Top TEN: Snake encounter tips

Getting you ready for a snake encounter while our on the trail and checking on the action at Habanero Hundred.

Hello endurance athletes,

This week we’re kicking off something new. Watch for occasional Top TEN lists. We’ll do lists of lots of things to help you be a better and more prepared athlete, and maybe some that are just for fun.

You can expect tips for dealing with the Texas climate from the swamp to the desert, race fitness tips, favorite gear, holiday-themed lists and lots more.

Now, on with the news.

The Top TEN List: Snake encounter tips

Eastern Copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix (Venomous) Photo: John Williams

As people who follow me on Instagram already know, I’m a fan of critters that not everyone is crazy about. I’ve long been a fan of snakes because they are so beneficial and widely misunderstood.

Venomous snakes can certainly be dangerous to humans and are worthy of respect. Fatal snake encounters are quite rare and with a little knowledge you can be prepared to make the best of a bad situation if you happen to have a negative interaction with one.

If you’ve ever seen someone ask for a snake identification on Facebook, you know that about all land snakes are identified as “copperheads” and all water snakes are identified as “cottonmouth water moccasins” by people who probably shouldn’t be identifying snakes online. And that doesn’t include all the “nope rope” and “danger noodle” jokesters.

That’s where Nathan Wells comes into this post. Nathan is quite active throughout the community and in groups on Facebook. He is a herpetologist, snake expert and educator, he also hosts the page Snakes of The Woodlands, a page for understanding the snakes of our little ‘burb. Nathan is a resource for local authorities and citizens when a snake needs to be ID’d or relocated.

The below list is sourced mostly from Nathan’s posts in Snakes of The Woodlands, but geared towards encountering snakes as we’re out exercising, particularly trail running.

1. Most snake bites where venom is injected (envenomation) occur when snakes are accidentally stepped on. It’s important to stay alert, especially on natural trails where snakes can camouflage well. Snakes are often found around stumps or under debris. If you’re taking a nature break off the trail, be extra alert.

2. Know fact from fiction when it comes to snakes. Examples:

   • A bite from juvenile venomous snakes is not more dangerous than adults

   • The coral snake rhyme isn’t 100% accurate

   • A triangular head doesn’t mean a snake is venomous

   • Cottonmouth water moccasins don’t chase people

3. Common areas for snakes include green belts, drainage ditches or open spaces along tree lines, especially along waterways.

4. Many snakes become nocturnal during the summer heat, so use excellent, strong light sources during night and early morning runs.

5. Pit vipers (rattlesnakes, copperheads, moccasins) are responsible for about 98% of envenomations in the United States. Signs and symptoms of having been bitten and envenomated include immediate pain, often described as achy or sharp. Fang marks may or may not be visible. There can be swelling, bruising and sometimes what is described as a “shininess” to the skin. “Blood blisters” may also develop to the affected extremity. Systemic symptoms are rare but may include nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing and/or a metallic taste in the mouth.

6. After a snake bite:

   • Call 911

   • Move away from the snake, do not attempt to capture or kill the snake

   • If it’s safe to do so, get a photo of the snake

   • Take a deep breath, snake fatalities are exceedingly rare. Stay calm

   • Remove jewelry or constrictive clothing before swelling might set in

   • If you have soap and water available, clean the wound carefully

   • For pit viper bites, elevate the affected limb

   • Get the victim to a hospital or snakebite expert doctor as soon as possible

7. Things to avoid:

   • Do not make incisions at the site of the bite

   • Do not apply a tourniquet

   • Do not apply a compression band or pressure

   • Do not apply heat

   • Do not apply cold except for short intervals, example: 5 mins on, 10 mins off

   • Do not drink alcohol or eat anything

   • Do not take aspirin or Benadryl, they are ineffective for snake bites

   • Do not use commercially available snakebite kits or suction devices

   • Do not bring the snake to the hospital, dead or alive

8. Know your snakes. Join your local or regional snake identification Facebook or other groups. Consult guide books on snakes of the region. Eastern Copperheads are quite distinctive with their “Hershey’s kiss” pattern (see photo above). But other snakes can be much more difficult to properly ID.

9. Know the best health care professional in your area to take a snakebite victim to. Many hospitals and emergency centers aren’t well-versed in snake bite cases.

10. If the snake bite victim is a long way from a vehicle, discuss the situation with the 911 operator. If out of cell phone coverage, walk at an easy pace until you get signal or back to your car.

In Southeast Texas, Nathan recommends HCA Kingwood as the best hospital for adults and children for snakebites. For hospitals in other regions, join National Snakebite Support to find the best regional provider near you.

