Nanci- aside from the tacks, I trust you did fine. 9600 ft is no small feat (no pun intended)!

Re tacks- This seems to be a regular occurence on the Seattle to Portland ride near the one big hill we all do about 20 miles out. No one has ever been caught. Since there are 8500 riders, ample opportunity to get a flat in that stretch if you don't know about it. The 2 times I have done the ride, there has been support staff in the area warning us to keep an eye out for tacks.

This kind of behavior reminds me of arsonists- the people who deliberately set fires for the drama of it. How sick and how sad.