Gotta start this by showing the incredible profile of this run. The first 8.5 miles or so are run on trails and rutted gold mining roads. The last part is on paved and gravel roads. The weather has been wet, and it rained heavily last night so there would be mud and puddles. Oh boy. We arrive at the finish area a little after 8 a.m., temp is 48F and it's windy and damp, but not raining (I'll take it!). Board old school buses for the trip up the hill to the start line. Everyone piles out of the buses, starts doing a warm up jog or heads to the bushes for a little un-hydrating. Usually the buses head back down the hill but today they stayed because most everyone piled back in to stay warm! The wind was pretty strong and chilly up there. Soon it was time to head to the start and we reluctantly left the warm bus. Here's a picture taken from our newspaper's site... I'm on the far left in the yellow shirt. The race was muddy from the start. Most of the first mile is downhill and it was tricky dodging puddles and rocks while not stepping on the runner ahead. Lots of ups and downs, puddles and rocks (no spray paint), I took a couple of walk breaks on some ups and tried to "let go" on the downs but OMG it was so slick on the mud. There's a couple places (like at mile 3.5) where I usually like to just tear down the hill but I almost ended up on my butt as my feet slid right out from under me. I knew this wouldn't be a PR effort today, just concentrate on staying upright! At mile 4.5 there's a water stop where you climb a steep rock outcropping to a flat spot where a four-wheeler has pulled a trailer with water and powerade. The view here is amazing. Sorry I didn't have a camera but it truly is incredible... 360 degree view of the entire valley. Then we go almost straight down a steep rooty trail which was kind of scary this year with the slick roots and mud. The trail is full of BIG puddles and we had to go on improvised trails around them through the bushes and trees. Losing time all over the place this run. Finally a dirt (aka MUD) road for a mile or so, then pavement and some yummy downhill sections. I ran mile 10 and 11 at less than 7 minute pace. I'd taped my toes before the run, but obviously had a flap I missed because I felt a "hot spot" under my second toe on my right foot. With about 5 miles to go, that was going to be a doozy. My favorite part of this race is that steep downhill for a couple miles near the end and this year I passed several people there, even with that blister I was cooking up. The last mile and a half are about the hardest here... also the longest mile and a half I've ever run. Flat, boring, dead legs, almost done.... finally the finish is in sight, and I see DH waving to me. I almost caught up to a couple of friends who'd left me behind at the start which was cool. I think the conditions really slowed everyone down, because everyone I talked to said they didn't get the time they wanted. My PR time last year (hot and sunny) was 2:13:12... I was really hoping for 2:10, but I'd take anything better than last year. Oh well... final time was 2:15:05 but still good enough for 6th female overall and 1st in my AG. Free beer from the sponsor brewery and burgers before the awards ceremony... Yum!

You sure run some unique races. First in AG and free beer n burgers sounds like a good day to me. Better to not PR and slow down than go for it and break a leg. Congrats on a great race and thanks for a fun report Larry

First thought: heck, it's all downhill; this ought to be a piece of cake! Then I read the report. Ouch. I have a hard enough time trying not to trip on my gravel road; this sounds like an injury waiting to happen. Glad you managed to stay upright. Sounds like an adventure. Congrats on the AG win! BTW, you get no sympathy for the 48-degree weather; that sounds wonderful right now.

Congrats on the AG win - that's super!! I would have ended up on the disabled list if I had tried this races. You did good! Thanks for sharing!

Wow, evan, that profile set the stage with serious downhills and some nasty uphills for variety. Then when I heard about the mud and puddles on the trails, it got worse. You sure tamed the course, though. Other than the blister, it sounds like you enjoyed it. Congratulations on the 1st in AG and high finish overall. TomS

Rock on Erika! Great report and what a course...yowsa! Even if you didn't hit your goal right on, you ran a good race on a tough course and once again your smile comes beaming through your writing. I often wear a race singlet that says: "Can You Say...." on the front and ".....KICK BUTT?" on the back. I need to find one for you----you deserve it more. I don't mind the getting dirty part (Ribs ) but I would have come out of this with sprained ankles and trail rash. You kicked a fine race and remained intact. Raise the roof and thanks for sharing this. Karin

1st AG, and free beer - $ht-howdy, doesn't get much better than that... Glad you didn't end up on your backside. I'm currently sporting quite a bruise there myself, from where I slid out coming down a steep embankment at the park with the kids, and that was NOTHING compared to your downhills.

Congrats on the AG group win! I am so glad you posted an elevation profile for this. Pretty sure I wouldn't want to run UP that thing. Beer and burgers....that sounds too good right now.