09/15/2026
Mellow Trail Race 26.2: A Comedy of Errors
1. Went into this race completely undertrained. Yes I’d still been lifting and cycling and walking daily. But runs had been cut waaay back. Which in hindsight was a mistake. I thought since I’d run 6-7 races of this distance in the past my fitness would hold. Didn’t quite hang on.
2. Caught some kind of bug the Thursday before race day. Nothing severe, but enough to not want to go run trails for 5.5 hours in 100 degree heat. But race registration was paid and that means I’m going.
3. Started race with a fully charged phone for music and podcasts. Not sure why or how, but she died with 1.5 hours remaining. Not the worst, but contributed to other problems.
4. Elaine Benes said it best. “The heat! My god the heat!” Course was two 13.1 mile loops. After loop one I had an internal debate to call it. Was dehydrated and down. Kept pushing cause we ain’t a quitter.
5. Spent most of the last lap doing a walk/run inching closer to the end. Willing an aid station to appear.
6. Reached the finish and turned on the jets just to end the pain. After crossing the race directors informed me they hadn’t seen my tracker register and assumed I was lost on the course. They called my husband and parents who pictured me passed out in tall grass.
Overall, it was a hell of day. 4th place female. 7th overall. Completely cooked. Now to sign up to do it again.
Race day fuels. Unfortunately Honey Stinger was not palatable for loop two. Need to find some new options.
She’s a beaut
The Tejas Trails team
Views were 🫶🏻
Not ready for what was ahead
Gearing up for the start.
Enjoying the peace in the final moments
Ready to rock
And it begins
Welp. Guess we’re going up
I’ll take it. Suffered for this one
One more for the wall
☑️ done
