Jul 21 2025 No Comment by Minel D

Hill Country Strong Trail Run Recap – 3rd Capt’n Karl’s Night Series

Posted in Race Reports

Originally set for Colorado Bend State Park, the race location changed twice due to severe flooding across Central TX, first to San Saba, then finally to an equestrian center in Killeen. The race was renamed Hill Country Strong Trail Run, with proceeds supporting flood relief efforts. Huge kudos to the RD for the quick pivot and for turning the event into a meaningful tribute to flood victims and first responders. We even got new race shirts to match the new name.

The course and how I did:
The race started at 7 PM Saturday, with a Sunday morning cutoff. The course was four laps of 9.3 miles through horse trails, stream crossings, and extra-thick mud pits thanks to recent rain. My strategy: bank time in the daylight and just keep moving after dark.

  • Lap 1: Smooth and steady, finished in 2:15
  • Lap 2: Still solid, but ended with a fall into a thick mud pit
  • Lap 3: Picked up my pacer Alexis, started and finished strong, hit the start/finish with 30 min to spare before cutoff
  • Lap 4: The struggle lap. Fatigue set in, both ankles and my left knee were flaring up, but we kept moving with chocolate-covered coffee beans and grit. Fast-walked to the finish as dawn broke.

Nutrition went well: 3 Bobo bars, 4 Huma gels, PB&J, watermelon, bananas, salt caps, and Tailwind throughout.

I’m proud to say I finished, DFL is always better than DNF. That’s the mission these days: keep chasing cutoffs and crossing finish lines.

My sincere thanks:

  • To the RD for making this event happen under tough conditions
  • To the volunteers who stayed up all night keeping us fed and safe
  • To every runner and support crew who showed up for the cause
  • And to my friend, Alexis, thank you for pacing me through this all-nighter trail party. Had a blast slipping and sliding through the mud, splashing streams, and climbing those hills. Couldn’t have done it without you.

Looking Ahead:
I’ve now completed 3 out of the 4 races in the Capt’n Karl’s 60K series, 2 finishes and 1 DNF (at the 50K mark). For the 4th and final race, I’m planning to experiment with negative splits, now that I’ve figured out my nighttime nutrition. Let’s see how it goes!

Post-race:
Feeling a bit more refreshed today. Toes aren’t pretty, just the usual blisters on the two small ones, but overall good, since I taped all toes before the run.  Taking the day off for stretching, hydration, and recovery.