Start line at the West Edge of Red Tail Park. No 1,000 yards of level ground to start this year, Uphill right off the bat, on the dirt maintenance road leading up to the back-country area..up, up, up.
Through the gate into the back-country trails, terrain is now single track trail with baby-head rocks everywhere. I stepped on five, all with my right foot, all while trying to see around 3 different people at points, as the trail is only one person wide. Up and down the ridge line, then all the way down to Griggs road, for benefit of going back up that hill.
At this point I made my move, drifting effortlessly from BMOP to FBOP and boosting the confidence of 8-10 other runners in the process.
Finally reach the top of Griggs and back onto the east-west trail, which looks flat after the 1st 3.5 miles. After about another mile, gravity sucks me down past the mile 5 marker, and soon I can see the finish line, and thinking the rest is forgiving level terrain. Wrong thought again.
Course takes a hard left west, onto a portion of east-west trail that must double as a BMX-MTB course...the hillside trail cut is relatively even, but the trail isn't because there are dirt humps about every 8-15 feet. Out, then back over the same punishment.
Race finished up with the last ~.2 on pavement. One new benefit of the setup is the finish line funneled directly to the vendor zone entrance, where gatorade, beer and garlic pizza knots were waiting. Yes, it was in that order because that was the order of the tents.

Stay home the night before instead of saying yes to Guys Night Out. Yea, like that's gonna happen...

Walked off the run in the park, wondered what I've done to my left calf, and walked back to the care. Home and duty were calling...

Squeezed in some core and leg yoga sequences in the afternoon.


I run like a swimmer, still.


KristiF continues to find ways to make playing in the Ranch challenging and punishing. I expect I'll keep registering too, I love a challenge even when I'm not too good at them ;)