This was SO MUCH FUN!!! It was a small race in a pretty regional park. The first 4 or 5 miles were spent settling into a pace, keeping an eye on my heart rate and doing mental checks at where I was at and how I felt...knowing the tough stuff was ahead. Once we entered the woods, it was all single track and a group of us ( 6 or 10?? - hard to know as I was 3rd in line) fell into a nice pace. We stayed that way until around mile 7 when there was a turn, steep downhill and a water table where we split up. I fell shortly after this, trying to go a bit faster and not paying attention! There were 3 other times I almost fell during the race, one that I miraculously saved myself from around mile 10 1/2!

After the big group split up I ended up with 2 guys, then just 1 named Rob from Ft. Myers. He knew the course so I just followed him. We chatted the whole time and just enjoyed the up and down, twisting turning terrain! About mile 10 1/2 or 11 there was a water stop and then it flattened out and we were sent weaving through a field. I think this was shortly after a woman had passed me...and I wasn't ready to let her go...so, I saw her about mile 11 and kicked in the speed, still keeping my heart rate in a place I could manage. Blew by her and a guy from the bigger pack and ran my last mile in 8:15 - my fastest mile of the race :)

This was my first trail race, so it was all a learning experience. One thing you can't do when in a technical area is let the mind wander!! So, perhaps a little more focus. I also just used this as a training run, so I had no expectations for time...oh, and Quinn was puking in the hotel room from 2-3am the night before, so I didn't have a lot of sleep ;)

Stretched and hung out a bit. Checked the results and saw I was 4th among the ladies my age...didn't realize that one of them would be the grand master female :) so I really got 3rd. Should have stayed for the interesting award! Oh well.


LOVED this race!! It was low stress and had a nice vibe to it. The medals were blue recycled glass, the shirts long sleeved organic cotton..the awards a hunk of tree with the logo and stuff decoupaged on! The only thing served on the course was water and gatorade, so you have to bring your own gel. Oh, and the race only costs like 30 bucks! There is also a 5k fun trail run, so next year the girls (my daughter, coach's wife and their daughter) will do it...also would consider camping on site next year, although it was pretty chilly in the morning!