This year it was going to be Adele, Heidi, Gail and just me. No other Hirsch's representing and if I remember correctly we were supposed to go somewhere right after. Since my mother was in Israel, I took her car there.
As always it's a late start tho this year it was actually early: 9:30 am. Haha. Also, the school they use as a base wasn't available so the course was slightly modified. The start was the same, the course was the same but the finish was a little different. Instead of finishing on the left side of the school, we finish on the right of the school. Definitly a little easier as you don't have the HUGE hill at the end but still there was a nasty incline to the finish.
It was weird going there by myself. Still, been there, done that. They based everything in the Young Israel of Jamaica Estates which was nice since (again) my stomach was on the fritz and they had more bathrooms than the public school.
Got there early to register and connected with Adele, Heidi, Gail, Glen, some SSSQ people and Ron Weinberger. Nice.
A guy from Arutz 7 (channel 7 from Israel) intervied me. I found the interview - there are 2 versions. One of them is in Hebrew and the other one is in English.
It was chilly in the morning so I wore a long sleeve shirt and tights but had sleevies just in case. After I registered, I decided to be a little cold in the start and went to the car for a change. Shorts and a singlet. That's it. Then the sun hid and I got cold but I knew I would be better for it.
Went back to the YIJE and just laid on the ground to do my stretch for my injury. People looked at me funny but when don't they?
Our posse then headed to the start.
Some runners already went there as it was 9:15 and Hillel was there so I immediatly yelled out to Hillel that "I'm here and we could start" which caused a chuckle and diffused the air. After a few minutes, the entire field arrived. I made sure that Gail was in the front with me. A little kid was in front of her and I motioned to Hillel to take care of it which he immediatly did. Good guy!
Race started a little late but that's ok. We are off and I found myself in the top 7 almost immediatly.
Ran down a block or 2 when a car almost came on to the course and skreeched to a halt as a young guy comes flying out of it running against us to the start line. Lucky for him it's a chip timed race but the guy was running hard the 2 blocks up hill to get to the start. Whatever...I settled into the race and there was a kid who crossed my path cutting me off. Not nice. He and I kept leapfrogging each other the whole race. One very annoying thing about it was that his shoes were ripped. I think the sole was coming off so it sounded almost like a horse (clickity clack). More about it him later.
At about mile 1, Adam Orlow passed me. I told him I was suprised it took him this long but he said he was doing negative splits. Considering it was a 6:35 mile, I was shocked at what he was saying but mile 1 was in the middle of a hill and he left me in the dust right there, accelerating! The funny thing is is that like Gail he has a very distinct gait. Very recognizable. In fact with him, it almost looks like he is walking.
Finally ran into Tammi, which always means 1 more block to the 2 mile mark which is the entrance to Cunningham Park and also always means a personal cheerleader. She is pretty awesome.
In Cunningham Park and clickity clack kid and I are running together. I was actually hoping to run past him but I knew I couldn't. Still, I was doing well on time. He started to leave me and he made a boo-boo. Lucky for him, I (sometimes) am actually a (somewhat) decent guy. He ran right by the exit to the park and only stopped because I started yelling to him. The volunteer there wasn't loud enough. He stopped and retraced his steps. PAY ATTENTION NEXT TIME DUDE! Out of the park, to the cheer of Tammy again, and up the hill but this time we make a right 1 block before the big bad hill.
As I came out of the park, I realize there was a guy chasing us or rather me. Clickty clack was up ahead and this guy seemed more my age and he was chasing and I refused to make it easy for him. He can beat me but he would have to work hard at it. Made the right turn to the finish and he made up a little of the distance between us but I still refused to make it easy for him. I surged as hard as I could. Clickty clack was done. I was done and less than a second later my chaser did too. Congratulated each other and he said thanks to me and that "it's the best way to go faster the chase". Later I found out he got 1st for age for males 45-49.
I came in 11th overall (Males/females) and 2nd for 40-44 males. Gail got 1st for age and Heidi got 3rd for age. I told her before she started that she has a chance here. She didn't believe me. It was a nice trophy too.
After Gail took the usual abuse from Glen as to the fact that she is slow, we ran the course again affectivly sweeping the course. The cops initially were alarmed to see us but then happy to hear that there aren't more runners coming their way or in English that they are done.
Back to Adam Orlow...He wasn't happy. It was one of his "worst" times. His time? He did 20:43! And he wasn't happy. Did I mention that he was 6th overall? And even tho the website lists him as 2nd in age, since 1st in age was 1st overall, he was 1st in age! Geez...
In the park, we lapped 2 sets of walkers (sorry) and eventually went to the YIJE to get food/drink/trophies. I got 2 nice pens for the kiddos which had a bubble thingie on top to be used for smart phones - nice.
I jokingly told Adele, Heidi and Gail and Glen that my kids will ask me if I brought them ice cream (and pizza). As soon as I got home, Jessie did exactly that. Sheesh.
Good weekend in the end...