Yesterday was the TransMountain Challenge Half Marathon. Oh, what did I think of the trail? It sucked.
It was 1 nice flat mile to the base of the mountain, then 6 miles up and 6 miles down, at an 8% grade. I'm not sure really what an 8% grade is, all I know is if large trucks should be concerned about it, perhaps running it wasn't the brightest idea. It wasn't really the climb that got me, I kept a nice even pace the first four miles, didn't even really notice the 1500 foot climb. What I did notice was the wind I was running into. I was literally blown into the guard rail twice it was so strong. It was cold, which actually provided a relieving running temperature for El Paso, but the wind was ruthless.
It took me a full 2.5 hours to complete that race and I have never been so happy to see the sunshine than on that decent.
Cobb dragged his damn tire the entire way and came in just over 3 hours. What a maniac!!
The best part about this race was the turn out. All Aboard, Hana, Bree, Cyn, Scott, Cobb, Butters and I all ran it and waiting at the finish line with a cooler of beer was Brandon, Matty, Squirts, and Allison. It was also a beautiful view, we started in the dark and watched the sun rise as we climbed that mountain.
As I was standing at the start line, shivering in the line for the Porta Johns, I was watching all the runners stretching and taping thier muscles and eating goo packets. I saw them clipping on their hydration belts and setting thier podometers and putting on body glide. I began to wonder of my simple technique of get up and go, was lacking somehow. Would I be a better runner if I wore those silly running shirts or taped my knee or limbered up before hand? Should I carry stuff on trail? I passed some of those people and some of those people passed me. I concluded, for now, that I am going to keep on keeping on the only way I know how... to just go!
Repeat after me, 'I can do this!'
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