While I didn't do as well as I wanted to, I did about as well as I expected, and probably better than I deserved.

Came out a bit too strong; had massive side-stitch about mile 4.5, and was out of gas by the end. (Having spent a couple hours in a bar the night before probably didn't help, either.)

Wasn't allowed --- the tech crew responsible for the timing chips stopped me within five yards of the finish line so they could have their $30 chip back.


- Nice course, though the trail used for the return is slightly uneven and not wide enough for the number of people in the race; the path is nowhere near big enough for the number of people in the race plus the people in the 'fun walk' plus the people pushing their kids in strollers back to their cars against the flow of the race....

- These people were *not* coordinated. The race director was still in the middle of his pre-race spiel when the starter's horn went off. There was a balloon arch that was not only 50 yards past the start line, leading everyone to be (even more) bunched up at the beginning when we all had to turn around and go back to find the start, but was also 100 yards *before* the finish line.

- I'm not sure I'd ever want to do a race timed by Runner's High (runhigh.com) again. The instant I crossed the line, someone asked me for my timing chip. I ignored him, but there was another about two feet behind him. I told him I needed to cool off. The fourth guy, about five or eight yards past the line, actually dropped to his knees and took the chip off my shoe himself; it was all I could do to not kick him in his face, so I let him take it. . . .