I probably should have started closer to the front, but I was hanging out with my wife and a friend in the middle of the pack when the gun went off. My Garmin decided right as the race started it didn't want to participate (my fault for not making sure it was charged) so I was on my own!

The first lap was pretty smooth. I passed a lot of people the first mile I should have started in front of, and then I tried not to die for the rest of the loop. Sure my old shoes were muddy already, but they also had zero traction, so I was slipping and sliding everywhere. Spent most of the first lap barely ahead of a ORRRC member I know and who usually beats me.

On the second lap I started to slow down... not sure what the problem was, but the ORRRC guy passed me right at the start of the second lap and another dude passed me about a mile in. Towards the end of the loop 3 more people passed me, but I caught back up to two of them on the two gigantic hills at the end of the loop and crushed their spirits on the climb (I'm much faster than the average person on hills. Much faster. Interestingly enough I'm much slower on the downhills. Much slower.) I had almost caught that 3rd person who had passed me when the hills ended. I started to kick and she heard me and took off. I got within a stride but she had a little extra as we hit the turn for home.

Not sure. Two minutes slower than last year, but better results. I think a lot of people were slower because of the conditions.

I crossed the finish line and a volunteer asked me "5K or 10K". I said "10K". They asked how old I was and I said 29. They gave me the first place ribbon for M25-29. I was pumped. Later I see in the online results they have 3 M25-29 ahead of me in the standings and they have my age as 30 (which I'm not for another week or so). I guess I should mail the prize back. Sniff.


Being a wimp and not training as much as I should.