Soapstone Mountain 24k Trail RR..a painful experience!

Got to the race around 8:30ish..picked up my bib, last minute bathroom stop...ect...I love the trail running crowd...we are a scruffy bunch...lol Loved all the wild hairdos, hats, bright outfits! Def a change from triathlons! First 7 or so miles was a blast! I felt great! Loved every minute of it. Had no clue about the "Killer Hill". As we are turning towards it one of the guys directing us joked "Its all down hill from here". I laughed along and then I saw "it"! A line of runners, crawling straight up into the sky! Wasn't sure if I'd be able to walk after that much less run. But on we went. Splashed in a few puddles! Passed a ton of people! After I went through the mid point aid station I thought to myself "I feel pretty darn good!" and then it kind of hit me..."hey my knees aren't feeling so hot!" And from there it was all downhill. I kept trying to run, but every downhill portion was agony. I kept thinking man this was supposed to be fun, but my body wouldn't cooperate. I wanted to keep running, to enjoy the puddles and the mud! My nutrition was on point, I had tons of energy! My heart rate was good, I could have gone faster. But at this point all I wanted was to make it to the 11 mile aid station by the 3 hour cut off. I was aiming for between 2:30 to 3 hours (finish time). I kept saying to myself...just keep running and once you get to the 11 mile aid station you can walk the rest. At least that way you can finish this thing. It seemed like it would never come and then there it was! Grabbed some Gatorade and a cookie and hobbled on! Almost the entire last 5k was down hill. If there hadn't been so many rocks I probably would have just slid down on my camel pack...lol A group of runners who I started with caught up to me and urged me to run with them. I tried to, but when we hit the long downhill portion I just didn't have it. I had a momentary high once I finished the race, but once I got home I sat on the floor in my shower for a good while...I didn't feel like crying, but I was def pretty damn miserable. I try to view every bad ride, run, race as good mental training for my half ironman this summer. I was feeling a little low after the race, so I got myself a new tatt to remember the fact that I didn't quit!