After Shakori, the dailies had enough 😮‍💨

2025 Shakori 40 - Leg 2 / 8

2025 Shakori 40 - Leg 1 / 3

Photo about sums this one up

Discovering Disappointment

2 Mile Warm-Up, ~5 Mile Segment Hunt Tempo (+ Hill Sprint Pickup), ~4 Mile Cooldown @ Umstead Ebenezer Church Rd Entrance

Had a LOT of fun with this one. I prepared myself mentally and physically for really going after this SWM Umstead Steeplechase Segment, mainly because I didn't really give the last one quite enough effort. Warmed-up and spiked up (probably the last run I'll ever do in my old high school Haraka XC's), and took off. Cruised through the first mile at around 6 flat, feeling not actually all that good. At that point I just wanted to try to stick with which of the 3 of us was out front. Matt and I separated ourselves on the big downhill leading to the bridge, where Matt put on the brakes. I was glad he did, too. Talking to him after the fact, he was hoping that I'd fall for his trap. I wasn't playing any games at that point and knew a kick up that hill would've doomed me at the end. As soon as we crested the hill and made the right onto Cedar Ridge, that's where I went. Our 6:20 ish pace dropped by about 45 seconds for the next mile or so, exchanging back-and-forths down hills much steeper than I anticipated. He was hanging tough, and I knew the loop crown would boil down to a 250m hill segment. Based on my history this summer, I had a lot of confidence. After going through the "steeplechase" of the loop, we took a right and prepped for the hill. Matt had a good 3 or 4 seconds on me at the start of the hill, but I had him right where I wanted him. He kept a considerable gap on me up until the gravel portion with about 100m left, and that's where I turned on my Strava Hunting burners. I "cooked" him (his words, not mine) and finished strong through the line etched in the gravel. Cheered on our good friend Danny through the line and proceeded to do an easy cooldown, the same loop we had just done but in reverse. Linked up with some varsity guys (Phillip, Tanis, & Kyle) and had some good talk before we finished up the loop, a little over 11.5 miles on the day. I think I was able to snag 2 crowns due to there being 2 segments for the final hill. And to Arthur R, I will find out who you are and I WILL flag you if there's an indication your 27:17 for the segment was on a bike. The investigation is ongoing. Beach day off tomorrow before a segment-less Meredith on Monday...

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Spencer Husen

VC Boys Take the 'Stead... and some CR's 👑

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After Shakori, the dailies had enough 😮‍💨

2025 Shakori 40 - Leg 2 / 8

2025 Shakori 40 - Leg 1 / 3

Photo about sums this one up

Discovering Disappointment

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