Race Report - Javelina Jundred

Race Report: Javelina Jundred 100K
Date: October 25, 2025
Time: 12 hours, 17 minutes
Distance: 100K (Looped Format)

Pre-Race Shenanigans
We rolled into town on Wednesday, giving ourselves a cushion in case my tent didn’t survive the journey. Spoiler alert, it did, but not before I watched a conveyor belt unload 38 golf bags first. Priorities, right?

I worked poolside to finish up last minute stuff so I could mentally switch gears for the weekend ahead. Our crew was stacked: Angela was also doing the 100K, Xavier was going for the full 100 miler, Rob was tackling the night race at 31K, and Gary was our ultimate hype man and part time pacer.

By Thursday, we were rolling deep. Picked up Angela from the airport, gathered tent supplies from a generous local, and scored an early setup at race headquarters. This meant we landed our dream tent spot right in the thick of it with a killer view of the action. Total win.

Race HQ Vibes
Okay, picture this: you walk about 100 meters off the main road and step into what looks like a circus tent. That’s where you grab your bib, stock up on merch, and pose for a quick photo. Walk through the tent and boom, welcome to race village.

The setup? Imagine a horseshoe grid of crew tents outlined in chalk with colour-coordinated sleeping tents lined up in the center. I’ve never seen anything like it. Organized, colorful, and downright dreamy.

Bonus points for the two MVP features. First, filtered water that stayed cold and didn’t taste like a pool. Second, porta potties placed so perfectly that I never once had to wait in line. Race directors everywhere, please take notes.

We even joined a shakeout run. Well, kinda. The official one got delayed, so Angela, Xavier, and I went rogue. Singletrack trails, a ton of giggles, and big race energy. Just in time to welcome our noble steeds, Gary and Rob.

Race Day
It’s 4:45 AM and already 18 degrees. I’m sweating in my hoodie but keeping it on to conserve energy. Xavier’s race kicks off at 6, so we rally around him with hugs and hype. Then it’s my turn to get sorted: frozen Tailwind flasks, fresh water from camp (hotel water was a no from me), and a last minute shirt swap because it’s already heating up.

Minor panic moment: thought I forgot my hat. Ran to the expo, panic bought a backup, then found the original hiding in my vest. Classic. Crisis averted, I hit the bathroom one last time and off we go.

Angela and I tucked into the back of the front pack which turned out to be perfect. We only had to pass a handful of people on the singletrack before we had space to do our thing. Our goal pace for the 40K loop was a chill 7 to 8 minutes per kilometer.

The terrain? Rockier than expected. Lots of sneaky rollers and false flats. Jackass Junction, the halfway party aid station, finally popped into view. Quick fuel, bathroom stop, ice in the bandana, and off we went to enjoy the dreamy descent. We were flying, cruising at a 6:35 to 6:45 pace. Angela was breathing fine, so I kept us there until she started to sound a bit winded (she had a cold ☹).

We hit the next aid station, refueled, grabbed more ice, and headed out for the last chunk of the loop. This section had these relentless little climbs and turns that made me wonder if we were just circling the same hill. I even asked how many more of these we had and got the best answer ever — 1.3 miles. So precise, I wanted to hug that person.

Eventually, Angela and I got separated by a minute or two. I cruised into camp, ran right by our tent, and soaked in the energy of around 150 tents with their crews cheering everyone on. Back at the tent, I swapped shirts again, downed some olives, pulled out my half frozen Tailwind and water, restocked gels, and asked if Angela was almost ready. Her response? “Once I go have a beer.” Total badass. So I headed out solo, phone in hand, audiobook queued up.

Loop Two
That annoying knee thing from loop one? Gone, thanks to a couple of painkillers. I don’t usually take anything mid run, but I was willing to roll the dice. It worked.

By now it was pushing 28 degrees and there’s no shade in the desert, so I stayed drenched in water, sleeves soaked, ice in my bandana. That rocky section between aid stations felt like it stretched forever. Every loop, when that Jackass tent finally came into view, the whole trail sighed in relief together.

I refueled, grabbed some watermelon, wet my sleeves again, and powered out for the final 15K of the loop. Smooth, flowy trails made it hard to hold back. I kept reminding myself to walk because there were no climbs forcing me to. I floated through like I was running down the Sisters at Sulphur. It was honestly fun.

Back at HQ, I did the usual routine, ditched my vest, and found Xavier gearing up. We decided to start the third loop together.

The Final Round
Loop two had left my legs tired. I had been running about 85 to 90 percent of the time, which is a lot more than my usual 65 to 70. That effort started showing up in the form of nausea. I could drink fluids, but my stomach had had enough of gels. Enter the magical Rice Crispy Square. Total lifesaver.

Xavier and I laughed, took photos, and caught up on our loops. I soaked myself again at the first aid station. It was around 4:40 in the afternoon and I wanted to reach Jackass before dark. Xavier let me go ahead, and I went full mission mode.

In the middle of a steamy chapter in my audiobook, someone yelled, “David Roche coming through!” and I looked up to see David and Megan. They were moving fast, but honestly, it felt a little like a performance.

Anyway, I had my own goal. Get to Jackass before sunset. And I did. I threw on my lights — I brought three to make sure the path was fully lit — restocked water, grabbed a sandwich, and right as I was leaving, Xavier rolled in. Perfect timing again.

The final 15K was magic. The sun was setting, shadows dancing across the trail, and I flipped my watch to clock mode. If I pushed, I could finish before 7:30.

Last aid station, 6K to go. Switched from audiobook to music. The beat kicked in and I just ran. Didn’t stop. Sang out loud. Then I heard the music from HQ and I started crying. I was really gonna do this.

Pulled myself together, picked up the pace, ran into camp, threw my vest in the tent, and beelined for the finish. Gary was there waiting with the biggest hug. I had done it. 100K in the desert. Finished in 12 hours and 17 minutes — well ahead of my 13 and a half hour goal.

Gear Setup
I kept things simple with one vest and just swapped out my flasks each loop. That way I always knew exactly how much I was drinking. Shoe-wise, I started in Hoka Challengers for the first 70K, then switched to Topos for the last 30. The wider toe box was a game changer for my growing blister.

And honestly, it looked like BassDash sponsored me. I wore their shirts for every single loop. They’re made for fishing but they’re UV 50 protected, super breathable, and perfect for desert running.

Lessons Learned

• Gotta carry a safety pin for blisters next time. Using a knife was sketchy and not smart
• Solid food is still a puzzle. I nailed the liquids but need to practice more with snacks
• An RV would’ve made post race life so much easier. Hotels and shuttling were a hassle

Favorite Moments

• Running the first 40K with Angela and the start of my last loops with Xavier
• Every single aid station and the amazing volunteers who made them magical
• Seeing Gary at the finish line and getting a hug, I’ll never forget. I could feel how proud he was. Reminded me of how my dad hugs me. It was so special.

Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a trail party in the desert with loud cheers, good vibes, and a whole lot of weird, Javelina Jundred is your race. I came for the challenge, but I left with so much more. This one’s gonna be hard to top.