Decided at last minute to run this race because a rainstorm blew through and dropped the temp from mid-90s to upper 70's for the 6PM start time. Its billed as approximately 4 miles on rolling trails - mostly grass or clay double-track. Its also a prediction run with no marked miles, no split timers and no watches allowed - the only clue they provide is that the water station is at approximately the half-way point. Haven't raced since October, and haven't run more than 5 miles since then, so I really had no clue what to predict for "approximately 4 miles" - went with 28:34. Felt really good and comfortable through the water station, then the course trended uphill for the next mile or so - ugh. Nobody passed me after the water station, and I went by 5 or 6 runners between there and the end. Finished in 35th by clock time at 28:52, and 25th by prediction time at +18. Miles one, two and four felt pretty good - the uphill third mile was considerably more difficult than it should have been - definitely looking forward to dropping 6-8 pounds before the Midnight Run on July 4. |