Faster finish and faster field at Paradise

I ran the 11 Miles to Paradise trail race Sunday and crossed the finish well more than 7 minutes faster than last year. While I moved up place-wise compared to last year, the change wasn't as great due to a fleeter field.

My training has been greatly increased through winter and spring as I prepare for the Bighorn Mountain Wild and Scenic 50-mile race, but when a couple of people told me they thought I'd finish Paradise in 1 hour and 20 minutes or less I wasn't so sure. Later, after calculating the pace - 7:37 per mile - it seemed within reach. The course is fairly level, but it would depend on the hillier second half.

I started with a 6:26 first mile - perhaps a bit too fast - but maintained through the hills and finished right at 1:20:2.05, in 34th place overall. Last year, when I finished in 46th at 1:27:53, that time would have put me in 20th place.

Still, I'm pleased, and I'm slowing down to go longer at Bighorn!