Downhill at Dawn race review #fitfluential #running

There’s so much to say about the race I ran this past weekend, but also very little since I’ve said a lot about it before. This was the third year I’ve run Downhill @ Dawn. This was one of my most enjoyable times running it.

What was different: Not much.

I didn’t carry a drink with me. I knew they’d have a lot of support on the course, and I could wait two miles between water stations. I also stuck my phone into my iFitness belt (<–that’s an affiliate link, and very similar to my belt. It’s awesome.) for 99% of the race. I pulled it out once to check my time/pace.

What was the same: So much.

I wore the same exact race outfit – down to the style/color of the shoes. I left my house around 4:40 a.m. to get to Ridgecrest before 5:15 a.m. I arrived with plenty of time to park and make my way to the ARC to use the restroom and stretch. I got into the starting line area around 5:50 and waited for the beginning of the race.

The race is very true to its name. It began at 6:01 and it starts on a downhill. You run on a side road, before crossing over the interstate. It looks back to Ridgecrest and around mile 3.5 there is an uphill before you finally level off and head back downhill.

There are a couple of minor uphills on this course. It was VERY foggy and a little warm for me. Starting temps were in the low 60s, and I didn’t realize just how that would effect me.

I had hoped to PR on this course, but it wasn’t meant to be this weekend. I finished in 2:04 (just slightly better than last year.)

It’s hard for me to complain about this course. Maybe I didn’t love that I had to wait about 15 minutes before a bus would take us back up the mountain? It wasn’t that bad, though.

I love the shirt and the medal is fantastic. There were plenty of water stations along the course, and it was well marked.

I think I may have been able to push myself a little harder, but I also felt like I was giving everything I had. I don’t have regrets with my run.

Kudos to anyone who ran Downhill at Dawn this past weekend!