Tom B Report by Bill T

The Tom B was incredible this year. A nice change to the finish of the course and it rained the whole time (what could be better)!!

This year, I decided not to run with a watch or heart monitor, or even carry water. I was going to just drink what was on the course and run however I felt. I caught up with Don Tily as he was just leaving the first water station. We exchanged quick pleasantries and he was gone ahead of me. I could see him up ahead but couldn't catch him, even on the downhills when I would speed up.

I got a little bit of cramps after the first stop, so I decided I wouldn't drink anymore during the race. I caught up to Don at the next water stop, but I didn't stop. After I went sailing by he hollered out, "Hey, Come back here!" That kept me grinning the whole rest of the race. Even when I came upon Sally Rusby running towards me! After a quick discussion, we determined that, hopefully, she was going the wrong way and we continued on. I don't think she was having a good time reading the trail markers and going down the steep downhills, because she was certainly faster than me on the flat, straight trails. And then I passed Joe Dabes (who I usually never see unless he is passing me on his second trip around the course while I'm still doing my first!) But I understand that he was running injured.

To sum up, I knocked almost seven minutes off my time from last year. And then I went looking for a drink after the race and found that Tessa's crew had provided this most incredible pasta salad buffet. It was a great race, even though it must have been miserable for the volunteers in the rain.

Good Running!

-- Bill Taylor