12/6- 15k Dark Park Pursuit 1:20:47








So, here I am..sitting in the car trying to stay warm..waiting until the last minute to get out! I'm wondering why every race I plan to do, provides the most extreme weather conditions possible..I mean for Cleveland Half it was 11 degrees. Lastnight it was a little warmer (20 degrees) but blizzard like conditions. The kind your eyelashes are frozen with snow at the finish...but don't get me wrong..I love every minute of the craziness..it's just how I'm built!






I was excited to see this race idea get posted, since races are slowing in the Youngstown area. It was an off road 15k adventure race IN THE DARK. Adventure as in running on grass,sand,gravel..etc. It took place at Mosquito Lake State Park in Cortland,OH. Everyone had to have either a headlight or a flashlight. I think 41 people turned out for the race. I suggest making sure you stop and use the restroom before arriving at the park. There are some restrooms by the parking lot..but no lights..could have used my flashlight I suppose..but just not a good situation. Long sleeve t-shirts were pretty nice..have a howling wolve on them.






The course was marked with reflective arrows you could only see with your flashlight. There were a lot of volunteers out there..so Team PR or whoever was in charge did a great job with marking the course. There was only one spot I was playing detective with footprints in the snow! The course was awesome..some on pavement..some through grass trails..footing was difficult in the grass trails..I got a few good ankle stretches if you know what i mean! I had to go over and under tree branches..through fields..up and down steps! I really felt good the whole race..At the Cleveland Half I was really tired by mile 9..lastnight i could have kept going strong. I've always liked running at night..always feel faster! I wanted to run around 1:12..figuring 8 min pace..but with all the difficult footing, this time wasn't possible. I ended up at 1:20.47. i was second female..race results aren't up yet..so I don't know where I finished in the pack..but I know it was towards the front!



They had pizza at the finish...but we headed straight for the car..ended up getting some pretty bad stomach pains on the way home..pains that make you say take me to the ER..this is the second time this has happened recently.It happened after the half in Cleveland. I'm really not sure what it could be..I don't know if it's the cold weather(I was nice and toasty the whole time) or just really pushing myself! Pepto finally took care of it! So..new day and its time to put some miles in:) You definitely have to try this race next year!!! I'd like to see them run this course in the summer too!
Results just posted..they messed it up..there was only one woman ahead of me..I was 20th of 44 people. They had two females ahead of me..thats okay..just wanted a time to beat next year! They even have race videos on youtube! nice touch..

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