A few months into my 2023 challenge I had discovered that I really prefer hitting the trails versus the road. This led to me earnestly looking into Trail races and I stumbled upon what will forever be one of my favorite trail routes in my state.
The Oak Flats Picnic Hiking trails are nestled into the Cibola National Forest. The routes are used by hikers, MTB, horse back riders, runners and some off road vehicles (depending on the section) so it’s well worn paths through clusters of trees and small meadows that open to views of the Manzano and Sandia Mountain ranges.
It’s hard packed dirt with some rocky sections and few large rocks. Twelve to twenty-four hours after a rain storm it’s pure hero dirt, with just a few muddy patches. This event was produced in the Mountain Biking Community (MTB) and I knew no one so I was pretty nervous.
Planning
A few months before the race, I grabbed the GPX file and my boyfriend so we could scout the trail. That day was hard for me, but the sights and sounds entranced me and encouraged me to take on the challenge.
Life is anything but predictable and by time packet pick up rolled around, it was clear that I’d be doing this run solo. All my previous runs a friend or my boyfriend had been there to cheer me on or run/walk with me.
The Friday of packet pick up, it poured rain and the site, as well as everyone there, got drenched. Saturday’s MTB activities got delayed by 2 hours and the course was rough that day for participants. By Sunday morning, however, the course had dried out mostly and I got to have my first trail race on hero dirt. The run was 4 distances, done in loops 5k, 10k, 15k and 20k. Each distance had roughly 15-25 participants.
Race Day
I drove out early and mingled with the campers onsite as the day started. The 5k was the last to start, so that we all ended at about the same time (or that was the goal of the race). It was so cool to witness this event, with campers just causally going for a group run one morning. I did run into a few people from my summer running groups, so we planned to cheer each other on in our different distances.
I was nervous, but excited for the looped course. Each loop ended with you running past a timing tent where they announced your name and time through a cacophony of cow bells and cheers from campers. As we lined up, I listened to families discuss race strategy and heard a few nervous titters from people lining up around me.
The gun went off and we took off through the timing tent to start out the lap. The energy of the other runners was contagious and my nerves quickly faded as I focused on not turning my ankle. Out on the course every voice was a “Good job!” “Way to go!” “You’re nailing it!” peppered in with the “Good Morning!” and “On your left/right!”
Due to the looped course, I had no idea what distance the people passing me were slated on so I was able to ignore the emotions of being passed and keep pushing forward. I knew from my hike through that this route had some rough spots where I was going to be walking so I felt prepared. I even saw the race photographer (something rare for us slow pokes at big races) who got my first ever flying feet photo. I ended up having and asthma attack right before the aid station (2.5ish miles in), but rallied and walked the rest of the way to the finish line. All told I completed the course 30 mins faster than my previous hike through.
I stayed for awards because the music was fun and the weather was perfect. It’s a good thing I stayed as I won DFL. All the other distances had people drop, which happens, and based on the course I totally understood. I had planned conservatively to start small and each year try to do more. My DFL award was to recognize that I was last in my distance and technically last overall because my finish came after everyone dropped from all the other distances.
So now I have this really huge wall plaque to commemorate my first trail run, on one of my favorite routes. I made it home later that day and just enjoyed all the unexpected wins. This isn’t the race that “changed everything for me” but it’s one I’ll never forget. Enjoy some images of preparing for the race through the finish line and that huge award.
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