Muleshoe Bend 60k – Captn Karl 2nd race series

Hot and humid night at the CK Muleshoe Bend 60k.  I DNF’d after 31 miles, missing the cutoff.  We started 7 PM Saturday.   The course is a 9-ish mile loop we did 4 times through a small park with rolling hills and dense tree coverage.  While shade wasn’t needed for a night race, the stagnant air trapped under the trees made it feel like a hot rainforest, but just not the cool kind.

At one point, I tried to channel some strength and energy from the incredible WSER runners out there racing their 100 miles in CA at the same time, but my body and heart had a chat with me and said, if you won’t stop then we will.

At the aid station, I was told I could continue unsupported but would still be a DNF.  I opted to stop, I was tired, sleepy, soaked in sweat, and nursing blisters under my toes.

Still, I’m ok with a solid 50k training run.  They gave me a participation medal for completing my distance.  

Few things to improve (the 3 Cs this time!):

Caffeine- Try pills or chocolate-covered espresso beans again, to help stay awake while night racing

Calories – Add Bobo bars (in addition to huma gels and aid stn food)

Chafing – Apply cream more thoroughly

AND my friend, Andria, saved me again, she drove me back to start/finish from the aid station where I dropped.  Thank you again to all volunteers; without them, these races wouldn’t be successful.