Hey there! Oh yes, you get not 1 but 2 stinkin’ blog posts today!! Say what?!! As promised I told you all I would deliver with the Oktoberfest 50k race recap. So here it goes!
Last Saturday was a fun morning on the trails. Lately I have really been enjoying getting off the beaten path and getting into a little deep woods therapy. Trail running for me is a totally different type of challenge, and one over the years that I have really learned to enjoy. It is SO different from road running and the mindset is one that not everyone can really adapt to. Often times, I hear road runners saying ‘oh, I don’t do trails’. But man, are they missing out!! Not only are you getting an amazing agility workout working different types of muscles that you don’t work on concrete, but it makes your legs stronger and actually translates to making you stronger out on the roads. Who woulda thunk it?! But yeah, once I learned that pacing and terrain was so different and really it is not even ABOUT pace at all…I started to really love this thing called trail running.
So back to Saturday, I actually won an entry to this race after winning 1st place overall female at the Piney Woods 100k a few short weeks ago. The race director asked me which distance I preferred and I knew at that moment that the 50k was where my head was at. Lately I’ve really loved the longer distances on trails, and because also I can be a tad competitive I typically want to do the longest distance offered. HA. So 50k it was. I signed up and was good to go. I knew my training was pretty much on par with this race especially since I’ve been running higher mileage. Also I was so excited to do an October race as I absolutely love the festive fall season.
I drove out to the country town of Farmersville, Texas and made my trek out to the trail. The start actually wasn’t so bad, 7 a.m. start for us 50k and marathon folks, and for the shorter distances a 8:00 a.m. start. This was actually the 2nd year that Ultra Expeditions has put on this race. The directors are wicked cool and surprisingly super organized. I absolutely loved Piney Woods so I knew no doubt they would put on a good Oktoberfest run.
7 a.m. & we took off. The first 2 miles of this route are actually paved until we hit the trails in the country, kind of in the middle of nowhere. This particular trail system, I was told they are supposed to be stretching out to go 100+ miles out which was pretty cool. So it was fun to be a part of that. The 50k course runs 15.5 miles out and back. I actually thought this would be incredibly tiring but it was fun and went by fairly quickly! Plus coming back we got to see lots of runners so that always helps because you can high five and say good job and all of that jazz.
I actually joked to a friend of mine who was out there running this race that this was probably going to feel more like a road race because it was described to us as ‘flat and fast’ and running along some rail trails. But boy, was I proved WRONG! After the 2 miles out things got REAL rocky and real rugged. I’m talking loose rocks and just lots of uneven terrain which proved to be tiring on the legs. So again, I had to re-adjust my mindset, get out of speedy road runner mode, and back into hippie trail run mode. Which was okay with me, especially after coming from running a 62 mile race not long ago. I took it easy out there, stopped at aid stations to refuel and such. And really just enjoyed the country scenery.
I made my way back to the start of the trail in over 5 hours, again, very fine with me. Once I finished the race director informed me that I came in among the top overall females! So fun and very happy with 3rd overall out of all of these ladies who completed the 50k course. It was a small race but there was some decent competition out there. So I felt good about that 31 mile finish.
The icing on the cake – my favorite cider, and having a bite of a grilled bratwurst afterwards. Absolute heaven.
So what is next?! Well, I am still playing on the trails but I’m back to some road races for the remainder of this year. I scored a free entry to run the Rock n Roll San Antonio half (thank you, Brooks Running!) and then running the BMW Dallas Marathon the following week. I am looking forward to being back on the roads and working on my speed again. It should be a good time.
How is your week going? Run any marathons (or ultras) lately?
thedancingrunner 
Congrats! It is always nice to have races that prove to be much more fun than anticipated…especially the out and backs! 🙂
For sure!!!
I absolutely love trail running – nothing like it! Such a nice break from the road and I actually forget I’m running as I’m too busy paying attention to where my feet can go, lol. Good job on the 50km – bet the Brat and cider tasted good after that:)
Thanks love! And I absolutely agree!!
Congrats! Sounds like a fun time and love the post-race drinks and eats!
Thanks!
Congrats on your race! I really wish we had more trail races out here- we have like 3. 😀
Y’all are too busy running on the beach out in Cali!
Hahahaha long distance, that is funny. I am literally using couch to 5k to get by butt back out there….but I spent almost 3 weeks traipsing around Europe then 2 weeks recovering so I can’t really complain hahaha. happy to be back to running!
Glad you’re back, girl!!!
Great job! Congrats on the podium appearance.
Woot woot!!! Thank ya!
Congratulations!! What a huge accomplishment! I can’t wait to read your future posts. https://hardshellblog.com/
Thanks so much for visiting!!
Great recap!! I actually really wanted to ask your advice on something – you don’t know me but I’ve been following your blog avidly for a while! Basically I’ve been training for a marathon (and have run marathons in the past) but decided in the end that the only road marathon I could get to before Christmas would be super boring and small, so I decided not to spend the money. But instead I found an amazing looking trail race and have decided to run it. It will be my first trail race and I’m really excited but also slightly nervous. My main problem is that I don’t know whether to sign up for the 30k or the 48k – 30k just seems short (?) to me, because I’ve been running long runs of 30+ for the last few weeks. But I don’t know whether I’m overstretching myself by going for an ultra straight away… I don’t know whether you can offer any advice but you seemed like one of the best people to ask, I hope you don’t mind me hijacking your comment thread for this!!
Not at all, I love answering questions!! I have a couple of friends that actually straightaway ran a 50k before even running the marathon distance!! I think if you think you can handle a distance of that magnitude I say go for it. I think you should definitely continue with your training and what you are doing. I am not sure when your race is, but I would try and get out on trails between now and then as much as possible. Especially for your longer runs and on weekends. Trail running is all about getting familiar with your footing and with the different terrain. If you choose to do it, take your time out there and just have fun with it. Do not obsess with pace or time. Best of luck and let me know what you decide to do!! Very exciting!
Thanks so much for your reply!! My race is the second week in December, so I have plenty of time to train and taper. I’ve signed up for the 48k now, I’m really excited because it’s in the mountains in the South of Chile (where I’m living at the moment). I think it’ll just be a great way of finishing my time working here, because I leave to return to England the week after. I’ve been running on trails as part of my marathon training anyway, but I’m going to increase the time I spend on the trails like you suggested. Thanks again for your advice, it just confirmed what I really wanted to do anyway 😊😊
Sounds absolutely incredible!! Best of luck & looking fwd to hearing about your experience!!
Congrats!!!
Thank you! I saw you rocked Chicago 26.2!! Congrats to you as well 🙂
Congratulations! I agree trail running is a lot of fun – part of the reason I like cross country!! How was that beer at the end? lol
Oh, HEAVENLY!! LOL! Thank you!
“hippie trail runner mode”: that’s exactly right! Congratulations on your race!
Haha thanks so much!!