So I finished the trail half in 2:40:19....with a 12:15 pace. Considering I'm coming off of Covid in December, I'm a good 15-20lbs over the weight I 'normally' carry and I really didn't train.....I'll take it. And somehow I shaved 5 minutes off of my time from last year?
I also wiped out big time for the first time in a while. I kicked a root or rock in the leaf litter and generally I can get my feet back under me....not this time. Full blown wipeout, I turned it into a parkour roll and bounced back up. No other racers were around but I'm sure a squirrel or bird got a chuckle. Just a small scratch on my left knee is the only evidence of the wipe out.
These are my times from this race in the past. Keep in mind this state park, Quiver River State Park, is literally nothing but hills. That's why they call this race the 'Quivering Quads'
2012 - 2:18:06 10:33 pace. Perfect Conditions, dry, sunny....
2013 - 2:34:59 11:49 pace This is the year everyone talks about. There was a literal thunderstorm the entire day....they actually closed the trail at one point because one of the creeks flash flooded. Everyone who raced it that year loves that we were a part of it. There were times I couldn't see 20 yards in front of me it was raining so hard
2014 - 2:43:24 12:28 pace There was 2"-6" of snow and ice on the course this year.
2015 - 2"52:15 13:09 pace Even more snow and Ice this year and it was 20 degrees out. It was brutal
2016 - Didn't sign up in time. There's only 500 participants allowed and I waited too long to register.
2017 - 2:19:31 10:39 pace. Another perfect condition year
2018 - 2:32:09 11:40 pace Melting snow and a TON of mud
2019 - 1:50:47 11:04 pace Very Muddy and rainy....they shut one leg of the course down due to flash flood so it was only 10 miles
2020 - 2:45:31 12:38 pace Overweight and undertrained and I'm just old
2021 - 2:40:19 12:20 pace Overweight and undertrained and I'm just old.