Notes
Temp 39 (WC 33) Wind 8 mph.
(Results posted 2/22 - Official Time 38:34. 12th --check that 10th-- OA out of 164 that started. 18 did not finish. 3rd AG. Stupid mistakes cost at least 2 OA places and 1 AG; still finished much higher than expected in large and young field.)
(Update 2/28/10. Moving up at least one spot OA. Calling the OA Female winner a CHEATER!! She only ran 4K. Found a 20K race result for her from 1/9/10 -- 2:34:22. Another 10 Mile race result from 12/26/09 -- 2:01:03. A 35:57 8K on this course...No Way! Her name is Tiffany Million. Could not find any race results for 2nd OA female. Apparently she's a rollerderby girl who had to retire due to injury.)
(Found #2 Female. A 5K @ 40:35. Gonna have to call Bullshit that she ran this 8K in 37:15. Her name is Aimee Deguire.)
Rain most of Saturday and throughout the night. Course is soggy with lots of standing water. Euro-Style XC race, so there is a mud pit (about 24'x8' with water and sandy mud about 6-8" deep) and several hay bales along hilly area in park section of Jefferson Barracks National Cemetary on cliffs above Mississippi River. Expect slow sloppy truge. Can forget any fast times.
Most runners are from St. Louis. Line up with Schmiz and Jason K. (JK) about a quarter of the way from the front. Talking to JK, this is new to both of us. Point out Captain Paul (CP), who is quite a bit further up front, to JK. Let him know that he's probably be a prime mark to gage our pace.
Off with caution. First mile more a feeling out process. Passing a lot of people up the first hill. CP way ahead. JK out faster, but I closed to where there is only one runner between us by first mile marker. I overtake next runner and, heading back to starting area, me and JK are picking off one after another. Him on their left, me on their right. Hit the mud pit and first set of hay bales with no issues. We move on through the seccond mile, pass a few more. There are now only kids between us and CP. One stops and walks just past two mile marker. Go down a muddy hill into a wooded area along river cliff. Trail at bottom under water pretty much whole way. Hard to measure, maybe 40-50 meters at best. CP has problems with climb on muddy hill coming out and we close significantly. Kid up the thing like a monkey up a tree. I struggle also but get through OK. Up a hill, down around the trailers, up a small climb and back to end of 1st loop. Kid turns and heads for the finish (he was the OA 4K winner!!). Running behind JK and we've closed to where we're in a few seconds of CP.
Move on past JK going up hill to start second loop. We're still passing some people as we come over the top and down the other side. I'm able to pull up to CP right before narrow stretch along side road. Follow him to next area wide enough to pass and go by. I'm by him and running strong when we hit third mile mark. Feeling a rush now and this is one of dryer sections of course. Look to open up. Up small climb, through muddy wooded area, and then up one of harder hills heading back to start area. Crest the hill to where course crosses. The lines are now gone in the rain and mud and there are foot prints going in every direction. Small patch of woods between here and mud pit, cannot remember if we veered left around patch immediately to my left, and then down the hill; or if veered right down the hill and around. No other runners around. Pick up arrow pointing down hill and follow. Get to bottom of hill and see runners coming up nearby section of course the other way. Realize I was suppose to veer left. Turn and look back up hill to see CP and JK going by. Turn and run back up the hill as three more go by. (Talked to both JK and CP after race. I'd opened 20-30 yards on them and neither saw me go down hill...I SUCK AT RACING!!)
Panic mode back on course. Pick off one, and second. Hit he mud pit and hay bales. Feel my legs buring now and cannot jump the hay bales this time, have to step on top and over. Take the third runner as we leave the start area for the next climb towards the four mile split as we go around parking lot. Pull back up to JK and we head down to the field and next set of hay bales. Run together a while, then I'm by him and move up to CP. Catch him again right at the two mile marker from the 1st loop. He asks if its almost over? Less than half mile to go, headed for the muddy slopes and trail. Remember CP's problems and mine getting up the hill on other side so want to open here. Head down the hill fine, body turns but feet hit the mud and keep going straight. I slide into the woods of brush and large sappling size trees. Before I can recover, CP and JK both pass me again. We all go by two people wading the trail. Hit the hill, CP struggles and JK gets by. I get stuck, too. Have to bend over and pull myself up with grass clumps and roots. Get a foot hold towards the top, then a second, then a root, and another, and I'm clear. Still need to get up rest of grassy hill. I've never felt like this before, this is a new feeling of gassed. Feel fire in my legs to the bone.
Heading down hill towards trailers, thinking its over, and just trying to survive. Look up and I'm right on CP again. Around trailers, up a small climb, and I get by him a third time. JK has some space, but watch him miss turn to finish arch and go around outside of mesh fence. I yell at him, make turn and am heading in. Its about 50 meters across field of standing water. Turn to look over my shoulder to see if he stopped. See CP is going the same way? Then hear my name once, then twice. Fear sets in...was I suppose to go around?? DQ?? Stop, turn around, start to run back to turn. Look up hear "GO KEVIN!!" as I'm being waved towards the arch. They had run wrong not me. Stop again, turn back towards the finish. JK and CP have now gone around the mesh fence and are heading in back on course. I've lost too much ground to run them down again. JK across first. CP next. I'm three seconds behind CP. (I SUCK AT RACING!!)
Check early postings of results. I'm 4th AG. CP is 3rd. Finish out of AG placement because I'm an idiot. AG winner runs a 28:XX. (I'm still in a fog and winner's time didn't registar with me whatsoever.) Get to awards ceremony and find out winner is DQed for only running 4K. Well yeah, faster runners are nearly keeling over dead to run 7:45 m/m and some old man was knocking them out in five and a half?? I'm 3rd AG. Due to Hammer's injury, I end up in first in Masters Division for Race Series. Not the way it should be; would rather be second than him not be able to run.