The 2001 Palo Duro was suppose to be my first 50km. I had trained all summer
for it with my trail running buddies in Houston. In August , we purchased our
airline tickets to/from Amarillo and sent in our applications. In mid-late
September , I experienced a pain in my right knee. An MRI revealed torn
cartilage, and I had arthroscopic surgery on Oct 9, 2001 ... less than 2 weeks
before PD.
..
Since I already had airline tickets and my friends were going, I went on the
trip. I had a lot of fun, eventhough I could not run (I could not handle much
walking either). During the trail race, I volunteered at the start/finish
aidstation for the first few hours. I took photos as my friends came through
the start/finish area. In the late morning, I accompanied Red in his truck to
deliver more supplies to two of the other aidstations. I told Red that I'd be
back in 2002 to run the 50km. (2001 PD photos & report)
..
This year, I wanted to go to Palo Duro mainly to see the course since the
canyon is so beautiful and I did not get to see much of it last year. Having
done my first 100miler in mid-September, I did not know if I would be recovered
enough for the 50km. The weekend before PD, I went to Huntsville SP and I
figured if I could not run atleast 20miles then I should not do the 50km. I
would enter the 20km instead.
..
My run at Huntsville SP went okay. I ran about 21 miles. After the run, I
mailed in my entry form for the 50km, knowing that during PD I would probably
run out of gas and hit some rough times on the trail somewhere after 22 miles
or so.
..
Race Day morning: The temperatures were not as cold as last year at race
start. The cloud cover helped out. I got stuck in the slow stampede for the
first mile, but approaching the first aid station the crowd thinned and I
picked up my pace.
The first two loops were a blast. I kept seeing the runners in the
red shirts... at first I thought it was the same person, and we were somehow
leapfrogging. But then I remembered Joe's message saying that the NTTR folks
would be wearing red shirts .
..
My favorite section of the course was the final three miles of the loop
between Dos Locas Senoritas Aid Station and the Start/Finish. I wish I could
move that section back here to Houston.
..
The first time through this section I caught up with Mark Dick and Jay Norman.
I had met Mark during Crosstimbers in March. When I said hi to Mark, he told
Jay "Hey I know her, we cannot let her pass us". Then Jay kindly offered to
trip me. Mark laughed. I replied that it is much easier to trip someone that
you don't know. So we ran together for a bit. Mark introduced to me to Jay.
Eventually I went on ahead.
A rainbow appeared during the second loop.... it straddled the entire canyon!
..
Starting the third loop, I was already starting to run low on gas. I realized
that if I had signed up for the 20km, I would have already been finished. This
realization put me in a bad mood for the next three miles. Between about mile
marks 23 to 28, I struggled to hold on to a 13 min/mi pace. However, it was
good practice for running when tired and hurting. Then a combination of being
only 3 miles from the finish, noticing on the short out-and-back that Jay was
catching up to me, and being on my favorite section of the course, I picked up
my pace and ran the last 3 miles in ~30 minutes.
..
When I reached the finish line my legs were hurting . I usually don't sit down
right after finishing.. I try to walk some. But at PD, I sat down on the grass
and was grateful to be done.
..
I still have sore muscles today, 4 days after the race! Overall, I had a lot
of fun at Palo Duro. It dawned on me after that fact that part of my fatigue and
discomfort during PD was due to haven given blood 2.5 weeks before the event...
With all of the excitement and anticipation of getting to run PD this year, I had completely forgotten about the bloodletting. I learned my lesson, and will always allow atleast 3.5 - 4 weeks of recovery after a phlebotemy before attempting a 50K race.
-Linda