2 1/2 hours, just barely on track to finish in 4 hours. i finished my aid station business in 2 or 3 minutes and then headed downhill. only maybe 5 to 7 people were still headed uphill as i was going down – seriously, everyone passed me in the first two miles. but running downhill is the part i’m good at, and i soon started catching up and passing people.
there were some short uphill sections during the first few downhill miles, so i worked on eating the gel i had brought with me (hammer huckleberry) when i slowed down for those. the steep section by the creek crossing was rough 