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Originally set to take place on December 2 of 2023, the race was postponed to January 6th of 2024 due to a potential heavy rain system. The State Park Ranger was concerned with severe damage to the trail system with the amount of runners, based on previous experience of allowing the run to happen. A week out from the postponement of the run, it was relocated to 7IL Ranch due to the same concerns. Cal Neff, the race director, did the best he could in having to navigate the situation which was a complicate scenario. He took feedback from the runners and very quickly put into place some changes for the future based on that feedback. So the run went from a very flat/dirt/rocky course to a dirty/sand/with some elevation course.
This was my first 100K, so it was fun to deal with the changes and I probably didn't include enough elevation training. OK, I did not include enough elevation training =).
TROT does a good job with offering good gear and multiple pick up times at different locations around the area. I was checked in by a fellow runner who runs at our weekly beer run spot, was good to see a friendly beard.
The support is always very good at TROT races and this was no exception. Great people, great fluids and solids available, good tunes playing. I also learned my stomach doesn't like Ramen noodles at mile 40, glad they porta pot's were close.
The course (@7 IL) started out on a dirt/gravel road to an out and back around a small pond. The course then veered into the woods via a mix of dirt and sand trails. Like a good golf course, there were some small water features to navigate, but nothing challenging. A lot of runners were concerned with the potential soft sand elements of the course. The ranch is used for another race in August and the sand is very soft at that time of the year. For this run, the sand was hardened up, so it wasn't too challenging to run on.
The 10 loops: One the one hand, when it came to running at night it was nice to have the experience of the loop so I could recognize markers along the way. Someday I would like to do a point to point run, which the original location would have been less repeat miles. In this instance though, I think it benefited me on my first 100K.
The start finish was overtaken by "tent city". We got a spot set up the day before the run. Running through tent city was awesome as all support groups and other runners going through that part of the course just cheered each other on. I love that part of trail runs.
I 100% recommend this Trail Race. TROT, Cal, does a great job putting on a run. My first 100K was a very fun experience. While I had to power walk the last 2 loops due to an issue with my knee, I persevered through that. It is part of what draws me to running and endurance running, to see what I can overcome.
I do want to go experience this at the original site in Brazos Bend park. I did some training runs there and it is a nice trail, where the gators give an added dynamic that is fun to look at.
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