10 mile race.
It is a scholarship fundraiser (one of many) for a high school.
Last year they gave out more than $30k to graduates.
I missed 2 weeks in the spring because of heavy snow.
And I missed 6 weeks in the fall because of plantar.
Seriously, 6 weeks of zero, and 3 weeks of less than 10 miles.
My long runs have been a handful of 5ks.
So I toe the line 10 pounds heavier and 400 miles behind last year.
Last year was 33 degrees with rain. A lot of good runners stayed home
and I somehow won my age group with 8 flat pace.
Not this year. Low forty degrees and calm. Basically perfect.
8:08 and 8:05 the first two miles.
Then the hills for an 8:25.
More hills and a sore foot saw 9 lows for a couple of miles.
Then more hills, a sore foot, and a sore hip saw 9 mids.
Kind of discouraging when a steady stream of runners pass
you for the last 4 miles of a race.
First 3 miles was 8:15 pace on average, 9:15 the rest of the
way and I got across with 1:29 high. 10 minutes behind last year.
Lots of pain and an upset stomach.
Four people ran under 1 hour including 2 Olympic trials qualifiers.
The damn feet are sore and I am limping.
The right foot hurts a lot, the left foot a little.
The hips are already better.
Growing old sucks.
But I am still going to crush the turkey trot in a couple of weeks.
