Capt’n Karl’s Night-Time Trail Running series on second wind in Spicewood

DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR

SPICEWOOD — On the surface, it just doesn’t make sense. Why would anybody willingly run 10 kilometers, 30 kilometers and, especially, 60 kilometers at night?

But that’s just what several hundred people will do July 13 at Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area during the second leg of the Capt’n Karl’s Night-Time Trail Running series. It’s tough enough to even run to the mail box in complete daylight, let alone try to find your way through a winding, off-road trail at night.

Brad Quinn, the series founder and race director, clears everything up though.

“When I first decided to have the series, there were no summer (trail-running) series in Texas,” he said. “It was just too hot. So we moved it to the night.”

He continued to explain the series also serves as preparation for more serious trail- and ultra-running athletes who are eyeing longer, more grueling races in the fall and winter, both in Texas and in several other Western states. Many of those competitions span more than 12 hours and a 100 miles.

“The elite and ultra runners who compete in those races will end up running at night, so the Capt’n Karl’s series is a way to get ready for that night running,” Quinn said. “Night running is a lot different than running during the day.”

Now, it makes complete sense.

Well, sort of. There’s still that idea of running for up to 60 kilometers (which is about 37 miles if you wanted to know).

“It’s a way of challenging yourself,” Quinn said. “Trail running is definitely a unique sport. It appeals to those who like to be outside, who like to camp and who like to be around friends.”

In the first round of the series June 22 at Pedernales Falls State Park outside of Johnson City, 409 people competed. It was the highest number at any one of the series stops since Quinn started it in 2005.

“Last year, Muleshoe was our biggest,” he said. “But right now, it’s sitting at about 250 people signed up. We usually get another 50 the day of the race. So it will probably fall between 300 and 350 people.”

The race series evolved from Quinn’s experience with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. During a Burnet event, Quinn opted to run around the track during the entire 12-hour event, which starts around 6 p.m. on a Friday and wraps up around 6 a.m. on a Saturday.

“People thought I was crazy,” he recalled. They might have been on to something, but that  apparently didn’t bother Quinn. Instead, he thought if he was going to run for 12 hours, why not do it somewhere other than a high school track, such as a state park.

In 2005, Quinn held the inaugural Capt’n Karl’s trail run at Inks Lake State Park outside of Burnet. The name came from his father-in-law, Karl Lembke, who was battling cancer at the time.

Part of the proceeds would be dedicated to battling cancer. Lembke even helped by being the official starter for that first race. He used an old flag off his canoe, called Karl’s Kanoe, to get the 25 participants off and running.

Six months later, Lembke passed away, but the series still bears his name.

Quinn and his wife, Nyla, make a contribution with some of the proceeds from the series to the Phoenix Center in Marble Falls, which provides high-quality mental health care for children in rural Central Texas.

Since the first race, Quinn has expanded it into a series, changed the event from a time-based format to a distance one and even added a fourth stop last year. The upcoming races include the Muleshoe Bend site followed by ones at Colorado Bend State Park outside of Lampasas on Aug. 3 and the finale at Reveille Peak Ranch outside of Burnet on Aug. 24.

People don’t have to register for the entire series but can chose just one race.

While the distance might sound foreboding, in reality, trail running actually offers people a great opportunity to experience the joy of being an athlete or rekindling that passion.

“It’s something the average person can work his or her way up to,” Quinn said.

With a little training, a 10-kilometer event is within many people’s reach. However, once you try it, 10 kilometers might not be enough. Quinn noted that trail running seems to get a bit addictive.

“These trail-running and ultra-running events, it’s like a group of gypsies,” he said. “People find they really enjoy them. And then they’ll travel to (trail and ultra events). They just enjoy pushing themselves.”

Fortunately, Capt’n Karl’s is set up perfectly for people who want to dabble but then decide to jump in with both feet. If you try the 10k and like it. Quinn offers 30- and 60-kilometer distances as well.

The Muleshoe Bend event, located at 2820 CR 414 in Spicewood, starts at 7 p.m., 7:15 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. depending on the individual race distance.

Go to www.tejastrails.com for more information or to register.

daniel@thepicayune.com