Posted by: Preztc
Since last newsletter something happened that had never been done before-The Saints won the XLIV Super Bowl, this was a good game where the “underdog” won. Also at February 18th’s LRRC’s “presidential” meeting we almost got 30 years’ worth of past presidents together at one time. All but a few came to share the running lore with a large crowd of old and new members. For those who could not make it, we missed you! I wish this meeting and some moments in life were like a football game where we could make an approx. 1 ½ hour event into typical three. If we could stop the “clock” every so often or take time outs we could have listened to more stories and heard more advice and history on how good clubs are made. The LRRC started in 1977 with eight members and today there are over 200.
Lou (Ole Gristle) and Charley (Harley) Peyton were part of the founding group and they graciously sat on a panel along with Bob Hilts, Paul (Galloomphing Gourmand)and Bill(Ole Runner)Hoffman. They answered questions and told stories of beginnings of the LRRC. Bob Hilts offered the comment of how things have changed with all the gadgets and technology to improve running, where in the “old” days they relied on running groups and training partners to improve. They also shared that there were a lot of splinter groups at the beginning and yet I find that is the case now. They focused on creating and organizing races and training groups, like primarily focusing on marathons and certain time goals, particularly for example the White Rock Marathon. T-shirts and photos were brought out as evidence; Lou and Charley had t-shirts from the first LR marathon and women’s run and 3:20 training group. Bill Hoffman had some neat photos of the existing Sunday morning run and the first Arkansas Running Hall of fame inductees. Paul Johnson and Bob Hilts recounted humourous events. There was fierce competition its seems, but also camaraderie and encouragement were evident. I hope we can foster this and when the next generation takes over the club we tell the same kind of lore. Three past presidents received a much deserved award for the years of repeat service and they continue to promote and encourage and support this club. Tom Barron, Steve Hollowell, and Bill Harrell received the coveted plaques. While the president’s were recognized as they are due, this was also member appreciation dinner for we could not have the best club without the best people bringing it all together for volunteering, cheering, racing etc. Thank you all members and presidents.
Running offers many opportunities for people to try something they have never done before, and having a network from joining LRRC will help. You will find many training groups and people available to assist you in a first time 5K up to a marathon, as such as the LR marathon training group (Tom and Hobbit offer an encouraging environment to lead people into new territory.) Running offers things that will change your life for the better. As the Little Rock Marathon event is next weekend,-good luck participants and all those supporting the race!
I hope you will attend this month’s meeting for motivation and a reminder about the important things and not letting excuses get in the way of having and living a full life by listening to Randy Oates recount his progress since last year’s meeting.
Another positive force out there is the splash we are making with our new hoodies with the LRRC logo. While in Texarkana for the Run the Line half marathon, most of us wore them, showing team and club pride. I had someone ask me how many we had attend this event. So there was good publicity for the best club in the state!
Posted 3 days, 18 hours ago at 8:00 am. Add a comment
Posted by: Brian S-ski
In what seems like a blink of an eye, the 2010 Grand Prix season is already 20% done! The LRRC racing teams are looking strong and, as of this writing, have 64 club members in total signed up. That matches our year end total from 2009, which was an all-time record for greatest Grand Prix participation by one club. So….. we need just one more person to sign up and we will break our own record! Thank you to each Roadrunner that signed up for the Grand Prix to represent the club - Go Birds!
And now for a quick recap of the action thus far…
January 24th: Grand Prix Race #1 - One Hour Track Run at Russellville
Yanoviak and Nichols fight the wind at the One Hour Track Run
Both the men’s and women’s LRRC teams took 2nd place at the first GP race of the year though we did have both the individual winners with Leah Thorvilson and myself (yep, the sun shines on a dog’s rear every now and then). As would become a theme in the first four races, the wind was a factor. At the Track Run at least, the headwind is broken up into short little segments. Then again, the lack of head wind is just as fleeting. Our men’s team at the Track Run consisted of Steve Yanoviak, David Williams, Joel Perez, Mark Hagemeier, Tim Steadman, Ross Bolding, Joseph Nichols, Craig Lair, Billy Shurley, Roy Smith, Andrew Kenley, Michael Harmon, David Meroney, Dave Conrad, Bill Bulloch, Dan Belanger, and Carl Northcutt. For the women’s team it was Thorvilson, Andrea Sieczkowski, Alison Acott, Ashley Philbrick, April Rand, Eileen Turan, Alea Humes, Becky Humes, Alesa Davis, Rhonda Smith, and Coreen Frasier.
