This past weekend I flew down to Austin Texas to visit my good friend Jen. She has been living there for almost a year now but will probably be moving back to Colorado soon. I had never been to Austin and wanted to make a visit before she moved away. We decided to incorporate a running race while I was visiting too! Thus, most of the trip was revolved around running the Bandera 50K in the Hill Country of Texas and was about 2 hr drive away from Austin. Jen had never run this distance before and it would be my second time. I had a day before the race and a day after the race to explore Austin. The first day we went on a mellow 3 mile run down by Town Lake and near Zilker Park followed by a rather large yummy breakfast at Magnolia Cafe. After that we headed downtown, did some shopping and spent a good chunk of time at the flagship Whole Foods store.
Town Lake Run.
Yummy breakfast at Magnolia Cafe!
Inside Whole Foods. They have there own Dessert Bar! This place is huge and have every type of prepared food you could think of!
Then it was off to San Antonio to be closer to Bandera. We stopped at another Whole Foods in San Antonio before checking into the hotel to pick up our spaghetti pre race dinner.
Sunset on the way to San Antonio.
It was early to bed and early to rise to get to the start of the race at 630am. We just barely had enough time to park, pick up our bib number, t-shirt, wait in line for the port-o-pottie, figure out what clothes were appropriate and get our butts to the start. The above picture is right at the start 730am. There was also a 25K and 100K race and the 100k race was a 100K National Trail Championship.
The sun was just coming up as we started the race.
The course was mostly single track with a mix of dirt roads. Much of the single track especially in the beginning was very technical and rocky. The course had some hills but nothing too significant. Jen and I stayed together the entire race which helped keep the motivation and legs going.
Looking ahead to a minor climb. Jen in front.
It was very desert like with lots of cacti.
With large needles.
At aid station. Mile 15. Looking good. Aid stations were very well stocked with anything and everything. This aid station had ramen noodles and waffles. Jen had a waffle with peanut butter.
This guy in the cowboy hat was with us off and on for most of the race! We did however pass and beat him in the last mile.
At aid station mile 20.
The vicious sotol cactus. They were everywhere and were overgrown on the trail and unavoidable. My legs got quite torn up from hip to ankle from these guys. Jen told me a lot of runners from Texas where these guards to protect there legs from them.
More sotol cactus.
Mile 23
Almost to the end!
We finished in one piece. Little disappointed in the activities at the finish however. The race commitee seemed to be more focused on the 100K runners. There was an aid station at the finish because it was the turn around for the 100K runners to head out for another lap. We were not allowed to have any of that food which was ridiculous as there was plenty. And the only food they had for us 50K runners was a can of pringles, water and a few orange slices. Pretty sad. We would have stayed longer to hang out but we were starving and had to go find food.
Battle wounds included holes in socks, blisters and scraps all over the legs. But we both managed to stay upright the entire run although there were some close calls.
The trickster dog that was near our car before we left. His owner was squirting water in the air for him and he was doing leaps to eat it. Shortly thereafter, we left to start our two hr drive back to Austin and find food. The town of Bandera was about 10 miles away and we ended buying 12 tamales from a guy on the side of the road and just inhaled them. They definitely hit the spot. We got back to Austin and both were very slow in getting out of the car. We showered and headed out to dinner in downtown Austin. We feasted on a giant pizza, salad and a bottle of wine. It was a perfect celebration dinner. The next day was pretty mellow and unfortunately it rained all day. We did manage to get out for a short walk and Jen took me to the highest point in Austin. See pictures below.
It took a bit of an effort to walk up the steps with sore legs.
The views.
A little deary but a great view.
We stopped for coffee and scones to warm up afterwards. The day finished with a yummy dinner at a Mexican restaurant where we had authentic Mexican food (no tex mex) and avocado margaritas! I flew out very early the next morning back to Denver where I was greeted with lots of fresh snow!
It took a while to uncover my car and warm up especially since it was only 7 degrees!
It was a great trip. Thanks Jen!
Wow! What a big and fun weekend I just had. What could be better than celebrating a birthday with outdoor adventures with family and friends and yummy meals. My birthday weekend started out with having some happy hour drinks with friends from work on friday at Nosh followed by John making a yummy pizza dinner for me at home. Saturday was a ski day at A-Basin. Mel and I drove up early and had beautiful views of Buffalo Peaks coming over Wilkerson Pass and across South Park (see pic above). We met Wendy at the Basin and has a great morning of power skiing and boarding until we called it quits about 1pm. We were quite the threesome with me on alpine skiis, Wendy on telemarks and Mel on her board.
The morning brought blue skies but unfortunately it did not last long as the clouds rolled in late morning but the snow as great.
After a great day, we said goodbye to Wendy and headed back to the Springs where my mom was preparing a feast of fish tacos for me and my friends. Very kind of her. Some friends from Boulder as made the trek down south to join in the celebration.
The beautiful spread as always! After packing in the calories and getting a good night's sleep, we all geared up to go up to Barr Camp. The weather was perfect for a mid-January day.
The entire crew minus my mom who was taking this picture! We are halfway up the W's at this point!
The ladies!
John working on his barefoot walking. It didn't last long though.
The summit comes into view but we would not see the top today!
The dogs patiently waiting while we were warming inside Barr Camp before heading back down.
What a crew!
View point from Lightening Point on the way down. We took it easy coming down and was uneventful until Tom got a little friendly with a dog at No Name Creek! Actually he was minding his own business when a mtn biker and his dog were coming up and the dog bit Tom on the bottom and broke some skin. Not sure why he did it but he was a puppy which is no excuse. Tom survived!
The tired dogs waiting to go home! After saying goodbye to my Boulder friends, we got cleaned up and continued our celebration at the Blue Star with my parents.
Some happy smiley faces!
It was a fun weekend. Thanks so much to all my family and friends for joining me in the celebration of my 32nd birthday. I am looking forward to the year to come!
