Location: Indian Truck Trail in the Cleveland National Forest
Start: 8:00am
Finish: 2:16:47
Elevation: 2,400 ft of elevation gain
How did I get myself into this you ask? Well like always, I'm easily suggestible and I love to run. That's all that needs to be said. I actually found out about this race from Glenn. He had ran it last year and even made a video about the course. Around March of this year, I watched his video again and didn't like what I saw but I was curious to see what it would feel like to run uphill. Next thing you know...this happened...
This morning I got up around 5am (forget to take the photo until it was already 5:24am...lol) to make good on that entry I sent in many months before.
Got dressed. I didn't wear that long sleeve blue top to run. It was just because it was chilly in the morning.
I had a quick bite to eat and some coffee and I was off.
No, wait...I packed up all the race stuff and THEN I was off.
I got to the trail head in good time so I had a lot of time to relax and stretch.
The day started out overcast but it didn't last long because soon the sun started to peek out from behind the clouds.
I checked in.
Picked up my bib.
And this bug (gnat) net that I carried with me during the race and prayed that would not have to use. Luckily I didn't. It's not very attractive. Not at all. Not even a little bit.
The swag bag content. That race shirt is made of bamboo and is SO soft!
I walked around the starting area a bit taking photos waiting for the race to start.
This is the ascend into "the hill".
The "official" clock...
It was 10 minutes to start time and a briefing was given. Something about not blocking the road and watch our footing because the path condition was not in good a shape as previous years.
This is Steve the organizer. It's his birthday tomorrow. Happy Birthday Steve!
The "official" starting line. So fancy right?
Ready, set, GO!
Then we were off. The hill started from the get go. Just straight up for 5 miles and it started to get warm early and got warmer as the day progressed. Yeah lovely!
Up and up we go!
My legs were burning but the views made it worthwhile.
When I got to around 4.5 miles, one of the volunteers informed me that I was going to be the 4th female to the top so I stopped dilly dallying around with the picture taking and started to actually run. I was hiking a lot of the earlier miles. I ended up finishing 4th female. I was trying to catch the 3rd female from around the turn-around point all the way to the finish line but she was too fast and I came in a few seconds after her. It was fun to have someone to race to the finish. She gave me a hug at the end and said that I had motivated her to finish strong. She said she saw my yellow hat coming from behind and she was trying to keep the lead. Fun stuff!
Post race goodies!
Fire up the grill!
I did it! I was trying to take a photo of myself with the medal but failed!
And I have this to prove it. :) I think it is a magnet.
Steve Harvey's daughter cooking up the hamburgers! Yum! She's so cute right?
Steve getting a birthday card from
First female and male to the top AND overall first place finishers. He broke the course record and ran this course in 1:35! That's craziness! And she (Michelle Barton) is one fast and strong runner. I'm in awe of how fast she ran this course. I don't know her official time but she finished with time to spare before the second female came in.
That's it! This was fun but let's never do it again! :o) Well I guess I should never say never.
2 comments:
Looks like a beautiful day for a trail run. 4th place? Good job! BTW - the first place woman is Michelle Barton - holds a number of female ultrmarathon records. She ran Badwater last year. The guy giving the card to Steve is her father - Doug. Does he (Doug) look like he's in his med 70's?
Never say never. I hope to see you at this race next year!
Good for you!
That looks so much shallower than the hills I was training on, if only the race hadn't been 70 miles from where I live.
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