The Teas B.M.F. race is a last runner standing race and qualifier for Big’s Backyard Ultra. The race takes place on a 4.167 mile loop. Every hour, on the hour, every runner must be in the starting corral to start the next loop. The race continues until there is only 1 runner left.
This was the first time I had run a last runner standing race. I was not sure what exactly to expect or the best strategy. In the end, I tapped out after 18 loops, approximately 75 miles. I made it to the final 10 runners. It was a very interesting race and a huge learning experience if I do one of these races again.
The Rules of the Race
Before diving into my race report, it is important to understand the rules of race.
- Runners must run 1 loop starting every hour.
- A loop is 4.167 miles long (or 100/24)
- Runners must be in the starting corral at the start of the hour in order to compete in the next loop.
- Runners may not get aid while running the loop, only after they complete the loop.
- The race continues until there is only 1 runner left.
Training & Prep
I signed up for the Texas BMF after the 2021 Tahoe 200 race was canceled. I wanted to compete in another ultra race in 2021 and the timing of Texas BMF worked well for me.
I had been regularly training for ultras all year and decided not to do any specific training for this race. Since I did not know what to expect, it was going to be very difficult to train specifically for this race. As the race approached, I thought about different strategies. I know I can complete 100 miles in 24 hours, but I also know that my pace is not consistent and that there are times, especially overnight, that my pace slows below 14 min/mi (the pace needed to complete a loop in time). In fact, I knew the most difficult time I would have in the first 24 hours would be between midnight and 4 am. My plan was to try to keep a steady pace around 11:00 min/mi. This would give me about 10 to 15 minutes between laps to rest and take care of myself. Even with this plan, I knew it would be difficult to make it through the night.
Since I would be running without a crew, my plan was to make sure I had a good campsite. One that is close to the start/finish and setup beforehand with easy access to all the food, fuel, and gear I might need.
The Day Before
I arrived at the 7IL Ranch the day before the race. I was able to secure a campsite close to the start/finish. Over the years of camping at 7IL for Jackalope Jam, I learned a couple of tips and tricks for making a great campsite.
- It gets very windy in the field, so make sure everything is staked down well.
- The ground is covered in tall grass. This means bringing a tarp for the area under the canopy to keep the grass out of shoes and socks.
- The ground is also very lumpy. Bring a cot to sleep on. It helps keep you warmer and more comfortable.
- Set up some good lighting – this makes it way easier to see under the canopy at night and easier to find your campsite when you are very tired.
Once my camp was set up, I made myself a hot dinner of soup & pasta, listened to a podcast, and went to bed early.
Race Day
The morning of the race was chilly in the high 40s. At about 6:30am, Rob, the race director, went over the rules. The runners were in good spirits. I said hi to a couple of folks I knew before making final preparations for the race.
At 6:57am, the 3 minute warning whistle blew. I was already in the corral ready to go, chatting with Alberto. One of the runners in front of us was talking to his friend. “I won’t be able to recognize the B.I.G. song. In fact, I don’t think I ever heard B.I.G. before.”
I turned to Alberto, “That’s a real shame.”
“I wouldn’t admit that in public,” Alberto responded.
Soon the 2 minute whistle blew, then the 1 minute. There was a good energy in the corral. Rob counted us down and we were off.
As I mentioned, I was aiming for an 11 min/mi pace. With the cold temperature, I started out a little faster than that. I had to keep reminding myself to slow down. While I was running, I overheard so many different race strategies. It was pretty clear very few people had run this type of race before.
I finished the first lap in under 45 minutes, which was faster than I had planned but not too fast. I took the time to use the restroom and sit down. It was still chilly and windy, so I wrapped myself in my blanket so as not to get too cold.
About 5 minutes before the start of the next lap, I started to head to the corral. The whistles blew for the 3 minute, 2 minute, and then the 1 minute warning.
The next several laps went well. It was fun to see the runners really go after the money lap. I had a good pace. Between laps, I felt good about the amount of time I had. I generally had enough time without feeling rushed to take care of two tasks, like changing clothes or socks, refilling my water or Tailwind, having a small bite to eat, using the restroom, etc.
It felt like the vast majority of runners were still in the race when lap 7 started. Finishing lap 7 would mean completing a marathon distance. When I finished lap 7, I could see how my time between laps had shrunk. I still felt comfortable about the time I had, but I was getting a little nervous about what that meant going forward.
When we gathered up for lap 8, around a third of the runners had dropped. The next big milestone distance to hit was 50k or finishing lap 8. I was still feeling good, making sure to focus on my hydration. My pace was slower. While I still had enough time to generally take care of two tasks, there was not much of a buffer.
At the start of lap 9, we were down to roughly half the runners. I was getting tired of running the course. This course included the same course as Jackalope Jam. It is not an easy course on feet and legs. The ground is so packed down, it is similar to running on concrete in some areas except that it is very uneven, other parts have loose stones or sand. I was beginning to have second thoughts about pushing until I can’t make the cutoff.
With each lap, more runners started to drop. A lot of the runners that were left were focused on earning the 100k buckle. I definitely knew that I would not stop before the 100k. As the sun started to go down around 11, I was beginning to question how far I could go. My pace was slowing down and I was having a hard time getting much done between loops. Most of the time, I was focused on filling up my water and getting some calories.
I entered the corral for lap 16 a little early. As the time started to count down, the number of runners was significantly reduced. There were about 15 runners left. I had more laps in me, but I had hit the point where I knew it was going to be difficult to make the hour cutoff.
At the start of each of the following laps, there were fewer runners than the previous one. My pace was getting dangerously close to the cutoff times. When I finished lap 17, I only had about 6 minutes before the next lap would start. I was feeling very cold and in need of calories. I stopped at the aid station and asked if they had any warm vegan food. They could make me some plain ramen noodles, but it was not ready. The best they could offer me at the time was a hot cup of tea. I took it, but it was way too hot to drink. I added some cold water, but it was still too hot to drink before the next lap start time. I left it on my desk and headed to the start. I looked around and counted the runners, it was the final 10. I felt good that I had made it this far.
During lap 18, I was pushing to keep my pace up to make the cutoff. I was cold and calorie deficient. I finished the lap with about 5 minutes to spare. I looked at the time, considered my pace, and had to make a call. Do I continue going until I miss the cutoff or do I call it now and focus on taking care of myself? After a little internal debate, I decided to call it quits. I knew that unless I could fix my calorie deficiency I was going to miss the cutoff soon. I felt good about my decision. I ordered some ramen noodles from the aid station. Cheered the runners on as they started lap 19.
After some ramen noodles, I hit the shower, cleaned up, and then laid down for the night. When I woke up, there were still runners on the course.
Lessons Learned
I finished 18 laps, about 75 miles, and made it to the final 10. I probably had more laps in me, but it felt like the right place to stop.
The Last Runner Standing race is a very interesting format. I was very happy to have tried it and learned a lot about how to do it better. A couple of things I would have done differently, if I could:
- Have a crew. Having a crew would cut down on a lot of the time spent doing simple, yet important tasks, between loops. For example, filling water bottles, mixing Tailwind, finding clothes, etc.
- Switch to my vest during the night, long laps. This would allow me to not stop for food and water refills between laps if I did not have time.
Will I do a Last Runner Standing race again? I think so, it would be interesting to go in knowing more than I did during Texas B.M.F.