Notes
Splits from the event (each loop):
40:15 41:11 41:25 41:58 41:48 40:54 4:07:29 7:58
First mile was pretty fun though probably too fast. A group of ten guys took off and were out of sight within minutes. The problem was there was a five mile, 15 mile and 50k starting all at the same time so I had no idea who was really in front of me. After a few miles caught a couple runners but was still what I thought ninth overall.
After the middle of the first loop I fell behind a guy named Mike (what a coincidence) and we ran together the next 2 loops him leading the pace on the flats and me pushing the pace on the hills. Turns out his half marathon PR was 1:10. I was kind of surprised he wasn't leading the pack but he said his endurance just wasn't where it needed to be. Around the end of loop 3 he dropped back and I decided to put some distance between us.
Loop 4 was completely alone, just trying to keep from slowing down too much or wiping out on the roots and rocks. Neither was completely successful. I had a pretty good wipe out where I rolled about 10 ft down a hill. That was fun. Nearing the end of loop four I caught up to the guy who was #2 at the time. He looked to be struggling so I tried to pass by quickly and make a gap.
I keep pushing the pace and come into the aid station at the end of the last loop and I see the last guy that I at least know is running the 50k stopped at the aid station not looking good. I toss my handheld onto the bag drop and run by as fast as I can hoping to crush his hopes of catching me. That next mile I run almost as fast as the first trying to put as much distance between him and I. After that it is just a race against myself. Trying to keep the pace up, and trying not to cramp up but no idea who is in front or behind me. Most of the time you can't see more than 50 feet up the windy trail anyway. Legs were starting to twitch and twang and even though my lungs felt good my legs were warning me to back off. Still finished that last loop almost as fast as the first.
I cross the finish line to shouts and cheers but really no idea how I did. The course director comes up to me and says great job, and I ask him how I did. He asks me back, how do you think you did, and I said maybe 2nd or 3rd, there were a lot of people in front of me? He's like no, you won! Wow, I had no idea. That is the stupid thing about starting all those distances at the same time, but I suppose one could argue it motivated me to run faster.
The splits from the top 6 most of which went way out in front of me:
2 183 SAM WELCH M 1/5 24 37:35 37:52 40:49 45:27 47:00 47:40 4:16:21 8:16
3 135 JEAN-BERNARD FLANAGAN M 2/17 48 38:12 38:56 42:05 42:53 47:24 51:04 4:20:31 8:24
4 185 BART WORWA M 3/17 41 40:12 41:16 43:05 45:50 47:40 45:05 4:23:05 8:29
5 171 ZACHARY PLIGGE M 2/5 25 36:35 36:43 38:40 43:08 50:59 59:20 4:25:24 8:33
6 151 MARK KONICEK M 1/15 51 39:57 41:59 45:49 50:15 54:02 50:50 4:42:51 9:07