The Corral

The Maze 30K : 3.25.2018

Austin, Texas

     As I toed the line for the first time for the 2018 season, that excitement and nervousness of what the trails had in store for me came flooding back. Questions like, am I going to have GI issues, am I going to bonk, how many times am I going to biff and get a mouth full of dirt, is my nutrition plan on point, should I hit the Port-O-Potty one more time (oops too late, line is too long), all of these questions setting up shop like squatters in my head.

Before the race. I go for a “Wiggle Run” to get my “Wiggles” out as Ellie [my 4 year old daughter] likes to call it, A.K.A. a Shake Out Run. Mandy [ my wife ] serves as my crew for longer races and is by my side watching Ellie, however, today she and Ellie are more spectators/supporters for this 30K race. Then, I hear the Race Director, it’s time for Pre-Race instructions. I part ways with Mandy and Ellie and I make my way to the corral.

While in the corral I look around, sizing up those around me. I analyze each detail of their stature, their gear [ lack of or way too damn much ! ], their body language and conversations along with many other things I feel play an unconscious role in my assessment process. After I assess the situation I casually place myself in the pack where I feel I belong [ always mid-pack plus or minus a few people ].

I find interesting all the different behaviors you see in the corral. The “Elite” stand ready, damn near naked except for running shorts and shoes, finger on their Garmin, toe on the line, ready to break away from the pack.

The “Mid-Packers” are, for one thing….wearing clothes. They are seasoned enough to know what to expect on the trail and are ready with a plan. They can usually be found cutting up with each other and usually holding conversations about each others shoes and their experience with different types of gear or previous races.

Then you have the “Back of the Pack”. These are the bravest individuals of anyone in a race. Usually the least experienced and maybe not the fastest, but they are out there along with the rest of them, ready to experience the same shit everyone else is.

Sprinkled throughout the pack you have what some call, “Posers” [ a term I don’t care for but one that seems appropriate ]. You might find these people dressed with every piece of gear you can imagine. A water bottle in both hands, a hydration belt, a hydration back-pack bulging full of god only knows, compression socks, compression sleeves, brand new shoes etc. for a race that has fully stocked and supported aid stations every 3 miles. I like to imagine that these people tell themselves after their first run that “man, I totally didn’t need all that crap”.

Then, the race begins. For those who have never raced trails, you don’t know a Cluster F*&%$ until you have been Mid-Pack, on a two foot wide trail with about 40 people battling for real-estate. After about 5 miles, people settle into a groove and the race thins out. This is when the fun begins.