3rd Tri's Into to Woods ^v^v^

Trotting into the transtion area, I hang up my bike, pull off my shoes, jacket, helmet, gloves, and slip into my shoes and grab 2 clif shots on my way out.

T2 time 1 min. 16 sec. not bad.

I come out onto highway 28 and make my way over to the golf course, where I take another clif shot and make the turn onto the trail. It may seem like I take alot of clif shots, thats because I am, I average between 5-6 clif shots during a race approximately every 30 min. apart to replenish eletrolytes and sugar level so that you don't cramp up or get dehydrated during the race.

After about a mile I can start to feel my toes and I notice that my legs feel really tight and my shins are starting to hurt. At two miles I have to stop and take a pee break so I run alittle ways into the woods to relieve myself. The women in front of me was curious to were I went because I was following her for a while then disappeared. I eventually caught up to her and she asked me where I went I simply said "pee break" and she smiled and nodded. Now that I think about it, It would probably be alot more of a hassle for her to take a pee break than for me.

After about mile 4 my legs start to feel better and I'm able to maintain an even run pace. The run course winds around a golf course, up and down, hills, and through the trees. Its pretty scenic if you stop to look around, I was just trying to get through the course as quickly as possible w/out twisting my ankle. They had a water station @ every mile so that was nice to see how far along you are.

Once I hit mile 5, I was flying and anxious to see the finish line. I turn onto highway 28 and traffic is stopped again by our friendly neighborhood sheriff. I close in on the guy in front of me and I catch him once we hit the beach. Its about 100 yards to the finish line as we both navigate around beach obstacles and I out distance him to the finish line by about 10 sec. Relieved that the race was over and amazed by the fact that I completed the 31 mile mountain course. I gaze up into the heavens and thank God for his everlasting grace and praised him for giving me the ability to race for his glory that morning.I Just want to Thank Brian, Lorraine, Tracy, Josh, Jerry, JuliA, Syd, Mike, Mark, Sonja, Paul, Amy, Wendy, Peter, Cindy, and Jeannie for coming out to support me. I had the biggest fan base that day and I am so blessed to have friends like all of you = )