Notes
2nd overall by about 15 seconds. Good head to head race today that made it fun. Went into the race with the plan to be smart early and conservative early hoping to be around same time as last year overall but unsure given the training to start the year, lack of any hill/trail runs and still getting over cold (don't think that factored much). Weather was good today in the 40s. Went out early being smart uphill had 3-4 guys consistently in front of me up to the water stop 2 that got a gap early and ran off. another few that we traded positions on the hills. Got to the water stop and was the first to make the turn for the long race but the guy behind me 20 seconds or so also in the 11 mile and we battled. on the way to the turnaround slight downhill you can roll and tried to throw in a few surges to open up more room when i was out of sight. When i got to turnaround was around 35 seconds up. On the slight up to the water stop wasn't feeling strong and tried to stay within myself and guy in second (Chandler) slowly closed the gap. Up the ridge to the back loop took some of my gel. Got to the flat section that is tough to follow took a brief wrong turn and chandler got on me. From there we ran to the wall together and he got ahead on another slight wrong turn. Once to the wall i got ahead and lead the way up only a small gap at the top and along the rocky ridge. Got up the hill better then last year just walking but feet and toes were better. on the steep down chandler went around and bombed down better then me. After the water stop and last 3 miles I took the last of the gel. Was rolling decent but didn't make up any on him and lost some ground. he got out of sight but with just under 2 miles to go started some rollers and i was climbing better then him but not as well as i would have liked. still was closing slightly. Got to the damn and he had a damn bridge length on me. Some of the steep sections in the last mile he was walking and i was running it slow and closing down. Took a little slip that stop momentum and might have cost getting to him. i knew i needed to be with him at the last crest but wasn't there and once we were going down he maintained the gap. Maybe should have sold myself out a little harder on the last few hills only regret of the race. Overall i am pleased with staying within the race and making overall smart decisions. Ended up 3 minutes faster then last year which i didn't expect. Might be on par with last year because i did race calhouns the day before but still a good showing i feel and stayed in the moment of the race.
Splits:
30:01 at Turnaround
1:15:40 (45:39) 3rd water stop
1:30:08 (14:27) Dam
1:35:53 (5:45) finish