5 miles in 42:26, 8:29/mi, HR 167. Low-key 5 mile trail race in Ashford, WA at the Rainier Mountain Festival. Starts at the base camp area, up a short gravel road segment and onto soft single and double-track trails for 4 450' elevation gain laps, then back to the start. Only 30-40 runners participating, a shame since the cost was only $15 ($10 if registered before day-of-race) and includes a $12 t-shirt. The uphills were pretty steep and the downhills a series of switch-backs. Dropped back to about 5th place at the start, climbed into 3rd place by the middle of the first uphill segment and stayed there through the first two laps. Ran the entire first lap, and took short power-hike breaks on the next 3 on the steepest of the uphills to conserve strength. The first place guy gapped us pretty good on the first lap, but I managed to stay within about 10-15 seconds of the 2nd place guy until lap three, where I finally closed and passed him on the uphill segment. My strength was on the uphills, his the downhills, so I was pushing hard on the next downhill segment so I didn't get caught, which was tricky with the switchbacks. Guess I haven't yet figured out how to cruise through switchbacks without either nearly completely stopping to make the turn or nearly missing the turn and careening over the side. On the fourth uphill, I was pushing to put him away and gapped him by about 20 seconds or so, and actually nearly caught the 1st place guy without knowing it. Guess I should've paid more attention, because I saw a fit-looking guy about 10 seconds ahead of me and I was gaining on him, but I didn't chase after him because I thought it was someone on an earlier loop than I. Oops. Pushed the last downhill segment (nearly missing a couple of turns) to stay ahead of #3 but still lost sight of #1 quickly. Pushed into the finish for second overall. Believe the #1 guy was only about 12 seconds ahead, but then again he was only 24, and I believe a guide for one of the climbing services, so I don't feel too badly. The 3rd place guy was 50-something, so thank goodness I managed to put him away. Garmin recorded the route at 4.14 miles, but with the switchbacks, tree canopy and climbs/descents, I'm go on faith that it was close to 5 miles. Waited around for the awards and was rewarded with some nice Black Diamond Trekking poles. Not sure when/if I'll ever use them, but they're $90 poles, which is a pretty sweet prize for a $15 race. Next up is the Northwest Trek Run Wild next weekend. | 