I had a tough start to the day. As I'm driving back roads in the dark I saw a dead animal in the road, and hoping it was a possum or something like that, I tried to straddle it with my tires. Too late I saw it was a deer. Miatas don't have much clearance, so KA-THUMP! Luckily it didn't seem to do any damage, but when I came to a stop the smell of caught up to me.

Great weather, under 40 for the start and 50 or so by the end. Dry and clear and plenty of shade in the trees. I wasn't even sure about running it so I signed up at the race (which is why I didn't send Robt an email for "members on the run").

33 runners started, 2 of the faster guys got lost or frustrated that they weren't faster, or something, and quit.

Nice single track on trails developed by mountain bikers. Some rolling hills and a couple of fairly long climbs. We had about 100 yards on a dam at the start, and then onto single track, and I wondered how much passing there would be as people sorted themselves out. Amazingly, I held my place for about 6 miles and soon had 50-100 yards in front and behind me. I finally got passed once by a pair running together, and only passed two (or maybe more) people while they were off on wrong turns. The course was well marked, I thought, but where it looped back on itself I guess some people started on another loop instead of heading back home.

So my run is going well, then about 3 miles in I catch a root and go down. No harm, just gotta be a bit more careful. A mile later, another trip. There are some leaves covering some of the many roots on the course. Not too many rocks. So, just pick up your feet, stupid.

About 5 miles in I trip and slide down, and draw good blood on my forearm, and have good trail rash on my lower leg.

For the next few miles I'm falling about once a mile. Seriously. It's really not that bad of a trail. I lost track how many times actually, and never took another real hard fall, but I keep on landing the same way and my leg is getting very sore from landing on it, and every time it's a bit tougher to get up and get running again, except once when I did a perfect side roll around a rock and back onto my feet. It's like I've never run trails before. I had pulled out a pair of Leona Divides that I had tucked away with plenty of miles left, I guess they are a bit clunky, or maybe I am. I'm reminded of that song from a few years ago, "I get knocked down, but I get up again".

Finally the last 2-3 miles are smoother and I only fall once ;-). The end comes quickly. 1:46 something. Last spring I ran Moe's Better Half in about 1:45. That ain't right. I'm told a couple people with Garmins say it was 11. Oh well, the same race directors (Gill and Francesca) had the GEER 1/2M at more than 15 miles, so I guess it balances out.

I survey the damage. Muddy blood and scrapes covering about half of my left forearm. Serious trail rash on about half of my lower left leg, and more on my left hip. A bit on my right leg. Surprisingly just minor nicks on my palms, where I usually catch myself when I'm not carrying a water bottle, but there is a chunk of skin gone on the tip of a finger.

The car really smelled from sitting in the sun. I should've found a car wash afterwards. Instead I drive home and get the hose. So now I've stiffened up and have to lay down on a rock driveway and spray under the car, and reach in with a wire brush. It takes a lot longer than I think it will, and I don't think I got it all

This morning (day after) I feel pretty good. A couple fingers are sore like maybe I hyper extended them a bit on a fall, and I feel the scrapes rubbing against clothes, but otherwise not so bad.

Bob Clouston
Wintergreen, VA