The first rays of sun beamed over The Loess Hills as I backed my truck up to the trail.  After a light warm-up of basic calisthenics and stretching I organized some bananas, bagels, granola bars, running chews, Gatorade and water on my tail gate.  I deposited a dollar in the donation jar and gazed down trail.  No music.  No pre-race camaraderie.  No starting gun.  After a few seconds I started to run.