multiday setups of food and drinks. Many people even decorate their aid stations with lights and whatnot. It is truly a Jam out at 7IL Ranch.

 Thank you Cal & Jeremiah from Trail Racing Over Texas for another great TROT event. Great to see everyone from the TROT trail community out there on the ranch.

Photo: Trail Racing Over Texas | JJustisPhotography

Results

·        My STRAVA: JackalopeJam 24hr (2nd overall), Cat Spring, TX | Run | Strava

·        Official Results: 2023Jackalope Jam 24 Hour - Results (ultrasignup.com)

·        This was my 98^th ultramarathon run & completion of my 31^st 100 miler(+).

·        This was my 3^rd ultramarathon of 2023 thus far.

·        I have now run a total of 879.76 Mi out at 7IL Ranch in the 5 years I’ve been in Texas

67 loops of the 0.75 Mi out & back course netted me an official 100.50 Mi and earned another buckle. Goal achieved!

Gear List

LS shirt(s): rabbit LS rabbitELITEtrail team kit (x2), rabbit Low Light 2.0 pullover

Shorts: rabbit 3" FKT

Pants: rabbit Low Light 2.0

Shoes: Altra Torin 3.5

Socks: Dry Max

Headwear: rabbit (BOCO) visor

Sunglasses: goodr

Gloves: rabbit (BOCO)

Watch: Garmin fēnix® 6X - Pro Solar Edition

Lighting: Nathan Sports Halo Fire (headlamp)

Hydration: Nathan Sports 20oz Nathan soft flask

Gear Bags: Victory Sportdesign

 

Why I Run

Why I Run

A simple explanation to a hard inquiry.

Originally posted on Facebook notes 2019-03-21.

Not long ago Billy Yang Films created a movie titled The Why where he explained and documented his journey through Leadville 100 and showed many people in very simple terms of what drives some of us crazy ultra runners. Sometimes it is very hard to explain to someone of what I do on the weekends, away from my office here in downtown of the city in Houston where I’m surrounded by hard working office bound people. I just say that I like to run.

So how come then am i writing a note like this? I want to explain my reason why in very simple and very clear terms of to how I have become so in love with this extreme fringe endurance sport of ultrarunning.

"The Best Part of Me" by Addison Meding (2019-02-28)

"The best part of me is my legs. One reason is I can play my favorite sport. I can hike up the mountains. I can run so that I can run with my dad. I love my legs."

My oldest daughter wrote the above not long ago as one of her 1st grade assignments. She came up with it on her own and surprised us by bringing it home all proud and happy to show it off. She is only 6 years old. It made my heart melt and also made me reflect back.

My oldest daughter and I at my first ever race |
Woody's RV Half Marathon | Red Deer, AB, Canada |
2016-05-22 | Photo: Katie Meding

In March of 2016 is when I got the idea to run a half marathon and try to get myself back into somewhat better shape. I did not particularly enjoy running, but I had a goal of getting this training and eventual race done. Training was hard and the weather on the day was worse for my first ever race. But there is one thing that made it all worth while. My wife and kids were there cheering me on and supporting me the entire time when it came to the race. They were trapped in the exact same shitty weather I was (rainy 4C / 39f), but they were there for me...how cool is that.

After catching the running bug and finding the trails I grown to love this sport for a variety of reasons. But ultimately it keeps coming back to one reason and it is really simple to explain. Yet, I can not find the words to put it into proper form, so I won’t.

My 2 oldest daughters who were there cheering me on in my first ever trail experience | RVR 25 km | Edmonton, AB, Canada | 2016-06-18 | Photo: Katie Meding

My oldest daughter running kids 1km race | 5Peaks Fish Creek | Calgary, AB, Canada | 2016-08-06 | Photo: Katie Meding

My 2nd daughter providing support during my first ever ultra event | 5Peaks Triplestoke | Revelstoke, BC, Canada | 2018-08-28 | Photo: Katie Meding

Oldest daughter high five support | 5Peaks Trail Half | Canmore, AB, Canada | 2016-09-17 | Photo: Katie Meding

2nd daughter enjoying my finish medal | River Valley Revenge Winter 50km | Edmonton, AB, Canada | 2017-01-21 | Photo: Katie Meding

oldest daughter running into finish with me | Santa Barbara Nine Trails 35mi | Santa Barbara, CA, USA | 2017-03-25 | Photo: Katie Meding

Wife and 3 daughters supported me the entire race in my first ever 100 mile attempt. I credit my victory to their crewing | River Valley Revenge 100 mi | Edmonton, AB, Canada | 2017-06-10 | Photo: James Dalke

My family often supports me into the wee hours of the night as I have ventured into the longer distances | Dinosaur Valley Endurance Run 100 km | Glen Rose, TX, USA | 2017-11-04 | Photo: unknown

My 2 oldest daughters created cheering sign for me | Brazos Bend 100 mi | Needville, TX, USA | 2017-12-09 | Photo: Katie Meding

My 3 daughters ensuring I hydrate adequately | San Felipe Shootout | San Felipe, TX, USA | 2018-03-24 | Photo: Katie Meding

Often the kids have to be carried to (or from) the vehicle while sleeping in order to come to the events | Brazos Bend 100 km| Needville, TX, USA | 2018-04-07 | Photo: Katie Meding

Family affair crewing - even if in the womb | River Valley Revenge 100 mi | Edmonton, AB, Canada | 2018-06-16 | Photo: Brenda Shaughnessy

3rd daughter coming to say hi during aid stop | Brazos Bend 100 mi | Needville, TX, USA | 2018-12-08 | Photo: Katie Meding

