AM Time for another good Half Moon Outfitters race, this one at Lake Connestee. I've done 3 of their races in the past, winning all. The promised rain last night didn't happen, so weather was cool but nice. I warmed up on course and found they changed it from past years, definitely making it slower and more technical. Perfect. Started very fast to not get trapped on single track, being in first place within 50 yards. I ran hard and felt good, and all the footsteps behind me quickly fell away except for one, Tim Gibbons, who was within 5 seconds at mile 1. I just kept pushing, though, as best I could with all the turns, trees, and roots. Couldn't see him by mile 2. Crossed a bridge at mile 3 to a cheering Barry, then finished on the very technical, slow new portion. I loved it. Finished in first in 22:31, Tim was 22:50. Cheered in friends, cooled down with Jason, then stayed for awards (HM is very generous) and the awesome door prizes. Enjoyable day. This was my third race in fourth week, with another race, the infamous and challenging Mt Mitchell Challenge 40 miler in two weeks. It's not often I run this hard on technical trails, so it's nice to mix things up. Results http://go-greenevents.com/resultsdetail/id/1568 | 