Boring as hell due to the paved trail was SO FLAT, even though the scenary was nice with all the trees.

There was some kind of cricket-chirping noises in a swamp area along the route somewhere - that's how quiet and lonely it was with not being near anyone.

Only 4 aid stations. Mile 3, Mile 6 or 7, Mile 10 and then below the tower. They only had water, orange slices, and heavily-watered-down gatorade. You pretty much had to rely on your own supply. Luckily I brought gels.

The view at the top of the tower was pretty.

I decided to leave a little 1TT presence at the race - I leaned over one side of the tower railing and left a snotrocket, but I checked below to make sure no one would get hit. ;)

Yep - got the cramps making my way through the trail and they lasted for quite awhile. Can't tell when that happened in the per mile breakdown, can ya? ;)
THIS WAS BRUTAL! And, as my coach said, it was NOT a PR-type of Mary. So true!
The last 2 to 2-1/2 miles I REALLY felt the exhaustion and pain in the joints and left ITB, which didn't make it any easier finishing. Getting old sucks. ;)

I believe I took in enough water and gatorade, and gels, and some orange slices along the route. I popped in about 4 salt tablets, but, that still didn't help.

Somehow lock-in my nutrition and get the cramps worked out.
Training plan was more for IM Moo base-training and not for running, specifically.

Walked around and stretched some. Grabbed some water, but denied the popcorn.

All the Donkai but AJ (and Craig?) left sometime after their 1/2 Mary race, but I missed Amy by about 5 minutes (I spoke with her and Craig later). SH1T! THANKS FOR WAITING! SORRY I MISSED YA!. :(


My IM training, since it's geared at that instead of a Mary.
Getting better sleep the two nights before the Mary.


To be honest, because I'm retentive -
Cons:
1). The course needed at least one more aid station, or could have provided bananas.
2). A couple of intersections, even though did not have traffic, should have had a volunteer available, for safety concern.
3). A couple more orange pylons strategically placed on the route in town would have helped the navigation on the way back since no one was around and I wasn't familiar with the route. Besides, who carries the map with them? ;)
4). The lack of financial backing is what hinders this race to make it better.
5). All the food was gone by the time I got back. FLIPPING 10Kers thinking they can eat everything before the Marathoners come in! BASTAGES!! All I got was a water and some peanuts.

Pros:
1). 90% of the racers were supportive of each other as you pass along the route.
2). Volunteers were friendly enough.
3). One older gentleman, who was in his 50s and looked like he was still a runner, was everywhere on the route giving praises, and, at the finish line, gave my coach a praise about my running form! Cool!