I could hear the countdown for the race starting and I wasn't even at the back of the BIG (for a 5k) crowd one the race started due to my uh time management. I had to accelerate quickly and run in the ditch from the back of the line, hoping to get toward the front before we hit the tunnel.

I made up a lot of ground and got pretty close to the front by the time we entered the tunnel but in my scramble to the start line I forgot my flshlight/headlamp for the VERY dark tunnel.

This was going to be an adventure.

I ran totally blind into the tunnel as my eyes adjusted (did I mention I had freekin' eye surgery the night before?? It was minor but sheesh!)

The path through the tunnel is luckily quite smooth and there were some little LED course markers along the way for reference. My eyes adjusted but I still couldn't really see sh*t.

I settled into a pace that allowed me to relax a bit after my mad dash in the beginning. I passed a few more people and figured I must only have 3 or 4 people in front of me.

There were lots of volunteers in the tunnel with fun music, glow sticks, glow in the dark stuff and LED lights. Someone even had sparklers (so, what happens to the smoke when you bring a sparkler into a tunnel you might wonder. More on that later...)

We got to the turnaround and I made the tight 180. Whew. Halfway there! I could see another runner ahead but he was pretty far out of reach. I decided to make reeling him in my goal anyway.

As we made out way back toward the entrance to the tunnel the air became thick with smoke and it was hard to breath. The little light in the tunnel was cloudy. While the sparkler was cool in theory, reality had set in. I coughed up a long and my eyes burnt. I actually started running faster just to try and get away from the smoke.

Finally the air was clear again. I think it had slowed the guy in front of me down quite a bit because suddenly he was within reach. I kept my approach gradual but steady and as we exited the tunnel I put the hammer down. I realized he was actually the leader so I was even more motivated. The distance from the exit of the tunnel to the finish line was a little further than I had remembered (likely due to my mad scramble) We were about 100' from the line as I approached and passed him. It took him by complete surprise. Unfortunately for me he still had a little gas in the tank and accelerated just enough to pass me right at the finish.

What a race!

I wonder, if it had been chip timed would I have beaten him?

Maybe it wouldn't matter because often there is an exception for first place and it is based on the actual first person to cross the line.

Be at the start on time :)

Also, train for this type of racing. Been long distance/mountain focused

Cheered on the rest of the beer runners then headed over to the host brewery for some beers!


Training, time mgmt :)