Better LATE than NEVER

Wow...not a PR of a race, but a nice looking finish line pic at the Twisted Ankle Trail Marathon!

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Walked 2 miles on Sunday (then wussed out because it started to rain); that makes for 42 miles total for the week. Did 14 s-l-o-w miles today to start this week. (in my new shoes, which are good!) Not feeling bad, but can tell I had a race day workout!

Some more random race comments:
I REALLY like my Dirtygirl Gaiters; they worked excellently to keep trail debris out of my shoes.

The race could have used a few more trail markers; I didn't get off course running mostly by myself, but had a couple of paranoid confuzzled places.

The course looped around a couple of times, so I did at least SEE some of the other runners as we crossed paths. No time to chat, but did exchange "hellos" with my friend Margaret (who ran a very respectable 5:35 and placed first in her age division).

It was a very hilly course with lots of ups and downs. http://www.rungeorgiatrails.com/maps.html (scroll down for elevation chart) The first big climb, between miles 2-4, did have me breathing hard, but I was still in mad catchup mode at the time, so I probably was more focused on that than on the hill. I didn't like the gravel roads with less shade and hills between miles 16-19. However, overall, I think the trails weren't as rocky/hard/techincal as some of the ones at Monte Sano. I didn't trip and fall even once!

The aid stations were well spaced on the course and adequately stocked. I would have killed for some Coke though instead of just water and Powerade; it was a fairly hot day for running. PBJ was once again greatly enjoyed, but I was nonplused by the offering of iced watermelon in the water coolers at mile 18. It wasn't any incentive for me, as I just don't like melon; so I also was less than thrilled with the watermelon flavored water.

Barry was able to drive over to the first aid station (at about mile 8) and was there when I arrived. :) But that was the only easily accessible station, so I didn't see him again until the finish. He was very good as race crew and bf. :)

At most of the aid stations, nobody knew the correct mileage for that point. So, without mile markers of any sort, distance was mostly just a guessing game. (one guy at the, probably fairly accurate, mile 20 station about CRIED being told he still had 6 more miles to go...)