I have not been running races very much so each one is special.
Race with Grace is doubly special because it is a family event.
The Grace Foundation is a great organization to help those battling
all forms of cancer. Find out more at:
http://www.marygracefoundation.com

The family connection is my sister-in-law was a long time volunteer
who succumbed to cancer.

First the pre-race factors - the family clam bake was the night
before. Normally this would mean overeating for me. BUT, I just
had some dental work on Friday and so did not really have much
of an appetite. Also, I really have not been training like I should.
(yeah. same old story.) But I have somehow been losing some weight.
Based on my last race (5K 42 minutes!) I don't expect much.

Morning of the race, the sun is shining and really warming the
place. Normally I like this race because it is cool. But this
year and last year were warm.

So I line up in the back pf the pack. I know the course so I
know to take the early hills easy. Somehow I caught up to my
nephews, they tease me about how I am focused on the race. I
let myself fly downhill. I take it easy up the hills. It is
rolling hills at the start.

I catch up to more family. One of the girls is struggling and
really does not want to be there. When I say "you're not going
to let an old man like me beat you, are you?", she replied
"sure, go ahead."

I stay with them for a while but then a drift ahead. Somehow,
the humidity and the heat is there, but I am feeling good. At
one mile out I am under 13 minute per mile pace. And I feel fine.
Even though I ate less than I normally do at the clambake, I
did eat enough to make me worry. The difference may be that
I only had one beer?

Two mile mark and I am still on pace to beat 40 minutes! I
seem to be passing a lot of runners and few are passing me.
There is a long downhill followed by an equal uphill near the
end. I use that to pass more runners.

Coming down the final hill I have to slow down for walkers.
I manage to get around and fly down the bottom part of the
hill. Just before the final hill I get hit with a wave of
nausea. I catch my breath as a little kid races past me. At
that point I shake it off and give it all I can to the finish
as I can see the time is 39:30 and counting.

I could not even sip the water at the finish, because I was
so hot. I found shade and did some cool down stretching. I
definitely gave it my all.

Hey a PR for the year!
(i.e. better than the only other race I did this year)

Maybe my running life isn't over yet. I somehow got myself
to push hard through a hot and humid run. And just maybe
the run burned off what ever cold/flu I thought I was
coming down with because I feel good today.


Position/total runners
452 / 576

Pace 12:27 <-- sad isn't it? 8^)
Gun time 0:39:40 <--I am happy with this time but the chip time is better. Chip time 0:38:42 <--this is close to what my running app gave me

6/7 age group <--okay, I really have to train if I hope to medal again.


Thanks for listening and enjoy the run!
ed

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