February 6th: Grand Prix Race #2 - River Trail 15K at North Little Rock
Becky Humes sprints for the finish line in Burns Park at the River Trail 15K
The good news is the LRRC Women took first place at the 15K! The other news is that the Men took third place. On the positive side though, we did get Scott Anderson to sign up for the GP after the race. Leah Thorvilson won again to lead our women’s team at the 15K: Mary Wells, Tina Coutu, Becky Humes, Alea Humes, Eileen Turan, Ginea Qualls, Lisa Alberius, Ashley Philbrick, Wyanette Traub, and Coreen Frasier. The men’s team was me, Kevin Golden, Steve Yanoviak, Joel Perez, Greg Sorenson, Billy Shurley, Bert Sanders, Bryan Jones, Kevin Groustra, Brian Watson, David Meroney, Mark Hagemeier, Joe Nichols, Jeff Bost, Dave Conrad, Bill Torrey, DHW, Ross Bolding, Roy Smith, and Carl Northcutt. In other words, it was another huge turnout for the Birds. Would have been even bigger too, except so many club members selflessly volunteered to work the race: Steve Hollowell, Robert Holmes, Lisa Luyet, Dan “the Man” Belanger, Paul Ward, Alesa Davis, Linda House, Steven Preston, and Glen Mays. Mary, Ginea and Tina also helped with registration and then ran the race too. Andrea and I have directed the 15K the past two years and couldn’t do it alone, so again, thanks to all that helped out!
February 13th: Grand Prix Race #3 - Valentine’s Day 5K at Russellville
LT collects some hardware
The LRRC men came through at the V-Day 5K with their first win of 2010! The women had a good showing too, finishing 2nd to the hometown RVR crew. Leah Thorvilson was the overall female winner, our own Justin Radke got 2nd on the men’s side and Becky Humes and Joel Perez won a Couples Award. The women representing the LRRC at the V-day 5K were: Thorvilson, Humes, Lisa Luyet, Alea Humes, April Rand, Eileen Turan, Ashley Philbrick, Alesa Davis, Lynnette Watts, and Coreen Frasier. The men were lead by Radke, then me, Presto, Yanoviak, Joel Perez, Tim Steadman, DHW, Mark Hagemeier, Roy Smith, Michael Harmon, Dave Conrad, Billy Shurley, Carl Northcutt and Dan Belanger.
February 21st: Grand Prix Race #4 - Run the Line Half Marathon at Texarkana
The LRRC crew at the starting line of the Run the Line Half Marathon
2010 marks the Grand Prix debut of the Run the Line Half Marathon, and (I think) the first ever GP race in Texarkana.
Fun Fact About Texarkana that Radke Doesn’t Believe: the name Texarkana is actually derived from three states: TEXas, ARKansas, and louisiANA. Apparently, back in the day the entire local region was often called Texarkana. It was so catchy that the towns adopted the name even though their location was 30 miles north of the Louisiana border.
Quick Quiz Based on the Fun Fact: The name “Texarkana” was first coined for…
A.) A Steamboat
B.) An Alcoholic Beverage
C.) Just made up by a Railroad Surveyor
Answer will appear at the end of this blog post.
Anyway… for those that didn’t make the trip, I highly recommend you put it on your to-do list for 2011. The course starts in Texas, heads into Arkansas, crosses back into Texas, runs a bit on the actual state line, then finishes in Arkansas. Immediately crossing the finish line you can head into an open bar with free hamburgers, hot dogs, pasta, porkchops and beer. The finisher’s medal is actually cool too. And once again, the LRRC Blog will be the first to break huge news: our Arkansas RRCA State Rep is working with her Texas counterpart to create some sort of Arkansas-Texas challenge at this race for 2011. And… a traveling trophy is likely to be involved. Stay tuned for more details.
