Notes
First BF race! Weather was lovely, crowd was happy, kids' race was fun to watch and cheer. Before the starting gun, a man shook my hand to congratulate me, saying he probably wouldn't see me after the gun, since anyone who runs barefoot must really know what he is doing. I got several comments, but I had really expected to have to field more.
The concrete felt pretty pebbly, in a finer grit than the sidewalks around our house. The course started on that, then switched to smooth asphalt, then to fairly smooth concrete (then back again).
I ran pretty slowly for the first hundred yards, but pride and competitive spirit started to take hold, and I picked up the pace. I was feeling fine to run pretty fast, and the only thing keeping me from speeding up to a foolish extreme was the knowledge that my feet would make me sorry later.
The big impetus to be foolish came at the one mile mark, where the timekeeper called out 7:50. Wow, I can beat an eight minute pace! Little thought of restraint after that.
Coming into the finishing gate, I glanced over at a man running right beside me and saw that he could well be in my age group. Okay, competitive spirit begins to exert its evil influence and I sped up just enough to cross the line six inches in front of him. Sure enough, I got third place and he got fourth, with exactly the same stats. Evil.
Considering I was holding back, and I didn't feel particularly depleted during or after, I could probably have run under the 7:00 pace had the feet been capable. Cool. That may come with time.
Happy having Sallie with me. She had a good run too, and was there to cheer as I got the award. :-D Brent Griffin was the other representative of LI-COR Running Club. His girlfriend Jamie was awesome, ending first in her AG and fifth among all women.
Damage report: There is a small hole in my right little toe. There is a sore spot on my right big toe. Slight soreness in ball of left foot. Left knee a little sore, but not like it was when I was running with the Beasts.