Run (Not a total disaster run) 5:00:00 [3] 26.0 mi (11:32 / mi)
slept:12.0 shoes: Nike Wildhorse 4
I do really like racing out here - the terrain hard but it is beautiful. I went to bed by 4PM and woke up at 4AM. I got GREAT sleep. I felt good and got ready. Drove to the race and went I parked and put on my pack.......i realized I left my fucking Tailwind at the damn hotel in the fridge. I didn't panic, I just double checked all the aid stations and they were well spaced and I figured I might still run well but would stop at aid stations. The first part was annoying as there was a bottle neck and we had to wait in line to get over the stream. I should have started more to front (i started in middle). I did pretty good first half - I was kinda scared but took my regular nutrition and drank at aid stations. The weather was perfect. It got a little hot climbing between miles 18-20. Steep steep climbs. At mile 23, I started cramping (legs and low back) and when my quads were cramping, I was getting some left knee pain. I started walking and it was uphill anyway so hiked to like 26 mile aid station. I decided to drop because I could not run at all (and had a headache). I'd cramp when I ran. I didn’t want a shitty time and I’d have to walk to rest of the way. This race has no flat! All up and down. Besides being dehydrated, I definitely need to do more hill training for this one. It was a beautiful course. And I ran good first half - I was in top 5 women....oh well! I'm not upset or feel defeated by any means. Running without much training and missing my regular fluid just tells me I will do well here next year with the right stuff! Oh, I'm completely guessing my time - I know it was around 5 hours when i dropped. something like that.