Crosstimbers Trail Race
February 24, 2007

Mike’s time for the ½ marathon:  3:47:35
Kari’s time for the marathon:  4:41:33

Pre race:
The pre-race spaghetti dinner was a fun way to socialize with other runners.  We pulled our camper to a campground just south of Cedar Bayou and set up and then got to Cedar Bayou just about dark.  We all ate a plateful of spaghetti and some great brownies.  And I laughed when the Adrenaline store owner said that I could win the pair of running shoes on the table if I won overall women. 

Race Day:
The morning of the race was windy, but cool; really perfect for a long run.   I started out near the front of the pack and followed two very funny guys from Sherman, Texas, who run this race nearly every year, so I figured I couldn’t get lost.  They were hilarious to listen to and were entertaining me with their funny comments and joking, so I fell in behind them.  The trail was tough and their pace was challenging for me, but I figured I could always drop back if I tired.  We got lost at one point…there were about 5 of us stumbling around looking for ribbons and markers, but found the trail after about a minute or two delay.  We ran the first 15 miles together until they began to slow down due to minor problems:  one had a blister forming and the other was developing a hamstring cramp.  Around this time a girl passed me, then another.  I decided I didn’t have to hang back with these guys, so I followed the girls.  I ran with one for a short while, and found out she was a 50-miler, then she fell back.  At about mile 18, I caught up with the other girl and ran with her until about mile 21.  She was a marathoner, from Sherman also, and seemed a little distracted with my conversation.  She had run this trail many times before and was warning me about the last five miles (as everyone else had done).  We ran through the Cedar Bayou aid station together, and started the last 5 mile out-and-back to Juniper Point.  About a mile into the loop, she seemed annoyed with my chatter, and stepped aside to let me pass.  The wind was really picking up…..to about 50 or 60 mph, so the running was starting to get tough, along with the billy-goat trail.  I ran the last 4 miles or so alone and began to wonder if I was the lead marathon woman and could possibly win the shoes.  Now I was thinking about the shoes. This was an out and back jaunt to Cedar Bayou and the only other woman I saw was a very strong 50-miler.  Never having won anything every before, I was really thinking about the shoes…….

Post Race and Trail:
I won the shoes, and surprised myself and everyone I know.  I’ve run many trails and this by far was the most difficult that I have encountered.  Many roots and stubs to trip on, many rocks, and difficult up and down terrain.  Long steep uphills full of rocks and the same downhill.  Very challenging, to say the least.  After the race, we stayed long enough to eat and see several marathon runners come in and the 50-milers pass through.  The wind was a constant 30 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph.  The race tent was really getting hammered and torn up and there was no place to hide from the wind, so we retreated to our 5th wheel and a hot shower.  It took about 3 days for me to recover, likely due to the very rugged terrain.