What a great race course! Jack and Holt full marathon Kevin ½ marathon The plan was to take a ½ day Friday and make the drive to Comfort. Because of the weather forecast there was some doubt, all the way to Friday morning. Texting with Jack, we were already making a plan B to stay around H-town. Late in the morning Jack made the call…. Lets go! We (Kevin B. and me ) were camping so it was a rush to get there before dark. Just made it, Jack dropped us off at the race site and hauled ass to a hotel to hang with his LSU friends. For me and Kevin it was, convenience store dinner, make camp at dusk, meet some people around a camp fire, have a cold nights sleep.
Now for the good part – Racing lower loop, upper loop, repeat 54 miles I was racing blind, I have never been here before so I didn’t know what to expect… rocks, ledges, climbs, you know all the stuff at Memorial Park. My plan, try to stay close to Jack, a strong racer who knows this course. Start - nightmare, bottle neck after bottle neck 1st quarter - lower loop - after the start we settled into a good pace. There was a lot of place swapping for 30-45 minutes. Finally got a good rhythm chasing Jack 2nd quarter – upper loop – 3 amigos’ riding strong. At some point we caught Bart B., He pulled for a while then waved Jack by. I was still learning the trail. Jack pulled most of this loop. The three of us road together the rest of the race together. 3rd quarter – back on lower loop – at the S/F area we took a quick stop, grabbed some fuel and took off. I dropped my pace, to eat and drink. Lost 5 spots and no sign of J&B. after a few miles I put a hard effort to catch my friends. Mid way through the loop I caught them and feeling good gave them a pull. That PB&J was the ticket. I pulled the rest of the loop. 4th quarter – quick pause to grab another coconut water (the shit for endurance) Bart rolls by, Jack stops. Bart and I roll slow waiting for Jack, but no ware in sight? We pick up the pace. Legendary Bart having equipment issues, I continue to pull and think I may pull away. When we get to the rock garden (awesome) Bart comes around and pulls away. About a mile to go Bart is laid out on the trail, I think he has wrecked and hurt… nope just cramping bad. I stop for a second to be sure he is cool, help him up and go. At the finish, I couldn’t be happier.
With a 40% chance of rain in the morning we were worried about a shitty race…. Never saw a drop, and I don’t think it rained all day. It was a great day - cloud cover, dry, not hot. It was a great time racing with good friends. Thanks Jack, for the “good” call to go race! Fuel was key Coffee Oat meal & juice for breakfast Full camel back (water) Protein balls 4 or 5 Hammer gel 2pk Coconut water 2pk ½ PB&J sandwich Full bottle Perpetuem
Not sure if the weather will be good. we will make a decision in the morning. Driving 4 hours to race in sloppy rain doesn't sound good.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great race course!
ReplyDeleteJack and Holt full marathon
Kevin ½ marathon
The plan was to take a ½ day Friday and make the drive to Comfort. Because of the weather forecast there was some doubt, all the way to Friday morning. Texting with Jack, we were already making a plan B to stay around H-town. Late in the morning Jack made the call…. Lets go!
We (Kevin B. and me ) were camping so it was a rush to get there before dark. Just made it, Jack dropped us off at the race site and hauled ass to a hotel to hang with his LSU friends. For me and Kevin it was, convenience store dinner, make camp at dusk, meet some people around a camp fire, have a cold nights sleep.
Now for the good part – Racing lower loop, upper loop, repeat 54 miles
I was racing blind, I have never been here before so I didn’t know what to expect… rocks, ledges, climbs, you know all the stuff at Memorial Park. My plan, try to stay close to Jack, a strong racer who knows this course.
Start - nightmare, bottle neck after bottle neck
1st quarter - lower loop - after the start we settled into a good pace. There was a lot of place swapping for 30-45 minutes. Finally got a good rhythm chasing Jack
2nd quarter – upper loop – 3 amigos’ riding strong. At some point we caught Bart B., He pulled for a while then waved Jack by. I was still learning the trail. Jack pulled most of this loop. The three of us road together the rest of the race together.
3rd quarter – back on lower loop – at the S/F area we took a quick stop, grabbed some fuel and took off. I dropped my pace, to eat and drink. Lost 5 spots and no sign of J&B. after a few miles I put a hard effort to catch my friends. Mid way through the loop I caught them and feeling good gave them a pull. That PB&J was the ticket. I pulled the rest of the loop.
4th quarter – quick pause to grab another coconut water (the shit for endurance) Bart rolls by, Jack stops. Bart and I roll slow waiting for Jack, but no ware in sight? We pick up the pace. Legendary Bart having equipment issues, I continue to pull and think I may pull away. When we get to the rock garden (awesome) Bart comes around and pulls away. About a mile to go Bart is laid out on the trail, I think he has wrecked and hurt… nope just cramping bad. I stop for a second to be sure he is cool, help him up and go. At the finish, I couldn’t be happier.
With a 40% chance of rain in the morning we were worried about a shitty race…. Never saw a drop, and I don’t think it rained all day. It was a great day - cloud cover, dry, not hot. It was a great time racing with good friends. Thanks Jack, for the “good” call to go race!
Fuel was key
Coffee
Oat meal & juice for breakfast
Full camel back (water)
Protein balls 4 or 5
Hammer gel 2pk
Coconut water 2pk
½ PB&J sandwich
Full bottle Perpetuem