Yeti 100 Part 1 of 3

“I can’t believe I’m actually doing this.” 

This lone thought kept entering my mind, as I anxiously awaited the start of the Yeti 100, a.k.a. the most difficult thing I have ever done. I tried to listen to Jason Green, the race director, but my mind was elsewhere.  A roar of cheers from the runners around me triggered a similar response from myself. And then, unceremoniously, the pack of people ahead of me started to move forward. I clicked my watch, and my journey began.

The power of technology made this picture a lot brighter than what it really was at 0700.

Twelve hours prior to, I was in a state of disbelief. There I was, in line for packet pick-up and a pre-race meeting. Already the Yeti 100 was leaving its unusual impact. Entering the historic rock school in Damascus while hiding a craft cider for Jason, a bluegrass band played some tunes on stage. The huddled masses extended to the door. Was I in line? I asked the lady next to me, who was also perplexed. We prodded the other runners around us until a brave sole bounced to the front of the line and told us there were actually multiple lines. We went into our factions based on our last names, listened to some slowed-down Johnny Cash, and waited our turns.

Good shot of the band and both sides of the album sleeve

The wait itself wasn’t that long. The volunteer staff did an amazing job of getting everyone registered and ready. I gathered my things and looked at my race-packet. The race-packet alone was worth the registration. It included: an album sleeve with a play on the Sex Pistols “Nevermind the Bullocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols” on one side and The Smiths “Meat is Murder” on the other with a random record inside the sleeve; a sweet (albeit too large for me) trucker hat; my new favorite t-shirt; wristband; the majestically designed pacer bib; and my own competitor’s bib.

The rest of the sweet swag. Oh, hey, random girl!

Surprisingly, I was still calm. I met up with another competitor from my home town, Jamey, and exchanged a few words. Then, it was time to listen to man of the night, our race director Jason. He gave a few details about the race, where to park for shuttle pick-up, drop bag information, and more importantly, how much the race meant to him, his family, and the locals. A few explicit words later, Jason was off the stage after declaring how he can’t wait to give us all a hug at the finish line.

We were given a tip to eat at a local restaurant. Not many cars, so we should get in and out fast, right? Well, it was probably close to an hour after our arrival that we got our drinks (with the exception of Sara’s water) and another hour after that to get our food. To make things even more stressful, they messed up my order. The thought of even ingesting the smallest amount of cheese made my stomach start to feel messed up. After another five to ten minutes, I got my grilled chicken and pasta.

We finished our meals and headed “home” --- a very quaint house in the middle of the woods. I tried to shake some nerves by playing a friendly round of ping-pong with Jeremy, you know, instead of double checking everything to make sure I was ready. I finally made it to bed around 11:00 p.m., early enough to get about four and half hours of sleep. Ugh…

One of the worst "games" of ping-pong ever played

To my surprise, I actually slept the majority of the night. A creaky house made me wake only once when someone went to the bathroom, and then an hour later at 4:15 my alarm was going off.

I precariously headed into the dining room/kitchen. I ate a bagel with peanut butter, drank some water, and slowly ingested mini chocolate donuts. Thirty minutes later, the rest of the house began to stir. After my second usage of the bathroom, I put on my race gear with some sweats overtop and headed out towards the rest of the house. “Good morning,” said Becky. Whoa! Becky made it! This wonderfully, crazy lady drove throughout the night and slept in her vehicle to be with us. Damn motivational people, now I feel even more obligated to finish. The rest of the morning was uneventful, as we loaded everything up and headed to Whitetop Station for the start of the race.

I am usually jittery before races, which leads to me talking peoples’ ears off. Not today. My nerves were through the roof. My anxiety level was the highest since chemo. I tried to stay calm, I tried to Zen out. It was working for a bit, until I really had to pee. Again.

As soon as we parked, I strategically stood behind my door. Kudos to Vern to pointing out what I was doing. We made our way to the starting area. Time to pee again.

Man, these faces speak a thousand words... especially "apprehension"

We snapped a few more photos, made a few stupid jokes, listened to Jason speak, and then we were off.

Holy crap. I’m actually running in a 100-mile race! Jeremy and I slogged around for a few minutes, about thirty runners deep. And then we brazenly made our way up to the top ten. “Is this real life?” I remember thinking, channeling my inner memes. We glided down the first few miles, and then we both had to pee. And then again. And maybe once more by the time we hit the half marathon mark.

