I found this link on mapmyrun.com. It maps the run nicely.
| Elevation Map |
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Going back a little in time for a second. Many moons ago, I met a guy swimming at the YMCA. He was coming to the Masters Swimming. His name is Gustavo and while talking to him, I found out he is training for Ironman Lake Placid. And he knows Hector who is also training with him. Small world. Hector was telling me about his friend who is in the Masters Swim training for LP and Gustavo is telling me of a buddy he is training with. Hm...Put 2 and 2 together (5) and started talking to Gustavo.
Anyway, Gustavo was planning on doing the Bronx Biathlon with his wife, the same day as the AP 5. The weather wasn't going to be great. Initially rain then it became heavy rains on Saturday, ending early Sunday.
I sent a warning email to Gustavo. I remember hearing something about a bridge on the course, now covered, but still a mess. People crashing there and things being wet... Could spell D-A-N-G-E-R.
Well, Sunday morning, I get an email. They're opting out. I suggested AP. Kids fun run and the 5 mile challenge. I mean, you're already to race mentally, right?
Told him he can always volunteer, spectate or run.
Took my suggestion.
Our status from youngest to oldest: J2 - fun run. She's done it before. No different than running around the YMCA track. J1 - doing it. This is huge. He is NOT trained. Hasn't run in a while. Last week he ran 1.5 miles to my inlaws. Lee - running with LC. It will be slower than usual. He's a dog and he likes to sniff stuff and he's gotta mark his (perceived) territory, A LOT! Me - running it. Gotta tho a little tired.
My motto: The wonderful thing about doing a race with really fast(er) people in your age group, meaning you have no chance to place, is that the pressure is off. Way too many real runners...
Get there and run into Francois. He isn't racing - he's pacing another Renegade aiming for a sub 42 minutes.
I never did the fun run with the kids. Did it this year. I was worried about Jessie. I was afraid that she will get knocked over again. I never realized how tight the path is at the start. Lee, LC and her Mom ran behind us. Later we found out that they never saw me.
Who's doing the fun run with his kids? Gustavo. We all ran together. Cool beenies.
Ran the fun run together. So scared someone will bang into her again. Smart girl I got...She ran defensivly, sometimes away from the other kids. She ran on the grass at times to avoid kids. Little did she know it was the best thing to do.
When she struggled, I'd make her laugh. Asking her if she wanted her boots since she runs with boots around the track during Gymnastics. She wasn't struggling so bad that she couldn't roll her eyes at me and tell me that I am not funny.
Fun run over. J2 went with my Mother-in-Law since it was a very dreary day. Kinda coldish, very windy. Yucky is the word.
Heading to the start of the 5 and Lee realizes she needs something from the car which is parked all the way on the other side of the parking lot. Ran there with her and LC and now heading back. Starting to stress about missing the start. Wish Jeremy good luck, wave to Lee, say hi to Mo.
We're off. I know the course. Nothing new here. Running another day at AP. Was curious as to when I'll come across Jeremy and what condition I will find him. Worried about him but nothing to do about it now.
Windy day but ok, I guess, in the park.
Get to the parking lot. That section is flat to a little downhill. S'posed to be good. Break from the hills and all. WIND! No other way to say it. It was horrible. Made the left onto 73rd Avenue and the wind got even worse if that's possible. At this point, I was trading spaces with these 2 women. They were trading spaces within themselves. It was an older white woman and a younger black woman. On 73rd Avenue, boom. I'm trying to run and just can't keep up with them. They team up and go at it together while I am stuck in place. Next left felt better. Into the park was a blessing. In the park, I passed them. The worst hills and I'm feeling better. Weird. The black woman (younger vs. older) tried to stick with me. Suddenly she says, "you have great rhythem" and it took me a while to realize she was talking to me. Weird... I was so suprised. Shocked actually. I actually said that to her. At the top of the first hill, she was struggling. I told her to keep up. I tried to yell her to keep up but she was hurting and I was gone.
During the race, any time I saw anyone I knew, I told them to cheer for Jeremy. Saw Gail a block before entering the park.
Saw J1 during the last downhill to the parking lot. Lee wasn't that far behind him.
To the finish. Wasn't gonna be the best but did what I can at the end.
Took a breath and went back onto the course.
Found Jeremy on the first hill back accompanied by Gail. He's running/walking. He's hurting but he's doing it.
Told him that at the end, he won't be able to stop. His last walk but then this woman tells him that he needs to pick it up - no way she will finish before him after chasing him the whole course. He took off. He ran all the way to the finish, sprinting.
Went to get him food and water when Elizabeth and LC show up. I was sure they would take longer. Suprised me.
Will get more info later from Jeremy but for now...Turns out I came in 4th for my age group. Wasn't my best time. I was about 2+ minutes slower but 4th? Really? And Francois decided to run after all and he got 3rd place in my age group. In English: He edged me out. Turns out that the Renegades refused to have him pace while wearing Renegade colors. He was told that if he wears the colors then he must race. So he pushed me out. Oh well. Would have been nice.
Jeremy came in 2nd for his age group. He finished and came in 2nd...
Lee said she had no problem running with LC. She actually got some compliments and shout outs. Some people yelled to her "First Dog" and otherwise cheered on. She also said that there were times were he was actually doing his sprint thing and pulling her (especially) up some hills at a very brisk pace. Funny thing here...Like Pavlovs dogs, I usually clap when I want him to hurry. I mean put the hammer down hurry. So, whenever people saw her and cheered and clapped, he took off. HAHA.
Other things to mention...Team in Training were there in force. I never have seen them at AP and not at that level. They had a lot of purple people.
Also, this was the first time that the magic number of 300 was broken. We had more than 300 people running.
CJR was happy happy as he posted on Facebook: When people utter "never again," you KNOW you have a worthy course. Nice. Be proud, be green.
I do have 1 complaint tho...There were no awards for 12 year olds. In fact, 12 year old were not supposed to be allowed to enter. Well, obviously they did and that's a registration issue. Now, I recognize that it's not a valid age group and therefore no trophy or medal but don't mention the first 12 year old during the awards ceremony and not mention the second. Annoying!
Update on Gustavo's family: 3 kids happy as they got medals on the fun run. Wife got a medal (I think 3rd for age). During the raffle they got a free RoadID and also a free massage thingie worth $ 125. WOW!!!! And they weren't gonna do anything after they scrubbed the Bronx Bi. I think we got converts...Couldn't thank me enough.