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Uwharrie Mountain Run

February 5, 2011 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Comments:
Didn't feel like I was as in good shape as last year, becuase I've been injured lately and also haven't built an entire season around this one race like I did before. Still got within 30 seconds of last years time thought, which I guess indicates how much I've improved. More importantly, I managed to "go the distance," keeping pace with the Ward brothers which I've never managed to do before when all 3 of us were seriously racing. They were clearly in better shape than I was for the uphills, though I was able to catch up on them on the descents. The race finished on a half mile uphill though and I all but conceded it the moment we started that final climb. Conditions were worse than the last two years (or more epic, depending how you look at it). The rain stopped right before we started and the streams we crossed weren't as high, but the entire trail was thoroughly coated in mud and leaves. The fact that a couple hundred 20-milers and 40-milers had traversed the course hours earlier didn't help matters. Still, it was fun, especially having people to run with and chase after. Though I didn't beat the Wards, I fought off a pack of other runners coming up from behind and held on to 6th.