It was around this same point in time that we had our first photographic opportunity. A beautifully curved, long trestle going over a creek with trees in the background. As we approached the cameraman, I questioned my hand positioning. Thumbs up, or hang loose? I still had time to think though, because there was a guy ahead of us. And then, the dude stopped. Posing as Usain Bolt, we were able to highjack his photo since he stopped. I’m genuinely considering purchasing the photo just for the memory…

Not the "Usain Bolt" bridge, but still a cool shot.

 Speaking of the scenery, the course itself was absolutely gorgeous. A few more weeks, and the foliage would have stepped it up to a whole other level; however, the moderate amount of leaves that had already fallen was nice and didn’t cover up the trail that much.

After a few bridge crossings and a couple jokes later (surprisingly not that many about poop!), we were getting into our rhythm. I felt like I could go all day. We were clipping off miles right around a 9-minute pace, with our walking miles even being under 15 minutes per mile.

More bridges and beauty, ain't that right, Mario ;)

Doing some math, I was a little concerned. We would finish the first 33 miles around 6 hours! And then it happened. In the history of sports, there are only a few plays that people will remember forever. The shot heard around the world, down goes Frasier, Bill Buckner, and this, Jeremy Sanders’ most EPIC forward roll!

As we chugged along, Jeremy had a momentary lapse in his stride and caught his toe on a rock. From this, most would Superman and get some serious scrapes and bruises. Not Jeremy. As he stumbled forward he was able to tuck his head for a sweet roll. During this same moment, he was able to somehow precariously stand his bottle up as he was going around. As he bounced back up, he did an about-face, grabbed the bottle and continued forward. My mind was blown, our spirits were high, and more importantly we were still moving forward.

Shortly after that, a solid 33 miles were in the books and it only took us about six hours. Now it was time to turn around and climb 3,000-ish feet just to get back to the start to do it all over again.

Abingdon Aid Station at Mile 33. Next time through it's the FINISH LINE!

Check back tomorrow for part 2. The whole thing is a rather long read (7ish pages), so I figured I would chunk it up for you. However, if that's not your thing. Check back Wednesday, and I should have everything up by then!
Click here for part 2!

Abs, Run, and Oncology - Oh my!

After a late night and a lazy morning, I channeled Black Sabbath to motivate me into getting out of bed. From there the day continued to go, not without a hitch, but in a very positive way.

tl;dr video

While doing my usual morning scroll through Facebook, I was reminded by Runner in Training that it was Workout Wednesday. I had some time to burn before my running partner, Mario, arrived and it was only an eight minute video, so I proclaimed, "Why not?!"

The workout was intense. Quick transitions from one exercise to the next kept me feeling the burn and also wanting to stop. Becky helped keep me motivated though, and next thing I knew we were done! Covered in sweat, I gathered my things and waited for Mario's arrival.

Uncharacteristically, Mario drove instead of running to my house. We briefly talked about our route and pace, then took off. The miles flew by with good company and conversation. However, as we started our second dog park loop, we started to talk about my cancer treatments and how often I need to go for a check-up. Then it dawned on me. I had one this morning!

Whoops! Not really sure what time the appointment was, I flew home leaving Mario to do the rest of the run by himself.

I called the oncology department, to which they reassured of my poor memory. My appointment was in fifteen minutes. I live thirty minutes away... bummer.

The good news, they said I could show up as early as I could. So, I took a three to four minute shower and bolted out the door.

Arriving just before noon, my appointment went great. I've maintained my weight, heart rate was low (though slightly elevated from slamming my post-workout drink of Abloc Recovery, almond milk, and coffee), and my blood pressure was spot on.

Then, Dr. Major came in. He gave me a once over, and we talked about the future. He reminded me how follicular lymphoma is rarely cured and usually comes back --- more like a chronic illness. However, he reiterated how we took a sledgehammer to an ant and is hoping/expecting the best. Along with this, he announced his retirement to me. So, I will either stop seeing an oncologist all together or be appointed to a new one (we both were leaning towards the former, since I have been in great health for three years now).

So, all in all, a solid day.
A great ab workout to warm-up, a quick 7.8 miles with good company, and a positive oncology appointment!

The Shoe Graveyard

As a pretty active guy, I go through shoes like a runner goes through toilet paper. Trying to find  a pair that looks nice, fits well, and can last is tough. On top of that, I expect a lot out of my shoes. They need to be able to hold up to lateral movements for P.E. class (i.e. basketball, soccer, and tchoukball) and also at track and cross country practice. Throw in ultra training, and I'm basically S.O.L.

