<p>My profile picture is from the Cranmore Mountain Hill Climb earlier this summer. It was the day after my wife and I crashed a neighbors party, tied on a happy face, and danced the night away. I got up early that morning, only a few hours later, for the 3+ hour drive up north to race site. Although the drive was long, it was good to get the hangover out. The morning of the race was stoopid humid. The race was number 4 of 6 in the USATF-NE Mountain Race Series. It was also designated as a championship race, so the field was deep. Course went up Cranmore Mountain, to the top, and back down. Then we did the same route again. This picture was taken with about a mile remaining, as I was bombing down an extremely uneasy, technical wooded section that was soft from rain drainage. My arms are out to provide balance as I was in a "controlled fall" all the way down. The entire course was pretty hairy, as you were always on the verge of a nasty crash. I placed well enough at this race, at least maintaining my spot in the overall rankings of 9th or 10th place overall. This race, for me, was the true beginning of my love for mountain running. I can't even explain how hard this race was. It was that bad. In a good way!</p>