The alarm sounds at 5:30 am, and I roll out of bed not for my usual Saturday long run with the Dallas Running Club (DRC) or a morning race but to wake up my son because it’s basketball season. Although I didn’t wake up early for a race it is “Race Day,” and in exactly 12 hrs (5:30 pm) I will hit the pavement for the Trinity River Run my one night race, which has become an annual affair. ( Can I say that if it's only my second year participating?)

Last year when I ran I had on winter running wear but don’t forget this is Texas, so this year I had on a running skort, singlet, and visor, a perfect evening for running. I also faced the same dilemma as last year in terms of nutrition for the day with the added stress of a basketball tournament. My typical race morning meal now consists of a granola bar and UCAN chocolate nutrition drink for fuel. I asked myself this question last year, and I’m asking it again this year, what should I eat between 8:00 am - 5:30 pm (start time)? I start the morning with a bowl of oatmeal and a scrambled egg. Lunch consisted of a small mac and cheese; then, I rounded it off around 2 pm with a salad and a hemp seed sweet potato patty. Before the race, I had my pre-race fuel a Celsius energy drink (which I also carried in my water bottle), and 30 minutes before the start time, my UCAN nutrition drink.

The crowd begins to gather between 2 pm and 3 pm with anticipation of starting the half marathon at 4 pm followed by the 10k at 5:30 pm, the 5k at 5:45 pm, as you may notice there is a distance for everyone. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can participate in the skyline challenge, which is a combination of all three races with a medal for each distance and an additional medal to represent the challenge.

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The 10k course was flat with a few inclines up until mile 3.71 when the route when up a bypass bridge until approximately mile 4. The last hill presented itself at the end of the journey up the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge. An additional course plus was the life-size portraits of the race ambassadors at the mileage split, indicating which direction to proceed to for each course.

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The venue was consistent with last year, on the Trinity bridge (Dallas, Texas) with vendors lined alongside the bridge, plus a VIP area for those who choose the VIP registration. A big plus is the free race photos, which was emailed to all participants within 2 hours after the race.

I recommended this race last year, and I’m recommending it again. If you haven’t run a night race, or completed a run challenge, sign up for the Trinity River Run 2020, and I’ll meet you under the stars ready to run.

Next stop, The Toyota Music Factory Half Marathon, 10K & 5k.