So far, I have had many shoes come close; however, they always end up dying. Below, I pay homage to those that almost made it.

First up - Merrell Vapor Glove.

One of the best road shoes I've ever ran in. My usual 5k racers.

I've been through 4 pairs (and 3 colors) of these bad boys! If you are looking for a minimalist shoe that can take a hit, look no further. Every pair I have owned has surpassed 400 miles. For a zero drop, low profile minimalist shoe, that is almost unheard of.

They are lightweight, fit like a glove, and grip like a champion. Yet, the Achilles heel is the upper. It is a weird tight mesh material that gets messed up pretty easily. Also, where the lower and upper meet is a super weak point. Every pair has blown out almost 180 degree from mid-foot, around the toe-box, and to the other side. But the crazy thing is, I can still wear them! Seriously, the tread is still great on my main pair, even after logging close to 500 miles!

Shoes #2 - Merrell Ascend Glove

Tough shoe with a good amount of foot feel. Stronger upper, but still fell short.

Yet another super durable shoe by Merrell (I swear I am not a spokes person, but if Merrell wants me to be, hit me up!). This pair didn't see as many miles, but it got trashed on the trail. Roots, rocks, water, poop, you name it --- it's seen it.

Speaking of rocks, I never once questioned my footing with these. I caught my big toe a few times with a few choice words, but never once complained about stepping on a sharp rock. They gave great ground feel with high protection. Sadly, this will be my last pair since they are no longer in production :sad face:

However, even with ~350 miles, they are still run-able. Again, the area between the upper and lower is busted. There is also another spot near my toes that got cut open. The tread, though still reliable, is starting to show some heavy wear. With that said, they will probably turn into creek shoes with my recent purchase of the New Balance MT10v1.

And finally - Skora Phase

Wear patterns galore! The no sew upper helps keep the structure sound, but the inside... not so much.

When getting close to retirement with my other shoes, I needed another durable shoe to help with high mileage and marathon training. Enter the Skora Phase.

Hands down my favorite shoe I have ever owned (two pairs!). The injected blown rubber (IBR) kept the shoe amazingly lightweight and cushiony, but still strong enough to hold up against small rocks and uneven surfaces. This 11mm, zero drop shoe was also chopped down a bit more by taking out the insole giving it a new stack height of around 9mm.

I ran these shoes into the ground... HARD! I literally burned a hole in them. However, even then, they were still SO FREAKIN' comfortable that I kept running in them. Because of this, I have ruined about 5 pairs of socks. Whoops!

After a few months of holy running, I decided to get another pair... uh-oh. Sold out.

No biggie, I will try another style. Sold out. Ugh.

I then messaged a rep and she helped me get the same shoe, but in a female style. SCORE! The fit was the same, and the color scheme was actually cooler in my opinion.

Unfortunately, shortly after this transaction, the company went into a bit of a hiatus. However, they should be back in September (hooray!). Just in time for another purchase before the Yeti100 :)

Take aways:
Shoes will always be the most important and most expensive part to a runner. Spend the extra $20-$50 on a shoe that fits your foot and is durable. Furthermore, with ever changing styles and trends, your favorite is likely to be discontinued, so find a shoe you like and stock up!

New Balance Minimus Trail 10v1 (NBMT10v1)

For the better part of two months, I have been precariously cycling through my shoes to get the most out of them. Though it did extend their lifespan a bit, this eventually led to them crapping out at the same time. 

Do you know what that means? New shoe time! Oh yeah!

New Balance's rebirth of the MT10v1

The path to obtaining these shoes was long and difficult. Originally, I was going to go with the Merrell Trail Glove, but they didn't have enough room for the top of my foot. I was about 0.5 mile into my run when I decided to head back and swap them for my Skora Phase. I finished the 6 mile run, but when I took off my sock my foot was actually bruised! Back in the box they went, and my search continued.

A couple weeks went by with me looking at every trail shoe under the sun. Then, I stumbled upon the MT10v1. A scoffed at the 4mm drop. #ZeroDrop4Lyfe! However, the more I read about them the more I wanted them. Review after review, people kept proclaiming how they were the greatest shoe ever, and that they were excited that New Balance brought them back (I wish Skora would come back 😩). The only downside I saw were people complaining about the sizing. "Order a size larger" and "GET THE EE!.

