Two races....

I just read Abby’s blog about Derry (I considered flying in to do it but now I’m glad I didn’t!) and it inspired me to share my last few “events” to whomever cares to read them. I’d call them races but, well, you’ll see why I don’t!

For the record, I’m slow. I’m 6’3”+ and built more like a linebacker than a Kenyan. In fact, my friends say I’m two Kenyans. But I digress…

Two weekends ago I ran Dave’s Shoe Run. It’s a 10 miler in a tiny town called Delta, Ohio. It’s about 15 miles west of Toledo if you’re looking for it on a map. It’s largely flat but does have 4 hills which really are bridges over the Ohio Turnpike. It’s a wide open space of running with virtually no trees, houses or anything of the kind. Basically, it’s pretty boring and I still can’t figure out why I’ve driven the 2 ½ hours up there TWICE to do this race. Maybe it’s the post race soup? Maybe it’s the chance to stop off on the way home to see the P’s? Who knows? All I know is the 2008 version of the race created a new first for me.

The race started rather innocently enough with the 160 or so entrants taking off with varying speeds. As I tried to get into my rhythm, to which I have none, I was just hopeful the nearly two weeks I lost from being sick wouldn’t come back to haunt me. At the 1 mile mark I noticed I was getting dusted by virtually everyone. At the next turn, I realized only 3 people were behind me. By mile 4 those 3 people were all in front of me. Yep. I was last!! It wasn’t like I was monumentally slow (I think I did just over 11 minute miles for the race) but I most definitely wasn’t fast either. By mile 8 I had resigned myself to the truck driving with the back of the packers would be spending more of his time worrying about me. With about a mile and a half to go, the truck driver pulled up to see if I was ok. I had started doing a little interval walk/run thing about a mile earlier and my guess is the guy was concerned I couldn’t complete the distance. It was sort of funny and I think I surprised the driver of the truck when I gave him this big, cheesy grin saying I was great. In fact, I was fine. I was just spent since my longest actual run in the two weeks prior was only a 4 miler (I don’t count the half in Mississippi I did the week before because being sick made me walk most of it). I crossed the finish line just north of 1:50. About 11 minutes off my PR, about 4 minutes slower than expected and in 160-whateverth place.

Some thoughts about the race:

I probably shouldn’t have done it and ran 10k or so at home.
It’s not the first time I shouldn’t have done a race. See above about the half in Mississippi. That was most definitely the worst race I’ve ever had.
While I didn’t note it above, I think the driver was a little put off I was so slow. It’s funny because I have been to many races where a 10 mile last place is approaching 3 hours. I wasn’t out there even 2 hours. In fact, the person in front of me was only about 30 seconds ahead of me.
For whatever reason, I am still struggling since my race in early December in Baton Rouge.

The Columbus Winter Run:

It’s the annual 15 miler on the east side of town. I did the race in 2007 and thought 2008 would be a good way to train for Boston with a longer run. The course is a rather blah 7.5 mile out and back on mostly country roads through farmland and a few rolling hills. It’s a convenient event to do because it’s 20 minutes from my house and it starts in the early afternoon. The bad part is most people who are slow like me don’t run that far in the winter AND the back part of the course is due west and always into a stiff headwind!

This year’s run was much better than last year’s 15 degree-20mph wind event. Temps were in the high 20’s and winds were less than 10. The bad thing was probably the 4 beers I had the night before discussing world events with the neighbors. It seemed like a good idea at the time…..

As the start I noticed the field was smaller than last year’s with about 100 or so entrants. Within a mile we were very spread out. I did manage to run with a gentleman for a few miles. We discussed races and how it’s easier for him to run when he’s working rather than when he’s not! The turn was supposed to be at the 7.5 mile mark but when we arrived, we noticed the cone had been moved an extra quarter mile. Apparently, people from the east side of town have division issues. I almost turned at the actual 7.5 mile mark but realized I’d be cheating the rest of the competitors by not running the same course. It didn’t really matter as there were few behind me so I trudged the extra quarter mile each way to and from the cone.

Around the 10 mile mark I was passed by another gentleman (who I later learned was from West Virginia and just felt like running 15 miles that day). He was followed by a police escort. At that point I realized the police car was given instructions to keep an 11-minute mile pace. I also realized the wind had picked up. I was cold!!

The rest of the race was pretty uneventful. I ran out of gas shortly after the 11 mile mark and limped home a few minutes slower than 07 and about 6 or 7 minutes slower than I thought I would run. I did pass someone just past 14 and finished 6th from last. I’ll chalk the time up to the beer the night before and still trying to get back into pre-illness fitness.

Next week….Orlando Xtreme half marathon