This was my very first real trail race!

The vibe is so different than road racing. It's very laid back and casual. Everyone just stands around, they read off a list of hazards and anything notable about the course and then off you go! There isn't even really an official start. Because of this, I have a lot to learn!

I immediately was boxed in, pretty far at the back because the casual start took me by surprise. There weren't many places to pass because it was primarily single track so I just sat back and waited. This is probably the first thing I would do differently. As the race wore on I realized people were totally awesome about stepping to the side if you asked nicely. Next time I will not only get to the front for the start but ask right when I would like to pass.

We wound our way through the forest and up some switchbacks before the first major climb.

Lucky for me, the climb was on a forest service road so it was relatively wide. I passed a TON of people here just before we ducked back into the woods again. Once I was here I stayed on the heels of a few guys for what must have been 2-3 miles. The puddles were deep and the mud very slippery. Having people in front of me meant that I had to trust the lines they were running and didn't have much time to anticipate roots/rocks/etc.

We came to another wide spot and I was able to get in front of all 5-6 guys I was with. I saw 2-3 people ahead on the switchbacks and slowly picked them off. By the time I was at the next climb, no one was around.

I kept following the trail markers but then I hadn't seen one in a while so I stopped. Looked around. Shrugged then kept running. Luckily I hit the aid station and knew I was on track.

BTW the aid station had PBR and tequila. WHAT? I had to smile to myself. This kind of racing was heavenly.

I tore down through the trees and the first descent. I couldn't see or hear anyone. I was all alone.

Having gone to design school and been involved in a ton of retail design projects in my career I have always given a lot of thought about how you control people's movements within a space. You use a visual language and people follow it. It's quite manipulative, really.

Anyway, I thought about how nature does this in trail racing. Mother nature can pretty much make you do whatever she wants. You want to run fast but there is a big rocky hill, sharp turns and slippery mud. You want to capitalize on a downhill but there is a tree across the trail you have to navigate. After a while you just have to roll with it and get in sync with her, and do her little dance. She's calling the shots the whole time. This is also a variable that most other races don't have. Even though there were no competitors around me, I still had to run the way nature dictated. Not how I "wanted."

I had no idea where I was in relation to the front runner, the middle of the pack or the back. I just relaxed and did my thing. I stopped, took photos and really tried to take it all in. I had read this quote that said something like, "Go fast enough to finish well and slow enough to take it all in" or something like that, I know I am totally butchering it.

I looped around the valley where it was relatively flat but really muddy then I came out onto another service road with a long steep ascent. I put my head down and went for it. I finally spotted another human and slowly reeled him in about a half mile before I crested the hill. I descended but not fast enough, another mile or so and he caught and passed me easily (descending is NOT my strength.)

I heard gunshots in the distance...and then they were getting closer. And closer. They were all on my left and the course was curving right so I was trying to get out of there as quickly as possible. THEN I heard a shot to my right. OMG! I was really glad I was wearing bright azz pink and orange. Later I was looking through instagram pics and someone had posted a "selfie" of them with this huge semi-automatic wearing a skull bandanna across their face, not far from the run course. EEEEEKKKKSSSS!

I saw someone coming towards me, it was the course sweeper. He told me I was second woman and I was shocked. I really wished I had known I was in contention for a win or at least a race. We were only 2 miles or so out so I pushed hard but figured catching her was unrealistic as everything was downhill from here (again, descending.)

I saw the sign for the campground and knew we were close. I was wearing ankle socks and they had rolled down under my foot and were super uncomfortable. Mud had filled my shoe and my feet were icy cold from wading through the chilly puddles. It had been raining the entire time and I was soaked.

I kept churning my feet, got onto the paved road and ran through the finish chute where I was greeted by the RD giving a high five.

-Better starting position
- Not be afraid to ask to pass
- Push a little harder, even when all alone
-Taller socks
- Descend better

So. Much. To. Learn.

Jogged to my car, did the "changing out of wet clothes trying not to flash anyone" dance, jogged back to the finish, got chicken noodle soup and drank a big ass IPA by the fire.

I met some really nice people and shared my beer. I love trail racing.


Inexperience, no one to race