It was done. I ordered a size larger, but didn't get the EE. I have very narrow feet, so it should be perfect. Two days later, they arrived. I opened the box, laced them up, annnnnd they're too narrow. Eff.

Fortunately, I  ordered through Amazon Prime. I quickly set up the (free) exchange, and the new pair arrived in my mailbox within three days. That alone is worth the cost of the prime service to me.

Originally went with black on black, but glad I switched colors

I laced them up, and the felt great. A little loose around the ankle, but now I had more wiggle room at the widest part of my foot. The toebox isn't as wide as I would like either, but those are my only major gripes.

Low-cut, no wrap around feel. 

Even with the looseness of the ankle, the shoe still fits well. That is mainly because of the strap that goes across the base of the tarsal area. Another strap running from the mid-foot to the heel that does something similar. However, with a plantarflex, it looks a little silly.

Plantarflex to show weird strap bulge

With a bum foot, I decided to take them out for an easy three miles on the roads. The tactile feel was great, and the shoes offered a good amount of protection. In my other shoes (specifically the Skora Phase and Merrell Vapor Glove), I tried to limit chunky stones as much as possible. However, with the MT10v1, I knew the crushed rocks were there, yet they didn't cause any discomfort. 

I also enjoyed the weight of the shoe. By no means are they a racing flat, but they hold somewhat true to their "minimalist" claim. I can easily see myself using them for anything from a 5k to a 20 miler. 

Crappy cellphone picture

The bottom of the shoe is made by Vibram (woo-hoo!) and is super grippy for the road. I hope this translates well to trail, which it should. The lugs are in a circular honeycomb pattern with a lot of nooks and crannies, aka dog poop catchers. They aren't super deep, but not non-existent either. The raised nubs are a solid rubber that should last long, whereas the recessed portions seem to be a softer, high density foam of some sorts.

On to the pros and cons.

Pros:

• Price - right around $100 depending on size and color
• Feel - They have a "glove" like feel around the foot, but not the ankle. More on that in the cons
• Looks - The sleekness of the shoe and the color choices are simple, but attractive. A+
• Laces - The length of the laces might be a bit excessive, but I enjoy having the extra inches. They also stayed tied for the entirety of my run without double knots.
• Tongue - It's stitched into place, so it won't roll or get smooshed 
• Sole - Not removable, which is a good thing because I usually take them out anyways. Thin!
• Outsole - Made by Vibram. Will last a long time.

Cons:

• Low cut - I wish the upper was about 0.5 to 1 inch taller
• Ankle looseness - The rest of the shoe seems to fit great. Maybe I just have small ankles? Maybe I need a half size smaller?
• No double eyelet - I love to lock lace my shoes to get a great wrap-around feel. Unfortunately, I cannot do this with these shoes.
• Toebox - It's a little narrow for me. I am used to a big open space thanks to Skora to splay my feet. Even with the EE, my pinky toe puts a little stress on the outside of the shoe.

With that said, I gladly welcome my new foot friends. I'll probably get another pair to cycle to make Yeti 100 training more consistent.

 

Greasy-Gooney 10k 2016

“Faster turn-over. C’mon!” I screamed internally. I knew my legs had more to give, but I just couldn’t get them to go. My lungs felt great, as did my core. My legs - or leg rather - just wouldn’t stride like it should. It was then that I knew a come-from-behind finish wasn’t going to happen.

The first half of the Greasy-Gooney 10k (Browntown, Va - Shenandoah Valley area) was surprisingly pleasant. Sitting comfortable in 5th place along with my running friend/coach Jeremy, I powered up the hill. My splits were consistent and my heart/breathing rate were on point. A newbie to the area closely followed. I made references to Jeremy about the other guy, and talked a little louder than usual trying to mentally break him. We continued to surge and hoped to finish the first 5k in strong fashion.

By now, the top 2 secured their positions. Mario (another running friend) in third looked more confident than ever and was creating a buffer between him and us. Newbie seemed to falter a bit. At the 2.5 mile mark, the hill increases its grade. Jeremy pushed ahead, but I stayed close. By the time we crested the top  (also the 5k mark), I tried to do my old cross country tactic - keep pushing past the top to break your competition. I lengthened my stride and glided passed Jeremy. This worked for about 15 yards, and then I heard the footsteps.

