I’d just show up and stay around 11:00 pace based on memory: the course wasn’t too difficult in 2017. Race was canceled in 2018.
Forecast said 40F start. 50F by 10am. I decided to dress for 40F walking pace. It’d be too warm after an hour, but I was anticipating a 2:15 run. Would be fun to have another dehydrated ab photo.
The course change was explained at the start: back half would be more technical . “How hard could it be?”
_crash #1
We started 15 minutes late. I stayed with a cluster that formed after half mile of pavement. I was in no rush. The single track was simple as I remembered. 1 girl went down. She was OK. Another went down. I wondered what tripped them. Then I fell. Left shoulder was sore from breaking the fall. I couldn’t find the tripping agent.
Everyone skipped rest stop #1, Murrell Park at mile 4.8.
My pack broke into 2. I didn’t see the front half for 40 minutes. All the sudden they caught us from behind--wrong turn. I decided to stay back. I didn’t want to be stepped on if I fallen. Soon my pack was down to 3, including Sam from Irving, the only runner I recognized.
_half way, Twin Coves at mile 9.8.
Racers lingered. I left after filling 10oz water, not feeling thirsty. I was horrified to be 40 minutes behind schedule despite running at pace.
_bad in math
30k < 20 miles. My trail pace was approx 11 min/mile = 10 min/mile for guestimating purpose. My neurons short-circuited that into 10 mph, so I thought the race would take me 2~2.5 hours.
_crash #2
Sun stayed up. It felt warm. Middle miles of the course included more roots and rocks. My ankle wasn’t cooperating. I finally crashed after kicking 1 too many rocks. I slowed down, accepting my limitation from spine injury. I was grateful I managed to compete beyond what surgeon predicted in 2004.
I was roasting after 14 miles. Mark was still there to encourage runners.
_4th quarter humbling
I was running alone for the final miles except this faster guy who walked his business phone calls. Not everyone was lucky enough to focus on the race.
_#’s
Official gun
time: 3:26:48
distance: 30k = 19 mi
GPS:
time: 3:25:53
distance:17.90 mi
