I have gotten smart over my trail running career (this being race #2) and lined up near the front. This was especially important due to long single track uphill sections.

The RD gave a rundown of the usual hazards, creek crossing, blow-downs etc. Then made sure to say, "THIS. IS. NOT. A. ROAD. RACE"

We took off and were immediately faced with a small creek crossing. I had 3 options: to try and jump it, to use a wood 2x4 or to just run through. Not that I had much time to think but the 2x4 was all sorts of muddy and wet so I opted to jump. I baaarely made it across but my shoe sunk down pretty far into the mud and my shoe filled with water.

We funneled into something of a double-track that followed a rough jeep road around and up the hill. It got steep quick and I passed a lot of people. I was with a pack of about 6 guys as we picked our way along the rocky path. Eventually it got narrow and turned into muddy rocky single track. The 6 or so of us were in a pretty tight pack so visibility was poor. I didn't want to give anything up though because I knew the BIG hill was coming and I didn't want to get stuck behind too many people.

I was feeling the burn immediately. My lungs were on fire from the uphill exertion. It was clear the cardio was the week point here. The legs felt great!

We got to the very steep hill and I settle into my uphill goat mode. The hill is short, but about 600' of gain. I kept my cadence high and my stride nice and short. I did my best not to look towards the top and kept my focus on each step forward.

Once we crested the hill we could see a series of smaller hills. I was pretty gassed but tried to capitalize on the downhills and "recover" on the up. I let gravity pull me down and really forced as fast of turnover as possible. I had asked some folks about how I can get faster on the downhills and through their feedback I realized I really should be working on cadence and staying way up on my toes.

It was really effective. The cadence thing was something I had to really focus on because I tend to fall into my natural rhythm. But upon consciously "road-runner-ing" (my own made up term) I really did find myself descending more quickly.

I wasn't entirely sure where I was in the pack but figured I was maybe 4th or 5th OA. I hadn't seen any women at all so really I was just trying to stay with the guys.

There was a short downhill just before the single-track portion and I used my road-runnering to glide past 2 of the guys then ducked into the forest. The trees were incredibly dense and the trail was twisty and technical. There were roots, mud pits and trees to hurdle.

When I was younger, getting to my childhood friend's house meant going through "the woods" I was scared of them so I ALWAYS ran through. Running this single track reminded me a lot of that and it brought a smile to my face as I weaved in and out of the forest. The single track broke open onto a fire service road again and I let my stride open up a bit. I passed what looked like the turnoff. It was marked in orange with a curve. I stopped, and went back and looked down the trail. There were orange markers tied to the trees. This was what they were using for our course so I followed the trail through some ankle deep single track. At this point I had passed all of the men I could see but I wasn't sure if there was anyone else ahead. I flew through the muddy single track, feeling the mud spray up my back, onto my face, in my hair. When I was about to complete the small loop (maybe 1/4 mile) I saw the men I had passed earlier coming towards me. "You did the loop backwards" they said. "Just follow us" So I about faced and ran back the way I came. This was a total bummer because now I had to go back uphill in the muddy single track and I was basically doing the loop again. Oh well. My bad for not knowing if the loop was clockwise or counterclockwise.

We finished the loop and then headed back down towards the finish. The course took us a less steep routes that more or less switch-backed the "face" we ascended on the way up. It was all single track so I stayed tucked behind the two guys. On a bermed curve, I was able to run high and pass one of the guys. I used my momentum to propel me into the final steep section towards the finish.

The steep road turned from gravel to asphalt and although I was trying to keep my turnover really quick, I could feel my feet pounding the surface. I really had to pee.

I pulled ahead of the guy, letting gravity take me down, doing my best not to fight it. The guy accelerated past me which I was slightly surprised by since he knew that I had run an additional loop I weighed the pros and cons of chasing him down. I really had to pee and I didn't really see myself as "in competition" with him so I decided it wasn't worth peeing my pants. At least not this time.

I ran through the finish chute for the overall women's win. This race is part of a series and a win is really beneficial in the points standing. They take the best 6/11 races and there is a cash prize. I was really, really happy with my performance and my good early standing in the series, especially my given inexperience in trail racing.

These trail races are so challenging. I have about a 7:15 marathon pace - 5:5x 5K pace yet almost a 9:00 5 mile trail pace LOL


Pee a little closer to the start, not get lost, continue to work on my downhill form

Jogged a little bit then jumped in my car because I only had an hour until the group run that I lead


Inexperience, not 100% knowing the course, getting stopped by course marshall