Notes
I've been running so slow and struggled with distance so often lately, that I estimated my finish time to be 1:30. When the race started, I immediately dropped to the back of the group so that I could run an easy pace until I knew how things were going to go. I ended up running the first 3 miles with Jenny C (she was doing her first ten during the race today, so she was moving at a comfortable 20 mile distance pace). Then as we approached the bend in the approach to the Big Tree, I felt an urge to chase after the runners infront of me. (I'm pretty sure I was a hunting dog in a previous life). I passed a couple of runners and that gave me confidence and I was starting to breath easier, so I set my sites on catching up to Bob, Lisa and the Tomicki's, but they were easily 3/8 mile ahead of me as we started the second lap. I pushed hard and closed the gap to about 1/8 mile at the Huntsdale turn around. As I ran down the road toward the trail, James passed in the oncoming lane and told me I was about 40 seconds behind them. I thought to myself, I could do this! I pushed harder and could tell I was making ground. Now my goal was to catch up to them by the time I we reached the McBaine bridge, which is exactly where I caught them. We stayed together to the finish and all of use had a great race. I think this was my slowest C&S, but I had a wonderful time.