The trail was great, with lots of switchbacks and rolling ascents/descents. Straw was placed on any slippery areas and there were ample aid stations.
The event was very well run with Starbucks coffee, hot cocoa, and snacks waiting for us at the end. (Some of the runners missed a portion of the course around the lake, so someone probably needs to stand there and direct traffic, next year, but most of us saw the signs and there was some turkey trivia posted on signs all along the trail, too!)
Shey finished 1st overall male.
Jansen finished 5th overall and 3rd in his age category.
I finished 2nd overall female and 1st in my age category.
The start was on a road and eventually descended down onto the trail. Shey and Jansen were in front of me and were only within sight for a short period of time. I ran with a lady who led out the women and looked like she knew what she was doing. We stayed together for about half of the course, then she started to pull away on the descents.
Just before the mile three mark, I was watching the two ladies who were about 1.5-2 minutes behind me during the longer switchbacks in the woods, and I was feeling good and had less than a 1/2 mile to go, so I picked up the pace a bit. We hit the road for a short bit, then a sharp right to take the trail around the lake, then finished up the hill on the road. I stayed strong and even passed a guy on the trail around the lake. :>) It felt really good.
When I crossed the finish line, I saw the two ladies who were behind me in the woods, at the finish table, already. I knew they had not passed me, so I was confused. (was there a different distance, option?) I found out they, along with others to follow, had missed the turn to run around the lake, so that cut out a good portion of the course right at the end.
Shey and Jansen told me about their races and it sounded like they had a great time. They saw a guy go down really hard on one of the turns and we all shook our heads in agreement at how bad that must have hurt. Shey was ready to leave, but in the end we decided to drink some coffee and cocoa and hang out for a bit and see the awards. Oh, the hot cocoa was AMAZING!! The award ceremony was very cute and very relaxing. The event organizer did a wonderful job.
I don't think they sorted out the finish times, since the results in local paper are wrong for the women, but the top lady received her award at the ceremony and I got my age group award, so that was okay and the Children's Center hopefully will get a little financial help from this event.
Looking forward to next year!
