RunningAHEAD - Topic: RR - Foxboro Against Diabetes

RR - Foxboro Against Diabetes (Read 181 times)

evtish

posted: 6/3/2008 at 4:15 PM
modified: 6/3/2008 at 4:17 PM

Bored at work, so here's a race report from last Sat's race (excruciating detail, most having nothing to do with running the race). Smile

I grew up in Foxboro, graduated from FHS in 1983, and my parents still live there. How could I not support this race? I saw the race advertised, but since I was running 2 races already this week, didn't really want to commit to it. Well, my Dad recently had surgery for colon cancer, so I've been visiting quite a bit lately, and the last time I visited I mentioned that I might come down to run the race. Well, once my mother heard that, it immediately turned from a "might" to a "what am I cooking for you". So now that there was no way in hell I was going to miss this race, I had to plan what to do. Knowing that I am not a "morning person" and despise getting up earlier than 8:00 AM, I decided to stay with my parents on Friday night. Hey, the Celtics are playing, so I can watch the game with Dad and we can complain about the blatently poor refereeing. Offensive foul on Pierce while shooting a 3 pointer, Hey, didn't a ref just get caught rigging games? I asked DD if she'd like to come stay over Nana and Papa's house with me and watch the race the next day. She was very excited and enthusiastically agreed - I love that girl! I asked 13 yo DS if he wanted to go, and he response was "what if someone calls and I might have something to do on Sat". Hope DD doesn't stays young forever. 14 yo DS was spending Dad's money on $42 ("What, I think that's a good deal") hats in NYC on 8th grade class trip. DW was glad to get rid of me for the night ("Ah, peace and quiet"). I planned my night before race meal very carefully in order to maintain optimal nutrition: JJ. Boomers for 4 Miller Lites; 2 slices of unidentifiable meat pizza; 3 buffalo chicken strips; 4 "I guess they're pizza rolls" pizza rolls; mega salted popcorn. Headed home, packed up my Adidas bag, grabbed DD and headed South to Foxboro. Watched Celtics game and gorged on 1/2 bag of Cape Cod Potato chips, fruit, pizza goldfish, and a couple glasses of champagne.

Went to bed at 12. Woke up at 5 with stomach ache. Woke up at 6 with sun glaring in my eyes through the skylight. Tried to get back to sleep but couldn't due to (1) My mother doing me a huge favor by getting up early and preparing a huge breakfast (2) My DD playing trampoline on the bed and screaming lovingly for me to get up (3) some crazy neighbor actually ringing the doorbell at 8 AM on a Sat morning. Dragged myself out of bed at 8:30, stumbled downstairs looking for coffee - no coffee found. My mother wanted to make sure it was fresh for me. Waited for coffee to brew, slugged down a cup, had a couple pcs of toast and headed outside for warmup jog to clear the system out. Figured I'd run my old paper route, which happens to coincide with some of the course. Ran my 1 mile warmup feeling terrible, legs are sore, labored breathing, just general feeling like crap. Back to house, system purge, change for race. Mom and DD want to walk to register with me, Dad will drive there later. I tell them to go ahead and I'll meet them on the way - it's only about 3/4 mile to the race start at Invesys cafeteria. I want to use the bathroom one last time, Portapotty's disgust me and I will only use one as an absolute last resort. My Dad takes forever in the bathroom, so by the time I jog to the start my Mom and DD are already there. My DD quickly spots the Mix 98.5 van and "freebee" table with all sorts of stuff. In the time it takes me to register, she has already gained possession of a beach ball, pail and shovel, sidewalk chalk, frisbee, and Red Sox bumper sticker. Smart girl. It's T-10 minutes to the start. My mother wants to take pictures, so I tell her a good spot to take it is about 1/4 mile at the first turn, since the runners will be spread out a little at that time. This race has over 700 people in it, so it's not small. I tell her I'll be near the front and separate myself a little from other runners. I tell DD to be ready for a high five.

