Today is worth a race report. I had fun and did good. I got to spend time in a forest, alone, running. Happy times to feel good running.
Pictures will be added when available.
First, I got up at 3:30. I drank coffee and did my spiritual study. Then got all my stuff together and left the house at 4:50. I drove along NASA parkway and noticed I was following a car with oval stickers indicating athletic events. I followed that car another 50 miles and we ended up at the same race.
It was dark in the park at 6 am. The 50 mile runners were just getting started. The day is a warm humid sweat bath (75F/ 24C). Not a breath of a breeze. I was wearing the power of orange; RunningMania orange that is. I think it helped alot.
I quickly got my packet and then walked around some. I said hi to Donna, David and Diane. And soon, our race started. I was doing 7x1s to see how that pacing would be for a long race. The first hour, it netted almost 5 mph; which is a little fast for me, but I'm always faster in races.
The race was quite crowded for the first 7 or so miles. For a long time I was back and forth with 2 gals discussing intimate subjects. I saw 2 alligators. One was under duck weed so just his eyes were showing. Very cute. The second half was where things got enjoyable. I don't know what happened to all the people, but they disappeared. I spent most of 2 hours running alone in a forest. I saw a snake of unknown species, but not a cotton mouth. It was very sultry, so I was glad for the cloud cover, but also glad I wasn't going to be around when the sun did come out. The aid stations were few and one had already run out of water.
Someone placed a large plastic alligator on the dark side of a bend. I jumped when I saw it. Then laughed.
During my time in the forest, I achieved that peaceful place which trail running is about. Racing almost ruins the experience unless you can get alone. It was unexpected since the race started out crowded. But suddenly, there I was running along a trail in a green forest.
My foot which had surgery 7 months ago did really well, maintained a steady level of manageable pain. My knee was well taped so I had no glitches. Much of the trail had been pockmarked by horses; but I didn't trip or turn an ankle. Excellent. 3h19 min for 25k.
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