And now the big news: LRRC swept the team titles at Run the Line! The men won in very dramatic fashion by a single point over the River Valley Runners. Special mention needs to go to Joel Perez who set a big PR as our third scorer and to Joseph Nichols who sealed the deal as our 4th man as he continues a strong rookie GP season. Oh, and I guess we can give a few props to Radke who actually won the race. Our men’s team also consisted of me, Billy Shurley, Roy Smith, and Carl Northcutt. On the women’s side, Leah won her fourth (of 4) GP race this year. The women’s team was completed by Tina Coutu, Becky Humes, Ashely Philbrick and Lisa Alberius.
Quiz Answer: D.) All of the Above? It is actually uncertain which, if any, of these three urban legends is the original source of the name Texarkana. Thanks for playing!
Posted 1 week, 6 days ago at 10:00 pm. Add a comment
Posted by: Preztc
The past few years, the outgoing president has had dinner for club members as a new president has taken “office” at the June meeting, and some of these outgoing presidents were “recognized”. As the third Thursday in February takes place close to a holiday for national presidents would like to honor all presidents of Little Rock Road Runners at this meeting.
Members attending will be treated to dinner sponsored by the club and a panel of the first few presidents if you are able to attend but need head count for Whole Hog. Members can ask questions and get a personal account/history of the founding members.
MEMBERS: RSVP and let me know if you are able to attend by February 12th to: tcoutu@att.net
Date: February 18th at the Whole Hog Cafe on Cantrell Rd, LR 6:00 pm to eat/6:30 to have intro’s/panel discussion.
Posted 1 month, 2 weeks ago at 6:32 am. Add a comment
Posted by: Preztc
Happy New Year! Hope all members enjoyed the 2009 holiday season and the beginning of 2010 as much as I did. If you have made resolutions I hope that you have kept them and continue to do so., If not, as my sister says, every minute starts another 24 hours. Keep trekking especially for those who have made the commitment to spring marathons and the Grand Prix racing season. For all runners for whatever reason, the bottom line is running makes you better. So here’s to a better you and a “best” year of running.
Looking back at December, the weather not rainy like October but cold (and won’t go away) did not keep the club from experiencing opportunities to fellowship together. The Christmas Party held on the 19th at the Capitol Hill Building was very nice indeed-hats off to past President/current Treasurer Steve Hollowell for securing this location; it was well attended with lots of food, wine, laughs, and most important, good company! Thank you all for attending.
From that evening plans were made to celebrate the longest night of year (Winter Solstice) on the following Monday. Glen Mays hosted a run from his home on Kavanaugh to the Capitol grounds where we gathered to view the Nativity and saw some box with writing on it. From there the fast guys continued their evening jaunt to the River Market before returning back. The rest of us trooped back to the Mays’s warm kitchen, replenished and rehydrated with leftover libations and goodies from Saturday’s gig. Once Glen arrived back with Brian Scieskwosi. and Steve Preston, we pounced on the fresh baked gingerbread men cookies Glen had baked. This was a great run and hope this tradition continues. Thanks Glen!
Christmas Day gave us clear and bright skies with very cold temperatures. A few of us got out and showed spirit. Laura Naill and I ran later that morning, Joel Perez, Becky Humes, Joel’s brother and sister-in-law, and their wonder dog joined us for a very nice (?) hilly and chilly six plus miles through the Heights where we caught a glimpse of Santa (a fast and thin one who oddly enough resembled David Williams).
Paul Ward continued his traditional New Year’s Resolution run on the first day of 2010 that was well attended despite below freezing temperatures (again). It was so good to see all the members from both sides of the river come out to run. New member Mark Hagelmeier, who has also joined our Grand Prix team, was there with lots of energy and enthusiasm. He is a positive influence in the running community as he encourages and appreciates other runners and their accomplishments. One of his training partners was there, Joe Cordi. Joe is another positive person who encourages and makes an impact. As Joe and I were running back we reflected on how fortunate we are to be here in Little Rock running and appreciative of our running community and friends. Joe frequently guides Dave Wilkinson, a visually impaired athlete on races and training runs. He has influenced his lovely wife Sandy to quit smoking and take up running-she was out there in the cold that Friday as well. We needed these warm fuzzy moments as Kirk Riley, Mark, Robert Holmes, and Joe tried to stay behind David Williams and Bill Torrey pushing up the hills on the course, and assumed Kirk turned off early due to having to prepare for the even colder Winter Series run the following day. It was great to see Sarah Olney and Mary Wells out there as well as Rosemary Rogers-(Ginea was there too). Thanks to all runners who came out, especially the only one who didn’t run: Paul!
