Sundown Series '24 May edition

 Before the race even started, blood was already being spilt. I was just about finished with my warmup, but I wanted to venture just a bit further to see how we were going to enter the Timberline trail. As I was descending down this hill, my eyes were looking to the distance when they should have been looking to ground in front of me. Before I realize it, I am doing a superman pose down the trail. The side of my head and my knees took the brunt of it. Normally, I try to tuck in when this happens. This time, I was going much faster and going downhill. I pushed up to knees, and I touch my head. Blood is flowing down the side of my face, and it is covering my hand. 

I made my way back to the race start/finish area, and someone helped me clean it up enough that I can then make it to a bathroom. I looked into the mirror, and it looked rough. I clean it with some warm soapy water. I look at my Garmin, I have about 15 minutes for the race. I head back to my car, and I put on copious amounts of Neosporin cream.  At least enough that the blood is no longer flowing. Then, I headed back to the start. The side of my head is numb but at least, my headache went away. 

Yeah, I know. It is a bad idea to race right after a nasty fall, but no one ever said that runners were the sharpest tools in the shed. 

The race starts, and we string out heading into the woods. Honestly, I am probably being a little more careful and a little less dangerous with my steps. 

I pass a couple of guys, and one guy passes me. 

We went out on Timberline to the horse barns, and we return on the Mascuodine trail. Both are pretty easy compared to other trails at Ann Spring. 

I finished 5th overall in 30:23. 

Given how this day was going, I am happy with this effort. I am looking forward to next month, and hopefully, I can race with no falls this time. 

the Cool Down Runner