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 10 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.

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 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.

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.