CrossTimbers Trail Run 25/50 Miles
Lake Texoma, Texas
March 2003
This was my first trip with the Houston Trail Runners EXtreme Training Group (www.oocities.org/h_t_rex/)
that I met over the net. I knew some of the folks from races past but I had met only one person I traveled
with on this trip, Mariela Botella.
The H T REX group formed from runners in the Tornados Club that went trail crazy a while back.
They are a wild bunch but so much fun! Check out their website! Friday morning I met Homero and his wife Sylvia
at their home in Downtown Houston. Mariela, German (pronounced herr-man) and "old timer" Fred Ward
soon showed up and we packed to go.
I was surprized at the caravan - 3 cars, 2 kayaks, 11 people and a dog!
Homero was taking his daughter Julia and 4 granddaughters including a 14 month old baby.
We were supposed to meet a 12th, Dan, at Lake Texoma and all share a two story cabin. It turned out that Julia
and the kids and Peanut the dachshund stayed in a tent right outside - we would not all have fit!
I left my van at their house and Mariela drove me up and back in her Subaru. It took us 7 hours to get there.
We had cell phones to talk between cars - it was fun but tiring. When we arrived Mariela insisted
on taking a 5 mile hike and when she walks she walks super fast. I pleaded with her to save her energy
for the actual race to no avail - I let her go and walked with Sylvia - the dog went with Mariela so we had
to walk the whole way to make sure the dog got back.
What a trail!!! - Steep ups and downs, all kinds of obstacles and cliff hanging sections that made your heart pound!
Gorgeous views of the lake though. We were hiking in moonlight by the time we finished!
Now I was beginning to appreciate what I was in for and why this was called the "toughest little trail in Texas".
CrossTimbers is a north Texas "thicket" that in the 1830's formed a natural barrier between the Plains Indian Tribes
to the west and the Indian Territory. In 1834 it was considered "impenetrable and uninhabitable by man or beast".
Today it is still a thick forest with resorts and small towns scattered through.
Lake Texoma was formed by damming the Red River. Looking out over the lake you see Oklahoma on the far shore.
The Cross Timbers ultradistance race was established 23 years ago and has always been a small event.
It is little publicized and has a "mean" reputation for eating runners.
After our walk we had a spaghetti dinner provided by the race folks, got our numbers and tee shirts.
The total field looked like about 40 with twice as many signed up for the 50 mile vs. the 25 mile.
After seeing just that 5-mile section I was so glad I had opted for the 25. We all packed into the cabin and tried to sleep.
The beds squeaked with every movement and there was lots of snoring. Fred, a tall distinguished man,
59 years old with whitening gray hair was sleeping in the bunk next to me. I thought I heard his watch go off
ever hour on the hour! I woke up about 5am to the smell of smoke because Mariela was burning Eggo waffles
in the toaster. Pretty soon we were all up and drinking coffee and eating those waffles - the house was invaded
by the kids and it was chaos. We all nervously dressed and put on our numbers and packed our fluids and food
for the run. 50 milers (Homero, German and Dan) were to start at 6:30am, 25 milers at 7:00am.
We all went out to watch and found out they would let 25 milers (me, Mariela, Sylvia and Fred) start at 6:30
if we wanted to. Well it was cold then, but I knew it would warm up fast so starting earlier is an advantage.
Our whole group started in the early dawn.
The major hazards were explained by the race director - the "lost loop" (you can get on easily but you can't get off),
the rickety bridge with nails sticking up, the steep ravine of slippery rocks, the "golden staircase",
SOB hill, the cliffs etc. He did not explain that you just could not run on that terrain for any significant distance!
I had signed up for 25 miles of climbing, scrambling and crawling with mainly short "running breaks"
which felt like actual rest!
I paid money for this!
I started at an easy pace and Fred got ahead of me. Mariela was just behind. Pretty soon we hit the tough stuff.
Steep hills that I had to walk, sometimes straining up a root or rock staircase. My quads would quiver as I
approached the top and then - gasp! I was there. It took a couple seconds to recover
(all those squats and lunges Leda made me do were paying off) then I ran, easy at first, then fast.
Just as I got a good run going I would hit the steep drop off on the other side. Now I had to brake and shuffle
and try not to slip or slide and then - a muddy , rocky stream at the bottom! I'd vault that and immediately
face another steep climb! This kept on for miles. I was careful to avoid the "lost loop" but the rocky ravine
could not be avoided. The rocks were wet and covered with moss. The angle was steep and it went on for about
a quarter mile. The "golden staircase" was a hand and foot climb - no problem. After about 7 miles we entered a
less hilly part that was really beautiful. A cedar forest, a white sand beach, meadows of 3 foot high grass,
beautiful lake vistas. I could run and it was fun
I made some good time and stayed ahead of Mariela but could not catch Fred. "He will fade", I thought.
After 10 miles we turned back at Paw Paw Point. Now everything was reversed. I went up the rocky ravine,
down the golden staircase etc. I was beginning to feel the strain and it was getting warm.
I ran low on water after 18 miles and was desperate to get back to the main aid station (20 miles).
I drank plenty of water there and slugged down a "Boost". I refilled my bottle. I had just 5 miles left but this
was by far the toughest part of the course. I poured water on my head to beat the heat and worked it hard.
No Fred yet. He must be going to fade soon though. A one point I turned my ankle and almost fell off a 30 foot cliff.
At the turnaround at Juniper Point I was told I was in second place - well I knew Fred must be in first - has to be fading
by now - so I pushed at a frantic pace. Mariela also had her eye on me and pushed harder too.
I was drenched in sweat now and pouring water on myself as I ran through the last 2 miles.
Finally SOB hill! Ugh!!!
I felt like cursing it but could not utter a sound because I was panting so hard. No Fred!
I ran hard into the finish at 4:43:43. Fred had finished in 4:36.
Mariela came in just behind in 4:46 for first place female! Sylvia was second place not too long after.
When the starting times got sorted out I believe Fred ended up 3rd and I was 4th. I got beat by a fossil! How did he do it?
After the race we had a lunch of hamburgers and roasted turkey provided by the race staff.
The 50 milers were slugging it out with the heat. I rode with Sylvia to Paw Paw Point to check on Homero
and help at the aid station. It was 82 degrees now. Homero was still going strong when he passed 35 miles
but at 45 miles he had to drop out from cramping and dehydration. Many others also dropped.
Dan and German finished their races with strong times. Now it was time for kayaking on the lake!
Fred, Mariela and I set out with some of the kids and I took pictures of the cliffs we had just run on.
The lake was so beautiful and it felt so relaxing. In the evening we all went out for a catfish dinner,
a Cross Timbers tradition. That night in the cabin was pretty quiet - we were all dead tired.
I woke up at 6:20am to the sound of banging around in the kitchen.
The women were already up and organizing and Sylvia was cooking bacon and eggs.
After breakfast Sylvia, German, Dan and I decided to do a "trailblazer" hike on the cliffs for pictures
and to see what we could see. I should have worn long pants for this. My legs were all torn up by the thorns
but the views were great (see below). Mariela said her foot hurt but when we got back we found out she
and Homero had gone for 5 miles to collect the trail markers from the race. Typical Mariela!
The trip back was relaxing. Mariela and I listened to music the whole way and we stopped at the Collins St. Bakery in Corsicana for goodies.