Bandera 2009 25K Race Report

January 2009 by Tim

This race really started the night before...at midnight.  Which is the time that I finally got to sleep. I can recall a time when I had to be in bed by 9 the night before a race.  I had to eat exactly the right food..or else.  And yet here I am several years into my trail running pursuits(after many more of road running) going to bed at midnight after having burgers, fries, cookies, pop, all of it.  Well I'm glad I've grown.  I awoke even before the alarm at around 4:20 am.  Walked into the kitchen where I had my usual pre-race meal of a bagel with peanut butter, coffee, banana...and whatever else I could find that wasn't dairy or eggs.   The weather was still on the warm side at this point (probably 65 and humid).  Everyone else began to stir and eventually we were out the door around 5:40.  

As we walked outside we were stunned by the abrupt drop in temperature.  It was probably 40 and windy.  Into the truck and off for the hour ride to Bandera.  We had one newbie, one 2 time Bandera, one 3 time Bandera and one 4 time Bandera with us.  Those of us that had run it before kept trying to spook the newbie.  Of course she was having nothing to do with it.

Upon arrival I was amazed at how much this race has grown.  The last time I ran Bandera was 2005 and it's "huge" compared to then.  The great race volunteers quickly had us parked.  And we hopped out of the truck for check-in to a stiff strong breeze that was COLD!  Luckily this is the weather I run in most of the time in San Francisco; so, I was prepared.  Packet pickup went without a hitch.  There was a separate process for runner "check-in" I wish I had done that at the time of packet pickup. (Instead of waiting until the race start.)  We headed back to the truck to get race ready.  For me that means putting my number on my belt, plenty of vaseline on all the essential areas, a double check of gu, etc.  Then a little dancing at the truck with no warm-up.  Race time was quickly approaching so I went to check-in while I waited for Trey.  It was a 5 minute walk to the starting "line".