As I haven't been running any races this summer, this race was a good indication of where I am in my training. I'd hoped that I'd do better (as I was about three minutes faster last year), but I wasn't overly surprised. I gave it my best effort for where I am in my training. I must have lost the signal on my Garmin as my mileage was off by more than a mile. I was quite a bit slower coming down the steep part than I expected. Only one of the miles was under 7:00 minute pace. I kept things in the seven minute range until the last couple of miles, when I started to get tired and didn't know how much further I had to go. K. Steadman (who ended up taking third in my age group passed me with about two miles to go) who caused me to refocus a bit. I passed him back and held him off for about a half mile, but he very slowly put some distance on me. I thought to myself that when I could see the finish, I could push myself hard the last quarter mile or so and pass him back. With the numerous turns I lost sight of him in the last half mile. I didn't know how much further it was to the finish as I never saw the 12 mile mark. He ended up beating me by about 25 seconds. I'm hoping I can do a bit better at Hobble Creek. | 