Notes
Felt good, expected 2:45ish so feel great about the time. No short cuts allowed. I did walk more than I planned but didn't feel bad about it. Trail racing is strange, weird up and down pacing. Crowds are a challenge, lots of "On your Left" and then people are irritated, also at times, feeling sluggish and I drift behind a slow pack.
From Stinson, first hill up wasn't bad until the real stair climbs. just walked quickly. First water stop near the 6mile marker. Felt fine after hill #1. There was a water stop there (where fountain is). took it relaxed on the downhill and didn't push too hard.
Water stop at Muir woods. stopped and drank full drinks. took uphill relaxed, but some stopping again on hardest steep parts. The Mill Valley steps weren't too bad, just time consuming and took it easy, up and down.
Felt great coming down the hill towards Muir woods, stopped and drank again and expected to really rock that final uphill . This had been my plan: take it easy and then rock this uphill. Not so much. Again, lots of walking on initial steep climb from parking lot. HOWEVER, for the next 1.5 miles, less steep, I did manage to run, feeling like a shuffle, but still, didn't stop, until the very last bit where it gets steep again, just before the water fountain/rest stop. stopped, ate organ, two drinks, then cruised the downhill back.
easy places to improve: be stronger so you can go the entire way without stops. lots and lots of hills required. probably lot 2 mites at rests stops. time out was 1:09, back was 1:15. not terrible considering how bad that hill is from Muir winds up towards Stinson.