Memphis is already a distant memory. I’ve been on the road all week, and am just now getting down to reminiscing about my race. The start was a block and a half away, and the finish was right outside my window, shown here at 6:30 am when I got up.For a change of pace, I thought I’d just write about some impressions I took away from the race, like …
• A fit-looking 30-ish guy wearing a Goofy hat does not inspire confidence in a 4:00 pace leader.
• A fit-looking 30-ish blonde in hot pink velour long sweat pants provides some reason for hesitation in a pace leader, but beats Goofy hands down any day.
• No matter how appetizing your brain thinks it looks, a chocolate frosted donut mysteriously tastes like compressed sawdust when you’re in your 3rd hour of running.
• Spectators who yell “Way to go 4-minute milers!” when you run by with your pace team posse at mile 16 can make you feel elite, even if you know they're woefully mistaken.
• Spectators who hesitantly call out “Uh, looking good” when you hobble by alone on wobbly cramped legs at mile 20 have got to hurt more to say that than you do to look it.
• At the end of the race, a hot cup of broccoli cheese soup really hits the spot. Even better when followed by a hot cup of southwestern chicken enchilada soup.
• Whoever invents instant anti-cramping cream is never going to have to work another day in his/her life.
For the record, here are the splits:
Mile 2: 18:16 (9:08 avg)
Mile 4: 18:44 (9:22 avg)
Mile 6: 18:26 (9:13 avg)
Mile 8: 18:17 (9:08 avg)
Mile 9: 9:11
Mile 10: 9:21
Mile 11: 9:14
Mile 12: 9:19
Mile 13: 9:00
Mile 14: 9:07
Mile 15: 9:17
Mile 16: 9:09
Mile 17: 9:12
Mile 18: 9:11
Mile 19: 10:02 (uh-oh)
Mile 20: 11:43 (whump)
Mile 21: 12:14 (thud)
Mile 22: 13:06 (crash)
Mile 23: 13:34 (burn)
Mile 24: 13:01 (ouch)
Mile 26: 24:56 (12:28 avg)
Mile 26.2: 2:19
7 comments:
You were doing 4 minute miles? (Oh, 4:00 means four hours.)
Your post is hilarious. I can so relate to the crash whump burn of it (my Chicago "fun run"). I think you did real good. Good luck at WDWM.
who put that wall in Memphis anyway?
we all crash and burn once in awhile.
Are you quite sure it was 6:30 a.m., and not 7:30 a.m.?? Just checking!
I'm pretty sure i'd prefer the guy in the goofy hat but that's just me.
that's hilarious about them yelling go 4-min milers!
Broccoli and cheese..??? Um, no. thanks anyway.
So TRUE about that inventor! i'll toss in some dough to get the thing off the ground!
you're funny.
:)
we need to work on this anti-cramping invention together . . . between the two of us we've got enough cramps to figure this thing out.
Admit it, those are some good memories, 'cept for the cramping part. I wish more marathons offered soup at the finish. It's the perfect post-run meal. And, hey, you can brag you were going so fast the spectators clocked you at 4-minute miles. Who else can say that?!
ha! that 4 minute mile comment is very funny.
Yes - broccoli and cheese! I got nothing after the Honolulu Marathon. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Bupkiss. There was a rumor that they were handing out stale cookies and oranges, but they were nowhere to be seen.
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