Survivor 20k: Great day for a trail race!

50+ degrees, sunny and no wind.  What could be better?  The 2010 race was cold with a snow and ice-filled course.  This year the snow and ice were both basically gone.  Muddy in some places but overall the course was in great shape for this time of the year.

This year I did not race out at the Start, choosing instead to ease out for two reasons.  One, during a practice run the previous Saturday I took a spill and injured my ribs so they were still uncomfortable and I was nervous on how that would affect my running.  Two, I learned during last years race that taking off like a gunshot at the start only promises a very difficult last few miles.

There are pros and cons to going out fast on a course like this.  The problem with easing out is that you get stuck with the second wave of runners and when you change from a wide open start to the trails you get hung up in the crowd.  Once this happens it is difficult to pass on the trails.  End result this year is I finished 10 places lower overall than in 2011.  But the UP side was I finished about five minutes faster than last year.

By mile four I was feeling good about my choice to start out slower.  My wind and legs felt good.  My ribs were feeling uncomfortable and slightly sore.  The main challenge was breathing, I wasn't able to breath and deeply as I usually do.  But as the miles went buy I began feeling better.

As you can see from the photo it was a gorgeous day for a race.  In March no less!

I wore the Coyotes' and Annie's Locker 'Running for Two' bandana around my neck.  Check out Annie's Locker http://www.annieslocker.org/

So I tripped and almost fell on my face only three times this race!  I realized each time that I tripped is was when my left foot would catch on a root or rock when making a left turn.  Apparently I don't pick up my left foot as much as I should.  Note to self: Work on that.

Thankfully at mile six there was a water station.  I took water and some Goo as I was feeling tired.  Goo is amazing for me.  Within a mile I felt much better and began to pick up the pace again.  At this point we were running zig-zag through the Pine Tree area of the course for maybe a mile.  This is my favorite part of the course.  I enjoy the back-and-forth of these trails and the softer footing of the pine needles.

Friend and running pal Steve Jaycox was running strong.  He passed me at mile five.  He finished strong and earned his Survivor shirt by running and finishing all four races in the series.

Nice job, Steve!  Looks like he ran with the  Coyotes/Annie's Locker bandana as well.

He ran strong and fast.  Went by me like a shot and said, "hey" as he ran by.  I responded by saying "ugh".  Ha.






Another photo of me coming out from the trails and crossing over the road inside the park:

I think this was around mile 8.  Not sure.  I do know that the person to my left and I ran together for several miles.  For a while he would lead then I would pass.  Then he would pass me back.

Once my hat flew off when I ran under a tree limb.  He was kind enough to stop and pick my hat up for me.  He was in my age group and I believe he finished ahead of me.  Thank you!

Last year I was pretty well spent when I finished.  I felt much better going into the final mile this year and had enough for a finishing 'kick', passing another person in my age group.  I believe I finished 9th in my age group and 92nd overall.

A very beautiful sight after you've raced 12.4 miles on the trails:

THANK YOU very much to Larry Swanson and all of the volunteers who help organize this series.  It takes many hours to put on such an endeavor.  No wonder it pulls in runners from all over the midwest area.

More photos of the race can be found at this link.  Thank you to Ron Leonhardt for taking the pictures https://picasaweb.google.com/Ronald.Leonhardt/RockCutTrailSeries20km?feat=directlink#

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