Cowtown ULTRA Marathon

My Bucket List

For me, The Cowtown Ultra Marathon was about my Bucket List. Tera (Asst RD) and I have been friends since 2000. We visited at the WR expo to discuss my Bucket List and the Ultra Marathon. I e-mailed her to confirm I would register for the ultra while at the Houston Marathon expo. Imagine the look of shock when Libby and Peggy realized I was registering for the ultra!

Is the Bucket List debatable when race morning temps are 40 degrees with 25+ mph winds??? No, there can be no debate. The Bucket List is about living life to the fullest so I take what the day gives me, lace up my shoes, then I go for it! Not only am I running the Ultra by myself, there are only 140 runners registered for the Ultra. (118 finishers)

Race Plan
Plan A: complete the Ultra (12:00+ goal pace – thanks Coach Cathy)
Plan B: split off at mile 8 with the half marathoners
Plan C: split off at mile 23 with the marathoners

Race thoughts and mile splits (13:07 avg pace)
M1: 11:12 Yes, it is cold and windy!! I hate gloves, but I should have brought them. Thank goodness for the trash bag I snagged from the side of the road and my new shirt with thumb holes. (expo sale)
M2: 11:07 Maybe I’ll run with the 5:15 pace group. Not working.
M3: 11:03
M4: 10:50
M5: 11:23 WOW, now the marathon starts! I hear Cathy saying “slow down”.
M6: 11:26 Stop to remove one layer of clothing. Why did I overdress?? Libby is surely cussing me.
M7: 12:10 See first person with an Ultra bib – Hector. Are the other 138 runners all ahead of us?
M8: 11:39 The half marathoners split off. Plan B is no more.
M9: 11:45 Focus on slowing to a 12:00+ pace. Walk the up hills. Run the down hills.
M10: 12:08 More focus on a slower pace plus a 30 second port-a-let stop.
M11: 11:55
M12: 11:54 Déjà vu - enter Trinity Park. Home of El Scorch 25K. The Bucket List 2008.
M13: 11:49
M14: 12:44 Déjà vu – Colonial Golf - In 2000, I came to run 8 miles of a relay, but ran 18 miles.
M15: 12:44
M16: 14:11 The sunshine is beautiful. I am soooo overdressed!
M17: 14:27 Stop to remove wind vest and push up leggings. Why didn’t I wear shorts?
M18: 13:20 No wind, but lots of shade. Now I am cold. Re-apply the layers. Why didn’t I bring gloves?
M19: 16:19 The North wind is almost stopping me in my tracks! This is two miles of a gradual uphill…
M20: 16:09 Call Todd at home. WHAT is the deal with the wind? He says “28 mph gusting to 34 mph”
M21: 14:06 Call Jean-Maria. You ran the half marathon, go home. No need to wait for me to finish.
M22: 14:57 Call Libby. I am closer to 13:00 pace. Stay at the hotel. Plenty of time for a nap!
M23: 13:52 The marathoners split off. Plan C is no more. Déjà vu –El Scorcho start/finish line.
M24: 15:30 El Scorcho was at midnight and hot as hell. Now it is the unrelenting damn North wind!!
M25: 14:38 This area is wide open, but it seemed so narrow when only a flash light guided the way. M26: 16:08 One more mile into the wind, up hill then U-turn. Will I ever enjoy running at Trinity Park?
M27: 13:12 With the wind at my back, running along the Trinity River is fun. Maybe I like Trinity Park.
M28: 13:43 Pick it up, but save energy. Jean-Maria said the final two miles are up hill.
M29: 12:39 Enjoy the slight down hill. Tera hugs me and screams “Paula is an Ultra Marathoner”!
M30: 13:48 Yes, it is up hill. Hector goes out of sight as he enters the final turns.
M31: 13:40 More up hill and twisty turns. Then the FINISH LINE!!!

Finish Line Celebrations
The 17,000+ runners and their spectators were all gone. Only the finish line clock and banners remained as the final ultra marathoners finished, but who cared?? Todd, Libby and Jean-Maria were loudly cheering me as I completed the final half mile. After I crossed the finish line they all came over to give me congratulatory hugs. I was blessed by having the opportunity to share this experience with them. More great news followed as I learned that both Libby and Jean-Maria had a PR in the half marathon! Although, the ultra marathon was about my Bucket List I will return to Cowtown for the next four year as it will take five finisher medals to complete the star. Click here to read about the Five Year Medal Star.