Notes
Damn, that was hard running. I would say that my biggest regret is not checking out the course one of the days this week like Jeff suggested because I did not know what I was in for. Looking around the start line, I thought I had a pretty good shot at winning until Brian Butcher showed up. Started out fine, first mile and a half I was leading with two other guys (Brian included). We went out ultra-conservative, considering it was relatively flat. They started accelerating and I was hesitant so I let them go.
Once I hit the actual trail, it was downhill from there (quite literally). I thought that what was going to give me trouble were the uphills, but what I really had a difficult time navigating were the downhills. There were points where I was having to just about stop and climb down so as to not bust my ankles. I got passed by two more guys around 2.5-3 miles and then one more around mile 4.5. I fell right before he caught me and then a mile after he caught me I fell again. About a mile to go I turned my ankle really bad and at that point I just wanted to be done.
This was tough single track trail running, something I really don't have much experience with. In a flat 7 mile, I think I take 2nd or 3rd, but unfortunately that was not what the race was. I would say this was more difficult than any route that I have done for GLR, although navigating was pretty simple because it was well marked (get your s*** together, GLR). This was comparable to the type of hiking I did with Adam in Acadia and he could speak to how bad I am at that.
Anyways, overall it was pretty fun, lively atmosphere, some drinks and borgers after the race, stomach held together (had coffee and banana pre-race). Happy to do this, but just shows me what my strengths and weaknesses are.