Run fast

Strapped on the new shoes for the first time.  I am already a big fan.  Felt peppier than usual but still slightly concerned about the hamstrings.  Some stretching and the roller WILL do the trick.

Time is unofficial. This year obviously went a lot better than last (time and place) despite going into it scared to death that my hamstring or achilles would break.  I honestly didn't know if I would get through a few miles but after I got going I knew I had a chance.   

At the start line I saw a few familiar faces (Albert and Bill) but there were no Africans and nobody who I knew could beat me.  That was odd.  No money this year?  I still assumed that somebody much faster than me had to be there.  The gun went off and quickly found myself in 3rd place behind two guys I didn't recognize.  What I didn't know is if they were running the whole or the half and I would have to wait until the turnaround at Sugar House Park to find out.  After the first mile I knew that the achilles problem wasn't as bad as I thought but the hamstrings still lingered in the back of my mind.  They weren't hurting then so I did my best to forget about it.  After a few miles, as I was going down 21st South, Steve Anderson passed me and then Michael Nordberg, who beat me last year in the Mid Mountain Marathon.  I still didn't know if any of these guys were in the Full.  A mile later 3 of the 4 guys ahead of me turned back up 21st leaving me and Michael and anyone else daring to challenge, to compete for the Full.  Michael had about 100yds on me for the next 3 or 4 miles but then I started gaining on him going up Keller Lane.  Maybe my surge was motivated my my familiarity with the neighborhood.  I waved at the house of my old best friend (Chad) and I threw my gloves and headband to a guy I work with, Brian.  I also told Brian that I would catch the guy ahead of me eventually and that he needed to wash my gloves and bring them to work on Monday.  The last part I didn't say out loud. 

So I felt great going up Keller and was looking forward to some fast miles once I hit 23rd East.  I ran 10 and 11 in about 5:35 and finally caught Michael near Cottonwood Elementary.  I exchanged the typically, "I remember you from..." and didn't see him again.  I hadn't been watching my splits so when I saw 1:13:30 at the half I was pretty surprised.  I was thinking...geez...I have a chance at sub 2:30 as long as the body holds up.  Maybe that thought jinxed me because at about mile 14 my right hamstring really started tightening up.  At that point I was thinking about what the papers would read, "local white boy was leading the race but wussed out and quit because of a hamstring problem."  I certainly didn't want to pull a Boozer so I abruptly stopped in the street and stretched the hamstrings.  I stretch fast (hence the reason for my injuries) so I was back at it after only a few seconds.  I don't even think the police car noticed.  From then on the hamstring started feeling measurably better and by mile 18 I was pretty confident that it would hold up through end.   The boring/flat miles on 5th East were a challenge but at least I felt like I was moving unlike last year when the wheels were falling off.  As I turned onto State Street I really got excited because I was passing the taco stand at Sears and I was building up my energy for that last climb.  Fortunately I didn't have to maneuver through the half runners because of the police escort and I finished that crappy mile in 6:26 (last year was 6:42).  It was all downhill from there and I ended up finishing in an unofficial time of 2:30:30.  Not sub 2:30 but still a big improvement.  After review of my splits my first >= 6 min mile didn't come until mile 23 while last year that came at mile 9.  I am crediting my new Lunar Racers.  I have to thank Bill Cobler (winning master's runner) for also sticking around for the award ceremony, which didn't start until 1 PM.  He has some good war stories.  The low budget purse clearly explains the absence of the Africans.  Of course I am still very fortunate because had they been there I wouldn't have won.