Notes
Tsali Frosty Foot. Good race. Felt great until the two mile long uphill strategically placed between miles 28-30. Course is rolling, many turns and was greasy in spots, but footing good. Elevation change probably 1.5 x Monkey. Weather nice: 40's and overcast.
2nd overall, in 3:51, 28 minutes faster than the last 50k I finished, three or four years ago. It's hard to compare times for trail ultras, but I was only 5 minutes behind winner Mark Lundblad (giving up 2 minutes in the last three miles), who won the JFK 50-miler in November in 6:06...beating a 2:12 marathoner. Not sure what that makes me, but not too shabby company. He said he was running hard and could see me coming (doh--bright red shirt), but maybe he was just being nice.
I probably got too excited with 12 miles to go. At the time 12 miles didn't seem too far (I'd already run about 20, but as in the marathon a mile is a mile is a mile), so I ran 20-26 or so hard, coming through the marathon in around 3:05 and dreaming of a time under 3:40. Obviously I blew my wad a bit too early. The fact that you have already run 26 miles is small consolation with 5 miles of hilly trail in front of you, the pedal to the floor, and the gears grinding. (Oh yea, did I say I was going to take it easy?)
Jamie Dial two minutes back. Legs feel good now, but right achilles sore. Ice.
Won $30. Entry fee: $50.
A song stuck in my head the last miles. Townes Van Zandt's "At my Window." This piece:
Time flows
Through brave beginnings
And she leaves her endings
Beneath our feet
Walk lightly
Upon their faces
Leave gentle traces
Upon their sleep
Living is dancing
Dying does nothing at all