“All right. Let’s go, Jere…” Only it wasn’t him. Newbie came alongside, almost effortlessly. I did the only thing I could think of at them time. Ask short questions that would hopefully produce long responses to wear him out :)

We chatted a bit. He was from Arlington. Originally from Tennessee. And he went by Josh. Hey, a connection.

We ran about a mile together, and then Josh slowly pulled away. His new target, Mario, slowly got closer to him, but farther from me. It was about this time that Jeremy, who took a few extra puffs at the top, caught up.

We cruised together for about a half mile, and I made a comment on how the new kid was pretty good and might catch Mario. Jeremy must have taken it as a personal challenge. He glance at me and stated, “let’s see what I can do about 4th place.”

Game on. We were now coming off the downhill section (still slightly rolling), but hit a flat spot. If I could increase my turnover and be a bit lighter on my feet, I could reel all three in.

“Go!” I spurred, but with no results. My right foot continued to drive hard into the ground and without much forward propulsion. There was no pain, just an uncomfortable tightness. My stride felt as half as long as it should. This “injury” is really starting to get annoying.

The wind decided it wanted to get in on the action around 5.5 and almost knocked me sideways. It’s going to be one of those finishes...

From the strong uphill 5k and a steady 5:55 descent, I knew my position was secured, and I wouldn’t be able to catch the three ahead of me. A 10k PR was out of the question, as was the course record for my age group. Time to enjoy the countryside.

The Blue Ridge Mountains were more spectacular than I expected. The fall foliage really snuck up on me this year, and I have yet had much time to enjoy its beauty. As I swung around a few bends in the road, I said good morning to the spectating cows and to the woman on her cell-phone. I assumed she was watching the race, but as I jaunted by I didn’t even receive a glance.

“Good morning!” I proclaimed. “Good job,” she stated halfheartedly without a look away from her phone. Meh, priorities.

At the 6 mile mark, I decided to open it up a bit. If nothing more than for a terrible photo that I am eagerly awaiting to see (to be fair, it isn’t the quality of the photo or the photographer. It is definitely the subject and my inability to get a good race picture).

I crossed the finish line in 6th place (1st in my age group) with a time of 39:14. Not too shabby for running and winning a half marathon 2 weeks before, and getting a new marathon PR the week before that.

I sauntered toward the crowd of finishers. I learned that Mario also succumbed to Josh’s (no longer Newbie - he earned my respect) speed. Jeremy never caught them, but he came close.

The four of us went out for a 1.5 mile cool-down together and patiently awaited the awards ceremony. I won a random prize of miniature snickers. Josh received a pumpkin.

Overall, the race was great. Just outside my hometown, dirt cheap ($10), and beautiful scenery. I was able to run with my part of my running team, met a new runner, and even met a few people that I only knew online via Strava. I will definitely be running it again next year and for many years to come!

Skora Phase Shoe Review

When it comes to running shoes, I’m a bit different than most people. I’ve tried a lot of different types, but always enjoyed racing flats. As life sped up, my running slowed down. Cue heavy, padded, and elevated heel. Then, I tried a lighter shoe, coupled with Born to Run. This lead to minimalist toe shoes to even going barefoot for a good chunk of time. It was then that I found out I was a minimalist.

Up until this point and even now, I’m in love with Merrell’s Vapor Glove. I’ve faithfully put on 1,000+ miles between my three pairs. For a more protective, but responsive trail shoe I utilize the Merrell Trail Glove 2. But like all good running shoes, my favorite pair was modified into the Vapor Glove 2.0 – a better seamed, but a little heavier. No major complaints.

Well, except one. I guess with all the pounding I put on my feet (majority of it being asphalt), my big toe started to act up. This was double bad news because it started to act up right before a marathon. I hobbled across the line both disappointed and defeated --- but I still had fun! I told myself and agreed with my wife (to myself, not out loud of course) that maybe minimalist isn’t what I need for long distance.

I convinced my mom to buy me a pair of Skora Phase when home for Thanksgiving. I purchased them on Black Friday, so I received a sweet deal and a few pairs of Injinji socks for free!

Putting them on my feet to walk around the house, I immediately noticed the rolled heel. Mentioning it to my dad, he commented with a smirk, “Just like… your heel?” Things just got real (see what I did there!? Man, I’m funny… Oh, you didn’t? Well, maybe this will help. Skora’s motto is Run Real. Hilarious, right?!)

(Merry Christmas to me! Thanks, mom!)