Returning to a warm house and hot coffee after this cold but “heartening” run, I started cleaning up Christmas decorations and found this fortune cookie saying under my tree: You will soon be surrounded by good friends and laughter. The back had the Chinese spelling and pronunciation for FRIEND. Reflecting back over the past year and especially the past six months as your club president, I can say that this indeed is true. Many events that I have been blessed to experience and enjoy have originated with running. ….here’s to more of that in this new year. As my dad and another good friend passed on to me in holiday greetings, I pass on to you:, “All the Best for 2010″.
*To assist you in reminding you to have the “best” year, please attend our club meetings held on the third Thursday of every month.
January 21-”Best” times on the books- Randy Taylor will speak about long distance records and perhaps life as a Razorback runner.
February 18th-”Best” Running club leaders- honoring LRRCs past President’s. It has been the tradition in the past few years to honor the past president as the incoming president takes office in the summer, so at this meeting I would like to give all those previous president’s an opportunity to be appreciated during President’s week
March 18th-”Best” recovery/inspiration-Randy Oates returns to give us an update on his healing and life since his devastating “accident”.
Posted 1 month, 3 weeks ago at 9:28 pm. Add a comment
Posted by: Brian S-ski
Okay LRRC, it’s time to sign up for the 2010 Grand Prix Series!
In 2009, we had a total of 64 LRRC members on our GP team. That was an all time state record for greatest participation by one club! Let’s beat our own record and get at least 65 in 2010.
So far we have 14 men and 10 women signed up for our team:
Dan Belanger
David Conrad - new to our team for 2010!
Mark Hagemeier - new to our team for 2010!
Greg Helmbeck
Robert Holmes
Bryan Jones
Hillary Kogo
Joseph Nichols - new to our team for 2010!
Joel Perez
Ron Sanders
Billy Shurley - new to our team for 2010!
Brian Sieczkowski
Roy Smith
Steve Yanoviak
Allison Acott
Alesa Davis
Kenya Doucette - new to our team for 2010!
Alea Humes
Becky Humes
Lisa Luyet - new to our team for 2010!
Ginea Qualls
Andrea Sieczkowski
Rhonda Smith - new to our team for 2010!
Eileen Turan - new to our team for 2010!
If you’ve run for the LRRC in the past, we need again for 2010. If you’ve never entered the Grand Prix before, this could be your year. You can find out more information on the Arkansas Grand Prix Series at www.arkrrca.com, but in a nutshell it is a series of 20 races all across the state. For every race you finish you accumulate points in your age group and help out the LRRC in the team competition. We were able to win both the men’s and women’s team competitions in 2009 largely because we had great participation from club members and that helped us score points at every race. No matter your speed or racing frequency, you can help out the LRRC and probably have a lot of fun in the process.
There are two ways to sign up for the Grand Prix:
Click here for Online Registration
-or-
Click here for a printable entry form that you can mail in
That’s all it takes. Your Grand Prix entry just has to be received 5 days before a race. The first race is the One Hour Track Run on January 24th, so if you plan on running that race then make sure you sign up for the Grand Prix by January 19th. But there is no benefit to waiting, so just sign up today - the data entry personnel for the GP Series (me) would be very happy if everyone didn’t wait until the last minute!
Posted 2 months ago at 2:24 pm. Add a comment
Posted by: Brian S-ski
By all accounts, it was a great weekend in Hot Springs for the Little Rock Roadrunners. Many of us booked rooms at the famed Arlington Hotel for Friday and Saturday night and made a nice weekend of it in Spa City. The Spa Pacers hosted the Spa 10K/5K for the 29th year and things kicked off on Friday evening with packet pickup and a welcome reception at the Arlington.
