Sasquatch Shuffle 50k

  

Mission Tejas State Park

19343 State Hwy 21 E

Grapeland, TX 75844

I want to commend Rise Racing for putting on an awesome event. My legs were still a little tired from the Vintage Half, but I couldn't pass up the chance to claim that awesome medal.

I was a little worried about two things. My left calf was still sore (I injured it while getting the largest finishers medal at Little Rock Marathon in March - and it flared up again at the Vintage Half six days ago). Plus, Friday had flood-strength rains so I expected it to be a muddy swim-run biathlon.

However, the trails turned out to be good. Yes, some puddles here and there (with lovely mud-patty making ingredients) and some slip-'n-slide spots. Overall, really good trail conditions. As for my calf, I had worn my compression calf sleeves but still felt the calf flare up at about mile 3. I decided to use my trekking poles that I had brought and that made a huge difference.

The loops were technically two loops (weird shaped figure 8 ) with check-in and aid station in the center. RD checked runners each time the came through (and crossed the timing mat...good double control). He was very friendly, often shouted greetings to the runners.

Aid station was around 3 or 4 tables long with water, electrolyte (in large igloo containers), peanut butter sandwiches, energy gels, bananas, pickle slices, pretzels, tortilla rolls, pizza in the early afternoon, etc....everything. Volunteers were GREAT!

As the laps continued, temps warmed a bit. I was covered in sweat the most of the race. Other runners were very nice and supportive. One young woman had started near me and as I was starting my final half of loop 4, she came up to me. I commented that her pace was really good and she was lapping me. She questioned that thinking she had more to run than she actually had.....RD confirmed she only had one full lap remaining. The smile and excitement on her face when she realized she was closer to the end of the race than she thought was pure joy.

I finished the race going back-and-forth a bit with another running using trekking poles too. I was slightly faster on the downhills but he kicked my butt on the uphills. Suffice it to say, he made that final incline to the finish before I did. However, I ended up with second in my age group (the "Dinosaur Division"...where pterodactyls have an unfair advantage due to their ability to fly). My age division prize: a Rise Racing bar of soap (which probably didn't touch the sweat stench on my body).

I have run many ultra events (Leadville, UTMB, Badwater, Keys, etc.) and I have to say Rise Racing is as good a race directing organization as any of the RDs of the other events....if not better (maybe tied with Keys 100 RD who is one of the best).

As a side note, my wife and I have a friend named Annette. She was my sister's childhood friend and classmate. Years later, her husband worked for the same employer as I. She and her husband are Godparents to our daughter. Turns out her grandfather J.W. Burns, was the man that gave Big Foot the name: Sasquatch. https://niche-canada.org/.../a-bear-a-man-a-giant-on.../ I shared this information with the RD and he thought it was very cool.