My First Trail Race Report

I learned a lot today. I knew I had no idea what to expect from a trail race. Only 250 runner split between a 3 mile and a 10 mile course. Overall winner gets a loaf of banana bread, age group winners get cookies. This race is part of the TrailRunner Trophy Series so the parking lot was full of out-of-state license plates and rental cars. And 45 year old men with the twiggy bodies of 8 year old girls. In gear. The cool kind you see in magazines. Anyway, it was my first 10 mile race. And my first trail race so I didn't have any competition. Just me. Starting at the back of the pack. First off, a trail mile means nothing. I ran 7.5min miles and 17 min miles during this race. Water was available at 2.2, 5 and 7.2 miles. Always at the top of a hill! They should give water at the bottom of a rocky, steep section so you can walk and drink. Just my experienced opinion now that I've done one race! People should puke off to the side, not on the trail. Be respectful of those behind you. Please. I really don't like hills. Up or down. Give me a nice level dirt road any day. I know my next race needs to be a half-marathon on the road. Or perhaps a rail-trail would be nice. Oh and another important thing I learned- Those 45 year old twiggy men don't smell like 8 year old girls 10 miles later! Edit- I don't know where my paragraphs have gone or how to get them back. Ah well.....