2nd 25k, learned a lot at hagg lake, really wanted to break 2 hours...so the plan was to start at 8 minute pace and slowly build to a nice 7/730 pace...didn't happen :)

first miles were 7 give or take 5 seconds. i felt like i was hanging out, so i wasn't too worried, but my HR was a little high.

mile 3 had a massive climb in it, well, not massive for ultras, but massive for me. got up no issues, except a little slower time. got moving again and ran over the 'moon' rock portion with no issues. actually like this old railroad section b/c it was flat, the rocks were slightly annoying, but the flatness of the section was a welcome sign.

around mile 6 i saw a trail sign outta the corner of my eye, and quickly made a hard right, leading the 3-4 ppl behind me as well. several comments were stated "thank goodness you were leading, i would have missed that!" i was a little worried tho, b/c the guys in front of us had disappeared. but finally, i saw another marking and knew that we were good, but felt bad for the other runners. (they caught up, so i got over it!)

right at mile 7/8 there was a massive downhill, pretty much a cliff. it was slow going, as i made sure to avoid the ankle breaking rocks that were everywhere. i took my only gu right at mile 7. i was starting to feel the 7 minute pace,and knew i needed to fuel (even if it was a mile early).

the gu re-energized me, and i felt good through the hill on 9 and on to mile 10, passing through at 1:14. around here i was passed by 2 guys running 630s, i was really confused, b/c we had some decent milage left for this speed increase, but i kept running my race...i had recovered from my slow miles , and i was really getting back into a good rythym and started catching the guy who i was following for the ENTIRE race...then it happened.

mile 12-ish was where the 25k loop met back up with the smaller races, in our case the 10kers. in my particular case, it was the hour + 10kers. luckly, i wasn't going for a PR or really focused on time, b/c the single track trail, with rocks and stumps, was tricky enough running alone. it was impassible when you added bunches of 10kers running 9 minute pace!

on your left was a crucial part of my vocabulary...as i sprinted around smaller groups, or just plowed through the brush on some occasions, i tried to be as polite as possible, and honestly think i was pretty damn fair, i even walked a hill b/c of the line of ppl.

ANYWAY, the miles kept dropping off, and i didn't get passed by any 25kers. and i could see the other runner still a matter of yards a head in the conga line.

finished the race feeling strong and wanting more...very happy with sub 2, but now wish i could have pushed for 155

run the race like those two guys who passed me at mile 11. start easy, race the middle, and i mean race it, push into the red b/c you will be slowed by the 10k traffic, then coast into the finish.

stopped, ate awesome pineapple and drank my own water...for such a large race, it was strange that the finish area was so barren of water




10kers...but not only them, i should have had 2 gus, and i should have known more about the course.


good race on the eastern side of washington...shirts blow tho. i know the race is to aid in elementary school funding, but damn, let the kids design a shirt that is printed on a tech shirt, not one that is poop green...that said, ill prolly do it again.

great races by the tri cities runners!!