First loop went great, I felt strong and pain free. Hit a bad headwind about mile 4.5-5.5, but by then the cool air felt good! Then I hit the trail section again. I was stuck in the middle of a bunch of Galloway runners for awhile and I'd be behind them and they'd just stop! And take up the whole path, that was a little frustrating, but by the time I hit the trail section I was all alone. I knew there were runners behind me, but there was no one I could see in front of me. Checked my pace right before mile 7, 10:35/mile average, I was pretty stoked, on was on track for a PR! Then I hit the wide open section and a headwind of 19 mph, that would kind of swirl around from headwind to crosswind, and even when I turned around, it never felt like a tailwind! The wind really slowed me down, and by mile 8 my feet were staring to hurt and I could feel a couple of blisters starting. By mile 10 I had to stop and walk a few times. I could feel calf and hamstring cramps trying to form, but they never actually cramped. I had some Shot Blox at mile 4 and mile 7 and had planned to have an Espresso GU at mile 10 but my stomach was not feeling very well, so I skipped it, probably should have taken it anyways in retrospect. Also skipped a water station. Finally made it back to the trail section and then the final run to the finish which was slightly uphill and right into the wind, had to walk a bit. Once it flattened out I was able to run through the finish, but I was hurting. Tammy had already finished and was waiting for me.

NEW SHOES that don't hurt!!! Don't miss any runs in the plan, and do some more long runs or something. I was okay up thhrough 8 miles, but it was really hard after that.

None... didn't eat or drink anything, hobbled to the car and hoped I could drive home without my legs cramping up!


The shoes and the freakin' WIND! Maybe hold back a little more on the first half, although I felt like I was at a comfortable pace.


There were no porta-potties on the actual race course. Even though I went right before the start, I thought I may have to go again, but that would have meant 1/2 mile detour at the beginning of loop 2, so luckily I didn't have to go!