Notes
Evergreen Tail run Series finale -- Ft Steilacoom half marathon (1000 fet gain). CRAPPY run for me, but a fast course. Felt horrible during first 5k (21:20, 350 ft gain), some woman passed me a couple miles in, which amplified my legs insistence that I stop. I should be able to run faster than I did easily, but some combination of factors misaligned and I wondered why I thought this was fun. Onto the 11k loop, I continued to plod forward, then hit a steep brutal hill. I closed my eyes and chugged up until I heard 'THIS way!', oops, backtracked down to find myself behind another lady, but hey, at least she saved me. I started to lose ground and FINALLY something clicked, 30 minutes in and running started to feel a bit better. I powered past her and went flying, down and up hills all around, until 40 minutes in and I saw.. the FINISH LINE. ARGH. I briefly contemplated quitting, but instead backtracked to where I missed a sharp right turn. I spent the rest of the race catching slower runners and trying to regain ground. I had lost about 8-10 minutes, so I knew I wouldn't catch the first two ladies, but at least I still came in 3rd. I didn't have much power in the last 5k loop, but tried to enjoy it. I ended up being only a minute behind second place, but 9 behind first. She has similar road PRs as me, AG I should have kept contact! Congrats to Jake, blasting the 10k despite being sick and recovering from a marathon.