Bandera – 2005

Bandera 100K started this year for Robert and me on Wednesday. We arrived 11-11:30 and were headed out to mark trails by noon. We marked the 1st section (backwards) from Nacho's while Chris Matus took off the other direction to mark the 2nd section. Thursday morning we marked the inner loop over the sisters between Crossroads and Crossroads. I was really happy to be able to help mark trail as it would me familiarize myself with the course. Having been out there at least a half dozen times now, I almost know where I am. Unlike my 1st Bandera 100K when I did not have a clue. It was quite warm starting out on Wednesday, cold by late afternoon, and even colder Thursday. It was quite fun to enjoy the peace and quiet of Bandera SNA and the company of Joe, Henry, Chris and Robert (with Mark and a new friend, Herb Jarrell, joining us on Thursday) before the excitement of the race. I learned a whole lot about what goes in to putting on such an event. Friday morning, we ease into the day until Joyce arrives in the big Uhaul around 9 am and there is a sudden transformation from quiet to beehive. Other volunteers and participants are arriving, tents are pitched, Sammy and Team CSC arrive, music starts playing, wonderful food aromas fill the air, and suddenly the festivities begin.

Robert and I take off mid afternoon to check into our room at the Bandera Lodge and unfortunately have a bad experience. Not only would the motel not honor their quote of $55 a night, but charged us $69, they also gave us a smoking room instead of the requested non-smoking. We talked to several others who had their rate changed as well. But enough of that.

We get back to the lodge and things are in full swing. Sammy and crew serve up a great spaghetti dinner, pies, cobblers, good folks. Joe and Henry give the pre-race talk. When a show of hands indicates how many are 1st timers, I step outside to leave more room for those who probably need to hear the info I have been hearing for the last 3 days more than I do. So we visit some more, and then head back to the motel to repack the drop bags for the I don't know how many-ith time, and then try to get some sleep.

Race day dawns cold, but not nasty, about 40 degrees, I think. We arrive about 6am and find some coffee and camaraderie. I do the usual last minute rush to the porta-pottie, panic because I know Joe will start the race on time, but make it to the start line in plenty of time. I get my good luck kiss from hubby, then...

Oswego. We are on the trail for maybe 10 minutes, and I realize that with all my planning, packing, and repacking, I did not have my flask of Hammer gel. Fortunately, Robert was near me about 30 minutes out, and he was kind enough to give me a squirt. He even offered me his whole flask since he had Spiz with him as well, but I figured it was my screw-up and I did not want him to run short. I realized in my repacking gear frenzy that I had put my 2 flasks in my Chapas and Crossroads bag, so I had no worries with the Nachos aid station between.

We are in the area leading up to Ice Cream Hill before the crowd starts to thin. I cat-and-mouse with Bryan Trammel for a lot of this section. We go over the hill and on into Nachos. I take some potatoes and something sweet and something salty, fill my water bottle and head out.

Going up the hill towards Bar-0, I catch up with Robert, who is having a good day as well. He gives me another squirt of Hammer gel, and then, he says later, "you took off". Arriving at Chapas, I am happy to see my flask of Hammer Gel, knowing then I would be back on my nutrition plan, vague as it is.

I go on through the flats, happy that the weather is good and I do not have pounds of mud clinging to my shoes. Run some with Mark Raymond who I will see many times throughout the day. I take a fall and gentleman Mark stops to help me up. All is well, and we keep going on. I come upon Jim Balthazar and he is not having a good day. Unfortunately, he had to drop at the next aid station due to shin and ankle problems.

I have been making mental notes of what I need to be sure and get at the next aid station. After forgetting some key nutrition at a Sunmart aid station, I wanted to be sure and not repeat that mistake. Besides what I had, I planned on hat, spiz, and sunscreen.

As I come in to Crossroads, I see to Henry Hobbs, Linda Rust, David Berdis, Mark Raymond, and Jim Balthazar and decide to break out the disposable camera I have in my bag. I take some pictures, refuel, get hat spiz sunscreen.

The inner loop. The Three Sisters. Maybe my favorite part of the course. I come upon David Berdis, which means he is having a bad day. He says he has had stomach problems since the night before. We chat a bit, I wish him well. I cruise along. Now I am running with a gentleman named Ken from Michigan as we cross the sisters. I had helped mark this section, and took a minute to put rocks across a couple of spur trails to nowhere. So I run down off the sisters, on up the next section where soon I could see crossroads below me. It is a short fun ride down the hill into Crossroads.

