09.29.12: Big South Fork 10k, 17.5 MileTrail Races

Perhaps my favorite trail race of the year. The drive to Bandy Creek passes some of the best scenery in Tennessee, generally not too cold, and trail runners come from everywhere. As 17.5 miles is more than a little out of my league, I've always been a volunteer - help the finish line crew set up and photograph the runners as they finish (also took advantage of the wait to run the 3.6-mile Blevins Farm Loop last year). But his year, Bobby threw a changeup at us short-distance guys - a 10k option, which finally got me to lace up the running shoes and give it a go. Like EXPO the two races followed the same course, with the 10k turning toward the finish line at the aid station 3.1 miles in, while the big race continued on toward and eventually onto the Grand Gap Loop and 11.3 more miles before taking the same route to the finish line. I also have to say this was the most difficult race I've ever run and not just because it was 2.3 miles longer than my previous long (3.9 miles in the MRHC Summer Series). From about 4.5-6 miles was near-continuous uphill and I had to walk a good bit of it.

As for the finishing order, in the 10k: Jay Spiegel, Jason Halcomb, & Curtis Combs were top 3 men; Heather Martin, Andrea Roark, & Katie Walters were the first 3 women across the line. Course records set as follows: 53:02 men, 1:03:50 women. (I was 15th overall, 13th male, in 1:04:29).
And in the 17.5-miler: in the men's race Bob Adams, Gideon Wilson, & Beach Hensley were the top 3 finishers. Sally Brooking, Lindsay Hensley, & Holly Sayne were the first 3 women to hit the chute.

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