Fall Series II (4.5 mi): Bear Creek Park

I imagine that I feel somewhat like the Detroit Tigers right now...a little deflated.  I've been humbly defeated by a twelve year old girl, whom I look forward to following, in the coming years, during the cross country season.  Comparing this race to Fall Series I, I was not competing as strong.

Ready to warm-up together

Pre-race stretching

The starting line

 The race begins at the soccer fields in Bear Creek Park.  You run entirely around the field at the start of the race.  This year, to get to the trail, we had to run through a field of weeds and cacti.  On our warmup, Duane regretted his trail flats.  Apparently, cacti and flats are not a great combo.  After this debacle, you hit a wide section of trail to climb, climb, and climb.  It was about mile one when one of the Baxter twins passed me.  I instantly knew that I had gone out too hard.  Soon after, the female ahead of me in the series passed, and I knew I was hosed.  I didn't even have the juice to put up a fight.  I have a lot of excuses for my lack of performance, but it all boils down to life getting in the way.  But, that's just part of amateur running.

Excellent park for some baby and grandma fun, while mommy and daddy get crazy.

 The course continues to climb, then winds down toward some creek crossings, only to have some stair and hill climbs around mile 2.5-3.  After about 3 miles, the race becomes a downhill fight, one that I could've pushed a little harder.  I've always been a strong downhill runner, but didn't show it today.  Following the water station, there are a couple of short uphill climbs.  The race finishes with winding downhill switchbacks that dump into a creek bed.  Runners cross the creek twice, then rope climb a steep, muddy wall.  A downhill finish pushes into hay bales stacked two high.  At this point, a female runner passed me.  Though she got a few seconds on me, I'm still ahead of her in the series. 

Duane coming in for a strong finish.  You can see the hay bales in the distance.

Approaching my final creek crossing.

The rope climb

 I didn't expect to run this series as strong or as seriously.  While it's fun to compete, I'm a little reluctant about race IV.  Duane and I will be racing as a partner relay team in the Rim Rock Marathon the day before, and I think we can win the co-ed division.  However, I don't think either of us will be racing our "A game" in Palmer Park the next day.