Where the deer and the antelope play, the Buffalo run!!! Weather was a bit sketchy all week, but turned out to be quite nice for the 25k. Got to the start of the race with a couple of my brothers - Gdoc and Fritz.
Really the only goals I had going into this race was to put Gdoc back in his rightplace and to try and beat my time from 2 yrs ago when I did the 25k. Jim (minus the buffalo hat?) started us off right at 9 AM. Love races that start on time! Wanted to try and stay in the upper qrt of the pack to miss a lot of the people trains moving on the single track. Got into a good groove early moved pretty good up the first climb to the saddle and along the trail to the climb at lone tree. Ran past 3-4 50k'rs that I knew so, that got me going. I beleive it was Scott that crusied past me looking strong by lone tree! Only tactical mistake of the race was pushing it hard down the downhill hitting some low 6 min pace, I think it took a bit to much outta my legs, but there were a few people I was trying to catch and pass..which I did.
Started up the switch backs, keep a pretty good pace up to the upper ones and had to walk for about 20-30 yrds - that's when I saw Gdoc down on a lower switch and decided I better get movin! Didn't walk again until the little climb back up to the saddle - took a hammer gel here and started like a horse headed home to the finish line.
I got lylified twice in the last 1.5 miles of the race some girl in skin tight gray tights blew past me.. As long as it wasn't G' I was just trying to keep my pace up - passed a bunch of runners on that section too, so I didn't feel to bad!
So, I think I was 20 seconds slower than my time 2 yrs ago, but righted the brotherhood once again. Great day, great times.
PS..Lily did you survive the AidStation? |