I have never run a trail race. I prefer to train on trails though so I was looking forward to this experience. I had never run on this trail before so I didnt know what to expect. It was a fairly primitive trail, not very wide. The scenery was nice. After the first mile on the park road the race becomes very quiet. Most times you are out of sight of the people in front and behind you unless they are within 30 feet of you. I passed one person and was passed by 3 the whole race. I twisted my ankle pretty bad around mile 5 but since I was halfway into a point to point I just kept running.

The three people who finished 21,22,23 (the three spots in front of me) were all in my age group and all finished less than 60 seconds in front of me. A guy who looked like santa claus (with the beard, not the belly like a bowl full of jelly) passed me a mile from the end. I guess I could have pushed a little more but I was out to 1) have fun 2) not get hurt. Since I already failed with #2 I was just out having fun.

ate a chocolate chip muffin and some oranges and drove home


I didnt really train for a half but I was in good enough shape to complete one.


If you need a garmin, aid stations every mile and nice flat even pavement this race is NOT for you. If you like nature, challenging physical terrain and a bunch of crazy people playing outside on a cold blustery autumn day then definitely do this race.