I think all of the above might be the truly correct answer. Everything else was just a big factor. Always happy to do a local race AND how cool is it that's the 2nd oldest AND love going with and doing races with the Freds AND fulfills October AND of course I'm a dumbass.
I did have some misgivings. I heard it's a real hilly course and that there is a 5 hour cutoff which puts a little added stress I don't neccessarily need. Well, none of that really matters. I signed up.
Mike was kind enough to pick up my bib as well which saved me a late Friday night. Cool. Thanks Mike.
I wasn't sure what to do about getting there. Should I take the car or not but finally ended up asking Mike. It was a busy weekend (again!!!) for us and I was wondering if we would get home latest by 2 and he said after we get food, yes. Cool.
Schedule for this weekend:
Seems like every weekend is crazy...
Got through Saturday... Sunday woke up early and did my thing. Mike and Maria were supposed to get there at 6am but I guess they left late because it was more like 6:25. Mike didn't use his GPS so he couldn't find me either. I thought he was near the Cross Island Parkway but it turned out he was on 249th, near the school. Still, found each other and we were on our way.
By the way, I am so happy that I went with them. The company was (as usual) great but it they know the area. Yes - I could have found my way with the GPS but it's so much better going with someone who clearly knows the way. Did I mention that Maria grew up there?!?
Almost there and we saw 2 accidents. A small fender bender and a much bigger one. Sheesh.
We got there and there are road closures already but Mike knew exactly how to get to the parking lot. Again, very happy I went with them. Mike and I went to the port-a-pottie while Maria chose a cup in the van. Wow...Hardcore...
It was cold and I was dressed for it while Mike kept his vow to wear shorts all the way until December.
Almost gun time. Course limit is 5 hours for the full. If you don't make the 12.5 mark by 2:35 then you will be forced to go do the half. More stress. Never stressed about times like that before but this coupled with how bad the course is made me worry.
The 8am start time was delayed to 8:15 and then to 8:20. Later I heard it was because of an accident that needed to get cleared off the road. Remember the bigger of the 2 I saw? Yup...
Anyway, off we went and Mike and I are together for not even a block before he tears out of there. He is on track to getting a sub 4 and desperatly wants it. Good for him. This may not be the course to do it on but give him credit for trying.
I run by myself but ultimatly hook up with Albert who Mike knew. Apparently he ran the BUS 6 Hour PJ run with us. He also knows Julia K and others. Nice.
Really made the run better. My calves were tight which never usually happens except it happened at Suffolk too. Weird. The weather was nice in the sun and coldish in the shade. Still, chilling with Albert was cool. Best part was he knew the area and even tho they changed the course, he was able to give me a preview of the course. Any inside info is always appreciated.
The views were beautiful. The hills were beastly. We ran. Passed by a cemetary and we both started cracking jokes. Nice to find someone like me who isn't all hung up on death. Gotta be able to laugh at things.
Well, unfortunatly he told me that he has to make a pitstop at McDonalds. Sucks to be me and perhaps him, but I left him hopeing he'd catch up.
Meanwhile I made friends with Kate. She was doing the half and we stayed together until mile 12 (about 3-4 miles) before we split off. She continueed straight while I went onto the overpass. Made it in time without a problem. I wasn't that worried but who wants to have stress like that anyway?
The second part was definitely harder. Were we already tired? You bet. Were there less people? You bet. Still, it was harder.
More hills. Bigger hills. I stopped along the course to pee behind a car. Seemed like the right thing to do.
There was an out and back section I think around mile 16 and as I started it, I hear my name being called. Maria caught me. Cool. We ran together with her constantly telling me to leave her and go. Nah...I didn't have it and why should I run away anyway? She told me the hills destroyed her and she can't climb anymore. She was fine. We ran to the turn around but before that we see Mike. He's a little more than a mile ahead of us. Awesome... But some quick advanced calculus told me that he ain't makeing sub 4. We get to the turn, and as we do the guy there calls out our bib numbers and writes them down. Then he calls me again. I spun around to show my bib thinking what if I would have just dislocated my knee. Putz.
We soldiered on. We really had a good time together. She constantly trying to get rid of me and me telling her "NO!". At some point we were told no more uphills. Cool. Until we made some turn and started climbing again... Oi.
One of the volunteers on the course saw us and remarked that we were the only ones who are having fun. This was because we at the time were busy laughing. Gotta enjoy yourself especially when you know you aren't gonna win...
Little after that it snowed a little. Sheesh.
We eventually climbed the hopefully really last hill to where I split off from Kate. Mile 25 it was for us and there were no more climbs after that.
At this point, a young girl passed us and we just ran keeping her in our sights. Ever so slow gaining on her. We were close to the finish. About 1/2 mile away. I told Maria that I would normaly sprint at this point and she told me to go and I said screw that...Stayed with you this long...
Almost there. We have 1 block to go, a right turn and a short block to the finish. One block down. Right turn. Finish line is there and I whispered to Maria to take the girl out. I didn't think Maria had it in her but she did and she went and so did I. We passed the girl and finished. Awesome.
Mike was there. We got food and it sucked. Bagels were frozen. Took an apple too. Oh well. Still, Mike had a coke in the car and well that made everything better.
We left and I got home fast. A quick shower and Elizabeth took me to Reuben Kohn's Bar Mitzvah. The long shower meant I didn't get there at 2pm but still Karen guarded a plate of food for me and well I fairly injested the meat. I went to get more but they had already cleared the buffet setting up for dessert. Oh well, I went to the bar to get tea and talked to the bartender who took care of me. Brought me a whole new plate of meat. Awesome.
I had 2 huge teas (beduiwin(sp?) style) or in plain english "nice and sweet". The see through glass made it obvious that some of the sugar cubes were having trouble dissolving and a few people came over concerned about what was in my tea. They were shocked about all the sugar. Funny. I think a few got diabetes just watching me drink it.
By the way, my thirst was out of control. I finished my water goblet and Karens and I got one of the girls to steal a bottle from another table and then Jessie came over and stole another one for me.
Had some good fruit for dessert and then we got a ride from Matt home. About an hour later, I was at Krav Maga, seeing Matt again. He wasn't shocked this time that I just ran a crazy Marathon, ate a ton of food, and then came here to fight. More than that, Max, our usual instructor wasn't there and instead of runing there and back multiple times, he had us run easy around a square. Well, the 16-17 year old kiddies, weren't having that and I told them not to pass me. They tried and I chased them down and passed them. I was shocked I was able to do that.
Next morning woke up at 4am, ran and then swam. Back to biz.
My breakdown of the race (my opinion): 1/2 mile down hill, 1 mile flat, rest was all uphill. Crazy tough race.
After effects: Got chafed again. No really... Upper chest, small but nasty looking. It's a new scar now. South of the border, the boys took a beating. First shower hurt bad. Those who don't chafe, have no clue...