My Miwok 100K self-made training program called for a 50K about this time.  Meredith took off for the Sierra Nevadas, for the Way Too Cool 50K.    I saw the inaugural Waco 50K happened to be the same weekend, so I figured it would foot the bill.  Stephanie was game, and we met Liz, a recent Colorado transplant, who wanted her first run as a Texan to be in Waco.  I warned her not to get too depressed.

            We decided to drive to Waco Friday after work, hit a motel early and relax.  Complete standstill traffic on I35 meant a nearly 4-hour drive to Waco, so we got there much later than planned.  A few hours sleep, and we are off the Cameron Park for 3 10-mile loops.           

            The park was a lot like Walnut Creek; an urban park that had it all:  picnic areas, pavilions, softball, soccer, and lots of mountain bike trails along a muddy Brazos river.  We were immediately greeted by the race director, Tim, upon arrival.  Things were small and very organized from the get go, so I figured it should be a pretty smooth running event.  We saw some familiar faces, and everyone seemed to be pretty psyched to give this new race a try.  We got a nice goodie bag with shirts and hats. 

            At 7 am sharp, we were off across a field and immediately the blanket of mugginess fell on top of me.  I realized the day would get hot and very humid, so smart running was in order.  We followed a straight path along the river for maybe a mile and then cut up into the trees.  The first climb was big…a hike, not a run for sure, and the setting very tropical.  No hint of winter here at all.  Green was everywhere, and the nearby river created a little rainforest like mini-ecosystem.  Getting to the first aid station was a lot of switchbacks with good climbs.  Liz took off to get in a quick first loop.  I figured out within 3 miles that this would be a great trainer for Miwok.  Stephanie and I were running along and met Rick, a really nice guy from Houston.  The 3 of us chatted away all of loop one.  Rick shared my love of movies so I had a fellow film critic to talk to.  We had all done a lot of the same races, so we all traded stories.   The conversation and great scenery made it a lot of fun.  We go from rainforest, to cedar groves and back to rain forest.  The coolest part was a turn that put us in the middle of a bamboo forest.  Thick bamboo on each side of the trail.  We named it the “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” section.  The aid stations were terrific with lots of goodies and friendly folks.  I was sweating like a hog; so frequent bottle fillings were in order.  A killer climb out of the bamboo put us onto one of the toughest climbs of the course, and plopped us out the road for a FAST downhill to the starting line pavilion.  Rick, Steph, and I refilled everything and took off for loop 2.

            Loop 1 took exactly 2 hours.  I decided a nice goal would be to keep all the loops at an even 2 hour pace.  Rick like that idea and said he was game.  We caught Liz on loop 2 and she said she was going to slow and bit and make it a fun run.  Sounded like a plan to me.  The rainforest hills continued.  There were lots of really well made little plank bridges to cross too.  On this loop the mountain bikers appeared, but all were very nice, and served as crowd support.  The heat and humidity were getting thicker.  Well, duh, why wouldn’t a race along a muddy Texas river be muggy as heck!?!   I started downing cokes at the aid stations and felt a pick me up each time.  I made a diet of coke, potato chips, and apple pie Hammer gel, and it seemed to work.  The conversation with our Houston friend was quieting, and after the 7 mile aid station we all confessed to feeling a little tired.  We hit the starting pavilion at exactly 4 hours, so we were holding the pace.  I warned Steph I was going to put my ipod on for loop 3 and planned to let it completely take over my brain.  More coke, potato chips, and apple pie gel. Ipod on.  Loop 3 here we go.

            I had a couple new CDs on the ipod, so I cranked them way up and it worked.  The fatigue I felt on loop 2 was going away.   I was on autopilot and it felt great.  I was still sweating like a hog and huffing and puffing but I had a confidence that wasn’t here earlier.  I was conscious of Stephanie behind me, but really in my own world.  I was sucked into the great surroundings and the music and loving it.  The sections flew by.  Sure, the climbs were harder and the heat hotter, but I could motor through it now.  We hit the bamboo and I knew “home stretch!”  As we crossed the finish, Tim’s wife took our picture and gave us medals and plaques!  6:04.  We slowed by 4 minutes.  Not bad for holding our pace!

            We entered the pavilion and got ice cold drinks and hung out with the other runners and Tim’s friends and family who were helping out.  What a great race atmosphere.  This run was small and intimate, but lacked nothing that bigger, well known races have.  There was a park bathroom to clean up in, so we washed the dirt off while we waited for Liz and Rick to finish.  I made friends with Snickerdoodle, Tim’s Westie terrier, who I could have taken home with me in a heartbeat.  I felt ready for rice and beans.  There was a really nice fajita spread, but I wasn’t ready for steak quite yet.  We missed Liz’s finish during a bathroom trip, but I was relived to learn that she had fun, and the Texas humidity hadn’t made her homesick for Colorado.  Rick was kicking it in and looked great.  He slipped on old, ratty bedroom slippers after, and I had to admire his style.  We hung out for a bit sipping drinks, eating beans and rice and visiting with the other runners, then headed to IHOP to satisfy my craving for hash browns and coffee.

            This was just a fantastic run, I would heartily recommend.  I hope it doesn’t get too big, because I loved the smallness of it and hanging out after chatting with just about everyone who ran.  Liz had the right attitude about Waco:  “Why does everyone act like this place sucks?  We had a great time here!”   The trails are just awesome.  They are pretty smooth, so footing is not really an issue, but you get worked hard with the climbs.  The scenery is really pretty, and it’s hard to believe this is an urban park.  The course was super well marked, and there was plenty of hospitality for all the runners.  Tim was nice as could be.  I’ll be back for this one.