On Saturday morning an easy warm up mile took us to the Hot Springs Convention Center where the races start and end. After last year’s freezing temps, the 45 degrees or so felt perfect at the start. The first two miles of the course are a deceptively gradual uphill, running along Central Ave past the Arlington and then a lap around Whittington Park before the real fun begins. The race course heads into Hot Springs National Park and up West Mountain Drive. Up a huge hill, then it levels out a bit and then back up another. Just about the time you are considering heading over to the side of the road and yacking up last night’s dinner, the road screams back down the mountain and before you know it there is only a mile to go.
LRRC was king of the mountain as both our male and female squads won the team competition at the race. Leah Thorvilson was the overall female winner to lead the women. Jenny Weatter, Mary Wells, Tina Coutu, Alea Humes, Becky Humes, Ginea Qualls, Shareese Kondo, Alesa Davis, and Coreen Frasier rounded out our female team.
On the men’s side, Steven Preston set a 30 second PR to take 3rd overall. Brian Sieczkowski, Kevin Golden, Bill Diamond, Joel Perez, Steve Yanoviak, Greg Helmbeck, John Russell, Harold Hays, Bill Torrey, David Williams, and Dan Belanger were the rest of the 1st Place men’s team at the race.
After the race was the annual Arkansas RRCA Awards Ceremony back at the Arlington Hotel. Our own Leah Thorvilson was crowned Arkansas Female Runner of the Year while Bill Torrey was named Race Director of the Year for the Capital City Classic 10K! After the awards were handed out, the LRRC members hit the town with much to celebrate. Make sure to put the Spa 10K weekend on your calendar for 2010, it is a must-do.
Leah Thorvilson: Arkansas RRCA Runner of the Year
Bill Torrey: Arkansas RRCA Race Director of the Year
Posted 3 months, 2 weeks ago at 10:51 am. Add a comment
Posted by: Preztc
Just something here to let you know about “what’s happening”…..First we have a meeting on Thursday, November the 19th where we will vote on the drafted by-laws. We will have a nice slide show of Arkansas photographs from Steve Twaddle.
I have to call out our past president (sorry Ginea) she asked via posting on forum if we were to have a Thanksgiving day run. Now I have had several customers come into Gary Smith’s Easy Runner store asking the same thing and I of course direct them to our newsletter and website to read the info on line.
The Thanksgiving Day fun run will start with Paul Ward being the Head Turkey at the Full Moon parking lot on Kavanaugh Blvd at 7 am. So far a lot of interest for this run so good way to talk up club and help get new members, please spread the word.
The Christmas Party also is listed in the newsletter and will be held at the Capital City Room, Capitol and Woodlawn next to State Capitol Bldg. December 19th. This will be just LRRC (whereas before we have had a joint party with the bike club and ARK) but please bring a guest to enjoy the company and spirit of our club and Christmas. Our club provides soft drinks, wine, beer and will supply ham and turkey. Please bring a side dish (of food) to accompany and of course YOU.
We may organize other fun runs around Christmas and New Years so would like to hear from those interested. More later 
Posted 3 months, 3 weeks ago at 9:31 pm. Add a comment
Posted by: Preztc
LRRC Team Women did not delay in catching up to LRRC first place male grand prix team. The 2nd annual Soaring Wings Half Marathon held Saturday, October 24th, saw 1000 runners start in the crisp, chilly air but under CLEAR, BLUE skies with SUN. As the rain has been relentless in the past two months the crowd support and runners were enjoying the bright conditions. The course was rolling and had some steep inclines with wonderful aid stations every mile and half. Great goodies at the end too-candy, pizza, granola bars, hamburgers, and more stuff I did not see as was enjoying visiting with runners and they seemed very pleased with this race. The men’s team were second this time, guess they already knew they had the title so they let Conway win (actually Conway had awesome talent there). LRRC Grand Prix team, the amazing male members who ran the race: Steven Preston, Kevin Golden, Bill Diamond, Imari Dellimore, David Williams, Joel Perez, Bill Torrey,Kevin Groustra, Brian Watson, Jeff Maher, Keith McCain, Harold Hays, John Russell,Ron Sanders Jr, Dan Belanger, Carl Northcutt.
