Went into this year's TNGA more prepared and in better shape than my two previous finishes but it didn't really matter in the end. This year was the first time the race went from Alabama to South Carolina so I was pretty excited about seeing the route from a different perspective. But the heat was just too much for me and over half the people that lined up at the start. Highs - The HEAT!!!! - The Pinhoti single track outside Cave Springs was awesome - Riding late into the night when it wasn't so dang hot - That beautiful section of trail between Pocket Rd and the Snake Creek trailhead - Finally seeing those beautiful radio towers at the top of Dug Gap knowing my nightmare was over - Chugging the 64oz Mountain Dew slushie that I had been dreaming of during the seven hours of hell on the snake - Riding with some pretty awesome people Lows - The rail trail between Coosa and the High Point trailhead seemed chunkier and slower than usual - The hike-a-bike up to High Point was absolute hell - At fifty miles in thinking I was about to eat the best cheeseburger of my life only to find out it was disgusting and inedible - Running over a rattlesnake right as we peeled off Pinic Rd onto the Pinhoti - The five hours it took to cover ten miles - up and over John's Mountain to the Snake Creek trailhead - That freaking wall on the Snake - honestly didn't think I was going to make it to the top - Stumbling through the snake for seven hours wondering if I was going to make it to Dalton or die trying - My heart racing out of control 70% of the ride