Quad Rock recap

I was anticipating a good day at Quad Rock and instead I flopped. I finished in 8:14:46. 186th out of 209 finishers, my poorest place at this race by a big margin. And I'd expected to match, if not exceed, my previous best. What explains this fiasco? My major problem was acute leg muscle cramping, but there were some minor issues as well. In the week before the race I did my mobility and core routine every day and ran 15-30 minutes per day. I ate and slept normally, which is to say, well. Instead of feeling fresher and fresher, I started to feel stiff and irritated all over. My right Tibalias Anterior and Peroneus Longus, the muscles on the shin and outside of the lower leg, were particularly tight and tender starting on the Thursday before the race and continuing into the eve of the race. I did a small set of 20 second hill sprints on the street around the corner from home on Thursday and felt okay. My shakeout run on Friday afternoon, however, sucked. I never got very comfortable…