Last February, I had the opportunity to provide race support for four athletes I coach at the Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile in Huntsville, Texas. Rocky Raccoon is an early season ultramarathon with a reputation for being one of the “easier” 100-mile races on the circuit. As a result, many runners come to Huntsville each February seeking a sub-24-hour 100 miler, a Western States 100 qualifier, or a solid training race in advance of their primary goal later in the season. My four athletes traveled to this race for these reasons, but Mother Nature intervened as she often does.
The weekend before the race, the Huntsville area was inundated with over 11 inches of rain, causing, among other things, a tentative closure of the park where the race is held. Fortunately, dry conditions allowed much of the trail to dry out by the eve of the race until a torrential downpour the evening before the race added more water and mud to the proceedings. By the time runners toed the line for the race on Saturday morning, they knew they were in for something a bit different.
Tatiana Rypinski, the 2025 Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile women’s winner in much better conditions than the 2024 edition. Photo: Jesse Ellis/Let’s Wander Photography
The race comprises five 20-mile loops, and I had the chance to recon the course while my athletes were racing. I quickly realized this year would be far from a typical year at this event. After I returned from my preview run, I had to quickly put together some messages my athletes would need for success. Although I originally created the following guidance for the 2024 Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile, you can apply these ideas to any race where the weather changes on you unexpectedly.
Adjust Expectations
In a typical year, the Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile has one of the highest finisher rates in North American ultrarunning. After experiencing the course firsthand, I knew 2024 would be different. As each of my athletes completed their loops, I talked with them about adjusting their time goals and experiential goals because the wet, muddy conditions were only going to get worse. The more quickly you accept the reality of changing and worsening conditions, the better you’ll be able to cope with the adversity. Grumbling about the mud or the cold or comparing current conditions to what it would have been like in the sunshine is a quick way to ruin your day.
Make Deliberate Gear Decisions
While running is a simple sport at its core, decisions about gear and nutrition are critical in adverse conditions. It’s not just that you must cope with mud or being wet. You must also realize that if the weather slows you down, you will be on the course much longer than planned. From headlamp batteries to rain jackets, I asked each of my runners to think through everything they might need on each lap. It was important to reinforce this process for each lap because just one lap without the right gear could have ended with a DNF.
To make deliberate gear decisions, you must already have the gear on hand. When the weather changed rapidly, I saw athletes at Rocky Raccoon and the 2024 Black Canyon 100k in Arizona scrambling for jackets, gloves, hats, socks, and more. Do yourself a favor and pack an “I’ll never need this” bag when you go to an ultramarathon. Pack it with cold and wet weather gear even if you’re racing in the desert or in the summer. Ideally, you’ll never dip into that bag, but let me tell you, if you need it just once you’ll be happy you lugged it to races all those other times.
Remain Mentally Engaged
Throughout the day and night I repeatedly heard the same refrain from runners who chose not to continue: “I am just done with this!” “I cannot go back out there.”and “This just isn’t fun.”
iRunFar’s Meghan Hicks in a fall storm in Utah. Bad weather can be a great opportunity to test your physical ability and emotional resilience. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
As I encountered my athletes lap after lap, I tried to steer them away from a hopeless mindset and instead tried to keep them mentally engaged. The most effective technique was to help them shape their experience in ways that honored what they’d been through and celebrated how happy they would be when they got to the finish line.
Conclusion
When the mud stopped flying, three of my four athletes finished. The one athlete who didn’t finish called it a day after 60 miles because the mud caused a resurgence of an old hip flexor injury. Although athletes don’t need anyone’s “permission” to stop, we discussed the situation and agreed that stopping at 60 miles was the wisest choice. The three athletes who completed the race all finished with smiles on their faces and deep feelings of satisfaction knowing they had persevered.
By adjusting expectations, paying attention to the little things, and keeping their heads in the game, my athletes not only finished a tougher-than-normal Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile, but the experience should create confidence they can handle adversity at future races. And that’s part of the reason I believe athletes should resist the urge to quit races even when conditions or circumstances put pre-determined goals like finishing times out of reach. Use the sloppy, cold, muddy, and gnarly races as learning opportunities so you have greater resilience in the face of future challenges.
Bottoms up!
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s beer of the week comes from Jester King Brewery in Austin, Texas. Mama Luna Blonde Ale is a lusciously smooth blonde ale with a crispy blend of hoppiness and maltiness. Weighing in at 5% ABV, Mama Luna is a smooth-drinking ale suitable for just about any occasion.
Call for Comments
- What is the most memorable run-in you’ve had with Mother Nature in your ultrarunning career?
- What tips do you have for when you need to adjust your expectations in difficult conditions?
Colin MacFarlane, the 2025 Rocky Raccoon 100 mile men’s winner. The 2025 conditions were great, in contrast to 2024. Photo: Jesse Ellis/Let’s Wander Photography
