This is the Pre Race Breifing for Festivus For The Rest Of Us. Touches on some of the rules and what to expect. Looking forward to seeing everyone there.

Wanted to recognize and say Thank You to the Festivus For The Rest Of Us 5k Sponsors. Without them the race would not happen.

Was a good week.

Indiana YMCA Turkey trot on the Christmas tree farm.Finished 1st overall in 18:37.2.Was feeling good at the start. Even with it raining and low 30s I felt warm body wise, not having actually really doing full warm up either. There was 20-30 kids at start in front so I started far left behind some dad and his daughter. I took off trying get out around kids. Took me a few seconds. When I did we were going around curved corner and down I do. I stepped in slippery mud that took feet out from me. I tried getting up and went back down.When I did get back up I had that worry adrenaline rush. But also the thought that it was gonna cost me the race. Took me a while to shake it. Since I lost momentum. I did quickly take lead back. But my body was redlining. By the time we were done running around buildings before hitting the actual Christmas tree farm part my legs and lungs were on fire. Didn't really think I could hang on much longer. Managed to make it up the first hill and hit some flat where I got some relief and was able recoup some. Still very worried that I was in danger zone. To me there was no way I was gonna be able to maintain all race. Somehow I did. The small hills definitely sucked. But there was enough flat and slight decline to counter the small hills that allowed me to put forth effort to stay in front. I took corner very shape maybe even cutting corner here or there slightly.My lead grew. When we got to the row section where we go up and down some I'd loo over to see competition. I had 20ish seconds somehow. Did feel relieved some. Was able relax and pull back and stay recovered just in case. From there I did my thing rest of the race. Once I hit the last little downhill before crossing road knew I had it. Was very relieved. Round mile 2 I forgot to mention pulled my neck gaiter up over my head because with how heavy was breathing to started choke me. Without looking id have to say i don't think I won this race before though I've tried many times. ((Edit: i have not before i looked)) If I did it was once, have done this race id say 8 or 9 times of the 10 years its been there. I've always encountered college cross country guys. So I'm happy about the win. It rained while time but I didn't notice. Also didnt notice my music at all. I think after I fell 30 yards into race I sort of blanked out except the though of trying to hold on worry about my breathing. I knew I was all muddy but didn't really phase me till afterwards. My left hand side took it all with my elbow and knee taking the brunt of the fall ass little scraped as well. My blegg MIT was filthy and my ass was covered in Mudd. Do have some nice scrapes that started burn after finishing. They had over 500 sign up which most race ever had not sure how many actually ran/walked because of the weather. This was 10th anniversary of race. For the amount of people though I'd know more since it's local but really only knew 20ish people.