"Although I May Flirt With All Kinds of Dirt"

Yep, that lyric from Depeche Mode's "To Have and To Hold" pretty much owned my brain during a good chunk of the Flirt With Dirt run.  It was impossible for it not to.  I spent a lot of time with the "Music For The Masses" album in my day.

As far as the race itself, I do believe it's one of the more enjoyable experiences I've had.  The parking situation was super easy.  I got there about an hour early, which, for some races, can still be a nightmare.  Not the case here.  I paid $5, they waved me back several times, and eventually I was parked on top of a hill only about 200 yards from the start and packet pick-up.  I really can't remember too many races I've traveled to that were this simple, and didn't have you waiting in a long line of cars to get parked. 

You don't get much closer than this (no zoom)

This left me with a lot of time to stand around and talk to people.  Unfortunately J was not with me due to the race selling out and him not signing up earlier.  I did run into someone we know though, and he was doing the 5K (won the age group too).  I even got to see him and a good chunk of the other 5Kers file on in, because we were starting 30 minutes after them.  Pretty much half of the 10K runners were a cheering section for the 5K.

Shortly after watching some of the leaders come in, we lined up for our race.  I lined up (optimistically) with the 10 minute people.  I was hoping to stick with most of them and make a go at actually having a good trail race for once.  In the end, this was probably a good decision.

We started off down a hill, making a half loop around a soccer field, and then we were on a gravel road heading into the trail.  It felt like a good pace off the start for me.  Once we got into the deep woods, it was really calm and peaceful, almost to the point you could be lulled to sleep.  Had it not been a little chilly, I could have seen stopping for a nap.  Even the runners themselves were pretty quiet out there.  Trail runs usually have a lot of loud, boisterous riff-raff, but everyone for this one (at least near me) seemed very subdued.  You had to listen close to even hear a quiet "passing on your left" here and there throughout the race.  I think the only yelling I heard was directed at someone that dropped something and a person behind them trying to get their attention to return it.

Like a lot of trail runs, you get parked behind someone you want to pass, and you kind of debate it for a while.  I never really know when to do it or not, because I know I'm not the most steady-paced person.  My miles vary so much that sometimes I'd be better off just staying behind someone to even out the pace.  This time, though, I think I made all good decisions.  Everyone I went by stayed back there, and the people I eventually pulled up behind for the last 2 miles were kind of towing me in to the finish.

The one thing that made this race more fluid, though, was the fact there aren't any real hills.  Unlike the other two races in the series (Trail, Legend), this trail run is almost dead flat.  Sure there are hills, but nothing that an average (or even below average) runner is going to get beat up by.  Like any trail race there are a lot of roots, rocks, and uneven spots, so you do have to be careful of that.  Also there are a few places with some quick drops in the path.  So if you're following someone too close, you may not realize that nature put a step there for you.  Sometimes your fellow runners will let you know, and sometimes you find out for yourself.  All of those obstacles are a lot easier when you're only going a little over 6 miles.  The feet never really get lazy on you for that distance.

Zonked, and have no idea why my tongue is out

I ended up pulling in with a time of 1:10:15 and a net time of 1:07:49, which was good enough for...well...nothing. After I finished, I grabbed a quick water and one of those blueberry muffins that I was hoping would still be there when I finished. That muffin was gooooooood! Just another reason to like this race. It was just a really laid back, relaxing, good time. I just wish it wasn't so early, because I realized when I left, it was only 9:30, and there is just no finding beer that early. So, because of that, I just went home, made some eggs and relaxed.

Muffin Deliciousness

Shirt/Bib

Yeah, I didn't exactly do this entry in a timely fashion.  I've been swamped with life (in a good way).  Flushing 5K tomorrow (and the post for it over a week later, I'm sure)