Muddy Paws

Well it's one week out from the Buckeye 50k so I needed my last long taper run. I headed down to the Muddy Paws trail run which has a 5 and 10 mile option. Well with the course being pretty hilly and my history of racing every race I did a smart thing and signed up for the 5 mile option. After signing up and talking with everyone for a little while I saw E-Speed go by running in the parking lot. I figured that I needed to do some warmup and jogged over to catch her. I figure we did at least 4-5 laps around the parking lot with more people joining her on each loop. During this time we were all discussing the race and decided that E would have to try to win no matter how many times she denied it.

So when everyone started towing the line at the start I decided to get about 3/4 of the way back in the pack so that I didn't get caught up and race (go figure it was a race). Well once we got started I saw Roy coming buy and just decided to head off with him and Tanya. We all had to stop and wait while the log jam made it into the woods. By the time we got into the trails we had stopped probably 3-4 times and stood while waiting for the people in front of us to condense down to a single track. Well I stayed with Roy and Tanya for about a mile just talking about ultras and volunteering to help. Then the trail cleared out a bit and I felt the need. I got around Roy and started to pick up the pace.

For the next 4 miles not a single person passed me. Come to think about it during the entire race not a single person passed me and stayed in front of me. A couple of guys tried to jump in front on the uphills but I was able to overtake them and pull away as soon as we reached the top of the hill. It was a great feeling that I have really started to enjoy. Part of it was that I was only doing 5 while many of these runners would be putting in twice that distance but deep down it didn't matter. I passed many friends who had started in front of me before reaching the end. As I passed two guys with about a half mile left (my finishing kick started here) the one guy said "I hope your doing the 5 mile option".

So here comes the good:
My first 5 mile run ever and first on trails - 47:05
Placed third in my age group and got some swag

And the bad:
First mile was by far the slowest and it was all down hill.

Lost first place in my age group by 49 seconds. I had the 2nd and 3rd place in sight the last mile and just couldn't close fast enough. Had I started further up in the pack and not had to wait in the first mile I could have actually taken 1st (knowing all the fast runners were in the 10mile).

Splits:
10:09
9:29
10:00
9:11
8:16

Wow Photographer Bill Bailey catches a good photo of Brett Running. This is like trying to get a picture of bigfoot.

So, I did the smart thing, ran a short race, supported a good cause, and kept with the taper for a 50k on Saturday. Now it's off to San Diego Monday for some relaxation prior to the race. Oh and I got my 1st class upgrade. Can't beat that. Hope it happens on the way home as well.

Nice seeing everyone out there today. Every time I go to an event like this I appreciate the runners of NE Ohio so much more. Special thanks to Greg, Bill, Mel, Nick, Susan, Aaron, and all the other runners that chose to volunteer instead of run. Nothing but support and encouragement. Looking forward to helping out at the Burning River 100 so pay some of it back.