HABANERO HUNDRED - Trail Racing Over Texas (TROT) Review (50K)

TROT has 3 packet pick up options for this run.  1 at a local Run Store, 1 the day before the race on the ranch and then on the day of the race at the ranch.  They give plenty of chance to get your packet before race day, which is something I appreciate. 

-Hats: Out of 10K loops, on 4 of them I had a bucket hat my mom and dad got me from Buffalo Trace distillery to block the sun from my neck and ears.  On the last loop I ran in a "headsweats" running cap as the sun was letting up a bit. 
-Socks: Ran in a pair of Texas Brooks crew socks
-Shorts: Craft Trail run shorts 
-Shirt: Runyon Canyon
-Shoes: Mount to Coast T1's
Nutrition: I used Honey Stinger chews and what was available on course (see my performance notes, I made mistakes)

The main course route is a 10K loop that is repeated for the distance you are running, with some add ons for different distances.  There is a full aid station at the start of the loop and 3 miles in, with a unmanned hydration station at 1 mile in and then 5.2ish miles back (you hit the same unmanned station in both directions).  The longest you go without at least an unmanned hydration station is 2.2 miles. 

The volunteers did awesome as always for TROT runs.  

"Tent City" is set up around the start line.  You pass through it as you loop around the start/finish area.  It is a nice set up if you have a tent/crew in the area as it is an efficient way of resetting yourself if needed. 

The other runners and other crews are great at supporting all runners.  I was unable to have my chief support (Wife) there as she is recovering from a medical procedure, but there was enough structured support and local support there to get me through while missing my lead support person. 

The 2025 course will be the classic clockwise 10k Yellow Trail at 7IL Ranch for all events, roughly 280ft +/- elevation per loop.

100M = 16 Loops

100k = 10 Loops

50k = 5 Loops

Marathon = 4 Loops*

Half Marathon = 2 Loops*

10k = 1 Loop

*The Marathon and Half marathon will have an initial add-on section to add the required 1.1km and 2.2km before starting the 10km loops

The terrain is a mix of sand, with dirt, with sand, with grass, with more sand and then some red clay and grass and then sand.  =)  

This course is known for it's sand and it is normally a topic of great compliments (/sarcasm) from the runners.  I had a taste of it on another event held here, but it missed the main sandy areas.  The consensus was the sand was better this year due to some rain that came in the week before.  I personally didn't think it was that bad overall, but it is something that you have to have a strategy on in how you are going to attack it. 

The course has some elevation in it, but it is of the rolling nature.  You get to bump into some cows on the run (we had to let some cross in front of us at one point), It has some pretty views, especially when the sun is starting to set.  

The heat and sand in addition to the distance are the challenges I believe are the hardest obstacles to overcome on this trail run, but it is a challenge a lot of runners enjoy taking on. 

I started off solid and feeling good.  The red clay area was wet and that was probably the hardest area to navigate, but it dried out for laps 2-5.  The second lap was solid as well, felt good overall and got to see some people I know out on the course and have some nice conversations. 

Then came the 3rd loop.  I started to tire a bit from the heat and then on the 4th loop I noticed evidence of not having enough water and too much salt intake.  My hands and wrists were swelling a bit, enough that I took my wedding ring off and loosened my watch up.  I quickly started to flush out with water and by the 5th loop, I was all back to normal.   I need to to better on countering electrolytes with water on course.  I have a tendency to overdue the salt in take.

My biggest mistake was I had trained my long runs with Ketone IQ.   I completely forgot to pack them, didn't even think about them until I got home after completing the run.  I just blanked on it.  

I honestly felt like I didn't perform well, but I am more than happy with the results.  I came in 22 of 90 50K runners, which is plenty good enough for me.  

Wanted to give an extra Kudos to TROT, especially the race director Cal's communications.  They are very proactive with email, Facebook and Insta communications.  In addition to that, Cal has a livestream where he takes live questions the week before events.  He then keeps that livestream on Facebook for others to watch and ensure they get the most up to date information they can. 

It really came in handy for this race as there was a bridge out on one of the ways into the ranch, so if you listened/read his communications you knew you had to take a different route to avoid the bridge out. 

Just wanted to give one of our local stores "Good Times Running co" a shout out.  They are very ingrained in the local running community.  One of their staff, Maryann, was out volunteering the run and repping the store.  It was nice to see someone out there from the store helping the runners and seeing a familiar face.   The entire staff does a great job, so just wanted to give a shout out.  If you are ever in the western Houston area, give them a stop by. https://www.goodtimesrunningco.com/

If you are ever in the Houston local area and looking for a trail run, give Trail Racing Over Texas an opportunity to provide a well supported and put together run.  They do a great job and I fully recommend their events.