Whole point of the race was to get in some good, higher heart rate work, so I went off the front of the race (there was a 15k, 30k, and 50k) with another 15k runner, who looked pretty speedy. We crossed the first mile in 6:07, and it was pretty much a straight run across the promenade. I backed off as my legs felt absolutely awful; just plain terrible. Nothing structural wrong, just stiff, stiff, stiff from the bike effort of the day before.

Started questioning my wisdom of doing the race after the next several miles were uphill; got passed by four 30k runners, who were clearly skilled. Actually recognized a couple as sub 1:15ers in the HM distance. Didn't really get any splits for much of the race, just ran it on feel, but through 5 miles, I was averaging about 7:10; considering my 6:08 first mile, that's pretty brutal. The one on-course aid station was at 5.2 miles, and taking in a couple small cups of water and a gel really, really did the trick.

After another rolling mile, I started to move at about 6 miles, and I recalled from the course profile that most of the last 3-ish miles were downhill. My splits started tumbling, and I was running 6:50s on the flats, and 6:20s-6:30s on the downhills, if not faster. My quads were still shot, and every time there was a slight incline, my heart rate would spike, my legs would almost seize, and my split would immediately drop to ~8:00-8:30, but there thankfully very few uphills from this point on.

I passed two of the 30k runners at mile 7.5, another at mile 8, and the gunner 15k runner very shortly after. I roared by him, putting tons of time in, and measured him about 90 seconds back at an out-and-back, but stabilizing as he saw me. There was a 30k runner ahead of me still, but he was definitely killing me and I wasn't going to catch him. This is where I got lost.

The course crosses over itself at two points, and looking at the map now, I was able to avoid the first cross-over, but when travelling down a road, I took the first right, as a volunteer beckoned me to, when I should've taken the second. I was now running backwards on the beginning of the course, and until I spotted the RD a mile and a half down the course, had no idea. He helped me backtrack, but the damage was done, and I had done nearly 3 extra miles. Lesson learned: FAMILIARIZE MYSELF WITH THE COURSE!

I got back on the right track on the road, and subsequently passed 15 people in the last half mile of the race with a scowl on my face, upset with myself, and the situation as a whole. Will post my picture if it got taken, but I looked rather PO'ed, crossing the line in 1:31:XX, having travelled 12.7+ miles, in 10th place. The guy who won went 1:08:xx, and while I have no idea if he finished strong and would've passed me (there was a technical tenth of a mile near the end, where tons of time could've been picked up on me), I was at the front end of the race, with a very talented 30k runner being the only person in front.

RD was kind enough, and offered to comp me for next year, which I think I'll take him up on. Course was a lot of fun, despite the issues.

Eating a Butterfinger and some gummi worms.


My inability to know the actual course, and those three extra miles I ran.


Great course, great directors. Just wish I had familiarized myself with the course a little better!