"Some Mud Slinging and Indiana Time"

Saturday was my last race of the year, the HUFF 50k in Indiana. I started kinda of late heading out to the race. So when I arrived at the gate to pay my DNR park pass I figured I had at least 15 minutes to spare.

Hmm, kinda of quite driving up to the race site. I think I have had this same strange feeling once before at one of my triathlons. OHH crap, I park my car and see no racers around. The race clock has already started. Instead of having 15 minutes to spare, I was actually 45 minutes late for the race. "ROYAL CRAP," what's up with the daylight saving time theory again.

So I was able to pick up my timing chip and was on my way starting the race 50 minutes behind everybody else.

It had rained and sleeted in the area the night before, so I knew the trail would be pretty icy and muddy. Okay, maybe it was not so bad running by myself through the mud right now, at least I can try to find the best path through this stuff.

But all I could think about was I really did not want to be last in the race and try to at least catch up to a couple of people.

It was a three loop race, so the first loop I was feeling pretty good and doing a descent pace, for me anyways.

So around mile 6, I spotted some back of packers moseying along. Okay, I was feeling a little better, than I get a tap on the back of me saying "good job". Crap, I just got lapped by the leader. Then around two more lapped me before finishing my 1st lap. Dang I hope get fast out here one day?

1 st loop ~ 1:50:48

So on the second loop I tried to relax and stick to a nutritional plan. There was alot of mud on the trail and little streams big enough we could only run through. So another round of cold wet feet we go. I managed to stay upright in loop 1, but when I started to descend on one of the hills, I hit some "black ice" and went down and banged my knee. Okay that hurted a little bit, I needed to walk for a couple of minutes to shake it off. So a descent loop 2, I did have some side stitch issues and some knee pain, but I was able to catch up to one or more people on the course.

2nd loop ~ 2:04:14

So on the third and final loop, I was still running but getting tired. I was not following my nutrition plan all that well and I felt it. But kept running for most of it and stayed upright. I felt good about catching up to all the people I saw ahead of me on the trail.

3rd loop ~ 2:19:30

So with all the mud, ice, wet feet, 31 degree weather, and 31+ miles later, I finished in 6:14:30.

overall place: 84 out of 149
division place: 11 out of 19
gender place: 67 out of 116

Dang that was a long day. But everything leading up to my 100 miler is all training for me. On that end it was a good learning day as well. Talked briefly with a fellow "Marathon Manic" on the race course.

Oh yes, I finally got my Maniac singlet, so I guess I'm official now. #750 Marathon Maniac to be exact.

So with the end of the race, my 2007 racing season is finally at an end.

Everybody have a SAFE and Happy New Years.