The Run from the Ducks

On Saturday I did an interesting race called "The Race from the Ducks." It was an 8 hour timed event where the object is to run as many miles as you can in an 8 hour period. The course is a .48 mile loop and you just keep on running until they tell you to stop. I had a good day and was able to run a little over 40 miles.

The race is held in Mineral Wells, TX at the Clark Botanical Gardens. It is a very beautiful and a perfect venue to hold a race like this. We ran by interesting trees, plants, and of course ducks! There were also swans, lots of geese, and an interesting ground bird called a guinea fowl. So along with the runners and amazing volunteers there was a lot to look at to keep your mind occupied while running in circles for 8 hours!

I started the race very conservatively. I stayed loose and chatted with the other runners, my friends, and my mother in law, Nancy who supported me at the race. After two hours I was feeling pretty good, but 8 hours is a long time to run so I started mixing in walk breaks every other loop. I would walk for roughly 100 yards every mile. After we hit four hours, I started to pick it up a bit. From 4-6 hours I ran at a slightly faster pace while still doing the 100 yard walk every mile. When we got to 6 hours, I was feeling really good so I ran a little faster. Then from 7 to 8 hours I decided I would not do any more walk breaks and I ran as fast as I could (which was probably pretty slow at that point) until the very end. My goal was to do somewhere in the 35 to 40 mile range, so I was very happy with my result.

It was a really well organized race with really good support. We each had our own lap counters who you got to know while you past them 80 times during the course of the day. Thank you Jimmy and David! All in all, it was just a great day spent with friends and family doing something that I love.

Next up -- Palo Duro 50 on 10/18!