Race Three of the Fleet Feet Grand Slam. This 50K is a laid back event mostly made up of local runners. The course is a 1 mile out and back then 10, 3 mile out and backs. It had rained the day and night before the race so there were some muddy sections. The temps were comfortable in the high 40's.
My pace plan going in was to run 8:30's for as long as I could. I stayed ahead of it for the first 16 miles building a cushion of 3 mins. That cushion faded fast in my next loop and by 19 miles I came in right at my prescribed split of 2:41:30. After that I gradually faded to 9:30 pace.
The terrain of the course is deceiving, with the first mile of the 3 mile loop a gradual climb that after doing it 10 times starts to take a toll. There is also a short steep downhill/uphill that is repeated 10 times. I choose to walk the steep uphill all 10 times.
I did much better this race in keeping my aid stop times to a minimum, but I know I can shave off 3-5 more minutes by getting thru them faster at Race 4: Mountain Mist 50K.
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