The race pace was slower than expected but finished better than I anticipated. Fulfilling the major goal of my training restart, I resisted the urge to check my Garmin every few minutes and instead ran based upon RPE.

While I have been working on foot strike/minute and placement under the hips, I did not even think about it during the race ...just tried to relax my stride and run my race.

Think I did a relatively good job pacing and making decisions to walk some of the steep inclines within the interior loop ...and that is what enabled me to run my fastest mile as my last.

As usual in run races, I seeded myself in the back and then slowly worked my way through the crowd based upon how my legs felt. Decidedly did not run based upon my Garmin pace but RPE (used the Garmin to make sure that I did not go too fast). Need to reconsider this as it probably cost me 60-90 seconds as the race is based upon gun time for start and chip time for finish (add in time to get to start line and then time to make it through crowd). This would have been in the difference in 2 AG slots.

That said I do it because it helps me run my race instead of racing against others. Not sure that I have that discipline yet.

Probably better to stick with the program and run faster.

Also, ran with street shoes and twisted my ankle - at one point to where I had to stop to massage it out. Need to run these technical trails with a lower profile sole + better grip.

Drank water, ate the protein bar the race provided, gobbled down a banana while waiting for the race results to be posted.


Still working on pacing/switch from Garmin reliance to RPE ... twisted ankle a couple of times - at one point had to stop/limp for a minute to work it out ...probably did not take in enough water (2 @ 8oz plain water).

Took a Gu at mile 5 water stop.


Rated the race as a "5" because Tim + his race crew really are great, unassuming people who genuinely want their races to have a great race.

They are runners and cyclist themselves (more fat than skinny tire) so they know what racers want and need.

Compare this to some of the more corporate races and it is a great contrast.