I lined up near the front and listened to the meeting. Everything seemed pretty straight-forward and I had studied the course map pretty well. They counted down and we were off.

I immediately felt bad. I originally thought it was because I had been under the weather but now I don't know. This course was just plan hard! The climb was VERY steep on a gravel service road. About a half mile up we were directed to a side loop trail through May Valley. This was very technical single track that was quite grown over. The ferns draped over the trail so you couldn't really see the footing. Most of the time I was just hoping for the best. I worked my way up to 5th or 6th place overall. I didn't see another woman anywhere.

As it got steeper, I passed another couple of guys and must have been close to 3rd or 4th. The Valley Loop started to go downhill and we all sped up. It was even trickier to find your footing when running faster. Also, in this section alone there were at least 10 downed trees which you either had to hurdle or stop and climb.

Because I was going so quickly, trying to sight footing AND keep a good rhythm I totally missed my turnoff. I began back onto the loop again, moving uphill. I got about 1' down the course and decided I probably missed a turn. I turned around and got back on course but it cost me! I had to pass about 10 people and still didn't have the leaders back in sight.

Then, as we finished the lollipop and were headed back onto the service road I noticed my shoe was untied. Sighhhhhhhh. I knew I had to stop as we were waaaay too early in the race to leave it. I stopped and lost another 20 seconds or so.

There were now a few miles of steady steep climbing on the double wide service road. It was gravel and in reasonable shape. I just put my head down and went to work.

I tried not to focus too much on what or who was up ahead. I just got into a mental zone and kept repeating to myself "DO.NOT.STOP.RUNNING" About a mile in I started passing all the same people I had in May valley and was finally working myself up into my original position. The climb was some of the most challenging running I had ever done, yet is was soooooo slow.

Everyone was doing run walk intervals. I reeled them in one after another. ALL of them encouraging me (which is the awesome thing about trail racing.) Finally I was in my original position with only a few ahead. I kept pushing and as we approached the aid station I saw a man hiking on the trail and he was walking backwards because it was so steep! He looked at me, like I was a complete nut case and said, "How do you do that?" I just smiled and told him I have no idea. Although I was thinking to myself, "Dude, I am not the one walking up a mountain backwards!"

I was only 4 back from the lead. The peak of the mountain was in sight. I made one more pass as I made it to the top.

I had made it all the way to the top without walking! Well, except for my shoe tie stop. I was extremely proud of myself.

After the peak we started a long descent and it wasn't long before a couple of the guys passed me. I have really been working on descending, and I have gotten much better at it but I have a lot of opportunity for improvement to say the least.

The downhill was all on single track. It was VERY technical and some spots were incredibly steep. In fact there was one hill I considered sitting on my rear and sliding down.

After about two thirds of a mile or so of descending we hit another uphill. Another uphill? How can we possibly go up anymore? But we did.. Almost 500 feet in fact! It allowed me to catch all the way up o the guys again, however I stayed behind them rather than passing.

We crested that final hill then it was all down.

Down, down, down, down. for about 1800 feet.

I thought I was doing pretty well. I had a good rhythm and was staying up on my toes. My tunrover was quick (although I need to keep working on this)

Still, I saw no other women.

That being said, I did not relax. I did NOT want to lose the OA women's win because I suck at downhilling. So, I pushed hard. TO the point where I was a little uncomfortable and out of control. I was hot on the tail of one of the guys who had passed me. I was just out of reach but I was using him as a rabbit to push me a little out of my comfort zone.

Then out of nowhere he gets tripped up and went down HARD. He curled into a little ball as I approached him. I thought for sure he broke his leg.

I asked him if he was alright and he said, "sort of" and offered to help him up but he said he wanted to sit for a minute. I asked if I could get him some help of any kind and he said that he really wanted to finish under his own power. So I let him be. He assured me he wanted to again so I took off.

I'm not really sure what the right call is here. I guess I can't really help someone if they don't want it. And I totally get that.

There was a little more single track and then we opened back up onto the gravel road, made a quick right then a left into the winding finish trail. I cruised into the finish feeling exhausted but accomplished. That mountain was a beast!

I waited around the finish for the guy who fell to make sure he made it and he did. His ankle/leg was VERY swollen but he finished with a smile and thanked me. He said he just wanted to wait for the swelling and adrenaline to set it so he could finish. Sigh, boys ;)

I just need to keep practicing. There is ALWAYS room for improvement in uphill running and for me, lots in downhill too.

Not miss my turn, tie my shoes better

I jogged around a bit and then up towards the start where I had ditched my long sleeve then back to my car for about 2 total.


Suck at downhills still
Need to continue to improve fitness
Missing the turn
Tying Shoe
Still not 100% Healthy