Notes
Wasn't really racing this, but since it was a fatass, I put it down as an event. This was 4 approx 8.1 mile loops. I ran 3 of the loops with a few guys, two training for Ice Age 50M, and one training for Umstead. (I later found out this was Larry Hall). It was a pretty comfortable pace, but each loop we stopped at the start for refueling 4-6 minutes, much longer then I would have preferred. By the last lap one guy had went ahead and one guy dropped, and only Keith B, was left running with me. By the second mile he was slowing down and I was speeding up, so he told me to go ahead without him. After that, I just ran what felt comfortable although the last few miles were a hard.
Weather was good the whole time, got warm at times and then cooler, but probably only fluctuated a degree or too, it was the 20+ MPH winds that made the difference. The trails were better this year, a little muddy, but most of it could be avoided. There were a few small "stream" crossings each loop, a couple inches deep that at first I tried to avoid getting wet, but by the end just slogged through. There was one deep stream each loop that was definitely past the ankles and the second time through I lost my shoe in the middle of it. Ironically, the ice cold water felt great on the feet. All in all, this was a good confidence booster for Ice Age.
Oh yeah, and apparently I came in "first place" and got a hand crafted prize.