Another Friday half-day work day, this weekend’s trail destination: Las Cruces NM.

Boarded a small plane to El Paso (anytime you walk outside to board a plane, ya know it’s a small ride) – easy 2-hour flight, landed in balmy 86-degree heat.  Think I’m gonna cook tomorrow.  Yikes!

Hour drive in the desert.  Arrived at bib pick-up, 20 minutes to spare.  Dollar Tree snack purchase (tomorrow’s an ultra, I’m comin’ prepared), Italian carry-out dinner, early zzz’s at the Sleep Inn-Las Cruces (good name for a hotel chain, huh?).

The race takes place 99% desert, single track trail!  All races will begin at the northern terminus (Sierra Norte trailhead) of the Sierra Vista Trail.  This is located off of Dripping Springs Road.  All distances are out and back routes and actual mileages are approximate.  The 50k is an out and back from Sierra Norte trailhead to the Vado trailhead.

 

Headphones are allowed but be aware that rattlesnakes may be out and you won’t hear them rattling if you’re rockin out!  This is a trail run on challenging terrain and differs greatly from running events held on road.  We are not responsible for any injuries sustained during the day of the event.

50K Finisher tile

Early Saturday a.m. start – ok by me, happy to log in as many miles as possible before the day heats up.  15-20 minute drive north to the Organ Mountains, parked off-road, half-mile hike to our trailhead Start.  Been struggling with trail racing thus far, but LOVIN’ these small grassroots events.  Pop a tent & 2 tables at a trailhead – and BAM you’ve got racing.  Much more intimate than road races.  4-5 Aid Stations tops.  Much more a thinking man’s run.  Gotta stay alert or risk injury tripping over rocks, roots, downed trees, trail debris. Gotta manage hydration & food intake.  Gotta be self-supportive.  Hoping to improve endurance & nutrition over the next couple months – really diggin’ mountain trail racing (sport combining both loves, hiking & marathoning).

Met Hoosier-native Carolyn just before today’s 50K trek – she’d be key to [me] finishing with a smile on my face.  Race director added .75 miles to today’s Start – an early extra loop to space out runners before we hit the single-track path in the desert.  Started slow, stopped by my rental & peeled off a double-shirt layer…temps now mid-60’s.

Rolling hill terrain through sage, dirt & loose rock.  Caught Carolyn early, slowed my pace & enjoyed the ride.  Upbeat outgoing personality, this runner’s also chasing 50 States.  Only three miles in, passed our first Aid Station – and we ate.  Not this gal’s first rodeo, Carolyn’s finished multiple trail ultras – so today I stopped, looked & listened.  Go out slow, eat early, stay ahead of hydration.  Not JUST talk, we followed this strategy.

Temps continued to rise; we continued to hydrate.  Terrain turned to open desert, miles 12-19.  Dirt gave way to sand & cracked clay – even cactus grew sparingly.

Turnaround at 16.3 miles…today’s 50K was gonna run longer than 31 miles.

Clicked 80 degrees now, but thankfully ran a cloudy day.  We’d catch a short breeze from time to time.  Not glossing over details, it was warm – but appreciative not to be running when summer temps top 120, it IS the desert.

Barrel, hedgehog & prickly pear cacti, multiple varieties of flowering yucca – and POPPIES.  Each spring (once a year), desert poppies garnish the sage-choked panorama.  Truly BEAUTIFUL!

Spewed twice over the last 4 miles but moving in the right direction.  Felt much better today.  Transitioning to trail & ultra distances been more of a journey than originally visioned – been at it for just 4 weeks, gonna celebrate all small victories.

Stroke a pose at the Sierra Vista Trail sign (last Aid Station) – only 3 miles more.  Steady pace, arroyo (dry creek bed) ups & downs, towering “needles” of the Organ Mountains poised directly ahead.  Having already surpassed 32 miles, no way of really knowing when today’s race would end.  Super excited when I popped up the last rolling hill & could see the Finish Tent in the valley below.

55^th marathon finish, 3^rd ultra distance – that’s 3 trail ultras in 4 weeks.  FAAANNNTASTIC!

Sierra Vista Trail Runs – 50K – Las Cruces, NM Mar 5, 2016
Keenan Haga
Overall: 46  8:25:03

Received a Finisher’s tile (not a lotta medals in ultras) & snapped a shot with Carolyn before highway trekking back to El Paso.

Returning in 2 weeks to NM’s White Sands Missile Range, as a Bataan Memorial Death March participant – marathoning with our military in honor of service members who defended the Philippine Islands during World War II.

Bataan’s a HUGE bucket list event – much more than a Sunday 26.2.  Can’t wait!

Sierra Vista Trail Run