Hairy Bison 18K

The weekend before Thanksgiving every year, the Harbison Trail Runners put on a free 15 and 30K trail race. Yes free. Yes 30k for most runners. Oh except for the few that get up early and run a "warm-up" 15k before the race begins. The somewhat more normal racers do a 15k loop and then reverse course to get a total of 30k in for the day. You are handed a buffalo nickle at the half-way of each lap, supposedly to use as a raffle, but realistically moreso to see whose sweat drenched hands fumble for the little brown coin. There are always shenanigans, costumes, and great post-race chili. And don't forget the Hairy Bison, which for whatever reason graduated was shirtless this year. 

If all this doesn't make for a unique race experience, did I mention that the entire course isn't marked?  Not one single flag. 

Last year, I got lost so I promised myself that I won't this year. I did a "preview" run a few weeks before the race and I was as prepared for the 30k as I'd be. Which is to say, not too well. 

I took off at the start and was within minutes lost sight of the leaders. I fell in with 3 other guys and settled in. About four miles in, I was definitely feeling out of shape, by 7 I was thinking I might drop at the half. At the turn around, after a porta-potty break, I was told I was in 4th place so that gave me just enough motivation to leave the comforts of the post-race debacle. I kept up a decent pace for the next few miles, looking for Kenny who was doing the 15k on account of little baby Ferreira slowing her down. 

Around the bend, about 11.5 miles into the race(6.5 ish for her) I found her, walking and crying having just fallen on the course. The tears were purely out of fear of hurting the baby, but her motherly instincts have already kicked in and she rolled in such a way that her hip and shoulder took all the impact. I wisely gave up any inclination to continue to race and I walked the remainder of the race in with Kenny. A much more enjoyable pace and time just spent in the woods with my girls. 

Until next time,

Danny