10:00 AM - Blue skies with some low-lying fog this morning as I headed out to the race up at Monroe-Dunbar by Florida Mountain. This has been my favorite race the last two years, and today marked the third consecutive time I laced up (or velcroed in this instance) shoes on my feet and headed off down the trails. I got there a bit early and was able to sign in, get my shirt (first time they have given me one here) and go for a warm up. I headed off down the trail and did a mile each way, though got lost on one tricky corner on the way back in and ended up significantly downhill from where I should have been, along the crick. I later would help one of my other fellow runners as they too got a bit lost on this same corner as we were coming in. Thankfully I remembered and was able to yell to him. I think ever since I got lost on my first trail race at Curly's, that I have made a special cognizant effort to pay attention to my surroundings. Total warm up was 23:00. THE RACE - Didn't know what to expect going into the race. My longest run going into today was two weeks ago at Brock Trot in Lenox, MA. It's been a long, slow, painful process trying to get back in shape. It's amazing how years worth of fitness can be lost in just a couple months! Glad I have not been sick as of yet this year however, knock on wood. I started off in the back of the back. Saw my friend, Laura Clark was here at the starting line. I think she has run this race every year since about 1999. Settled into an easy jog, knowing that the first mile or two are inherently slow. Most of the second mile consists of switchbacks which all but the top couple runners must fast hike. My legs however, felt dead. I couldn't find my water bottle or holder this morning as I was running around trying to get ready. This made for a rather long race. I had taken a couple swigs of water, but with aid stations only at mile 3.6 and 7, this was going to be a long race. Popped out onto the trail and fire road after two miles. My feet hurt a bit. This was my longest trail run in my KomodoSPORTs. At the aid station they had the smallest shot glass sized dixie cups I've ever seen. I threw back 5,6,7 shots of gatorade maybe and took off into the woods again. I let a few people go past me that were hiking/jogging faster than I was. The part from 3.6 miles to 5.6 miles are always my slowest. Got cut up a bit on my legs. Then a quick right and down I went plummeting towards the bottom. Running in Vibrams you really start to notice how much you take for granted wearing running shoes. You feel every little rock, root, pebble running in Vibrams. Hence I had to significantly shorten my stride and slow my pace. It was still fun, still an adventure though. I was getting increasingly dehydrated as temperatures quickly climbed into the 70s. It was 82 by the end of the run. I was wearing two shirts, a smaller green wicking type, and a long sleeve blue Champion one. I was urged to take the latter off, but my self-consciousness got the better of me and I would not allow myself too. Not until I'm under 200 lbs anyways! I knew by the second aid station I was never going to come near to my last two years' performances in the 2:01 range. I was already at 1:55 when I got here. It was simply a matter of running it in to the finish line. Crossed the first and second stream crossings, no problem, aside from sand that got into my shoe and caused 2 blisters during the last 5k. Helped a guy at mile 9-10 back track so he didn't get lost. Jogged into the finish, making sure none of the two or three runners right behind me passed me. I knew today was going to be a slow day for most, as Laura always runs 2:19-2:22 on this course each year. This year she ran an astounding 3:11, for 92nd place. I think it was not a day for the light hearted or unprepared. Oh well. I finished, I am smiling now, and I have some cool war wounds to show for it. Celebrating the ability to go for a jog is an awesome feeling. Finished in 2:35:13, good for 75th place overall of 94 finishers. | 
