First off I'll say that this was probably the most fun I have ever had in a race. Its been raining on/off all week and really came down last night so I knew that it was going to be quite muddy out there. I just didnt know it would be that muddy.
This was a really low key event. Only 7 or 8 people showed up for the full marathon and after cheering them off from the park we loaded into some cars to get to the half marathon start 2.5 miles down the road. It was raining pretty good at the park so I left my watch and music in the car and donned a garbage bag to keep dry.
The dirt road was SO soupy that 2 steps after getting out of the car my feet where covered in mud. That really runny sticky clay mud. Im thinking this is going to be an adventure of some kind. There where 17 of us at the start and off we went just a minute or so after the top 2 marathon runners passed by us.
For the first mile I tried running on all different parts of the road to find the least slippery or driest spot but there wasnt one so I ended up right in the middle splashing and sliding all over the place. I was alone by mile 2 and for the rest of the race but I enjoyed the solitude. The rain stopped and there where low hanging clouds around the cliffs and the temps where perfect. I tore off my garbage bag and tossed it at the first aid station.
For a bit I was mad I didnt bring my watch but I tossed that thought out the window and just enjoyed the challenge of finding a stride to fit the continually changing environment. I cant express how much mud and slick clay where on this trail/road. It felt like for every stride you would slide back 1/2 a step. I found that a super short stride and fast feet where the best bet today.
We wound up a trail that was half in and half out of a wash going towards the mesa and it was all up hill. I was laughing at the absurdity of trying to race in the mud but man was I having fun! Hit the second aid station at the base of the mesa and poped a GU and some water then took off down the road. After maybe .10 or so I got thinking I was supposed to turn off the road at the aid station onto a trail so I ran back to ask them. The workers had no clue but I was pretty sure thats what I was to do so I went for it. It was a single track bike trail and it was only slightly less slick than the road but had puddles of water every 5-10 feet. It was either step in a puddle or run out into the bushes and deep mud. It was downhill and in and out of the wash. I was laughing so hard and just having so much fun sliding and slipping all over the place. I came up one hill and on the way down I threw my arms up like on a roller coster and let out a big yell. That was a mistake because it was step and I couldnt get my legs going fast enough to keep up with my body. I didnt fall but it was close. I cant imagine what someone would have thought had they seen me.
Unfortunatly the trail ended and we got back onto the dirt or should I say mud road. I was able to pick up the pace through here as the road was covered with crushed lava rock and wasnt quite as muddy. That only lasted for a mile or so and then the mud started again. It would build up on the bottom of my shoe and then come flying off in large clumps as I would swing my leg forward and then splash in the road and make an even bigger mess.
The last mile or more was on the highway back into Virgin. It was nice to have most of the mud off the shoes for a while. I came into the park to the cheers of the 5 or 10 people at the finish line and once I stopped realized for the first time how much mud I had all over me. My legs where absolutely covered. Didnt catch my time as I crossed the line but I didnt care. I was just enjoying the whole experince to much to care.
Im sure most of this is rambling garbage but I just had such a good time and thats rare for me in a race. I felt good, ran good and won which is a bonus. Plus I got a HUGE trophy (no idea where Im going to put it) a pair of trail running shoes and they had lots of snacks and food at the finish.
Talked with a couple people that had their garmins and they measured it at 13.4. So, a litttle long but who really cares. Not a pr but much more memorable of a race than most pr runs. | 