| Map | Elevation Map |
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So as the description above states, it's 12 loops of 2.5 miles. All trails (99% actually) and not neccessarily flat. I figured that Mike might run some loops with me but will eventually disappear on me and I will be all alone. That's ok. Initially with only 13 people there, I figured I would be totally alone but now with 26 people registered, I thought that perhaps I have a chance of company.
Situation: Wife had to go to Florida for an extended period of time. Some medical issues for her mom. I pushed her to go. Sucks. She had just come back from California and was soon travelling South but it is what it is. And then she needed to extend her trip. It made sense to do. She so far extended it again. Bottom line tho, I had the dogs... Lily is afraid of thunder and loud noises and Cody (our newer addition) is just afraid. Walking them was gonna be an issue. Race day was going to be an issue. It is what it is...
Saturday came way too fast. Wanted to go to sleep early but unfortunatly was way too hydrated in the PM so constantly had to deal with that. My alarm was for 3am but I was woken up at 2am due to Cody vomitting in our bedroom. Cleaned that up and back to sleep at 2:20 until 3am. Took them out multiple times until official breakfast time for them with another walk. I also folded the laundry and packed my bag for later and took him out yet one more time (to the backyard this time) before actualy leaving to race site.
Check-in was at 7am but I wanted to get there earlier to find a really good parking spot and to use the port-a-potty. I was worried. Got an amazing spot while others had to go up and down the hill whilst going to their car. Parked and chilled out at the benches talking to people. First to come by was Dov. Explored the name to see if it means bear or bird. Easy way to kinda identify ourseleves without being conspicuous. If you understood that, great. Times these days are pretty bad... By the way, his name meant bear.
Another dude showed up. He said he plans to run the race "kind of swiftly". Tell me you're not from NY without telling me you're not from NY. Anyway, from that point on, Alex became Indiana. Indiana's goal apparently, he told me later, was sub 4. Sheesh...
Still waiting and another dude comes along. I tell him also that they aren't ready and he said he's gona use the port-a-potty. Afterwards he comes to tell us a story... Apprently when he left his car, he had to pee so he went into the trails to pee. Right away he felt something. He ran to the car and thankfully had a first aid kit. Immediatly he washed his legs out with alcohol and then used sanitizer on his hands but was still afraid to touch anything. Poison Ivy... I thought it took a little time to react. I was wrong. His legs had very upset looking marks all over them. There were bumps approx 1 inch in diameter and all swollen but at least the itch was gone. Really freaked me out as I was wondering what would happen if I needed to use the port-a-bush. He reassured me that it was way out of the path yet, I was freaking out about it.
Russian Mike showed up and we talked. Finally RD spoke. Martin was also gonna run the race today. If we are worried about getting lost thenstay behind him for the first loop otherwise it is "well marked". Yup - I agree. It was. We were going to climb the small hill from the start/finish and go into the trails. Pretty much follow the Orange trail until we come out almost 2.5 miles later. At that point, down the small hill to the start/finish so loop would be over. Oh yeah... The last hill is going to suck. Yup - agree with that too.
We started. Russian Mike and I are together (for now) and Dov is there too. The course was truly well marked but that being said, Mike had to be reeled back in from getting lost 3 times in those 2 loops. One place he did it on both loops. On the 3rd loop, he took off. Aparently, he still almost got lost but caught himself. Dov and I ran the 3rd loop together before he took off as well. I was alone. It's ok.
Sam the lifeguard showed up. Wanted to run with me but he got there late. As I was finishing the 4th loop, I checked my phone to see missed calls and messages. I texted him. Turns out he was minutes behind me. We ran the 5th loop together and he then had to leave. Still, that was nice. I was by myself otherwise. Indiana passed me (on you rleft) a good 4 or 5 times. I did try to hydrate tho. Drank a lot and ate a lot of watermellon. Needed 2 pee twice (YAY) during the race but was worried. Still, Peed but I did NOT get off the course. It was empty enough to just pee.
I met a dude named Kaison and we ran a little together. He was bored so signed up for his first ever race. Nope, not a 5K or a marathon. He signed up for this... He was a loop ahead of me. I was pretty sure that I would finish DFL.
At one point, Indiana came flying by me. A woman with a dog moved back and held her dog but the dog still jumped at him. Didn't faze him but as I passed the pup, I said, "Hi cutie. You're cute but your mom should hold the leash better.". She did not appreciate this and yelled at me (I already left) that this is actually a walking trail. Seriously... So running is NOT allowed? And the horse poop all around?!? Anyway, a little up, htere was a dude with his dog and he heard it all and had a Oh My God face. I said to him, "Yup - Nasty woman". She apparently heard that and started screaming. What a damn Karen. Whateves.
I got passed twice by the RD. Got passed once by Mike. Met Rika who had stomach issues. She was paced by Way (forgot rest of his name). She still beat me thank goodness.
Taha showed up and we were together for my last 3 loops. That was good. We finished and I had 2 huge bowls of homemade veggie chilli. It was good. Real good.
I really thought that I finished DFL. I asked and they said yes so I celebrated my first ever DFL but tey misunderstood me and thought if that was my last lap. Turned out there were 5 people still out there. Four of them were do in any minute. The timer was right. They showed up. Eventually the 5th showed up but his finish was weird until I understood why. He still had another loop to do. Man that sucks... But he went out.
Really nice race and all. I like the insulated lunch cooler we got. I liked the people.
Indiana finished in 4:15 beating second place by almost an hour. The Rd came in 4th with a 5:19.
