Today was my chance to run the Silver Falls Half Marathon.  I’d heard about this race after we had hiked the main loop during our first fall here in Oregon.  It was definitely on my must do list.

I started out with a ton of motivation for this race back in late July.  Training was going well and I had no complaints.  Then in late September I had some calf issues/injury that just seemed to switch from left to right leg.  I took a couple easy weeks with more biking and less running and a crap load of stretching.  Mia also suggested maybe upping my magnesium intake, so I started taking my daily multi-vitamin again, and what do you know?  It all seemed to work, but…..I had lost a bunch of my running fitness unfortunately.

The course is pretty sweet.  Not super hard, but definitely not easy either.  I was feeling decent until around the 9.5 -10 mile mark, then those last 3ish were rough.  Throw in a whole bunch of us getting stung by bees (once in my left elbow and on my right calf) at the 11 mile mark….that sucked!

Temps were in the low 50’s and there was some light rain here and there.  Perfect running temps.  The paved sections of trail and the wooden bridges were the slickest part of the course.  The dirt trails were in good condition.  Here and there we had some large puddles to avoid, but that was about it.

This was one of two waterfalls we got to run behind.  It really is a beautiful state park.  The main hiking loop gives you 10 waterfalls in 8 miles (if I remember correctly).

While my time was no where near my best half, it was about what I expected.  So, I really don’t have much to argue about.

That’s about it.

well except for the fact that my dog is still a murderer…..

Huge thanks for Mia for coming and driving my butt home afterwards.  I was toast!

Thanks for reading,

-Pete