Notes
Thought I had turned the bloody Garmin on but noticed at exactly 1 km that it wasn't so I missed recording the first kilometer! First kilometer was 90% downhill and by the process of elimination (58:42 - rest of the race) I know my approximate first lap time. It was cool waiting for the race to start...top of a hill (church/cemetary) but that disappearred as soon as we started to run! Partly cloudy (thank god or it was of been unbearabley hot), warm (21C), humid with no wind. The second kilometer a dirt road through the marsh. The course rose out of the marsh for kilometer 3 and 4 so was a little cooler. First water station was at 3 km - I walked through all three water stations to make sure I got a good drink even though I had a water bottle with me. From 5.0 - 7.5 km we were down in the marsh on a dirt road completely shelter from any wind (hot, hot, hot)...I could feel the energy being drained. Water stations were at 5.0 km and 7.5 km. At the end of the marsh the course run back up into Amherst over two serious hills with a flat in between. I didn't even try to run the hills I was seriously drained. Ran the flat in between. At about 8.25 Km they had a water hose spray thingy set up. I ran through that and felt much better. The cousre counted down the last 1.5 km or so every 100 m. I managed to pick the pace up for the last kilometer finishing 9 km in 53:33 (forgot to turn the garmin off for the after I crossed the finish line for about 23 sec - note rise in pace!). Well run race, water stations were great and well spaced.