Flag Rock Race in Farmington - Got my brother to sign up and join in the fun. Saw Twinkies and MattVH beforehand. Tried to take the first climb nice and easy. Passed a couple people once the trail started climbing, and had one guy pass me as you start to climb in earnest. I wasn't climbing super fast, but was moving OK and MUCH better than I had the other day when I ran in the heat. Hit the flag in about 42 minutes, then just kept moving to finish out the climb and start the downhill. The ground was nice and soft and a little sticky from the rain last night, so trail conditions were good. Unfortunately, theres about 25 hairpin switchbacks that make it really hard to get in a good downhill rhythm. Hit the firebreak and had to stop twice to tie each shoe...caught the 1st place female just at the bottom of the BST and cruised down the Lagoon Trail. I thought she was hot on my tail and then realized it was just my water bottle sloshing around. Ha. Felt really good on the road running down Farmington Main street and figured I could just cruise on in. When I got to the intersection, there was a sign for Half marathon and 10K runners to take a turn east. I had thought that we just went straight through, but couldn't see anything about the Flag runners. For some reason I thought I had remembered reading to run in with the Half Marathoners, so I took the turn and followed that course. As I got close to the finish I see Twinkies in front on me...What? How did that happen? Then from my right I hear my brother say "Hey, you take a wrong turn?" Just as he was turning onto the road. What the...I had added almost a quarter mile adding the extra block. I sprinted hard trying to catch Twinkies, but ran out of time - results have him 3 seconds before me. So it cost me a couple minutes and a couple of spots, but thats the way it goes! Gotta pay attention. Had a good breakfast with my bro, VH and Twinkies and hung around a bit to see VH get his 3rd place award. Mad about the turn, but this was a fun local trail race that I plan on adding as a regular event. | 