My race for Kentucky was the Rugged Red Trail Half Marathon. When I signed up, I knew it was a trail run and would not be a fast one, but I didn't look closely at the details until a week or two before the race. I started reading about it and saw it was described as very challenging consisting of roots, rocks, steep inclines and declines, stair steps and uneven trail. And it had a 5.5 hour time limit. I was very nervous going into it, but then I started thinking that if I had 5.5 hours, I could just keep moving and finish.
And that is what I did! I did try to run the first mile, but about halfway up the first incline, a very steep incline, I had to start walking. So now my strategy was to walk up the steep hills and run down them. And also run on the few little hills or flats parts. A lot of the race was on a dirt road full of rocks, sticks and ruts. Then there were the mountain trails that were rutted and muddy and had some stream crossings.
These hills don't look anywhere close to how steep they were!
The first cool view...and I could look up instead of making sure I didn't fall on the trail.
Their signs were fun...mile 8...it's called rugged for a reason!
More steep hills...I am impressed that people could do this in tutus!
Around mile 9.5, it became a harder, but more fun. We had to climb up and down ladders; use ropes to climb up and down rocks and hills; and run under rocks. And at the top, we did have another good view. At least I think it was good. I was kind of distracted with the next part of the trail and did not get the best look!
The tutu girl was climbing up using a rope.
Then the stairs..
And around rocks...
and down the ladder!
Not sure how this trail was made!
A good view, not from the top, but still a good view!
Just a 5K left!
Climbing down using the rope!
After climbing up and down, I was done! But there were still a measly 2 miles left. It was a hard 2 miles!
Then I reached the mile 12 sign, finally! But my watch said I should be finished as I had run/moved 13.12 miles!
By the time I finished, and at least I finished running and ahead of the tutus, I had run 14.2 miles and it had taken me 4.22 hours. It was my longest time and length half!
I wasn't going back to the hotel to shower and had a 2 hour drive back to the house, so I changed clothes and got my recovery food. They had a BBQ lunch that was decent. I forgot to take a picture before I changed! And the medals had not arrived. So I didn't get my usual pictures. But I did get a picture with Bigfoot one more time!
I am glad to be finished with this race! The state is beautiful and I had a great time seeing it, but not sure I would have chosen this race if I had known how hard it was going to be. And the 10 hour drive home home let me know how sore my legs were! Every time I got out of the car, I could barely move. But as I am writing this 4 days later, I am back to normal with my sitting and walking down stairs. Maybe my brain would trick me into signing up for the rugged again, or not!