Being prepared and staying calm are your two best bets to come through a snake bite with minimal long-term consequences. 

Habanero Hundred results

It was another hot one out at “Texas Hottest,” the Habanero Hundred. The drill was pretty typical for the race, blazing hot and sand, sand and more sand.

Women’s winner was Julie Kheyfets in 21:07 and also taking 2nd overall.

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A post shared by @trailracingovertexas

For the men it was Matt Zmolek in 20:41 coming in first.

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A post shared by @trailracingovertexas

As always, tons of great photos from the race.

trailracingovertexas

A post shared by @trailracingovertexas

trailracingovertexas

A post shared by @trailracingovertexas

You can see more at Trail Racing Over Texas’ Instagram account.

Complete results will be posted on UltraSignup.com when available.

Texans in the 2020 Paralympic games

It’s time for round two of the quadrennial athletic celebration. Here are the Texans in endurance and endurance-adjacent sports to watch.

Tobi Fawehinmi will be competing in track and field, this will be his third Paralympics. He went to the the University of Texas at Arlington and competes in the long jump and triple jump.

Deja Young will be back on the track defending her golds in the 100m and 200m races from the 2016 Rio games. She is from Mesquite.

Jeremy Campbell from Perryton will compete in discus where he took gold in the 2008 and 2012 Paralympics.

Kelly Elmlinger lives in San Antonio and will compete in the paratriathlon. In 2018 she was named the USA Paratriathlon Developmental Athlete of the Year, following a win at the 2018 national championships, her second triathlon as an amputee.

Tanner Wright is competing in his first Paralympics, born with an underdeveloped left arm he played football at McMurray University in Abilene but then transferred to run track at Hardin-Simmons, where he currently attends.

Meme of the Week

If you haven’t heard the news, and if you haven’t you don’t follow ultramarathon news terribly closely, Anton Krupicka is coming back to do his first hundred in 6 years at the Leadville 100. It’s a big deal. The guys at UltraRunningMemes are stoked.

ultrarunningmemes

A post shared by @ultrarunningmemes

Featured Events

• Hotter’N Hell Hundred | Ride, multiple distances | Wichita Falls | August 26-29

• Piney Woods Ultra | 5K to 100K trail runs | Tyler State Park | Sept 18

• Dallas Open Water Swim | .5, 1 and 2 miles swims | Lake Ray Hubbard | September 25

• Kerrville Triathlon Festival | 70.3, quarter, sprint | Sept 24-26 | Kerrville

• Brick House Tri, Du, AR | Offroad: sprint tri/du, 3-hour tri/du, relays, adventure race | Sept 25-26 | Navasota

• Snapping Tortuga | 5K, 2.5K, 1250M OWS | October 2 | Lake Conroe

• The Trailway | Marathon to 5k trail run | October 8-9 | Lake Somerville State Park

• IronMan Texas | 140.6 triathlon | The Woodlands | October 9

• Ride to End ALZ | 20-100 mile rides | Wimberley | October 10

• R3 Express - Gravel Challenge | 65 & 28 mile ride | Hunstville | October 16

• Cactus Rose | Self-supported 150 to 5 mile trail runs, relays, ruck | Oct 22-24 | Hill Country State Natural Area

• IronMan Waco | 140.6 & 70.3 triathlon | Waco | Oct 23 & 24

• Red River Relay | ~170 mile relay race | Dennison to Dallas | October 23-24

• Oil Man Texas Triathlon | 70.3 Triathlon | Margaritaville Resort, Lake Conroe | Nov. 1

• Odyssey SwimRun Austin | Long and short course, solo and team | Pace Bend Park | November 7

• BCS Marathon | Full and half marathon | Bryan/College Station | Dec. 12

Media We’re Consuming

• Ironman Shrinks 2021 70.3 Worlds to One Day; Moves 2022 to St. George, Too (Triathlete)

• Abigail Anderson, Sister of Gabe Grunewald, Killed by a Driver Near U. of Minnesota Campus (Women’s Running)

• A Self-Professed Sweater Explores the Science Behind Stink (Outside)

• How triathletes can use bike intervals to improve cycling and running performance (Training4Endurance)

• The Psychology of Panic Training (Triathlete)

• Research reveals why people pick certain campsites (Valley Journal)

• The Gear We’re Most Excited About for Next Summer (Outside)

• W.F. Strong: Hold My Beer: Get Ready For The Texas Olympics (Texas Standard)

• College Lecturer Arrested for Arson Near Massive California Wildfires (Adventure Journal)

• What is Paratriathlon? Understanding Triathlon in the Paralympics (Triathlete)

Get Out There