Well, to make things worse, I had a pretty craptastic day at the Jersey Shore Relay Marathon. You can read the whole sordid thing HERE but the bottom line is things didn't go well. I, of course, finished but it was pretty ugly. It wasn't my worst time, it's a decent time actually, but the day was just yucky and then of course after finishing I had to drive 2 hours to get home or rather to the car rental to return the car and then finally home. Whatever. It's done.
After the Marathon, I did change my sneakers into my crocs and I did put on my calf sleeves. I didn't eat my normal day_before_meal but rather (since I felt terrible) I ate pasta at the site, then a power bar and a chocolate milk and then on the way home an Auntie Em's pretzel and then at home I had a Wendy's spicey Chicken sandwich, spicy nuggets and a baked potato. Why am I detailing all this? Because with my weak stomach, I am potentially putting myself in jeporady here. Stupid, right? But I felt horrible and had a long drive and I had to think short-term so that I got home safely. Whatever the next day would bring, it would bring.
One thing I hate about the AP 5 Miler is that it starts at 10am. So damn late... One thing I love about the AP 5 miler is that I can actually sleep late. My weak stomach dictates a 3 hour venture of getting breakfast in and wastes out so a 10 am start with a 9am registration means I could actually wake up at 6am. The day before I had breakfast at 2am! Awesome.
I was hoping that since the race is "only" 5 miles my stomach would be able to handle it and since I would probably crawl, my stomach wouldn't be affected. Still, I went through the motions. Woke up race morning and ate breakfast. I originally slept with the calf sleeves but now took them off to relax my legs a little. Before we left toward AP, I did put them back on.
Lee had Homecare to do and therefore wasn't racing. I asked Hammad for a ride and he of course said yes which was nice of him. Jeremy was in the middle of tennis season and couldn't afford to run. Out of the blue tho, Jessie asked about doing the fun run. Ever since the Merrel Down and Dirty race, she seems to be more interested. Cool.
So Hammad shows up at 8:45 and we get into his car. His son, Daniel, was there and it was nice to meet him. We got to the park and registered. I was wearing shorts, my AP singlet and gloves. I was cold but I knew I would not regret it once we finally started. It was nice socializing with everyone. The AP people, the Renegades who I haven't seen in a while and of course my crew. My crew this time was Hammad, his son Daniel, Jeff and Heidi and Jessie and me. Adele was doing a swim meet at Flushing Meadow so she couldn't come and Jim was busy with something. Gail couldn't do the race either but to support the club, she signed up knowing she would just DNS.
Fast Eddie was setting up the kids run. One year, Jessie fell here doing this so I was a little worried about her but this is something she has to take care herself by herself.
They finally lined up and finally started. They went straight on Winchester to Union Turnpike, right turn on Union to where the overpass is. They make a right and enter the park after the tennis courts. From there it's a straight shot toward the clubhouse but the finish is near the Tennis center.
I got some nice shots of her starting and then made my way to the finish. I also actually remembered to start my watch so I can keep her time. Nice.
Finally start seeing kids come through. First male, Second male and there she is. She came in 3rd overall and First female. Awesome! Got a nice and heavy trophy and she was happy. We then waited for the 10am start for mine. We decided she would stay at the clubhouse until Lee, Jeremy and LC got there and they were due to arrive around 10 as well.
Hammad, Jeff and I made our way to the front. Heidi stayed a little back. I met Nick (spelling?), Dana's son and I knew he would do well. From all reports, he's a rabbit with a rabbit's future.
We finally started and I took off. I know Hammad expected it after last year. Last year he expected to stick together and probably finish before me. Jeff, I think, also expected me to start and go slowly especially after the day before. I knew today would suck so I just figured start hard while I have it. After that, just survive.
Last year, the Striders changed the course. They actually took a hard course and made it harder. I know why they did it. It had to do with the NYPD charging a lot of money to close down streets. I get it. Still, the advantage of the old course was that I have run it both in training and racing so many times, that I knew the course like the back of my hand. I knew every pothole. I knew exactly where to rest or catch my breath and when to go hard. This new course on the other hand? Not so much. I raced it last year and have run it a few times but still. To make things worse, I did a 50K in December a little while ago and it was a 5K loop done 10 times. That 5K was almost identical to the beginning of the 5M. I hated that 50K race. We had bad (terrible) weather and the hills were horrible. Really screwed up your mind.
In any case, we started and I charged ahead. Straight up the big hill and into the trail leading to Upper Alley. Jeff joined me and we were both running hard to the top. I said "GO! Don't wait for me!" and he answered that he can't. Weird... I figured he was being nice to me knowing that I was annoyed about yesterday's race and therefore maybe he will be able to push me. I did ask him that after he finishes, he walk back a little and help bring me in so that did make sense... So as to not disappoint, I took off. Found another gear I did... Ran by the brick wall and then toward 76/Springfield. I heard footsteps and expected to see Jeff fly by me but it was Yariv and I tried to keep with him as long as I could. Circled the baseball field and I commented to him that I never ran with him before (he is faster...). He commented that we must have so I conceeded that maybe I never ran this long with him. Stayed with him as much as I can but coming out of that circle into Upper Alley proper is hard and I started lagging behind. Ran around the dog park and declined water at the water stop.
