40.32@13:27 , HR 146 bpm
Long Play 33 1/3 Trail Run
I got lost.
It was hot.
I was sticking with a slower runner.
It was all good.
We've been having some nice cool weather for Florida spring, but today was not one of those days. This was my 8th time doing this race, although it changes a little bit each year. A lot of the course is shaded, but there are some open stretches.
First 7 or so miles were wonderful, all according to plan. Then we hit the loop on what's known as the "low water trail" which runs near a river and is sometimes flooded, lots of roots from cypress trees. Different kinds of roots, big roots, knobby roots, and partially exposed "trip wire" roots. So, a couple of miles in here were a little bit slower, but was expected. The loop exits and joins back to a main trail, heads south and then you are supposed to pick up the section of trail which does about a 16 mile loop.
I was running along and feeling good, having picked up some speed after the rooty section. I was expecting to soon be on the big loop but it seemed to be taking a long time.
Then, a feeling of dread as I saw the aid station ahead. It was the aid station that was 5 miles into the race and also the aid station I shouldn't see again until about 28 miles. I'd missed the turn.
And, worse off, there was a guy following me who thought he was following someone that knew where he was going.
So, we doubled back but when I got to the junction where I should turn (but also skip the low water loop) I got a little more confused. So, we stopped and started and stopped and I looked at the map on my phone and finally put in walking directions to get to Tucker Hill. I soon realized the source of my confusion. There's a new paved bike trail running perpendicular to the older paved bike trail and I mistook the new one for the old one.
Realized we were now parallel to the trail we should be on, so took the next fire road, headed north a bit and intercepted the trail we should be on.
A couple more miles and we were at one of the unmaned aid stations. 5 gallon water jug on the table was almost bone dry. Shook out the last few drops. Two and a half miles to the crewed aid station.
Made it there ok. The guy that I was now running with (Jason from Colorado originally from Buffalo) was getting dehydrated. Fortunately , aid station was well stocked. We hung out for a bit, getting some food, water, and shots of coca-cola. The volunteers said one runner had just been through only minutes before us and there were two other runners there who had gotten there before us that were still there.
We made it out of there, taking it easy. Had our bottles filled up and each took an extra 20 oz bottle of gatorade. I gave mine to Jason to hold in his pack. Up and down a couple of hills I tried not to get too far ahead, looking back now and then. Finally, up ahead I see the runner who had left the aid station before us but when I looked back no longer saw Jason. Stood at the top of Croom "mountain" for 3 or 4 minutes then finally went ahead.
Was getting low on water again when I passed by a group of campers. They had several tents and a folding table with jugs of water on it. Thought about asking them for some but knew next aid station was only about a half mile (had passed another unmanned aid station again with empty water jugs).
Made it to the next aid station (one that I had missed on the way in). Loaded up on food and drinks and headed out again. Passed by one or two more people and finally back (for the third time today) to the 5 mile aid station where they now had plenty of ice which they put into my hat and my drink bottle.
Last 5 miles were reasonably ok. Quite warm by now and the few stretches of sugar sand were no fun. Then, finally done. Just over 9 hours to run 40.3 miles of a 33 1/3 mile race.
Maybe I'll get it right next year.
| 