I have not felt this good in a race in a long time! I felt awesome the whole time, no lulls in energy, and legs felt strong, despite all the soupy shoe-sucking mud I slipped through. The race consisted of two of the half-marathon loops. It had stormed all night and the trail was sloppy. Each loop started with pavement, hit some dirt road, some soupy pasture, some treacherous single track with a water crossing and a slippery muddy bank(hands and knees, oh it was comical), straight up the dam, on the dam for a little while, back into about 4 miles of sole-sucking muddy pasture stuff with another deeper water crossing(first time I sorta delicately waded in, second time....cannonball!!), more fun singletrack, then back onto pavement about 3/4 mile to bring it home. Second round was much muddier. I have never been so covered in mud in my life. I felt great today, I loved every sloshy screaming-legged minute of it. In the beginning a girl shot out like crazy, and me and the first place guy ran together. We caught her about mile 4. He ran with me the whole first loop and then I was feeling so good that I just floored it and went for it and never looked back. I wish all races I felt like this! I'm a little stiff but honestly don't think I will be too sore! I love this feeling of running frenzy and can't wait for the next race.
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