The next detail I noticed was the lugs and rivets on the bottom. Being new, they had a lot of grip. Time will tell how long this will last, but it gives me some faith with the colder, snowier months upon us.

(After 10 wet miles, they still look pretty good. I'd say my Run Real form is par for the course.)

Finally, I was able to lace up and take them out on the road. My wife accompanied me for the first two miles and then she peeled off to run an Ultra or something. If you don’t know her, she’s pretty amazing.

During the first two, I had to run on the road and chunky rock. Unlike the Vapor Gloves, I could “feel” the rocks, but there was no discomfort. In the other shoes, I would avoid these rocks or crank out a faster foot turn over to help displace my weight. Not necessary with the Phase, but I still felt connected to the ground. The second test was a storm grate. No qualms. I could tell the surface texture was different, but the shoe stuck pretty well. Impressive, since it was drizzling all day.

Next came the track. With a Beer Mile in the near future, I figured I would try my new shoes on the track. Since I was emphasizing speed, I was hoping to be quick and light. Maybe it was from all the holiday food, but I just felt heavy and slow. Was this because of the shoes? I’m not sure. They did feel a little heavier than my racing flats, but that is to be expected. However, the insole is removable. Further research here is needed. 5:27 mile for those who are curious.

(Super reflective shoes!)

The mile back up home went extremely well. With my legs slightly fatigued, it was nice to see how the shoes responded to my shortened, “I think I’m dying” stride. To finish the last mile, I climbed a semi steep hill with ease. I was able to stay on my mid-foot with no heel strikes and pushed to the top. The downhill went equally as well. Actually, this was the most confident I’ve felt in a shoe going downhill in a long time.

(Sara and I before our second run. Phase on the left, Core on the right)

To make a long story short, the Skora Phase will be in my regular rotation. They will not be my 5K racing shoe, but will help with training. They will play a critical role with runs where the terrain is uncertain, anything over 6 miles, and maybe a few long(er) distance races.

Winter Series #1 - Mystery Through History

Another year, another Winter Series. TL;DR – 8 races, points based on finish, high quality courses, cheap entry fee, and a lot of fun!

The mystery through history is kind of the odd ball race in the series. Most of them are 5Ks, but that’s not the case with this one. In fact, the distance changes year to year (anywhere from 3 to 5 miles)! Fortunately, this year I was paying attention before the race and heard the director state the distance. Well, sort of. I knew it was 4 point something…

In addition to the distance, the course was described. From the grunts and groans that filled the air, I realized that the hills would be a challenge. However, being from Front Royal, I thought maybe this was just the flat landers and treadmillers talking.

NOPE! Have you ever heard your grandfather talking about how he used to walk up hill, both ways, to and from school, in a foot of snow, barefoot? Welp, I found the hill he was talking about.

The first mile went well. I started out slower than usual (a new thing for me), and was hoping to build up the pace. I had the lead pack in sight on long straights and knew I was around the top 10. “Good,” I thought. I can settle in, work the hills, and then crush the finish.

NOPE AGAIN!

Alright… it’s been a while since I did a hill workout. Hell, I took a long time off from running in general since the Richmond Marathon. And the “workouts” I did were not intense at all. But these hills were tough. They weren’t huge. They weren’t long. But they were constantly rolling. I’d recover on a downhill and then my heart rate would spike again going up the next knoll. All I could do was focus on the 3 people ahead of me, and hope to stay with them.

Fortunately, one of those three was Brenda – a staple to the SVR running events. I passed her early on and then she reciprocated the favor around mile 2. I hate being passed, so I needed to stay close.

Climbing back into the woods before the finish, I felt refreshed and ready to rock. But so did Brenda. I followed in her shadow as we reeled in the other two guys ahead of us. She then slowly pulled away with every stride, but with less than .75 of a mile to go, I knew I had the guts to pass the other two.

(Heading towards the finish. Photo by Karsten Brown)

The woods section is enjoyable, but deceivingly long. Fortunately, I remembered my trail shoes as the trail is chunky rock. I blew by the two guys (whom I later found out went out EXTREMELY fast and gassed out) and focused on my finish. Though Brenda was now out of the picture, I opened up my stride on the straight, downhill finish. As I crossed the finish line and looked at the time, I wasn’t impressed; but I was still happy. 

4.1 miles, 27:24 elapsed, 6:34 pace, 8^th overall, 1^st for my age group 20-29.