Notes
A rare race where all the hype and circumstance is not hype at all - but now all too familiar warnings of the storm to come - a true tempest of a race - the Half-Wit Half!
From the great starting line oath (which some people raised their right hands for) to the guard rail I had to vault over before the final stone-scrambling hill to the finish, this was the most challenging race that I have ever run. I have never felt that I was pushing myself more outside my element that I did today. For being only my second trail race, I am humbled with a great appreciation of the finesse and mastery of true, seasoned trail runners (who can run road like paces on a course like the half wit).
I lot of things worked today, but many more did not - the bee stings at mile 4 were a nice surprise as we were bushwhacking through the forest (following only orange tape hung from trees - no actual "trail" existed), the 128 steps from Hell were not BS (Ron was right - you would/will remember those), and the hills that completely taxed all my strength and forced me to walk parts of the steepest portions deep into the race are something that I will always cherish and remember. Overall, I'm thrilled to finish the race without any serious injury other than 4 sizable blisters, innumerable scars (from running through a briar patch, haha), and a humbled trail running ego.
The biggest surprise of the day, however? The shoes...absolutely failed me today. They started rubbing early and often into the race, and it became extremely difficult and painful to get a smooth fore-foot strike and power push when I really needed it on the course. I'm hoping that if I can change the laces that they will fit more snugly - but otherwise, I will need a more rugged pair of outsoles on my shoes to keep up with my bouldering trail running style. (Like I said in my first trail race to a fellow racer - "It's better to be a boulder than a rock").
Bottom line: Would I do it again? Just like Rocky, I was saying, "There will not be any rematch" at the end of the 13.1 mile war (my own 15 round heavyweight fight)...But Rocky made six movies...