Running (dirt) race (long run) 54:10 [4] 4.7 mi (11:31 / mi)
shoes: Trail NB 706 9D # 2
Trail race at Saratoga Spa State Park (which we have an O-map of, so I'm able to attach a nice track file), nominally 5 miles, but anyone with a gps watch (Glen, me, some other runner) registered it as closer to 4.7. I was aiming for about an hour, or a little less, for 5 miles, and was happy with my time, even when I found out it was a little shorter. The weather cooperated nicely; sunny and just under 40 degrees. I was dressed properly too and had warmed up (about 7-8 min.) beforehand.
Surfaces ranged from open field to single track to wide trail to a little bit of paved road or parking lot running, and there were enough ups and downs to make a trail runner happy. Only a little bit of mud spied here and there, and one stream crossing where I was able to get across without getting wet shoes.
One fall, on a narrow single-track trail (reminding me of PG and counting falls), barely scraped my knees. Hacked and coughed the first 2 miles or so, lungs adjusting to the cold temperature, but then it was better. I started out at the tail end and passed one woman as we headed into the woods, a couple more on an uphill climb, and a couple more on a fairly gentle downhill (relatively), all in the first mile. One young kid (found out later he was 8) dropped back to walk about 1.5 along.
Finished 99th out of 105; 3 min. behind # 98 and 3 min. ahead of 100th place. First female 55-59 (out of one) and got a piece of paper saying so. Finished 2nd out of three in 50-59, though 1st place was a good 20 minutes faster (she even beat Glen; I'll never do that while we can both run). :-)