I wore my Walmart shoes because I didn't want to ruin my $200 running shoes, and I started getting blisters by the end of mile 2, so I walked a bit from the Man. Got caught up in watching shiny things and inadvertently kept going down 6:00 to around Center Camp, instead of taking the Esplanade to 6:30. Got caught up on Rod's Road and ended up going almost a half mile too far in detouring back to Pink Lightning.

Pay attention to my surroundings.

Pigged out on cookies.


My cheap shoes.


Very informal, laid back race. Race route went from Camp Pink Lightning (6:30 & C) up 6:30 to the Esplanade, around to 6:00, and out past the Man and Temple to the observatory. There was supposed to be a blue flag marking the turn-around point about 200 feet in front of the observatory, but I think everyone went ahead and ran around the observatory, instead. At least, everyone I saw did, so I did, too. No drink stations--we're radically self reliant, so we all brought our own water. There were about 30 of us, but no race registration--just show up and run. There was a timer, but no race numbers and no one paid attention. Those of us who wanted to know our times took note of it ourselves. I just used my GPS watch.