Survival - Li'l Rhody Runaround

Alright, alright, alright (my Matthew McConaughey impression) updating the blog
Sorry no pic’s to share – Jana must not like me anymore or I’m too slow and she didn’t want to wait around.

Arrived early to help set-up and everyone was already there. I like the fact that everyone comes out to volunteer for this race. Great to see Tom and Shara, it was also nice to do a recap of Hartford with Shara – remember, Jeff was miserable and wanted to leave so I never got a chance to discuss recap with her.

 

I’m not really a trail runner – running trails as a group is fun but racing trails, not my thing. I never train for it and I have no strategy. I never know how to approach this race other than just surviving.

 

The race starts fast as everyone what’s a good position before they go into the trails. Felt good going into the campground section passing a lot of – what’s that word – frenemies. The first section I know well and it’s not that technical so I was feeling good. I got passed just before the water stop by some young guy so I hung just behind him knowing I would get him on the road section. Turn onto Buckeye and felt like a fish to water – on the road again - passed the young guy like I knew I would. I re-entered the trails again, this is the section that has technical terrain and not my favorite. This is where it becomes survival mode for me as I try to manage the terrain for about a mile and half.

 

Well it happened – as I was skipping, hopping, running, jumping a particular section – I fell, HARD. I did a tumble and hit my face on a small tree. Sorry no improvement to the face this time. I immediately got up and started to run again with leaves clinging to me. No time to dust off – I now got passed by the young guy again who put some distance on me with this spill. He never even ask if I was ok – asshole. Everything felt fine except my nose, felt like I had a good scratch – cool, I got a battle scar mark.

 

At last King Factory – asphalt. Felt strong and pushed hard passing the young guy again at the top of the small hill. The only part of this race I like in rounding the corner by the cedar trees for the finish. I finish with a time of 56:02 – 59 seconds from a PR. I’m sure the fall had something to do with not PR’ing but I don’t go into this with hopes of PR’ing - I just want to survive.

 

After I finish I like to go help Steve S on traffic duty out on the road. This is always fun time seeing and cheering on other runners coming to the finish. This is when I notice a good size bump on my forearm. Nothing major but when helping Jeff with awards I had hard time giving hand shacks – it hurt.

 

When I arrived home I showed Julie the battle scar marks. She told me to go put something on your nose, that’s going to leave a mark. Cool, I want that.

 

Overall great time and great event for WTAC

picture not by Jana Walker :)