Background: My second Sunmart 50 mile Texas Trail Endurance Run took place two days ago Dec. 9th in Huntsville, Texas. I had higher expectations this year than I did last year seeing this is my 6th Ultra in under 2 years and my 2nd time at Sunmart. Brief background to those of you who did not get my race report last year. Cold start, too many close encounters with rooty/rut trails causing leg issues at mile 18 through mile 50, met great people, endured last 2 miles in the pitch dark, but met my goal of finishing without falling in 11 hours and 21 minutes (11:21) Was a happy girl.   Fast forward fall 2006: committed to Sunmart after Ironman but this time was going to be different. I'd train harder meaning more hill running, harder technical courses to beat those nasty roots, battle with hot and cold weather, and most importantly become a high mileage runner 80+ miles per week (topped off at a 90 mile week...sorry again Gordy about those last unauthorized 5 miles!).  Also switched from Montrail Hardrock trail run shoes to their Hurriance Ridge model, shoes tough as nails and make cotton balls out of those tree roots.    Race day: up at 4 a.m. without an alarm ( - : itching to run today. Yesterday I drove to the park for an easy 3 mile run on the course and I felt super fresh despite the cold and sunny sky. The race crew was setting up the tents, kitchen, lighting, holiday decorations, it felt festive and I was excited to finally run tomorrow.  Arrived at the park Sat at 6 a.m. and dropped off my gear bag at the start/finish area of which I'd access 4 times during the race (my drinks and eats of choice, lights for the last loop), got some hot coffee, had a few pit stops, sat back in heated SUV and finally got the nerve to take off my warm up pants and parka and hit the start line at 6:50 a.m. Burrrr...it was below freezing, 30 degrees and colder than last year! Met 3 great gals (Nancy, Sandra, & Monica all from No Calif) at the start, Nancy, thought I was a fast runner, but I settled her competitive nerves and informed I wasn't (yet) and that my goal was to improve the 11:21 finish from 2005 and maybe, just maybe I might finish in under 11 hours.  The fog horn sounded at 7 a.m. sharp and off went 200 runners side by side and then soon enough one in front of the other on the mostly single track trails. The course is four 12 1/2 mile loops.    Loop 1 (mi 0-12.5): Met John Hargrove a "grizzled vet", hung close to him for his expertise and company. He just ran Arkansas 100 miler 2 months ago, his 10th AK100 finish. He has been running Sunmart since it started in 1989. He shared some ultra wisdom with me and I took it all in. After the 2nd loop I past him and stayed ahead of him the rest of the race. Had brief passings and short talks with the 3 Cali girls a few times.  Kept my eye out for those roots/ruts (RR's) and when there was an up hill with them, I went into a fast walk mode from running and not to my surprise this technique worked all day. By mile 8 I was burning up, decided to loose a layer and switch to a regular run cap from my wool cap when I got to the start/finish area. Everyone seemed to run the first loop fast, we've all tapered long enough and wanted to run and it was cold and cold makes you go fast. Loop 1 done in 2:25 (in 2005 2:22)   Loop 2 (mi 12.5 - 25): Another successful loop without any RR encounters of the dangerous kind. It warmed up to probably 38 and I felt better losing some clothing. Everyone was having a blast. The trails were in pristine condition and it was sunny. I was feeling strong and nothing hurt so onward I charged. Just one mile from the start/finish area I twisted my left ankle oh !($)&@#@!! O.K. run through it, alright, it's O.K. then again it twists!!! What the hey? Run through it...O.K. it was nothing. Close call but loop done in 2:35 (in 2005 2:39). The math 25 miles 2006 5:05 and 2005 5:01.  Pretty darn close.   Loop 3 (mi 25 - 37.5): I was just in cruise mode, by this time I've already been through all 6 aid stations 2 times and nothing was visually new however I got a good feeling of where I was and how far had to go. Felt secure and confident and still nothing hurt. Thoughts of a sub 11 hour danced through my head this whole lap. Finishing in the 10's is complete and a great payoff for the hard training, then back at the ankle twist hill my stinking right foot hit the ruts of all ruts and I flew forward, big ol' stretch of the left leg forward yet I managed not to fall but gained my balance and composure quicker than a blink! Not going to fall...huh, huh, no way Jose!  