Third in the four-race Roots Rock series in the OPG forest south of Port Gamble (the 25k I ran in March is put on by these people, but doesn't count for the series, which sucks because I placed in that one). This year's course was changed because they couldn't get the bus for a shuttle to the start, which meant more uphill than usual during the first four miles, including one nasty, nasty stretch of about 150 yards. Even the leaders walked it, it's basically a sandy, 60-degree pitch. Brutal. Kind of a small turnout for a Roots Rock race, but the thunderstorm forecast may have scared some off. Turned out to be a real pleasant cloudy day to run through the woods.
The guy who typically wins these things, Jim Savage, was there, and I knew he'd command. And he did, ditching the lead "pack" (three of us) after 400m. I hung around in third, a guy passed me just as I passed somebody else to stick with that spot, and kept a pretty even pace through the opening few miles of uphill. After the big sandy hill, however, I was slow to get going again (that's where I felt the marathon fatigue, my quads were just sapped after that climb and it took a few minutes to get a feeling back). A guy caught me on the single track, which pushed me and got things going again, but d then he made a move to get out in front and I kind of let him go 30 or 40 yards. I stayed where I could see him for a bit, but the trail winds so much you lose contact easily. By mile 5 the course peaks and you get to turn on the jets and fly back down on some steep single track. But he was out of sight by then. I still felt good, and had a second wind and some sense of where I was (the course isn't marked with miles at all, so it's a little uncertain of how to pace, etc.).
I was hoping to be gaining on the third place guy when I started hitting the downhills, I felt like I was hammering down, and when we opened up back on the road with two miles left I caught a glimpse of him. I started to go after him there (definitely clocking sub-6 miles for a bit there), and at a hill with about a mile out I was really gaining. I kept a fast pace and kept picking up steps as the kick got going. I felt really good by then, running shady trails is just so nice on the feet and legs and was energizing. But he had just enough to put a surge on during the last 600m or so, and I couldn't quite pass him up. He ended up holding me off by six seconds, and since ours was the only competative age group, my fourth overall is also my division place. Tough to be 31. Didn't even win anything in the post-race raffle.
Great morning to race though, lovely time clearing my head among the trees, and nice to have some pep in the legs just two weeks after a marathon. Also, a dog (border collie, I think) started with us (I passed it at about the 10-minute mark) and ended up running the whole course. The dog took 9th, seriously. He was probably pumped because there was a dog agility contest going on in the town of Port Gamble all day today. Ah, the Northwest. supernova glide -- 370
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