In my first year of trail running, there have been “better” races (performances?) for me to report on, but instead I will try to explain my experience at the second of the three Dark Side Series races… I traveled to the race site with Mary Ntefidou, her sister Vicky, and Vicky’s 9-year-old daughter Athina in a car loaded with assorted camping gear on a day forecast for 40% chance of rain. It rained about 60% of the time that we were traveling but once inside the state park, the rain tapered off. These Series races are kind of intimate events, with many of the participants camping in cars, tents, and perhaps even in chairs very close to the start/finish area. The campsites filled up early on, so we decided to pitch a tent at the start area as well, after we’d lined up for our gear (shirt, flashlight, and nice Coolmax cap). The goal of the race is to complete as many loops in the allotted time as possible. At the pre-race meeting, which began shortly before the start time, new cutoff times were announced. This was my first inkling of the challenge I would face for the 6-hour race. To begin a loop, runners must have completed the previous loop at least 1.5 hours before the finish time. For the last race, I’d signed up for the 12-hour race to make sure that I was able to run the distance I had in mind. However, in the earlier race we were allowed to start a new 7-mile loop with 30 minutes before the finish time, and I found that there was plenty of time for me to complete 14 of the 21 miles and start a third loop. The loop for Saturday’s race was longer (8.5 miles), which meant that 6-hour runners had to complete 17 miles in less than 4.5 hours to keep going. Okay, my race was going to depend upon the terrain and the weather! I ran the first loop with Kevin Walker, who leads the Thursday evening runs at Ho Chi Minh park, with Mary and Vicky leap-frogging us periodically. Good company—especially heartening since the rain started up again almost immediately after the race began. At first it felt refreshing then less so as it became more insistent, with some thunder and lightening thrown in for variety. At one point, a small creek spontaneously sprang up alongside a hilly portion of the trail, but there were no actual water crossings. We started our run on sandy jeep trails interspersed with rock-studded sections that ascended and descended in reasonable fashion (2-3 miles) before segueing into single-track trail that treated us with alternating sections of broad rock (limestone?), sand, and mud. This portion ascended and descended rapidly with some areas revealing themselves as more challenging only as we found ourselves skidding across them. The mud was problematical in certain stretches, adhering to shoes and adding pounds in irregular clumps that made running awkward. I spent plenty of time looking for rocks suitable for scraping the mud off, only to find that the mud had accumulated again after several more steps. One aspect of these races that I really like is that runners are asked to reverse course at each loop. This means that we see each other more often and that the monotony of the loops is greatly reduced. A loop run in reverse, especially at night, still looks new to my eyes. Later, the rain tapered off to a drizzle but the mud was there to stay. The rain seemed to keep most wildlife away—except for frogs caught in the green beam of my flashlight. I finished the first loop in 2:09 but probably lingered too long at the aid station, where charming Athina greeted me. It was great to see her friendly face, but I hurried off to try to complete the second loop, knowing that I would need to run a negative split to do so. I cut out the regularly timed walking breaks that I’d allowed myself during the first loop and tried to push myself continuously, certain that I was making better time. The mud was much more of an issue, and in retrospect, waiting for the terrain to change before stopping to scrape mud off the shoes would have been a smarter strategy. I eventually came to the rest area still two miles out from the finish and when I checked my watch realized that I would need to run two 10-minute miles to make it in on time. A third loop was not to be, and those last two miles were the longest, sorriest stretch of the course for me--and all mental. Definitely needed an attitude adjustment…I’m working on it… As soon as I stopped running, I felt great again. Ack! I really wanted to run 25.5 miles that night. I set up my chair and chatted with Kevin Outman when he ran in. He seemed so relaxed that I was surprised when he stood and set off for another loop. Like Mary, Kevin had signed on for the 12-hour run. I also saw Mary at the end of her third loop. She runs so consistently that Joe Prusaitis, who was collecting runners’ times, was able to predict her arrival very well (2:00 am arrival at the end of the third loop). Mary won third place in the women's 12-hour race--go, Mary! The trail race directors show up in full force for these events. In addition to Brad Quinn and Joe, Damon (Warda Cardiac and Doogie’s Run) and Robert Heynen also show up. It’s great to see everybody in what would otherwise be the Texas off-season. Despite my disappointment at not meeting my goal, I have to say that I love these night runs! It’s wonderful to be able to run in Texas in the middle of the summer, and I also enjoy staying up late during the cool hours. In the mornings, somehow delicious breakfast burritos are transported to the race site as the last runners are coming in. I’m already looking forward to the last race of the Dark Side Series but will definitely sign up for the 12-hour version again so that I’m able to run until I’m ready to stop. Cheers, Denise PS Other wildlife: I also enjoyed seeing a skunk foraging just off the trail that was *fortunately* not concerned about my presence. And, at some point in the night, coyotes howled in the distance. Before we left the park the next morning, Mary, Vicky, Athina, and I drove to see the falls the park is named for and were treated to close views of a doe and her fawn.