Nice recovery...finished loop 3 in 2:49 (in 2005 3:02)...notice the improvement?   Loop 4 (mi 37.5 - 50):  Now I've been running for 7 hours and 50 minutes.  Quick refuel, drank more Boost, changed my top to a warmer one, turned my cap around Ralley style (backwards) put on the head lamp, got my new LED flashlight out (eventually tucked it in my sports bra, there it didn't jiggle!), put my jacket on....and enthusiastically started loop 4. I earlier explained to 2 newbie 50 milers that the 4th loop was officially "party time". It's the loop I have the most fun at b/c the race is all but done, just 12.5 miles to go and the last time though those 6 aid stations. No more repeats, just one more final journey. All downhill and what can I say, it was a blast and at 4:30 p.m. I began to look at the time/miles more carefully, I wanted to run as much as possible before the pitch blackness and cold of the night falls. I had a scary 2 or so miles there last year with only my head lamp and no jacket on. The trails are not lit at night and they put up a glow sticks about 1 per 1,000 feet, not a heck a lot of good. The trails look way different at night. So before I knew it I was at the last aid station 2.79 miles from the finish at 5:05 p.m. I had 25 minutes to run in the dark, running a 10 minute mile pace was certainly out of the question since the outside of right knee began hurting at mile 46 (can't complain, that is pretty late to feel pain, I did good!). So how far would I endure the dark? Would my new LED work? Unknowns. I flicked on my lights at 5:30 ish, my Garmin GPS watch by now was totally useless, it lost it's signal too many times during the day and it's mileage was about 2.3 miles off (lower than actual) so I as relying on good old fashion watch time.  The LED and headlamp worked awesomely in the dark, yippee!!! A whole new world is now open to me, night trail running...how cool! I was able to run those dark trails, I had a feeling a sub 11 was possible but still not sure of my location to the finish. Then all of a sudden I was crossing a road that was about 1/4 mile from the finish and my watch said 11 hours 46 minutes. Yes, a sub 11 is going to happen, I got super duper charged and ran faster and faster then I saw the bright lights of the tents, finish shoot, heard roars of people. Turned off my lights as they mess up the photographers finishing shot and ran as fast as I could through the finish! Finish time of 10:52 (29 minutes faster than 2005!).  The 4th loop split was 3:01 (in 2005 a slow 3:19).   Post run - met up w/ Sandra and Nancy. Sandra wanted a sub 11 finish too, she got her 10:41 and was still crying from joy and Nancy flew in 10:06 (comes to find out she is an elite ultra runner with 2 Badwater finishes in under 48 hours, so she is what I aspire to be someday but now she's out of my league).  They waited for Monica who wasn't having a good day, she ended up finishing in 11:29 and she got scared in those spooky woods alone.  I was cold and hungry so after a quick dry clothing change I went to Burger King and Starbucks and got my reward food, yum, for the 60 mile drive south back to Houston. The shower felt good afterwards + 600 mg of Advil, but I was still wired to sleep at 10 p.m. but felt asleep for a few hours woke up at 1:30 a.m. leggies began hurting so 2 more Advil and I packed ( - :  was too excited to sleep. But did at 3:00 a.m. to 6 a.m. Woke up put on running clothes and out the door for a 25 minute walk. It felt great. Had an awesome flight home (used an upgrade) and back to a very warm San Diego. Slept like a baby last night and today I feel better than I have in weeks! I swam Masters this a.m. and was full of energy. I had some kind of freakishly weird recovery, I don't feel like l ran 50 miles just in the last 48 hours. What's up with that? Even my message therapist who I saw today, is puzzled. She said all good in the muscle department.  So what the heck, I think I'll train for another 50 mile run starting tomorrow...... Jill Monday 12/11/06 p.s. 12/17/06 follow-up: got the o.k. from hubby & coach to run Avalon50 in 4 weeks! Yoo-hoo!!