Two races in two days, but I wanted to use today as the last big training day for TOU. So I planned to put the 15.1 miles of "racing" between three miles before the start and two afterward, for a total day of 20 and a week's total of 56. Got up to Port Gamble early, they've moved the start line over to a grassy airfield. Not quite as intimate as the old start downtown, but it was fine. Registered, then went out for three medium-pace miles on the trail and through Port Gamble. Race started with a little mist in the air, but the temp was great. Three guys zoomed right ahead, I know two of them were planning to shoot for a course record. I hung back until the first turn into the single-track, then, to my surprise, caught the lead group fairly quickly and tracked with them up a technical portion that borders Babcock Farm. We got up on the plateau and they were moving, felt really fast for that early in the race. But I hung in there, let them have 20-25 yards and just kept the pace comfortable (and I chased down a dog that left it's owner to run with us and sent him back, costing me precious time. But I got to pet a dog.). At about 35 minutes I caught the lead pack on one of the logging road stretches, then stuck with them through some thick and gnarly single-track. The OPG trails don't have tons of elevation, but they are enchanted for the dense brush and twisty turny routes. Really a workout for the feet, especially the hairpin downhill turns. It's a fun route, and it was really enjoyable to clip along with these guys. The aid station was at mile 9 or so, and here my tactical error was apparent. I had a water bottle and goo and the start, but left it there, thinking 'eh, I'll be alright through the first half and then refuel at the aid station.' Well, the leaders didn't plan that way, and they all ran through. So there I was getting a drink and goo and losing 60 seconds to them. After I got going again I saw them at one point on a long logging road stretch, but never could make contact in the forest again. My pace suffered because of it, on trails like that it's hard to really push unless you're chasing someone. So I kept a steady, even pace by myself, tried to force the downhills to prepare for Utah, and generally felt great about running out in the woods. My pace did slow down on some uphill and road portions, I knew it had been a big week and felt it in my legs. Also, it really taxes the feet more than road running, or even the trails I usually do. The Cascadia 4 may be at the end of their cycle. A few times I had to grab a tree branch to avoid a crash, I'm not kidding about how tricky some of the footing is (especially when the legs are a little tired). I realized where I was about a mile from the finish, and tried to push but the loop around Beaver Pond is really dicey so I couldn't go as hard as I would have liked to finish. But I was happy to go in under 2 hours, that was a goal in the back of my mind, having not run this route before. 1:58:53 Here's the interesting part for any running ethicists who might (still) be reading: I finished and the three leaders (who were 4, 4, and 2 minutes ahead) all took off for a second loop (the 50k race). So the organizer tells me I'm the 25k winner. Except then the third place guy comes walking back from the trail. He 'started' the 50k and decided to drop out a few minutes in. He understood that as a DNF, and told me so, but the organizer gave him first place because he *did* beat me for that distance. Everyone was nice about it, no big deal. But something to think about: should I have demanded the title? Anyway, a great race to finish a great weekend of racing and a great week of running. I think I'm ready to taper a bit and go to Utah.
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