Crossing the finish line for the victory & course record with my 3 oldest daughters | Running the Rose 108 km | Tyler, TX, USA | 2019-01-28 | Photo: Katie Meding

My 3 oldest daughters cheering me on at the start | Jackalope Jam 24 hr | Cat Spring, TX, USA | 2019-02-23 | Photo: Katie Meding

To me it is pretty simple. I started this journey 3 years ago this March in order to lose some weight regain fitness, and try and feel better about myself and how i was being perceived by my 2 daughters at the time (who were 3 & 1). Here we are now in 2019 and I have continued down the path of endurance for myself and probably just as importantly for my family and to provide my daughters (now 4 of them) a good role model. I know that showing them how to persevere during something that is extremely hard and seeing it through will provide some good lessons, whether they see it now or not. The simple act of my oldest daughter writing that simple little explanation of the best part of herself validates every single thing I have done over this journey. I will continue to push myself and explore what is possible. I will succeed at times, and I will fail as well, but in the end I will show my daughters that no matter what sometimes just doing the hard work is what matters. All of the above are the reason i tag all my Instagram posts with #ultrarunningdad. Those little smiles whether there in person, over the phone, or a voicemail or video left for me to check during an aid stations stop mean everything to me. Thank you to my wife, Katie, who is my biggest supporter, and thank you to my 4 little inspirations: you all drive me more than you know!

My self designed logo. Disclaimer: I am not a graphic artist

My favorite cheer team | Jackalope Jam 24 hr | Cat Spring, TX, USA | 2019-02-23 | Photo: Katie Meding

So why do you do what you do? What inspires you? Find your why!

Thank you as well to my awesome supporters this season!

• rabbit | rabbitELITEtrail Team
• Trail Racing Over Texas | Team TROT
• Victory Sportdesign | Team Victory
• Nathan | Team Nathan
• Altra running
• Drymax Socks
• Trail Toes
• Goodr

100 Miles is not that far...or is it?

Jackalope Jam 24hr | Ultramarathon #036

Exactly 14 days from my completion out west in El Paso I was now here lined up in Cat Spring, TX at the 7IL Ranch to run a 24 hr timed ultra. My goal was simple I was aiming for 100 miles within the 24 hr time period just to see if I could do it so soon after the biggest run of my life.

About 3 days after returning home from El Paso I managed to start my active recovery which help lead to this decision. A mere few days removed from the Franklins 200, I somehow had convinced myself I needed another buckle already for the 2019 year. Jackalope Jam could not be more opposite of run from coming the Franklin Mountains in west Texas. This race is held on a private ranch and is a very flat course which presents it own challenge of a simple 0.5mi out & 0.5mi back.

Jackalope Jam course | Photo: STRAVA

I took this challenge on knowing i could run the distance. In fact a few of my Team TROT teammates were also doing the Franklins/JJ double. Matt Zmolek & Dena Carr were both aiming for another 200mi run within the 72hr run. Luis Murillo was going to be running the 24hr as well with me. A lot of the team was also there so it was a great Team atmosphere.

Team TROT at the 7IL Ranch for Jackalop Jam. 8/14 team was here. | (L to R: Katie Graff, Meg Reed, Jenna Jurica, Dena Carr, Shandra Moore, Trevor Meding, Luis Murillo, Matt Zmolek) | Photo: unknnown. 

Running the race started off good as I started at 09:00 Saturday morning with my family there supporting me. This was the perfect race to have them here, as my kids got to see me every 10 minutes or so based on the short out and back course profile. One of the best parts about running ultras for me is being able to see my kids and their pure joy and smiles. My family always give me boost, and this race was no different.

My 3 oldest daughters cheering me on at the start of the day | Photo: Katie Meding

Format of this race is very casual and so some family members hike a mile or come cheer out on the 0.5mi path. My daughters here ran out and paced me for a bit running around the field. I'm pictured here venturing over to them for  a quick hug, heading back to the road | Photo: Katie Meding

Quick foot rub by my awesome crew | Photo: Trevor Meding

My wife and family went home for some sleep and I was still going somewhat strong into the evening hours. I never really had doubts I was not going to complete the 100 miles, but it certainly was getting harder as my legs began to feel all the mileage. Running this far on flat distance also is a challenge since you as continue to utilize the same muscle groups for the entire time. The night hours went by slow and steady. I took a lot of walk break and the ease of the aid every 1.0mi made stopping an all too easy option. However the bean & cheese quesadillas kept me fueled quite well.

The light was coming up over the horizon and I was getting closer. I knew that I would easily make more 100mi within the 24hr, however I was still moving slow. I alternated walk and run intervals and got the mileage done in 22:24:07. As soon as I crossed that timing mat, I informed Rob Goyen, the RD, I was done and happy with my 100mi as that was my goal. I think i was in 2nd or 3rd at this point, but i gave up the podium spot and 3 people passed my mileage over the last hour and half. I went over to my chair and grabbed some more food as I was content achieving my goal. My family had arrived again here in the morning and so I began to celebrate with them and enjoy the accomplishment.

Buckle time! Ultra #036 | Photo: Katie Meding

Finishing this race was a great experience and showed me a lot in terms of a mental challenge. I am very thankful that my kids and wife were able to come out and experience a big part of this race with me since it was close to home.

#ultrarunningdad getting high fives from my favorite cheer team | Photo: Katie Meding

Thank you to my supporters this season!

• rabbit | rabbitELITEtrail Team
• Trail Racing Over Texas | Team TROT
• Victory Sportdesign | Team Victory
• Nathan | Team Nathan
• Altra running
• Drymax Socks
• Trail Toes
• Goodr