Fast As You

My first "big" race of the year is in the books. 

Yesterday was a 10 miler. I love the distance, but I can think of only 2-3 races per year that go with that length. 

As usual with this particular race, the weather is iffy at best. Supposed to be 55, it said 51, but felt like 44 - which didn't include the breeze off the lake. 

Per usual, a quarter mile in, all was fine. Save my ever cold hands. 

That was my only "complaint" about the event. Pun somewhat intended - it is very well run. The route is decent though the second half is all hills. 

My performance - for me - was outstanding. I really could not have been happier (though hold that thought). 

While many in my running groups were there, I ran with a guy I met at this very race three (?) years ago. He said, "I'll keep up with you as long as I can, but just keep going".  I never saw him again after mile 2. Well not true, I saw him after the race after he crossed the finish line. 

The last four miles I was pretty much pacing with this other guy. I'd be ahead, then him and round and round we went. Except for the last quarter mile when he just sprinted past me and kept going. 

I saw him later and he acknowledged me and said I was a good competitor for him and "apologized" for running ahead. I jokingly called him "a dick" - and laughs were had by all. 

I ran a 9:02 pace, which for 10 miles was pretty fucking good (for me). I conquered all the hills, which is incredible for me. I was in the top third of my age category and overall participants. I was in the top 50% of male participants. 

And I knocked over 10 minutes off my fastest 10 miler. Fairly impressive, if I say so myself. 

Now onto the "hold that though" comment earlier. 

I crossed the finish line fairly elated. And then ran into a number of folks from my training crew. Mind you, save one, were all 25-30 years younger than me. But they had clearly already been in and eating their bananas. Mind you - and yes I checked - some were only in a few minutes before me, and the earliest one was only eight minutes prior to me. 

For a moment, I let it get to me. They were all very congratulate-y, and nothing but nice, but here I was the eighth one finished of the group. Still outstanding and I've never been this close to their pace before. 

I can't compare myself to anyone, though hard to do. In three weeks I'll be finishing my fourth year of running. And I'm old AF. And the third oldest in my training group. And I'm improving as I go along. I can only rate myself against myself. ...and even that isn't great. 

Still, I'm not easily pleased with myself, and this race I can say otherwise. 

Now two half marathons in the next three weeks.  Let's see what I can do. 

Song by: Dwight Yoakam