Home -- Comments from 2007

Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2007
Subject: Thank You!

Carroll,

I just wanted to extend a big THANK YOU to you and all of the volunteers that made this years race and related activities so much fun!

The race itself was extremely well done despite some difficult circumstances. The meals were well coordinated, the aid stations well stocked; the food (oranges and PB&J in my case) in the later miles was much needed and appreciated. In addition to the beautiful terrain, the enthusiastic volunteers were also outstanding.

Nature sure conspired to ensure that this was not going to be an "easy" 50K, particularly for us slower runners. The rains and wind that kicked in at mile 20 were tough enough but the fact that they turned the road in miles 25 to 30 from a nice soft running surface into sticky, slippery, shoe sucking clay made things doubly challenging. I wouldn't have had my first 50K any other way!

Your concern for the runners safety and warmth was much appreciated. I also recognize the logistical nightmare it must have been getting those vans out to us. The slimy roads at the end were tough enough to run on, let alone try to get vans to navigate. And yet, despite the logistical challenges, you prevailed.

Thanks again to you and all for making this such a great experience.

Nice work,

Ian Murdock

Date: Thursday, 25 Jan 2007
Subject: Big Bend 50 2007!

Hi Carroll,

I wanted to thank you again for staging such a wonderful race in Big Bend. You may recall, I'm the geologist who is interested in the gorge south of the finish line. I've been working in the park on the basement geology to the north around the McKinney Springs area. I've had a couple of students mapping down to where Tornillo wash intersects the road to RGV. I had never been down the Glenn Springs/Black Gap roads and so the race was a real treat.?

I was really impressed with how well-run the race was, especially given the remote nature of southern park. The aid stations, the volunteers, the food/drinks were just perfect. And, the weather was great, too. I enjoyed the mud from mile 25 to the end - it added further challenge and made it all the more pleasurable to run up that final hill knowing I had completed such a fine run in diverse conditions.?

Thanks again.

FYI I've included my race report. I sent it on the the Ultralist Serve and it got picked up by the owners of Planet Ultramarathon. Have you thought about writing up a report for Ultrarunning magazine? It might give it some more exposure and get you up to 200 participants. On the other hand, I hate suggesting this as I like the small nature of the race and I'm always a little weary of too many people on the trail. Just a thought. In any event, I'll be back next year - I would like to break 5 hours.

Thanks again,
Aaron

PS. Now, what about a 100 miler in the park? I'm plotting over maps....

Dr. Aaron S. Yoshinobu
Associate Professor
Department of Geosciences
Texas Tech University