Bandera 2008

'till everything falls apart
then I get to try to put it back together
yeah, it falls apart you can count on that
you can count on
bad, bad weather again.

--Dog's Eye View

After running this race in just over 16 hours two years ago, I was thinking about a repeat performance. I actually had some hope of improving. So it was a false hope. I was fool enough to believe for a couple of miles.

The trip down started well enough. I met my sister in San Antonio for lunch. I don't see or call her enough so it was good to spend some time catching up. Then it was on to Bandera to set up the tent and enjoy one of Sammy's great meals. I had planned to buy a new, warmer sleeping bag for this trip having suffered through too many cold nights at this race before, but weather reports indicated that would not be necessary. They were correct. By morning it was warm and humid with fog hiding the hills. That is not the way to start this race.

Sadly, I would have to strip off the long-sleeve shirt before I was even up the first hill. All the normally beautiful views are hidden in the fog. Terrain which is normally difficult just because of the rockiness is now slippery and wet as well. And the fog feels like it weighs a ton as I suck it in grinding up the hills. Foolishness of a quick start is put aside, and I settle into a more logical pace and enjoy the ride. But the day had more tricks to play.

By mile seven my stomach was telling me stories I didn't want to hear. A quick stop at a port-a-john and I feel OK again. I stopped at Chapas long enough to drop of the long-sleeve shirt and slam some fuel. The section between Chapas and Cross Roads is fairly easy, but it just wasn't feeling that way this time. This is much too early to struggle at Bandera. The stomach would force an unplanned stop before Cross Roads. Then another before the Three Sisters. This was turning into a repeat of my 2007 Rocky Raccoon. After one more stop, I dug into the bag for my Imodium AD. This is always a last resort for me. It makes me feel terrible. This time was no different. Immediate problem of stopping every few miles was solved. The new problem was feeling like I was going to puke every time I picked up the pace to even a very slow run. I would struggle through that on the downhills but was reduced to walking the rest. By the time I reached Last Chance, I was starting to adjust the time goals. Actually, I had gone a bit beyond that and started to think about cutoffs.

The last section from Last Chance to the lodge always seems long and slow. It even teases you at times with sights of the goal while turning you back away for more. Another problem would show itself here. Seems the repair job on my gaiters wasn't very good. I had extended the strap a little too much and allowed it to ride up over the back of the shoe. For some reason, this had no affect on the right ankle but left the other with a nasty mark and terrible pain anytime I ran downhill. So that's how I struggled into the lodge around with one gaiter on and the other in my hand. My normal running attire is not much of a fashion statement, but this was a new level for even me.

The DNF did cross my mind before heading back out. Luckily, I think I have lost my taste for that combination of letters. I stopped by the tent for fresh socks and an RC. I even tried some soup from the aid station. The calories were probably needed, but the stomach wasn't happy about it. I dropped off the gaiters, both, and prepared for a repeat. It is hard to have a bad lap and go back out knowing the next is going to be much slower.

The second trip around really provide nothing to brag about either. I found new struggles to suffer through. The arm chafing was new. The blisters? Done that before. But I did settle in and enjoy the things I love about running Bandera. The fog was now gone; focus on the trail became difficult as the eyes drifted to the beautiful views and not where they belonged. The stomach still felt terrible, but it no longer seemed to be my primary concern. By the time I reached Nachos, I was starting to enjoy myself again. I did attempt to eat a little but limited it quite a bit. I was tempted to ask Bill for one of his beers, but there was still about a marathon to go even if the stomach did settle down.

As the terrain smoothed out a bit past Nachos, things kept coming together. I wasn't running, but the walking pace picked up. I would walk past several people who were running. And every now and then I'd run a short section. About the time darkness caught me so did another runner. We had a bit of an odd conversation. I hope he didn't take any of my answers as rude. “I'll walk most of the rest of this. Yes you can walk the rest of the way and make the cutoffs. No, it won't really work to stick together. You'll be strong in some sections and I'll be strong in others.” He was quickly leaving me behind by that point so I think he understood.

I have been taught how to time warp through aid stations by the master, but by this point it really didn't seem to be very useful. I took a few stops to try to limit damage to the feet. In fact, there are entire sections where my pace seemed to be dictated that goal. End the end, I still blistered pretty well. As in the past, I think I waited to late to address the problem. The grilled cheese at Cross Roads was the first thing on my stomach that seemed to really sit right. Having not been this far back in the pack before, aid stations seemed a huge contrast to the lonely trails.

Unlike last time, my last aid station stop was not one for burgers and boozes. I would have passed even if they had been available. The last section was the darkest and loneliest. Oddly, my pace was improving as the stomach felt fine now and I had given up protecting the feet. I did take a long stop on Boyles Bump to enjoy the sight. There are lights way out on the horizon many miles away but the sky still so dark you see stars that are impossible to see around the cities. As I stood in the dark admiring the view, a meteor streaked overhead. It seemed a nice finish to a long day. The last miles slipped by quickly, and I ran most of the last bit.