| Map |
|---|
The weather was supposed to be good during the day (a little cold for me in plain English) and potential for bad weather in the PM. Hoping to get it done before that happens...
Jamey and I drove down there and parked. Got on the shuttle and went to race start. As usual, more halfers then fulls but that's ok. They have 2 loops and we have 4.
Got ready and my stomach was acting weird. I wasn't sure if I was hungry or if it was the "other" option even though I already took the little blue pill to shut the gates of hell down. Hm... I went to get a drink and they had just gotten a huge bag of fresh, steaming bagels and there was a HUGE egg bagel that was steaming and it called to me. I could not resist. Jamey was shocked as I was devouring that sucker. Yes - I did!
John, Jamey and I stuck together and off we went. We started before the halfers and they had a slightly shorter beginning to do. It was weird. We got split off from the main pack pretty quickly and I was concerned that we were lost but it was ok.
I don't remember the loops being very technical or anything. We just chilled and enjoyed ourselves. Talking and running. John wasn't a huge talker but that's ok. Jamey and I did most of it. Fine - I did most of it.
I wish it wasn't a year ago because then I would be able to write more about it but it is what it is. I will mention what I do remember.
I did have some gels that were available on the course and I did drink too.
Toward the end of the 3rd loop, a woman caught us and we said hi. She had headphones on but still heard us. She left us BUT missed the left turn. I saw it. I started screaming at her. She did NOT hear me. I kept yelling. I had a choice to make... Chase her the wrong way at a sprint or continue on my own race. Suddenly she stopped and turned and there I was screaming and waving to her. She kinda heard something and that's why she stopped. She realized what happened and what all the commotion was and turned back very embarassed. Good deed done for the day I guess.
We continueed for the 4th loop. At the stand alone aid station, a guy (Thomas Sewell - 27 years old) was standing there in major pain. I offered Tylenol and he took I think. Wished him well. Nothing else I could do. We left. Well... The 27 year old decided that he has to continuee and catch the old guys and well, he did... He caught us and we ran together the last few miles. We pulled. He soldiered on.
The last 1/2 a mile of a race is always hard for me. Do I sprint? Hm... Well, I'm usually not that competitive at the long races but suddenly I had a thought of him sprinting past us and it got to me and I opened up the throttle and left. In my (delusional) head, he was chasing. Jamey took off too. I heard noises and predictably so, I went harder. I finished. Jamey came in 18 seconds after me. Thomas came in 6 seconds behind him!!! John brought up the rear 3 minutes and 56 seconds later. That stupid sprint gave me a second place for age finish and a third place for Jamey. John got 4th. Thomas got 2nd for age. Cool deal.
Jenny, the RD's wife, gave all of us a ride to our cars and we drove home. Checking my phone, Mikey was freaking out about the weather. We saw the clouds coming in. Check out the picture I put up in the gallery. Apparently a few tornadoes touched down in Long Island, a little East of us. It did start raining badly at 1 point. Very little visibility but then it suddenly cleared up and we were in the clear. Cool.