And what fun! Shan Rooney, Doug Jimenez, Henry Hobbs, Linda Rust, Mark Raymond, Jim and Ellen Balthazar, Ed Perry, and Joyce Prusaitis were all there. I grab my camera a shoot more pictures. I had decided to carry it with me to the Lodge and finish off the roll in daylight as the disposable had no flash. Shan helps me with my stuff and...

Oswego again. I head down the trail and soon come across Henry Hobbs and his new friend Ellen from Colorado. Henry has been running really well, but is now starting to cramp a bit. We run along a bit, David Berdis catches up and seems to be feeling better, and I take a few photos. Ellen and I move on and soon catch up with Ken from Michigan again. We start discussing our time dreams for the day as we are heading to Lucky Peak. I look at my watch and think my (and Ken's) 7-hour 1st loop goal is attainable but we would not be able to lallygag. So up, we go over, up and down Mt. Everest. (Lucky Peak will always be Mt. Everest to me.) As we head toward Last Chance Saloon and aid station, I see a sign that says "Last Chance Saloon 2640 ft." I take a picture, wondering who counted the feet. I kept my camera out, thinking I was right at the aid station. Kept running and then did the math. That's a half-mile! Those tricksters! That was Letha's idea and it would cost her some tequila later!! I also see Jeff Farrell at the aid station. We chat some, then...

I leave the aid station before Jeff and start up Cairns climb. While running through and admiring the cairn art, Jeff catches up. He tells me the course has humbled him. We snap each other's pictures, and I move on. On over Boyles bump and back to the Lodge. I am at about 6:40, which is about 20 minutes ahead of goal and about the same as my 50K event last year. I check in, grab a munchie or 2, and head to the truck where my drop bag is waiting. Shan Rooney comes over to help me. She is smiling and helpful and it gives me a boost to see her. Even though it is early, I grab my back-up flashlight. Ya' never know. Check supplies, 7 minutes in transition, then...

Oswego again. I head out with my water bottle and a bottle of Spiz as it is fairly warm. On the section between the Lodge and Boyles house, I see Jeff Farrell coming in. Also Ken who was obviously was going to make his sub-7 goal. Then, David Berdis, who had been sick and was going to have to drop, Then I am past the out and back. Definitely slowing a bit, but still feeling well. Arnie passes me, going faster on his second loop than his first. Mark Raymond comes from behind and we try to figure out how I got ahead of him. He was slightly ahead going into the Lodge, but he spent close to 15 minutes there. We run together a bit and come across Meredith Novy and Chris Wood. Meredith is struggling with nausea. We go into Nachos. I leave Nachos first and soon come across a frustrated Arnie. Some a-holes had rearranged the ribbons at one of the intersections. Arnie had already been both directions and seen markers both ways. I am not sure which way is correct. Thank goodness Mark comes along, who is pretty sure of the correct way. Then Meredith and Chris arrive, and Meredith confirms the correct trail. So we remove the misleading ribbons and place them on the correct trail. (Unfortunately, 4 folks went the wrong direction and ended up dropping). We head on, and Meredith tells Chris to go ahead with us since he had his flashlight at Crossroads. I knew that there was no way I would make Crossroads by dark. I figured Chris would run ahead of me, so I offer him my back-up light (I had my 10 LED at Chapas) and he could leave it at Crossroads for me. He declined, but then Mark and I pulled ahead of him. I wondered if I should stop and wait, but decided I could leave my light for him at Chapas with instructions for the volunteers if necessary. As it turned out, Rebecca Watkins, his pacer, was at Chapas and she assured me that she had things covered. Just as I was heading out of Chapas, Meredith arrived (ahead of Chris now) and I was happy that she seemed to be rallying. While discussing clothing with Arnie, I had some noodles and munchies, switched to a dry cool max t-shirt, tied a long-sleeve shirt around my waist, and grabbed my big flashlight. Mark was savoring his noodles, but I was ready to go, so...

I started out across the fields in the waning daylight. One hour out of Chapas, the glow sticks started glowing and I decided it was time to turn on my flashlight. I could already see Bar-0 and I was amazed that I had gotten that close to Crossroads before dark. As I pull into Crossroads, Rebecca Watkins greets me again, and then I hear Shan. It is really a treat to cross paths with her so many times during the race. She and a kind young man help me with my stuff. I put on my long sleeve shirt as I stop before I start to cool down. The roasted pig and assorted food smell so good, but I am having such a good day I hate to experiment with "exotic" food. So I have soup and boost, change my socks, and grab another long sleeve shirt in anticipation of dropping temps. I double check my stuff, hug Shan, and...

