I am embarrassed about the last three miles because I could have sucked it up to run 10:00 pace there, although not the 9:30 pace I had imagined.

No need to be embarassed Enke, we've all had races where we "coulda, woulda, shoulda" so don't worry about it. However, that being said...LEARN from it, this is what I try to do with all of my races, especially where I had trouble. I try to go back and evaluate what I could have done, what I would have done had I known better and what I should have done etc. Overall you did great, you had fun and you toughed out a heck of a run. That PR is on the horizon just waiting for you.

This is a wonderful report, and I love the pictures and details. I had no idea that Washington state had any parts that were so barren. As for the race, I think first off that you are so much braver than me to even drive 3.5 hours to a race! Here I’m worried about driving an hour and a half to Columbus for a race – you can tell I don’t get out much. As for the race, I’m sorry you didn’t do as well as you hoped, but you still persevered and finished in a decent time. What’s to be embarrassed about? We all do better some days than others, and bonk at times when we race. You had a great time, didn’t hurt yourself – sounds like a successful race to me. Btw, you have to share with me your bag of tricks about side-stitches – I hate them.

<tangent> I made a joke out of this in my earlier post (and again: nice report and I hope you had fun at the race!), but I'll restate it more clearly. I think I'd be creeped out if my personal info... full name, address, age, sex... was posted in an open forum without me having a say. Not enke's 'cause she made that choice... the other gal's. Suggestion: could you use photoshop or something to perhaps blur/black those lines? I know that for some folks this seems like no big deal. For others, especially those who have had their ID stolen or been the target of los creepos, it is. </tangent> I hope to do this race next year... fun pictures of the area.

We had to run, not on sand, but on chunky gravel for about 1/3 of a mile? I read that the full had to run on that junk for several miles, but maybe they meant sand.

Well, that's why I was asking... I've gotten a few reports from my friends. Van (the women's winner...) and another gal called it "5-6 miles of sand". But then I heard "yucky rocks". So I dunno. Maybe it was both. Very different race from tri-cities, which was 30 miles up the road. All bike trail and road. All flat, except for the bridges. Would have been a very fast race except for the wind. And in my case, the fall where I hit my head on a suspension bridge. At least I didn't fall off the bridge.

I laughed when I saw the "low tech" results posting, because, uh....that's what all my races look like down here. In fact, it was only last year that Pear Blossom (biggest race here with about 700-800 runners) got chip timing. I'm not even sure if our inaugural HM in 3 wks is chip timed or not? Sounds like this was a challenging course with some hills and a monster hill at the end?? that is so not right! It does sound like you enjoyed the race, a smaller field and trying something new. And I agree, there is something very inviting about being part of 'inaugurals'. Nicely done Enke!!

......Sounds like a fun race, nonetheless! and baked potatoes!!! Kewl!!