Brazos Bend 50

 


I have run 50km races, 50 miles races, 100 miles races, and even a 135 one. But I have never run a 100km one. So I tried running the Brazos Bend 100km in April of 2022. Of course I slept like crap and was working that morning at 3:30am so that burnt time, and then I headed out of my house 30 minutes late. But got to Brazos Bend State Park for the race. The car in front of me entered the gates first and must have been a tad bit late too as it was flying and then the rangers lights went on and pulled him over (I thought it was going to be me as I was following him).
Anyway, my legs just never felt great. Tired, heavy, and not as responsive as I would have hoped. Then, after the first 25km/15.5 mile loop the sun came out. Wasn't blistering but definitely warm.
Saw at least a dozen gators during the run (pretty cool I think) and stopped for this photo of one....she had two babies on her back and at least a half-dozen swimming around her but they jumped off before the shot. She is behind me keeping an eye on the people watching her and her babies. A nice guy with his family offered to take a photo of me with the gator in the background and he texted me that image (I wasn't going to win the race so I had no issue posing with the swimming belt and boots).


Finished my marathon split almost identical to my Dallas Marathon split (4:45-ish) and my 50 mile time almost the same as my Rocky 50 miler last month. But then I realized I had no chance of finishing the 100km before the 15 hour 30 minute cut-off so I called it day at only 50 miles. So I have yet to finish a 100km (although this was my first attempt at that specific distance.)
The RD was cool...gave me the 50 mile finisher medal on his own initiative (nice wooden one with a gator) because he said I did 50 (and within the time limit). But I still DNF'ed the 100km. Will have to try that distance again one day.




Location: Brazos Bend, TX, USA

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