13.7 mi, 2:58:30, 13:02 avg, flat
Checked out the trails I will be running on next week for the Long Haul 100 mile race. Course is a 12.5 mile route which is repeated 8 times at the Cypress Creek Preserve. There is a paved road in the middle of the preserve which we will be on for short time each "loop". First, there is a spur running south, out and back a little over 3 miles each way, then head east on the road to a trail going north 1.4 miles out and then back to the road, head west almost to the start and go north a half mile and then run a circle about a half mile in diameter and then back to the start.
But, since it was not race day I had to guess a little bit. Was following an old course using a trail app on my phone, did not go far enough south. Stopped here and there and backtracked a little to get back on the course.
When I got to the second spur I went too far north and a few times the trail "disappeared" and sometimes would reappear but other times I'd realize I was off the trail and I would cut straight through the woods to get back to where I needed. This led to some slow miles (like 19 minutes for the slowest). I was taking it easy and although it was cool out the sun made it feel a little warmer and I was running low on drink from my 20 ounce bottle. Last two miles were in the 9:30ish range.
Fortunately, on race day the trails will be marked well and I won't have to run the overgrown trails I ran on when I went too far north.
It was a pretty fun day. I'm not as prepared as I want to be but at least I checked this off my list.
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