I started out with Rob. We zigzagged our way through people for awhile. I wanted to get past as many as I could so I didn't feel like I was getting blocked once we got on the trail. I forgot that the trail system is fairly wide at the start, so that was wasted effort. Before the 1st mile, I decided I didn't want to keep up with Rob. It was a no-brainer for me. I thought I might catch him later on if he pooped out, but I never saw him again until the finish. He has really improved his running, there's no question.
I don't know what my 1st mile split was. At the posted mile marker my watch said 7:33, but Rob's Garmin said he ran his in 7:34 and he was ahead of me by that point.
It's such a tough course. I was determined not to walk anything, which I didn't (consciously). But some of the hills were so steep you can't help but slow to just about a walking pace and just put one leg in front of the other. I had a few mental break-downs, where I just hated the course and I couldn't wait for it to be over. Most of my mental effort, though, went to paying attention to the trail so I didn't kill myself on a rock or root. I never really had anyone to run with to keep me going. Or at least there wasn't anyone I thought I could keep up with for too long. And it was driving me a little nutty from about the 1/2 way point on, that I didn't know how far I'd gone, or how much I had left. A lot of people had Garmins, but, in my house, Rob's got 1st dibs on the one we have, and he was long gone!
With about a mile left I was able to pick up the pace and finish strong. This is where I straightened up my back, used my arms more, and lengthened my stride. I began counting right foot strikes to help me - for no other purpose but to pick up the pace. I wasn't timing them.

I actually shouldn't bitch too much! I improved on last year's time by 57 seconds! Rob improved by about 3 minutes!

If I'm going to run in hilly trail races like this, I need to train on hilly trails!!! I honestly don't think I will do another race like this if I don't start training appropriately for them.

Drank a lot of water, talked to Rob, and cheered Jackie and Dudley in.


Lack of run training and, more specifically, lack of hilly trail run training.


Having Yellow Jacket time the race was a significant improvement over last year. And registration seemed to go much more smoothly. The race is tough, but it's a terrific challenge. The route is very well marked.