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Louisville, Kentucky, United States
After four years of long-distance running (5k, 10k, half-marathons) I got a little burnt out and decided to try my hand at triathlons. This blog is a journey into my training regime, as well as the play-by-play experiences I have had while competing in these amazingly fun events!

Friday, November 5, 2010

Pure Screamin' Hell 6.66 Mile Run

Completed my first-ever trail run this week. On Halloween night. In the dark. Yes, you read that correctly. Pitch. Black. Well - except for the dimly lit headlamps we wore. This was an annual race that took place in the woods of a local park, closely located to an old tuberculosis hospital which is said to be haunted. However, the scariest thing about the evening was the number of times I tripped and nearly fell on multiple roots and rocks throughout the trail.

The total mileage of the race was 6.66 miles - very appropriate for a Halloween night run. However, because of the way the race was set up there weren't any mile markers or a clear indication of where we were on the course. This was fine because Alicia and I - along with the three other ladies we met along the trail and ended up running with - kept eachother company with interesting and often hilarious conversation. With a mile or so left to go, I twisted my ankle pretty good and yelled out a few choice curse words. This incident came just on the heels of one of the other runners taking a big plunge and ending up with a bloody knee that ultimately needed stitches. Ouch! This was trecherous stuff!

Near the end someone made a joke about all of us running across the finish line together holding hands. Somehow the joke ended up as a reality as this is exactly what our finishing photo would have looked like (had there been a finishing photo). The five of us came in dead last (only 75 or so runners altogether), but this was fine with us since it was more about the experience we had than setting any PR's. Our official time was just under 1:54.

I have to say, as frustrating and anxiety provoking as this race was, it was definitely my most fun race yet. I am looking forward to signing up for it again next year, and am also anticipating running my second trail race this coming weekend. This one is in the daytime however (booo - how boring :), and will be on a farm rather than in the thick forest. Still, another 10k under my belt and another training run for Memphis in approximately one month!

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