On top of this race being very well organized, a somewhat challenging course and a fundraiser for youth camp, it saw the LRRC ladies team capture the Grand Prix team title (for the FOURTH year in a row)! The (Wonder)Women’s team on Saturday: Jenny Weatter, Tina Coutu, Mary Wells Alison Acott, Mackie Buckelew, Rebecca Humes, Ginea Qualls.
Thanks Ladies! Proud of both our teams. This was a great race with wonderful spirit, my favorite part was at the end when the kids’ place the finishers’ medal on you. So glad to have signed up in time as it was sold out and many of my friends were not able to get in. Make sure to save the date for next year.
Posted 4 months, 1 week ago at 8:19 pm. Add a comment
Posted by: Presto
With a win at Chile Pepper, the LRRC has clinched the team title for the 2009 Grand Prix Series. So with 4 races left in the schedule the men can sit back with a beer and cheer on the women as the continue their sprint to the finish for the women’s team title. Or at least that’s what they would like to do!
Arkansas Cross Country Agri-Park
Our own Glen Mays was the top male Grand Prix finisher in a time of 34:23 and Leah Thorvilson the top female Grand Prix finisher in 36:52. The course was a little muddy, but not as bad as was expected. There was some re-routing around the starting line, which was pretty much a mud pit. Overall, a great day for a brisk cross country run!
If you have not participated in this event, I suggest you add this to your race calendar for next year right now. It’s currently the only cross country event on the Grand Prix series. Good change of pace from the road races we do most of the year. Also, you can stay after the race and cheer on some of the best collegiate cross country runners in the nation. This year, the Okky State Cowboys took home the men’s team title with a glamorous 1-2-3 finish.
Oklahoma State Men Capture Collegiate Team Title
Hope to see everyone among the 1,000 participants in the Soaring Wings Half-Marathon this Saturday in Conway. This is the state championship half-marathon for the Grand Prix series.
Posted 4 months, 3 weeks ago at 10:11 pm. Add a comment
Posted by: Radke
Just getting ready for the Twin Cities Marathon was a challenge I have never faced. At the end of the Dam Nite Run I tweaked my hamstring on the final hairpin turn. I would rest it for a few days, ease back into it, try to push it, re-injure, and repeat. After 4 weeks of this I ran out of time and had to suffer through in order to get ready for the Tupelo Marathon.
I cut out hills, tempo runs, and speed workouts. Main goal was to survive and get through TCM. I was so far behind in training for TCM, I figured I needed more miles. So, the week of Tupelo I emailed the race director and asked if I could upgrade and run the Full instead of the Half. I ran the marathon fighting the hamstring the whole way… somehow finished and won. I gave it pretty much all I had… 2:43.
After Tupelo, I took a week of light running before trying make a last push for TCM. I increased the miles and tried to increase the intensity, but really struggled. When I pushed, the hamstring screamed back at me, but I was out of time so I hit it with ice and ibupropren. As a PR seemed out of reach, I decided to go for 2:39… try to help Leah Thorvilson get the A standard for the Olympic Marathon Trials…wasnt even sure the hamstring would hold up for 26.2 in the cold.
I planned to run the 20k at the Arkansas Marathon as a time trail kinda thing, but got lost on the way to the race and didn’t make it on time. In hindsight, this probably was a good thing because the impending fight with Josh Holt would most likely have gone to the bitter end thus stressing the hamstring. I ended up running an uninspired 10 mile tempo at a pace much slower than I wanted. I was totally dejected.
The week before TCM, I met up with Holt planning to hit a 10 mile tempo. I decided to run 8 just to be safe and save some for TCM. During the run, the hamstring would not loosen up, so i decided to cut it back to 6 miles. During the run, I decided to let it rip for 2 miles. Holt and I cruised miles 4 and 5 in the 5:30 range. Confidence was starting to build.
During the week of TCM, I cut the miles way back with hopes that the hamstring would heal enough to survive an attempt at 2:39. I have only broken 2:40 once… at the LR Marathon 6 years ago. Throughout the week, I became restless and easily agitated, due to the lack of ‘runner high’. I just wanted to run to get rid of all the extra energy. The Thursday before TCM, I met Leah, Imari, Jason, and Glen for what turned into a spirited 6 miles at 6 min pace. I didn’t struggle, but it wasn’t easy either. It did feel good to run.