Back to the brick wall and still anticipating Jeff with every footstep. On the green line and this part I know. I could run this easily with my eyes closed. Up and down we go. No witch ringing bells on the course. Never seen or heard her yet but people have told me she's there. Spoiler alert: people I know who live in the building think she moved away. Whatever.
Around this point, I met this dude named Victor. Nice guy with mutual interests. He does Marathons and Open Water Swims and Triathlons. So, we ran and talked. I like people that talk while running. We ran. We talked. We worked together. Neither of us willing to lag behind the other. The cherry on top in all this? We aren't even in the same age group. He's in the 45-49 while I am in the 40-44.
I told him the course and before we knew it, we hit the turn around at the parking lot. OK...Good news: Only 1.5 miles to the finish. Bad news: Worst part of the course with the hills to make you pay. Still, been there, done that. I can push these.
I must have seen Jeff at the turnaround but I was so focused on running and gabbing that I have no real recollection of seeing him. We took off. I see Daniel, Hammad's son, and he looks good. First race and he looks good. Good for him. Almost at the top of the hill, I see Hammad and I yell to him that Daniel is right in front of him. Gotta light a fire there. Wasn't sure if he was in a position to do something there but why not? Hammad knows the course and has run these hills. We'll see. I see Heidi and she looks good. Suffering but good. I see Dana and she's gotta be happy knowing her rabbit is way in the front. She's training for a half-marathon in Toronto the following week and still rehabing an injury. She was shocked when I told her I ran a full the day before.
Over the first big hill and the second. I'm not sure when but we overtook this dude named Chris. He's in the 25-29. He was suffering and I think (it's been a while since the race) he was starting to walk. I can't have that... Have to encourage people so I told him that this is the last hill (small) and then downhill and almost flat to the finish. Basically he's got between a quarter to a half mile to the finish. I guess this was all he really needed to call in the reserves because he started running again and (ALL THE POWER TO HIM!) caught up to us. There we were, the 3 of us, all in different age groups and talking and enjoying the day.
Under the Overpass and just a quarter mile to go. Chris takes off. Nice! I told Victor we gotta go too but he was waning so he let me go and I took off. I couldn't achieve a full sprint. Normally I would have chased Chris and caught him but the day before was catching up to me so I didn't concentrate on catching him as much as running harder, faster and not have anyone surprise me from behind.
I was so focused. I did look at my watch and I knew I was going to beat last year's time so I just concentrated on the finish. Done. I was almost a minute faster than last year. Nice. Seeing Elizabeth, Jeremy, Jessie and LC was even better.
Jeff finished after me and went to all 4's to relax. I didn't think too much about that but later he told me he was dry-heaving. He ran so hard and gave it all he could. Can't ask for more. Jeff eventually felt better and went to find Heidi to escort her in. I usually do that but didn't need to this year. I would have gone to bring her in but I was way to busy socializing with the Renegades, Victor and Chris.
I see (and cheer for) Hammad finish and then Daniel. The old man beat his kid by 15 seconds. Good for him. Heidi and Jeff finish looking good. My crew is all in. Cool.
We got food and waited for the raffle/awards. I was feeling good. Made up for the silliness of the day before. Looking forward to the Pizza I didn't have the day before. Didn't really think I placed or anything. One year I PRed and did really well but because of the stupid age group I am in, I was in 7th place. Still, I saw Ken walking with the age group rankings so I asked to take a peek. Both Jeff and I got 3rd for our respective ages. Chris got 2nd. Victor came in 4th and even tho I physically beat him, he must have started further back and beat me by 1 second. Cool! Both Heidi and Hammad didn't place but Hammad got good news. He beat his kid and his kid came in 2nd for age in his first race. Good news for a father. He might just have another running partner.
Hung out for the awards. Enjoying the day. Did well. Found out Arthur finally got out of my age group which of course helped me but hurt Victor. Oh well.
Hung out for the awards and raffles and they had a raffle for a massage. Oh!!! Please me, me, me.... No. I did win something tho. I won a free facial valued at $ 45.00. Unfortunatly no good for my ugly mug so gave it to the wife who will re-gift to her mom. Jessie won a $ 10.00 gift certificate to a bakery. So to recap, we both placed and we both got something in the raffle. She's happy with her time. I'm happy with my time. Surrounded by family and friends. Later I went and got a foot massage and of course the pizza. Pizza with pesto sauce and no red sauce. They put extra pesto and it was amazing. Can't wait for the next Marathon. Fortunatly, only 3 weeks before the next race which is a 50 mile trail race.
The other thing worth mentioning is Nick. I knew he was going to do well and he did but that's not the whole story. I wish I could have seen it but I was told about it. He won his age group. First for age and all. But that's not the whole story. He had to fight for it. Apparently he was running with his peer and his peer sped off toward the finish leaving him behind. Nick found that extra gear and passed the other guy to win by 2 seconds. Nice!