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 :)

XTerra Hickory Knob 7.2 mile Trail Race

I completed my first trail race today!

This morning we headed out dark and early, up to South Carolina for the XTerra Hickory Knob Races. The drive was about an hour, and unfortunately my husband had stomach issues this morning and we had to stop at a semi-creepy gas station at 6 in the morning for restrooms and Pepto. Lucky for us my race didn't start until later on, and since the weather was ugly they were pushing it back some anyways.

I don't really have any pictures from this race. And here is why.

Yep.

Weather Channel said LIGHT RAIN starting at about 9:30-10 am. Nope. It was pouring when we arrived at 7:30.

I stressed about how to dress for this race. I knew there was a big storm system moving through the south and that the temps would be in the 40's. But here is my dilemma. This winter I held off on buying any serious cold weather running gear because I knew I was going to be losing 30-40 lbs. I had a few pairs of old gym pants (just the standard loose fitting kind, not leggings designed for running) and I figured I could just get through the winter in those, then buy the serious gear next year when I know what my final size will be like. I did manage to get one pair of running tights on sale for $17, but they ride down so badly it's ridiculous. I can't wear those at all anymore. So, shorts it was. Running shorts, short sleeve top, running jacket. Based on previously mentioned weather report, I figured that a little light rain in 45-50 degree weather would be ok, and that I would be done racing by the time the serious rain hit the area. I was way wrong, and so was that damn forecast!

I froze my ass off out there. This was a very small race that was organized by a handful of people, so it took them a little while to set up. Then there was the 3.4 mile race, and we had to wait for that to finish since some of the people were running the 7.2 as well. Everyone was shivering, even the people dressed warmly! People backed out of the race. One lady I was standing next to just said "I'm not doing this", got in her car and left. For a moment I seriously wanted to. I didn't want to be cold and soaked for 7 miles. Both my husband and I were having a bad morning. But that was PRECISELY the reason I had to do it! I had to get out there, run this race, and try my damnedest, because otherwise we would have had a crappy morning, lost $50, lost 2 hours of driving and gas money, and our time - all for nothing. I would have felt ashamed of myself for giving up, and the thought of what could have been would have haunted me. So I lined up with the other shivering racers, and off we went.

I thought to myself - this isn't a big race. Maybe I could place in my age group if I push hard enough. That became my new goal. Go home with a medal.

I started off pretty strong. In the middle of the pack. I passed some people and some people passed me. Eventually after about 2 miles I was sandwiched between a few people off in the distance. Then the ones ahead of me eventually faded from sight. But there were still racers close behind me. The rain poured the whole time. My hands and feet were frozen, I could barely feel them. It took about 4 miles for me to truly warm up, but that didn't change the fact that I was soaking wet and my clothes were cold. So it was my body constantly fighting my soaking wet clothes, trying to keep itself warm. I realized that the gym pants I had wouldn't have helped one bit, they would have just been soggy flappy pieces of fabric around my legs, weighing me down. (Running tights #1 on my list for next winter!!!)

The course would have been beautiful on a good day. It was called Lakeview, which is exactly what it was. The trail was on a hillside bordering the Strom Thurmond reservoir. I couldn't really appreciate how pretty it was, since rain was falling in my face and eyes and I could barely see. Maybe I should also get a hat with a brim. Around mile 3.5 I slowed to a jog to eat some energy chews just to prevent my hypoglycemia from ruining my day. The racers that were on my heels passed me. Black jacket guy and Purple/lilac jacket girl. I had to pass them. I absolutely could not let them beat me. And once I finished eating it became apparent I was faster, so I took the first opportunity to pass them when the trail widened up enough. Mile 5.5 is where things got hard for me. This part of the course was alot of uphill, and I was tired. My legs wanted to give up - they were still sore from thursday's workout. Purple jacket girl passed me again during this time (there was no sign of Black jacket guy, he appeared to have fallen back quite a ways) I chatted with her a bit, then saw that we had just hit mile 6. I had to push out this last mile and finish strong. This chick could have been in my age group - I couldn't let her beat me! I just wanted to be done - out of the cold, warm and dry! And there was the finish line, with Purple jacket girl well behind me. 1:08 (forgot how many seconds) 9:26 per mile. I finished 13th overall. Not bad for my first trail race, and the longest distance I have run to date.

I scrambled to get out of my soaking wet clothes (in the driver's seat of my car) thankfully I had dry sweatpants and a long sleeve shirt with me. No help for my muddy, soaked shoes however. Chatted with what ended up being the first place female in 25-29 age group, a girl from my area who is in the Air Force. Then, after waiting around in the cold for the awards...

I won second place for the 25-29 females!
I know it wasn't a big race, but a little ego boost is always good. There are so many runners in the Augusta area that I would never win a medal at any races around there!

Despite the sucky weather, I had alot of fun and I'm glad I did this race. I do love trail running. This was a chance to challenge myself at a type of race I hadn't tried before, and we discovered a possible future camping and hiking destination. I pushed myself hard at this race. I refused to let the rain and cold deter me. I could have backed down, but I got out there and did my absolute best. And I am stronger for it.


After returning home to soak in a warm bath and get into dry clothes, we headed out for some much deserved lunch. My husband was feeling better and in a cheery mood. Of course, THE SUN CAME OUT RIGHT WHEN WE GOT HOME. Figures. Lol


We also got these!

I have been wanting to go to this place, and I figured a day when I run a 7.2 mile trail run would be best. Calories don't count on race day! I like to tell myself that.

And finally, I now fit into my size 6 jeans!

I bought these last November. They wouldn't even close back then. I didn't think they could possibly ever fit me, and now they do! Comfortably!