My goal was to have fun. I figured I could go sub 1:20 while still having fun. However, I underestimated the course a bit and wasn't expecting sub freezing temps. Nor the icy bridges that made me nervous.

We started off, I got into the lead and probably took off a bit too fast that first mile. It was all on road and I probably hit a sub 6 mile with a few hills. I felt really easy and relaxed though, but I already had a little lead on the rest of the field. I didn't worry about it as I felt fine and got ready for a solo 12 mile run through the woods in the freezing cold. Since I was already in the lead, I didn't care to hurt and tried to keep it at a steady tempo effort that I knew I could hold for the distance with out a problem. I was having a lot of fun on the trails trying not to trip and bust my butt on the tricky down hills. While at the same time trying to keep my eyes from watering from the cold wind that was making my vision really blury. I had to guess a few times when to hop over things my vision was so blury from the cold. I was having a blast. :)

Got to the turn around on the out and back and my lead was good enough that I figured I'd just stick with my steady tempo plan and enjoy the rest of the run. I tried to give encouragment to all the other runners while on the out and back section and all the aid station workers. Though there weren't too many of them as we had probably a 6 mile stretch of nothing. :) Not that I needed any aid stations at all. At about mile 8(I'm completely guessing) the run became more of a get to the finish in without pooping your pants sort of run... and I didn't want to toss anything more in my stomach at that point haha. It was a close call, I finished and kept jogging to the port-a-potty. :)

Not that I knew where I was at any point of the run. I didn't wear a watch, and no mile markers were on course. Not complaining, just I had wanted to atleast run the last 2.5 miles hard. However I guess I should of looked at the course map before hand. Because when I was about ready to start my run to the finish at what I figured was mile 10ish... The trail turned away from the finish line again(I'm assuming, I may of just been turned around). So I just kept it steady and a few miles later I came out of the woods 400m from the finish. A little suprised at the time, but the course was harder than expected.

Nothing, I certainly could of ran faster, but I had a blast and I wouldn't change anything.

I jogged around 2-3miles back out on the course to run with my friends for a while who were doing the 50k.


Well I choice not to really race it, but even if I did running blind would of made pacing the run well rahter hard. I most likely would of blown a couple miles out if I had gone for it. I only fell once and it was a perfect roll, so it only cost me a couple seconds or so.


If you have done the