Before and after photos for now. Race action shots later. My wishes for the same dry trail at #northfacedctrailhalf that I trained on a few days ago were not to be as we got rain both of the past two nights. The trail was now a slick mud pit, plus we got more during the race. I was managing it all pretty well for about 6 miles until I went down when the ground gave out under me. I got up and didn’t panic, but I also couldn’t seem to get back in rhythm after the fall. Something just didn’t feel right and my chronic left knee started to really throb, especially as we went through steep hills in Miles 8 & 9. After that it was flat - but more mud. I didn’t want to fall again and because of that probably got too cautious here. That said, runners in front and behind me were wiping out like kids on ice skates for the first time. Once we got out of that section, I powered to he finish as best I could. I learned long ago to not put much stock on trail race times since they will never be like road times and trail conditions can throw any plan out the window. I guess I fought well, though, because I still was 3rd in my age group. Not the AG win I was hoping for but solid considering it wasn't my day. I had to dig deep for it and get what I could. All I can ask for. #ECSDC #runblr #fitblr #masterstrackathlete #trailrunning #springracingseason #trailracing #nowforrecovery (at Great Falls Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwzmFAihxCZ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1r2bkl1wyvqb
