Hadn't intended to post about this race, but it was an interesting experience, so here goes...... This trail race was run at Bluff Point and Haley Farm State Parks in Groton, CT on the Long Island Sound. There was a shorter 3.something mile race, but my husband and I opted to do the longer race. We might have gone with the shorter distance had we walked the course before the race. Fashion report - purple, long-sleeved Under Armor tech shirt (in lieu of the black singlet I planned to wear), black FUG, black Brooks shorts, white (before the race) Baldega socks, black Asics waterproof cap and purple Nimbus 7's. Garmin in plastic bag (anyone see where this is going?). We arrived at 5:30 for a 6:00pm start. It was drizzling in earnest and a bit windy. I received bib #1 - the one and only time I'll ever claim to be #1 in a race ;-). We hung out in the race tent until a couple of minutes before the start - when it begn to rain steadily. It never stopped raining. The trail, while touted to be flat, was a series of hills winding along the beach and then into the trees. My first half mile split was an 8:13, and the second was 8:26 - going way too fast, but afraid I was gonna be last. My heart rate climbed to the 180's by the end of the 2nd mile. Then I couldn't read my watch anymore because of the rain and my steamed glasses. There was a particularly treacherous stretch of rocks in the woods around mile 2. I was contemplating my gazelle-like reflexes and congratulating myself on surviving this stretch when I found myself face first in a mud pit. I don't know what I tripped over, but it took me down. Muddy from the knees down (no more white socks), I scrambled to catch up with the boomer I was using as a pacer. These small races are so deceptive - being a back of the packer anyway, I thought I was really at the very end of the pack in this race. I did pass a couple of runners in the first mile or two, but they looked so bad I thought that they would DNF, and I would be the absolute last runner in. This gave me a lot of impetus to try and keep up with the guy in front of me. I grabbed a cup of water at an aid station and proceeded to choke myself (I didn't want to stop to drink and take the chance of loosing my rabbit). I passed 2 or 3 other runners around miles 4 and 5. At mile 6 there was a long half mile stretch of chunk rock along a rail road track. I got hung up behind a youngster, and my pace bunny pulled away from me. I did eventually pass the kiddo (later learned that he was only 12) when the trail opened up, but my pacer had an insurmountable lead on me by that point. I finished in 1:06:29 with an average 8:59/mile pace and an average heart rate of 178. I was 52nd out of 70 runners (not last). Third in my age group (of three - ha!). There were 40 student masseuses waiting in tents at the finish line offering free massages. What a fine way to end a wet, soggy race. The two students that worked on me kindly wiped off my muddy legs and then gave me a nice 15 minute massage - heavenly!! The organizers served hot corn chowder as well. A couple of dozen sponsors provided raffle prizes, and all of the finishing runners names were thrown into a hat. DH won an Olive Garden gift certificate and I won a Stop and Shop gift certificate. Then they threw all of the names in the hat again and drew for a kayak and two nights in the Mystic Hilton (we didn't win either of those). A fund experience in spite of the rain! Thanks for reading!

With the rain and mud for this trail race, it sounds like quite a challenge. You did well and apparently had a good time. Congrats on the AG award and drawing prizes for you and your husband. TomS

Wow, lots of neat things happened, getting number 1, the massage, the gift certificates. I guess it was worth the wipe out after all!

A muddy trail and rain... that makes that hot shower when you get home all the more wonderful!! .. I still have a lot of work to do before I can convince my DH to run with me in such conditions! Great job on both accounts!!! Francesca

Way to exceede in adversive conditions!!!

Oh, Sue - you didn't have to tell us there were only 3 in your age group!! I think you were quite speedy considering it is a trail run and quite treacherous at times. Well Done!! ~Mary

Gosh Sue, it's sounds like a nice gentle trot You did well to finish and 3rd in AG Well done on a very tough race with hard, hard conditions both you and hubby. Roy

Hey, if you'd gone Econo on that 12 year old you could've passed him sooner! Sounds like you had a great time in spite of the rain. Massages, corn chowder and gift certificates at the end! That makes it worth getting there. Good job and thanks for posting!