Buffalo Wallow 6k

I did not know what to expect today at all. I had not run a cross country race before and I have not felt confident in my running yet this year. Additionally, I had looked at last years results and noticed that most of the field has talent. This can intimidate those of us with no talent.....but only if we let it. Running is as much in the mind as in the muscles. All in all the day exceeded my expectations.

I arrived at the race site at 7 am, way too early for such a relatively small event. I did get to scope out the course, which consists of little surveyors flags to follow. Point of interest number one was the starting chute which narrows down to a trail after about 100 yards and I wondered whether it would get a little pushy or congested. Point of interest number two was a patch of mud and standing water to traverse at the bottom of a steep hill that required scaling. This was followed by a flat wet portion that circles back along the running pathway paralleling Allen Parkway. Then down a hill back into the start/finish area, under the Waugh St bridge and back up the steep berm on the other side. From there it was flat or a slight downhill out and back to the finish area. This loop would be done three times.

Before the race, I met HRB poobahs Sarah, Jon, and Sarah's friend Gavin, which helped me relax. At 8:00 I positioned myself at the start line with about 60 other runners. At the gun I took it quite easy and was in the last five runners by the time we hit the mud gully. I picked up the pace from there and did the first 2k loop in 10:23, or about a 8:22/mile pace. This was a bit faster than I planned and could sustain. Nevertheless I picked off a few runners on my second lap and two others in the last 500 yards to finish 49th out of 60 in 31:45 or about a 8:35/mi pace. Since I had hoped to break 33 minutes, I am pleased with this result. If one excludes the one or two muddy areas and the two steep uphill patches, the course was a pretty basic trail run. I liked it.

Then it was a real treat to watch the women's race at 8:45 am followed by the men under 40 race at 9:30. Since it was three narrow loops, one could see a runner pass by six times. We were able to cheer Sarah, Gavin, Sam and rest of Sam's awesome On the Run racing team (took three out of the top four places in the men's race). Jon did not run since he is doing the Mardi Gras Marathon tomorrow. This did not deter him from going to Huntsville this morning and Buffalo Wallow afterwards to support HRB runners. I feel guilty for not jumping in the car and cheering him home to the Superdome tomorrow in true 'leave no blogger behind' spirit. Oh well, I am sure New Orleans will put its best face forward tomorrow and send a lot of positive energy Jon's way.