Oswego again. The inner loop still might be my favorite section of the course. The change of socks felt like running on cotton. I almost did not bother, but I was glad I did. Some easy running at first, then across the 3 Sisters, down the road, and up the next climb. It actually seems to be getting warmer, and I push up my sleeves rather than needing my second shirt. Soon I can see Crossroads below. The descent into the aid station is fun in the dark as well. The nice young man that helped me before helped me again. I took a bit of food and some Boost, and it was time for the Red Bull. I checked my supply of dark chocolate with espresso beans and made sure there was still plenty of that for Robert. There did not seem to be a need for any warmer clothes. Just as I was about to leave I see Herb come in. He is having a good run and in good spirits. He tells me that he had seen Robert within the last hour, that he was feeling pretty good (all right!!!) and had hooked up with a couple of guys who were walk-running. (It turned out to be Mike Riggs and Steve Williams. Mike was doing his super-walk and Robert and Steve were running to keep up with him.) I smile upon getting positive info on hubby, and...

Oswego again. I am so excited. Only about 10 miles to go and I still feel good and ahead of where I thought I would be. Before reaching Lucky Peak, I see lights and hear the Last Chance Saloon. The sounds keep getting closer, I can hear the ATV drive up and stop (Joe) and I think, f---, did I miss a turn? Then the trail turns the other direction and soon I begin the climb over Mt. Everest. What a relief!! Soon I see the Last Chance signs again and I get excited thinking about that shot of tequila! I pull into the aid station and Letha helps me with all the usual stuff. Then I remind her of the shot of tequila. (O.K., I am a wimp and only did half a shot.) The folks around the campfire were happy to have a taker and even took my picture! Check, all systems go, and...

I head into the home stretch. As I leave I hear the two guys who have been right behind me come into Last Chance. The volunteers offer the runners a shot I hear them say, "That lady ahead of you did one." Pause, and then cheers! Cool. I figured they went for it as well. (But I believe they had a beer instead.) Here I am on the home stretch and I still feel good. I go up Cairn's climb and am into the cairn art before I start thinking about the cougar. I had wondered how I would do if I ended up running the dark hours by myself and purposely did not get a pacer because if things worked out that I was not running with someone at night, I wanted to test myself. The trail was so well marked, and I also knew my way around much better that two years prior. I was very much enjoying the night (By the way, where did all those stars go?), the good run and the thought that I would soon be done. Soon? Am I ever gonna stop climbing? I can see San Antonio, so I have to start dropping soon. On I go, run-walking as sight and terrain allow. I am headed down, thinking I have to be close, when I can hear the ATV. Well, I have to pee, made the choice between the woods and 24-hour old porta-potties, and seconds after I was on my way, saw the headlights and heard Shan call my name. What a rush. Joe had brought her over to run me in from Boyles house. I am so excited. You're killing me, I say to Shan as I am feeding off her energy. No, I'm just running your pace, she replies. There is Joe and the finish line with the clock reading 15:24. A good hour quicker than my dreams! I get a big hug from Joe as he gives me my belt buckle, he takes a "dough" picture of me and then a (relatively) good one of Shan and me. Then I went off to the tent to celebrate and watch others finish.

Mark Raymond is close behind me. Henry Hobbs, Linda Rust, and Bill Patience come in as a team. Herb Jarrell finishes his first 100K (that he was hesitant to sign up for) with 3 fine click-your-heels-together jumps. Robert, Mike, and Steve arrive. Some I don't know, Chris Chandler, Ava Arazola. Robert and I would like to wait for others (we miss Donna Squyres and Robert Melendez), but the dead dog tired fairy arrives and it is time for some sleep at our sleazy motel.

We arrive back at the lodge for breakfast just before 8:30 am and Jeff Lynn has just finished. He did it! That took courage.

The awards ceremony was special as my good day and fun run rewarded me with 1st place female master (finishing 4th female overall).

My two Bandera 100K experiences were at opposite ends of the weather spectrum. And although I had packed for both extremes, with the warmer, dry weather obviously requiring less "stuff", I was glad "to be looking at it instead of looking for it". I did not feel as bothered by the heat as many I talked with later. Thanks to Joe, Joyce, and all the volunteers for a wonderful day.