Notes
Sunny cold and windy at the start. Took it easy at the start and it felt like a lot of work. Ran for quite a ways and then once the trail narrowed, I got into a train of 3 or 4 guys who were walking. They walked more than I would have and I finally got around them just before the water station with Carly and Andrew. Ran up Whitecap, the smooth ledge was dry this year. Had one guy right behind me and we chatted a bit on the way up. Ran all the way up the open rock, except for the last steep section. Last year I walked and ran most of the way up. Made the turn around Papianeau and ran fast and hard down. A lot faster than last year. Passed a guy with sandals, Eddie and the guy I was talking to from Rangeley was right behind me. Continued to run hard on to the White to Black trail, with both guys following me. By the time I was halfway across I was getting tired and walked a lot of the hills. A short ways before the snowmobile trail, both guys passed me. There was a lot of hiking up Black, but I hiked fast and ran every flat or slight incline I could no matter how short. I passed Josh Burke about halfway up, he was totally gassed. Finally popped out at the tower and started up the dirt road, saw the 4th place guy coming down from the top. Ran most of the way up walking fast on the last steepest section. Saw Rangeley guy and sandals guy coming back just before the top. Made the turn at the top and ran hard back down the dirt road, really hard on the flat section. Once back to the trail, my legs were really tired, especially my quads. The new trail down to the top of the lift, was really soft and good to run on. Going through the glades, Rangeley guy passed my, he had missed the entrance. Couldn't run as fast as last year since my quads were just trashed. Finished the glades and was out of control on the really steep drop to the bridge before the main trail. Ran as hard as I dared to down the main trail and didn't feel too bad going up the last short hill to the back of the stadium. Going down and turning onto the stadium run was brutal. Saw sandal guy running towards me with only one sandal, he missed the final hill into the stadium. Ran as hard as I could to the finish. I was really beat, but nothing was broken. Happy with my time and effort, especially after the hard 5K yesterday.