Race start: I'm lined up in the first row cause you might as well be leading at some point. Another 40ish looking guy lines up next to me, he looks like a runner. I talk to him a bit, he says he's shooting for about 18 to 18:30. Said I'm shooting to break 20, we exchange well wishes. One good thing about this race was that the officials came over and moved all the young kids and slower runners back from the front two rows. There's nothing more annoying than being roadblocked in the first 100-200m of a race. The gun goes off, I break out at a pretty fast clip. Lots of runners are going out fast, definately sub 6 pace. Look at my Garmin as I near the quarter and we're at about a 5:40 clip. I convince myself that it's OK bc it's a slightly downhill start. Reach the corner with pretty good separation from other runners, I'm probably in the top 30-35 at this point. Spot my mom and daughter, throw the hand out for a high five at the turn, she runs over and it's a spot on perfect high five, not too shabby at a 6 pace. OK, now focus on this race, counting steps. How can these two people be ahead of me? Look at how much weight that guy is carrying, he's got to drop back. I'm at about 3/4 mile, here comes the lead female, looks about 20ish. I'll run with her for awhile. Coming up on the 1 mile clock, what's that, 5:53,54,55...no way! Check my Garmin, there's at least a 5 sec difference. Clock reads about 6:05 at mile marker, Garmin tells me it's about 6:10, good Garmie..good. Lead female is running in pack of 2 or 3 about 5-10 yds in front of me. Warning: Observational opinions to follow, do not read if easily offended. I start thinking about the body types of female runners that seem to run around 19-20 minutes. There seems to be two main types; Type 1: Sturdy, larger framed, with big thighs and thicker midsections or Type 2: Very thin, small framed with well defined midsections. This girl falls into the sturdy body type, not fat, but just not thin. It looks like everyone ahead is running so slow, the pace does not seem fast at all. Check my Garmin, still at ~6:30ish. Hit an uphill at the 1.5 mile mark, just keeping the pace. Breathing pretty heavy now, legs are getting heavy too. At about 1.75 miles, the course turns right onto Railroad Ave for about 100 yards, then turns left up Bird St for 200 yds uphill, then right onto Baker St where the 2 mile mark is. Well, in my infinite wisdom, I am sick of being behind this pack of runners and decide that I will surge during this point. It was fun passing about 10-12 runners in such a short distance....but...I ..will..pay..the ...price. Too bad it wasn't a 2 mile race! Well, lead female and another guy repass me at 2 1/4 and I am feeling BAD! I'm an idiot, why did I surge back there!! There is a small slope we are climbing, but I know once we crest it there is a long sloped downhill and then basically flat to the finish. I crest the hill and trudge onward, sucking wind badly (I am now in the BadDawg "loud breather" club), counting my footfalls and trying desparately to maintain pace. It's about 2 1/2 and the second place female passes me slowly. Ah ha, she's a Type 2 , very thin, short, floating along effortlessly, looks like she might be 30's or 40's. She slowly pulls away. Can you grab me a Gatorade at the finish? thanks! 2 3/4 miles - when the hell is this thing going to end? The final straightaway, a guy passes me..I don't care anymore...just barely hanging on...keep leaning forward...turn those legs. Wait, what do I see, can it be...a magnificent archway of balloons spanning the entire road...there is an end to this. Let's see, that guys about 10 yards ahead, that guys about 20 yds up...I can do this..HTFU...I'll have to time this..OK, pick it up with 100 to go...coming up on 100....GO....I'm moving now, Carl Lewis has nothing on me, flying by the first one, gaining on the second, got him...yeah...here's the balloons...slow up and stop...."KEEP GOING"...what's going on?...."KEEP GOING"....Oh crap, it's not the finish, you DA, finish is 20 yds up, you know, where the chute and BIG digital clock are....Doh!... Start back up, too late, dude repasses me....clock turns 20:00...oh, BEEP...jog through. Note to self: Don't stop running till you pass a clock.

After race refreshments were good; bottled water on ice, bananas, oranges, italian ice. Mix 98.5 music. Beautiful weather. I'm happy with the time considering how I felt in the morning. No AG award again, too many fast 40's. Arghh!

Went to Pro Bass Sports Shop at Patriots Place next to the stadium after the race. For anyone who has any interest in fishing, hunting, or outdoors stuff, this is a must store to visit!!!!

MTA: This is the most I've written since college freshman english!

gumhead view log yapper66's lost brother	posted: 6/4/2008 at 1:50 AM
	Great story! I might have to run this race next year. You had a great time! I've been to the bass pro shop its freekin awesome! I must bring my dad there soon.
	Dave gumhead.com

BadDawg view log	posted: 6/4/2008 at 12:02 PM
	Quote from evtish on 6/3/2008 at 4:15 PM: (I am now in the BadDawg "loud breather" club) Technically, it's formally known as the 'I Breathe Like a Mortally Wounded Water Buffalo Club'. Please note however, that the check for your membership dues should be made out to BadDawg LLC. Nice job for an old guy.
	Ed Tuesday Good Times 5K series in Lowell, MA HTFU "The truth is that there is nothing noble in being superior to somebody else. The only real nobility is in being superior to your former self." Whitney Young