Stayed steady for the first half of the race and did the first two miles at ~ 8 min mile pace. I didn't closely track my pace after that point so I don't have splits, but know the second half was faster than the first. Slowly passed people enjoying the long decent to the bridge. After coming up the hill from the lake I was passed by a guy who looked like a runner ...skinny guy, #25 ... and decided I would keep up with him and he started pulling me into a faster pace for the decent back to the bridge and back up the long switch back hill. A second runner joined us ... Guiness Shirt #108...in slowly moving up through people and me and the second runner passed skinny guy soon after the tough hill up to the cemetery. I kept up with Guiness shirt over the 40 bridge and then passed him right when we moved onto the greenway, picked up the pace and dropped him. Passed a few more people on the greenway and was surprised by th steep hill to the finish, but was able to keep running as many started walking. A 17 year old that I passed on the hill came galloping by me with 25 yards to go and I kicked it up and passed him back before the finish. Good race.

Tough course but fun race through Umstead.