So I had a score to settle, right? I was determined to not go off course this year, as last year's race gave me 9+ miles and an incomplete race, and Jonny and Mike had diligently marked the course 10 ways to Sunday the last two days, so it was a no brainer. I got extra sleep Friday night, had all my gear ready to go, and got on the road super early. I was still a bit sore from Thursday's long run, but whatever. I'd go out with no specific goal in mind, and get good and muddy on the trails.
On my way, I pulled over and texted Mike B. to ask if he was on his way? His reply, "Yes, to the dump," meant he was out. Must have had a major appliance delivery scheduled as well...
I arrived to find the usual WTAC crew gathering under partly cloudy skies. Chatted for a bit, got my bib and decided to do an early warmup starting at the finish line and running the course backwards, as Beth was out chasing miles and I figured she'd be close. Sure enough, a half mile in she comes trucking around a curve, a bit bloodied from some briars but otherwise smiling, and in good spirits. I ran her in, and got caught up on the run, the course conditions, etc.
Monica and James showed up soon after with their friend Louis. James was running his first Half Marathon alongside Beth, Monica the 10K, and Louis was running the 10K as his first trail race. Sweet!
After another change of clothes (I'm too warm, I'm too cold, must have changed 3-4 times), I did one more short warmup and we lined up to go. Paul Gray and I have had very close times at races lately, so I decided to try to stay with him for as long as I could. At the start, everyone raced up the double-track, and made the hard left and quick right onto the single-track trail. I'd made the decision to get wet and muddy right away, and .25 miles in, splat! Right into the first boggy section of trail. Now it didn't matter how much muck I came across, I'd just plow right through it. Turns out, it was a lot! Lots of standing water, mud, and swollen streams that required a plunge. Awesome!
3.75 miles in, I came down a steep section, ran through a muddy puddle to an intersection, and into a group of almost 20 people coming from different directions looking for a flag. Turned out, somebody had removed a bunch of flags before the race, and at a very confusing intersection. I'd just passed a flag, ran back to it, and after some milling about somebody said they spotted a flag and we all took off in that direction. In hindsight, we needed to go left up the hill, when we headed right then left. Cut about 2/3 mile off the course, including the first water stop (sorry Matthew!).
The rest of the race had me wondering how much we'd really shaved off the total. I figured two miles, but after running for what seemed like forever on the last super-twisty section, it ended up being just a small amount. So I ended at 12.03 miles, good for 34th place, and had a great trail race! Results here:
http://www.coolrunning.com/results/14/ri/Apr5_BigRiv_set1.shtml
Super fun out there today, and I scored a cool pint glass as a 5 race finisher in the series:
5 race finisher's awards...yes!!!
Beth had run 7 miles before the race, and crossed the line for a total of 19.5 for the day. I wasn't entirely convinced she wouldn't go back out for more later...
Special thanks to Mike Galoob and family for putting on such an awesome series, special mention to Ben Folsom and Jonny Hammett for going over and above in their support of the races, Matthew Walker for manning the water stop, and Scott Mason for taking insanely good pictures out on the course!
And another special thanks to Seth for bestowing upon me two bottles of his home-brewed beer: the Choco-Nanner Stout, and the Chinook Session IPA. They're chillin' in my fridge, awaiting the appropriate moment to pop the top. Sweet...
Overall? A fantastic day, and I've been at all 5 races the last two years. They're permanently on my race calendar, and so much fun. The most epic race tales of the last couple years have been at this series, and that says a lot!
Great results also by Greg, Bob, Jonny, Jeff, Muddy, Seth, Boj, John, Paul, Carol Ann, Beth, Monica, James, Louis, and everybody else who raced today. That's a beast of a course, and I loved splashing through the mud, puddles, and stream crossings, can't wait to do it again!
I went out for a couple mile dog walk... Great race Crutch! I really tried to explain where those flags were missing... sorry! Sounds like there were a few missing from the 10K course too. What sort of dirt bag removes flags?
ReplyDeleteThanks! Must have been somebody who knew how screwed up everyone would be at that intersection...I don't run there much and had no idea which direction we needed to go!
ReplyDeleteNice work out there. Next year we'll have to post sentries to guard the flags!
ReplyDeleteI'd say so! I suspected saboteurs last year, and my theory was confirmed this year...either way, it was a lot of fun! Dropped my entry for Pisgah in the mail a couple days ago, that'll be epic...
DeleteNice job out there, Crutch. Sounds like you got most of the course in, despite going the wrong way at the infamous intersection.
ReplyDeleteYeah Crutch, nice job, and you definitely did 95% of the course.
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