Trail Jenny

Tales of the Trail: My Race Report of the John Holmes 16 Mile Trail Race

“Running a trail race is like embarking on a journey where the destination is unknown, and the experiences along the way are the true treasures.” – Anonymous

photo courtesy of Tampa Races

This past weekend I raced the 16 mile event in the John Holmes Trail Run, a trail race in Florida that hosts a 50K, 16 mile, and 9 mile race each October. This race is the oldest 50K in Florida, celebrating it’s 31st year. It is held in the Withlacoochee State Forest, about 1 hour north of Tampa. This race was not on my race schedule for this year, however, my husband was volunteering at an aid station, and encouraged me to come and run the race. It was a last minute decision, and I’m glad I decided to go!

Leading up to race day, my training was not geared towards a 16 mile trail race. However, I had been doing some base training, so I had several weeks with consistent mileage aroun 50-55 miles, with long runs at 13-15 miles. I felt that I could run a pretty strong race on this course. I have run the course before, but it had been several years. I decided to treat it as a training run, but push a little harder than my usual easy pace.

Race day came, and the weather was warm, which is quite normal for this time of year in Florida. It does seem that this race ALWAYS has a warm day, so I was prepared for that. The race starts on a paved road for about a 1/2 mile before turning onto the trails, where you then run on a looped course. It’s 1 loop for the 9 mile race, 2 loops for the 16 mile, and 4 loops for the 50K. My plan was to run the first loop easy, then see what I had left in the tank for the second loop.

The race was off, and it was very calm and serene heading down the paved road. This is a nice race start because it gives a chance for the runners to spread out before turning onto the trail. Once we hit the trails, the work was about to begin. Despite being in Florida, which is mostly flat terrain, this course boasts some decent sized hills. Most of them occur on the first half of the loop. At first there was quite a long line of runners, but once we got to the hills, the pack started to thin out quite a bit. I went from running with about 20 runners in miles 1-4, to just running with a few runners the next few miles. I maintained a steady pace throughout the hills as I came through the first aid station.

There are two aid stations on this course, each about 4 miles apart. Since I knew it was going to be a warm day, I also chose to carry water with me. I used my FlipBelt Bottle with the FlipBelt to carry. I also stashed 3 PowerBar Gels in my FlipBelt, with a plan to take them at miles 4, 8, and 12. This strategy worked well for me, and I was also glad to have the extra water on hand.

After most of the hills, I found myself running with only one other runner. He was super friendly, and we eneded up looking out for each other for most of the remaining miles. The second half of loop one, I was looking forward to reaching aid station #2, where my husband was volunteering. It seemed to take forever, but we finally reached it around mile 8.

The volunteers at aid stations in a trail race are always a welcome site! You run along in the woods where it seems you are alone and by yourself. Then finally you see some friendly faces that are cheering for you, and ready to get you anything you need in the terms of hydration or fuel. They are always so encouraging! This is one of the reason’s my husband loves to volunteer at this race, he feels he can really help give the runners a pick me up when they need it. After passing by his aid station, I was about to officially start my second loop.

The second loop is where it gets hard. Not only was the day getting warmer, but your legs are fatigued as you start on your second set of hills. I worked hard to put in a good effort on the hills, but a few of the bigger ones I took some walk breaks. I used that time to stay hydrated.

Once I got through the hills, I only had four miles left. At this point, the miles were moving slowly, and my legs were feeling really tired. Despite this, I was still having a great time. The trails are beautiful, the trees are peaceful, and there is something so rewarding about working hard for something. I kept chipping away, and finally came up to my husband’s aid station at mile 15. I stopped for gatorade, and he nudged me to get moving, telling me I was on track to beat his PR from this race.

The last mile felt long, plus it boasts a very steep and technical 1/4 mile climb out of the woods towards the finish. I finally emerged from the woods and towards the finish, hearing cheers from the crowd and my friend who had run the 9 mile race. I crossed the line in 2:47, snagging 3rd place female overall! (The award was a super cute pair of socks).

The John Holmes 16 Mile Race was more than just a race; it was an adventure that tested my limits, unveiled the beauty of nature, and connected me with a community of like-minded spirits. It served as a reminder that, sometimes, the most extraordinary experiences in life are found off the beaten path. If you’ve ever considered venturing into the world of trail racing, DO IT! Take that first step into the unknown. Embrace the unpredictable terrain, the challenges, and the awe-inspiring scenery. Whether you’re an experienced runner or just starting your journey, remember that every trail race is a chance to explore, to grow, and to discover the strength within you.

My Gear for Race Day:

All of these gear items can be found on Amazon through the links. Please note that these are affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support the continued creation of content for this blog. I want to assure you that I only recommend products or services that I have personally used, researched, and genuinely believe will add value to you as a reader and fellow runner.

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