Xterra Hickory Knob 2014

I had myself an adventure this morning. At the Xterra Hickory Knob trail runs

This is a race I discovered last year (recap HERE) I am trying to get into trail running more, and since this one is 45 minutes from my house it's perfect for me.

My "through the pollen covered car window" picture, complete with reflection of running shorts!

I wish I had more pictures, but I just don't. There isn't alot to take pictures of other than the trail, and I'm sorry, if I am racing I am not about to stop and take pictures. There's this big red barn at the parking lot where we congregate and start/finish the races. But this really is a beautiful park. It's quiet (aside from the 40 bikers that passed through at 10am).. The forest was so peaceful and beautiful at sunrise, everything is in bloom and the birds were chirping. Just amazing. I need to get the husband up here for a camping trip!

Anyhoo. Last year I ran the 7.2 mile Lakeview trail. This year I upped the ante and added the 3.4 mile Turkey Ridge trail to my day. They also had a half, full, and 50k, plus triathlons and stuff. 

This race is TINY. Like.. 30 people tiny. Even less people than last year, but they think that was due to some big marathon down in Charleston. 

So our day started at 7:30 with the 5k. 4 people. Lololol. A guy, myself, and 2 other girls. I tried to go pretty fast on this one since it was just a 5k. The guy was ahead of me and I eventually lost sight of him because he was pretty damn fast. The 2 girls were behind me, but they eventually faded from sight and sound and I was clear in second. I did NOT want to be last place, even if it was only 4 people! So the trail was very leaf covered, mostly flat with a few minor hills here and there. It wasn't terribly exciting. And not a single turkey in sight. About 1.4 miles in, I see the guy running back TOWARDS me. This makes no sense, the trail is a loop. He then informed me that I was going the wrong way.

What.

I was confused, but I turned around and followed him anyway. At first I thought he was full of shit. There's no way I could have gone the wrong way. Is this guy screwing with me and trying to sabotage my race? Why would he do that to me? He was ahead of me anyway! All these thoughts went through my mind. Until I slowly began to realize I was passing things I had passed before. Shit. Then I realized where I went wrong.

There was a part where the trail went down to a small creek. The trail was covered in leaves and really hard to see. There was a crossing there. I looked around for a second to try and figure out if it was the right way to go. I saw a yellow blaze just on the other side of the crossing, so there I went. Turns out the trail doubled back at that exact point, and I should have made a right turn and followed the yellow blazes to my right. So basically I hopped back onto an earlier portion of the trail, and proceeded to run in the wrong direction. I met up with the guy because he was on his second lap. 

Yep, I got lost. So typically ME!

When I reached the halfway point aid station, I ran back to the trailhead and explained what happened. My watch said 2.8 miles so I asked the race director if I should just go knock out the last .6 miles, or what? He said not to worry about it, and marked me down for 33 minutes. Um, ok I guess! Lol. I don't really feel right about that, but I would have come in second place anyway. I was way ahead of the other 2 girls. And I guess I'm not TOO stupid, because one of the other girls experienced the same thing. She just happened to look right and choose the correct path. 

SO, after getting LOST, we had a small break before continuing on to the 7.2 Lakeview trail.

Lakeview trail is BEAUTIFUL. It borders a lake - duh - and it's high up on a cliff/hill but it's mostly flat. The sun was shining on the water and there was a cool morning breeze. I started this run with 3 people in front of me and a bunch behind me. Unlike last year, no one really passed me in the beginning. I felt pretty good about that. One couple eventually passed me, then 2 other guys passed me over the course of the race. I rolled my ankle a few times but always managed to save it. Somewhere between miles 4 and 5 I tripped over something and started to fall, so I whipped out my hands and landed on my palms. Scuffed up my knee minorly. My legs and feet were so tired. My stupid tight hip was making it really difficult to pick my legs up high enough, so I kind of scuffled along at times. I was hurting, but not dying. It felt much shorter than last year's, a possible sign of my growing endurance? Before I knew it I was back at the red barn, and taking the second place spot. The couple that passed me - the girl took first. The guy must have been running the half because he was not counted. My time was 1:20, slower than last year but I am not trained for speed like I was last year. And last year I think I was running faster to try and get out of the freezing icy rain! 

So - 2nd place 5k, 2nd place 12k, and 1st place age group (medal!)

As the other racers finished, things got interesting. Nearly everyone was injured!!!

A girl finished 10-15 minutes after me with a twisted ankle. And she said her friend also twisted her ankle, and was walking the rest of the way! Then a guy comes up and says his wife pulled a muscle in her thigh, so he was pulling out of the 50k. Kind of wondered why he didn't stay with her and help her to the finish, but there you go. 3 injured people, damn!! I guess I got pretty lucky, because as I mentioned before I saved myself from about 4 different close calls! 

I had fun hanging out and chatting with everybody after the race. Last year I felt SO out of place at this event, I felt like all the runners there were "elite" and I was just this inexperienced wanna be. But today, I was kicking ass and girls were saying I "probably do this kind of stuff all the time" I felt credible as a runner and could contribute to the conversations we had about running. 

I had a good day - a tiring yet relaxing and fun adventure. Relaxing in the sense that being out on the trails kind of ... soothes my soul?

And finally for your viewing pleasure...

Race swag - Billions of gels and chews, my medal, and my ladies t shirt! Love the colors :)