OK, who knew it was so cold in FL in the mornings....brrrrr. I saw on the weather report that the daily high was going to be in the 70's so I was wearing shorts come race start....31 degrees.
The race has different routes for each of the different mileages. At this race you could choose to be a half marathoner, a marathoner, or an ultra runner and choose either a 50K or 50 miles. There was even a 50 mile relay as well. We all start out (excluding the 50 milers who started earlier) doing a 5.25 mile loop which was some basic trail running. Somewhere between mile 4 and 5 we have to do 2 river (stream) crossings. The water is to far to jump so you just have to go in....it is now about 38-40 degrees. It's not too bad as the water is only calf to knee deep. A short while later we come to a barbed wire fence with a sign to let us know we need to climb under, through, or over it.
So we finish our loop around and start back to pass by the start/finish line which just happens to take us 10 feet from where my car is parked. I had about a 30 second conversation with myself on whether or not I was going to change my socks to dry ones. Easy choice. So now I'm off and running with my dry non-squishing socks.
The next part of the race takes us into the swamp. Its like a graveyard for saplings. There are small thin trunks sticking out of the ground like spears waiting to impale you if you trip....everywhere! So we move through this and do two more river crossings (much deeper water). This time we are balancing our way across a log that has fallen over from one side of the bank to the other. There is sludge and some muck in the water to soften the blow if you fall.
The race then turns off the trail and runs straight through the forest. From here there are pink flags tied on tree limbs or anything else about every 20-30 feet to tell you where to go. So off we go through the woods and briars following pink ribbons. Mental note, when running trail races wear tights or something to protect your legs. I'm currently sporting razor blade size slashes from ankle to knee.
The rest of the race is more or less the same. Sometimes we ran on a trail and sometimes we were following ribbons through woods. Once the weather topped the 70 degree mark we were running in grass lands (no trees). Whew, that was a bit warm.
Somewhere along the race, the half marathoners turn off and head back to the start/finish, the marathoners get to take a short cut so not to run the 50K distance, and I ***think *** the 50 miler folks are still out there somewhere.
Somewhere in the last mile there is another trip through a river, back under the barbed wire, and finally the finish line is in sight. The music is playing, and a wonderful buffet is awaiting. BTW, the food was FANTASTIC! Best BBQ every. (I’d might even say that even if I wasn’t starving).
What I've left out until now is the fact I got turned around and perhaps lost a time or two….or three. I actually had a PW (personal worst) on any marathon to date. That said, I took 2nd in my age group. Woot!
I've got to say this to date has been my favorite race. It isn't often you get a chance to run through the woods and climb obstacles like a kid. I loved every rough spot they threw at us and my only disappointment was that there weren’t more challenges. | 