So….. now that the prep is over… fast forward to race day.
For some reason I knew I would do good even though I had no reason to feel that way. My training was minimal, I was nursing an injury, and didnt sleep well the night before because I shared a hotel room with a snoring Imari.
Race day was cool.. low 40s. Perfect weather… no humidity. I gave Leah a hug at the start then we warmed up separately. I say a prayer wishing everyone good health. Everyone goes to the line, and I get behind Leah…somewhat to protect her from the people behind and somewhat to protect me from her.
The gun fires and off we go. I say to myself… 6:01 minutes per mile = 2:39. Hold the pace. Dont burn yourself out at the beginning. I stay behind Leah for half a mile or so. It is impossible to run 6:01.. my legs wanted to run. I see the women’s leaders and think.. how about I go say Hi. So I do. I figure Leah will pass me somewhere down the road. First mile goes by at 5:40 something. I figure, I will stay here for a bit, let the legs loosen up before settling into pace.
Miles keep flying by… 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,…. then we come up on 10. The crowd support is amazing. People line the steets all along the course. It is a huge event… bands, drums, costumes, people everywhere, beautiful course….water stations everywhere…. TCM does it right. I am cruising and figure…. if I can hold this until mile 20, I will get 2:39 for sure.
It occurs to me, my hamstring doesnt hurt. How can this be? I keep going… half way point… 1:15:30 something. I am gaining 10-15 seconds on 2:39 every mile.
I think… uh… this is gonna backfire and Brian Ski is gonna be relentless with his taunting. It becomes more difficult to log the miles. I keep thinking… get to 20.. hold until 20. Around 18 or so, I am running stride for stride with the women’s leader. I am on her right side going into a right turn. I dont know what she was thinking, she tried to cut the corner but I was there. She leans in, ducks her shoulder, and throws an elbow into my side. I shrug her off, hold my line, and dont jump the curb… dont want to tweak the hammie. She says.. ’sorry’. I say ‘no problem’. I note… she is a strong vetren runner… steady.. probably running close to her best.
We get to 20 and I decide that I have had enough… time to salvage…drop it back to 6:00 and cruise it in to the finish. Then this little girl passes me. I mean she is tiny. I think.. eh… she will probably beat me, but I am gonna make her earn it. I pick up the pace. We run together for a bit clipping along at 5:40s. She is fast, but doesnt have much strength on the hills. She is young and hungry.. started slow and picked up the pace. 6:00 is looking much better than 5:40s… so I let her go and drop it back to 6:00. She hunts down the leader and eventually wins. I expect Leah to pass me at any time.
Just trying to hang on...
Somewhere around 22 I hit the wall.. mentally… all I have to do is finish it up and I will get a PR. I pray… let me finish this… give me strength. Finally I pass mile 25… I know I am going to make it and get a PR. Just after mile 26 another woman passes me… I have nothing for her.. dont say hi.. just let her go. A couple of hundred meters go by, then another lady passes me. I let her go, then speed up and say to her… “that is 3rd place right there… go get it!”
She hears me and picks up the pace. She charges forward and closes the gap. I think.. she is gonna get it! I cruise it in, watching. From my point of view it was too close to call. I hope she gets it, but find out later that she does not.
I hold the pace and as I approach the line I see the clock.. just over 2:35.
I stop, kneel, say a quick prayer of thanks, then finish it up and cross the line at 2:35:36… a PR.
Completely unexpected. I was blessed. Then it hits me.. Leah didnt pass me. I come back to the finishers chute… watching the clock tick. I look down the last stretch… Leah isnt coming. 2:36… 37.. 38… 39… my heart breaks… I failed… Leah needed me and I wasnt there… went for the PR instead. 40… 41…42…43..44. I cant take it anymore and leave.
So.. the challenge was not the hamstring…although I got a PR, I lost sight of the ultimate goal… Team LT. For this I have much regret. Next time Leah.. we will get PR’s and A-standard.
Posted 4 months, 4 weeks ago at 8:10 pm. Add a comment
