(PS I am using my Overall within women. I never know how to handle that. But if you include men I think I was 7th)

My legs were pretty fatigued from the previous race. But other than that, structurally, I felt great.

Unfortunately, this race started late and was a little disorganized. I tried to be understanding but I was starting to get antsy.

FINALLY we took off. Shame on me, I didn't even look at the map. I had no clue where I was going so I just followed everyone. The first part of the race went pretty smooth, but gradually I started to pass people and was running out of pace booty. Luckily, someone told me where to turn at one point and funny enough it was someone from here on BT!! THANKS MAN! Finally at mile 3ish (PS I thought this was mile 4ish) I passed the last woman in front of me. She said, "Uh, I have no idea where we are supposed to go." I said, "Yeah, me neither. Follow me at your own risk."

Also, as I said I thought it was mile 4. When I finally ran past the mile 4 marker I was clued into the major amount of HTFU I was going to have to summon to close this 10K out properly. Unfortunately this is where the 10K race met up with the 5K walkers and I am pretty sure they had no clue there was actually a race going on. I love that these people get out and are part of these races but I really think we all need to better educate them on what races expect of them. I called out, "On your left" but they had no idea what that meant. No one moved. No one cared. People had dogs off leash and kids wandering freely. I had to jump OVER a huge dog and a small child hit me in the face with a cowbell.

I was deep in the clusterfudge and had no idea if I were going the correct way or not (this is my bad, I take full responsibility.) I just kept on keeping on. I was digging deep at this point, feeling some serious fatigue.

Finally I knew we were getting close to the finish. I just went for it. I was excited of the prospect of being done.

I rounded the corner (which was SUPER awkward) and went through the chute.

BOOM! A PR! I have no idea how I did that.

If you compare today's race with the day before, you can see it's nearly the same pace. That just clues you into how much of a different the terrain and style of race XC is.

FOr optimal performance? Obviously not race the day before but this race was just for fun.

I probably should have been more patient with the walkers.

Drank a beer. I should have cooled down but I didn't.


Race the day before
*One day I will be able to give a 10K a true effort instead of a secondary. But not today. Ohh! I did win shoes though. yessssssss