05/15/2024:

ack at home... Haven't done this one in a while due to many reasons but the truth is, is that this one I have done many many times because it is home. Felt like it was time to go back. Felt good.

Bob, on the mend from fracturing his ankle into many pieces, decided to do this race. Then one day, I was driving home and Lachlen was running on my block and jokingly I asked how to get to AP and he kinda yelled at me, "Are you doing our race?!?". It wasn't a bad yell but perhaps it sealed the deal for me. Giving me the push I needed.

So, signed up. Bob, Russian Mike and me. I'm sure the usual players would be there. Crazy Gerry, George and some other striders...

Wife dropped me off in the morning and I went to check in. Parking lot was very busy. Lots of familiar faces. Lots of unknown faces. Who gives me my bib? CJR (Crazy Jerry Ruiz - yes, I know it's Gerry but CGR doesn't sound as nice as CJR). Bob is there. We are talking. Russian Mike shows up late. Hammad is there. He's helping out being lead bike. Albert and Ilana make their way there too. It's chilly and I'm wearing 2 tops but it's slowly warming up. I'm not ready for a singlet but I do take one long sleeve off and stash it in Albert's car. We watch the kids race. Awesome. Love that stuff.

We go line up. I hate the whole waiting. Stressful. John Scalzo is there. He's helping out.

Finally we start. I'm in the top 10. First hill sucks. There's a young kid ahead of me. I don't see Russian Mike at all which is so strange to me. Is he starting slow??? Hm. We climb up and into 73rd/Springfield AP. Now into Upper Alley. I see Russian Mike. How did that happen? Turns out I started on the left of the pack. He starte on the right.

The kid? Stopped. Hurting. Asked if he's ok. He said yes. I continue.

Hard course. It is what it is. I see Albert and Ilana. I'm shocked as to where Ilana is. She should be ahead of me. I'm convinced she started late but more about that later.

Back onto the path. I'm running with a female that would eventually get 3rd overall. We suddenly see a dude hauling ass. We aren't sure if he's lead runner as no bike escort but he has a bib. Dude is flying. Cops should be there giving him a ticket for flying so fast...

We see 2nd male overall with the bike escort. Bike escort could not keep up with lead male... WOW!

I see the volunteer EMS guys and I wish them a boring day and thank them for being here. They get it.

I turn around and heading back. I see Ilana. If she wants me, she will have to fight me for it. I keep going on. I push. There's a guy up ahead but I just cannot bridge to him. Hammad is there with me on the bike and he's encouraging me to get him. I can't I tell him. I got nothing. And then I start chasing. I'm silent and I chase. I start bridging up. I'm close. If I had a little more real estate, I would have gotten him. He is almost at the finish line. Some silly spectator whose husband finished, decides right at that moment to cross. I yell at her. She looks up in panic. She finally moves. I miss her. The other dude finishs. I'm right behind him. I'm behind him by less than 2 seconds. Oh well. I tried. Still sucks.

Russian Mike got 5th overall and 2nd in our age group. Nice!.

They had 10 year age groups this year. Apparently a dismal showing last year. Sucks... Oh well.

I go back out and look for anyone to bring in. Bob is there finishing. Good for him. I continue on.

There's a woman and she's in trouble. I'm not sure if she's having an asthma attack (perhaps exercise induced) or just working hard. She's a mess. Breathing hard, making noises, running in a stumbling way. I asked if she's ok and she nods yes. I let her go. I find George and bring him home. Encouraging him as he's being chased. Almost at the finish, and I see the yellow chair the EMS guys use when a stretcher isn't needed. It's at the finish. Looks like they are pushing someone. That can't be good. I peel off so George can finish and I see who is in the chair. That woman from before and she has some blood coming from her nose or face. I don't know if she collapsed at the finish after finishing or fell right before. A few days later, I heard she is ok. Her name is Kathy Eng and she does in fact have a finishing time so congrats to her and glad she's ok.

Albert finished. CJR finished. CJR is in a good mood. Later her went to get stents. Seriously?!?

Albert tells me that Ilana will be pissed. She got 4th for place or as Albert likes to say, "first loser". I hate when he says that...

hung out a little and drove Bob home. He's happy. Very happy.

The dude who won did a 5:15/mile pace and beat second place by almost 3 minutes. Wow... Well, he just graduated from Binghampton as a D1 runner so that kinda tracks...