I felt awesome during this race. I rode up with "The Tribe"--6 runners plus a photographer(Kurt's girlfriend). We did a lot of laughing on the way up, got there with little time to spare. Ten minutes before gun time I was pinning on my number. Had time to jog around the start line a few minutes, do a few strides, and then we were off. 30 degrees and foggy. It was kind of cool how people would disappear and reappear in the fog. mile 1 6:55 gently downhill. When the dust settles I am in 6th place mile 2 7:10 down then up, feeling very strong and rocking steady mile 3 7:22 still climbing, up, up, and then a steep down at the end mile 4 7:23 up up up, about 150 feet, and then down down down and I am flying. mile 5 7:13 down then up then flat. I pass two gals and move into 4th mile 6 7:30 The infamous Urish Hill begins, about 170 foot ascent. I remember what Wendy at the running group had talked about and my mantra is "short choppy steps" while I try not to break the imaginary pringles in my hands. mile 7 7:36 Reach the crest of Urish Hill while a photographer records. I hoop and holler and start going down mile 8 6:52 Down is cool! I like down! mile 9 7:24 As we move off the asphalt and onto country roads I pass another gal and move into 3rd. It is foggy and I don't see the other two gals. The road is icy in places, muddy in others, but not too bad. I am used to this terrain at home. Up, then down, then up, then down but nothing steep or long in this mile. Still feeling fantastic. mile 10 7:00 a little up and then down down. I cross the 10 mile marker and a guy yells my split it is 1:13 something, way better than I was expecting on this course. mile 11 7:53 up up up, about 100 foot climb this mile. Legs suddenly start to feel a little rubbery but fortunately the feeling passes. mile 12 7:22 the uphill gets only very slight at this point and then the crest, over the crest, and crazy down. I feel like I am going to catapult down this one too. I can't believe I am already at the 12 mile mark this is going fast and no crash, no tiredness, I feel as strong as I did when I started.\ mile 13 and the finish 7:19 and as always forgot to stop my watch. The course moves back onto asphalt goes up, down, up, and then down into the finish. can't see the finish line in the fog but hear it well before I get there. The crowd support at this little half is incredible. Very happy with a 1:36, I knew I wouldn't PR but was surprised to get this close. New realization, I LIKE hills. This is new. The constant changing of gears througout the race is actually mentally engaging and time goes fast. It was great fun. It makes flatness feel like flying too. The damage: The knee that was sore all week didn't even hiccup. Still hasn't today. The top of my foot that has been sore since I tied my shoes to tight a few weeks ago didn't bother me during the race, but I felt it this morning. This evening it is almost gone--barefoot around the house is good. Usually after a long race my quads are trashed, but not this time. I have soreness in my calves, glutes, and hamstrings, but not as severe as I was expecting. I will probably be mostly recovered by tomorrow. I won some sweet Mizuno running pants and shirt, another nice wicking shirt, some nice running socks, a mug, and a medal. Ate pizza with the Tribe and we drove home--took a while in the fog. Spirits were high, Steph and Tex got age group awards, Kurt and Carlos smashed their times from last year, and Stace made a decisive comeback from her stress fractures. It's gonna be a good year
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