Based on my cross-country times from 2014, I had hoped to finish under 28 minutes, but this course was hillier than most of the others, and I did not. Because of the varied terrain, it was impossible to pace myself by speed, but I did try to regulate my effort level. In such a short race, the idea is to go out hard (I thought at the time I was going a bit harder than intended); then after the first mile, go even harder (judging by my HR data, I did do that); and after 2.5 miles, go ahead & knock myself out (I did that also, especially the last 100 yards or so when I could see the finish clock and really really wanted to get in under 30 minutes).
I do confess to walking up about the last third of both of the bigger hills. I used my sideways crab-run to run up as far as I did.
I managed to not get lost only because of the course monitors at each junction knowing which loop I was on and insisting I go the right way. For the first mile I was following 2 other runners, but then I passed them and could see no one ahead of me. For awhile everything looked unfamiliar and I was sure I had gone off course, not a happy feeling.



Can't I learn to turn on that maximum finishing effort a little bit sooner? To dig just that much deeper? To race like someone's on my heels when they're not?

Also if I do a course this complicated again, I'll try to arrive early enough to walk the entire thing in advance.

Walked around a bit, drank some Recoverite, jogged about 10 minutes, ate 1/2 Recovery bar & a banana. Lay down on the grass to roll & stretch. Looking up at a rare blue sky, endorphins flooding, I was 100% happy to be alive and in that moment. It's what it's about.


My training has really been geared towards building a base for next year's events, not specifically geared to these short fast races. They're just for fun, and to train myself to really push the boundaries.


A person really couldn't ask for a more perfect fall day, a more perfectly lovely location, or a more perfect activity. It's why I love cross-country.