BOSHO Trail marathon, basically off the couch, run on all the fitness I could gain from a 19.2 mile long run 4 days ago, and nothing else of value since March 1st. I got 2nd in a time 6 minutes slower than my 2nd place time from last year, and missed the win by a little less than 4 minutes. I led for the first 10, shared the lead until 16, lost it on an uphill, almost regained it at 18, but then a gnarly blister on my left heel exploded and it slowed me down. The trails were in good condition, but it was pretty hot and I think everyone up front got pretty dehydrated over the last hour or two, thanks to all of us carrying only one bottle and there only being aid stations to refill at miles 4, 10, and 21. I obviously could run faster here if I show up with more than one run of significance in the last 6 weeks. Legs feel great afterwards (trail races just don't beat you up the same way), but the last 8 miles on the exploded blister were very painful and I couldn't really walk afterwards. The inside of my Nikes are pretty bloodstained, so I think it's a good time to throw them out and get some Saucony XC flats. More on the race later.
Photo by Jared Campbell
| 