I am such a fucking stud

Really, I'm not kidding. The two of you who have been paying attention over the summer know that I've been hobbled by 'micro tears' in my achilles tendon. Being stuck in a cast for six weeks through april, and may, then on restricted activity until july, and not able to run until september.

So I've been running about ten miles a week since the beginning of october, and toying with the idea of a race. I decided this morning to take advantage of one of the many races in my area.

ok, it's chilly, it's windy, it's 9:30 am. I had a choice of a 5k in georgetown, and 5k in newburyport, a 5k in andover, and a 4 miler in lawrence. Lawrence was closest and had the most amenable start time.

I have this penchant for riding to running races instead of driving. Sort of an ethical thing, if you will. In the midst of getting my running clothes packed into the backpack, then getting dressed for a ride to lawrence in the high 30's, I ended up leaving about 15 minutes later than I had planned. Fortunately, the ride is due south, and there was a pretty steady 20 mph north wind. I got there just as there were ready to shut down registration, but still got in. FWIW - they were _super_ nice.

I ended up getting a nice recovery from the ride before the run started, and manged to stay warm by stretching.

We lined up. It turned out they had the mayors of both lawrence and lynn in the race. Harrumph. Then they had some 6 year old sing the national anthem. Now, you have to give kudos to a six year old for getting in front of a microphone and singing the national anthem, but....ouch. The national anthem is a tough song to sing, which is why we hear so many 'professionals' massacre it. You need to have a very good vocal range in order to pull it off right. In fact, many intramural musical competitions use the national anthem as an audition piece. Well, lets just say you don't hear too many six year olds with good range, and this young lad was no exception.

Anyways, I was in about the third row for the start. When the gun went off, I jumped, and just about ran over the person in front of me. These people weren't moving...what the fuck? IT appeared that a bout ten guys had made the move off the front, so I did some 'open field' scatting to get into the open. I was in the top ten at 1/4 mile, and looked to be pacing the leaders.

mile 1 - 6:20. I haven't run a race since february, and have done no workouts other than just 'base miles'. Ahhh, the tailwind...A 140 pounder like me gets pushed along pretty easily.

mile 2 - 13:04. This is more like it. We had gone over small hill then turned into the wind. At this point i noticed, no one had passed me. I'm running in 6th spot and I can see two guys ahead of me fading.

mile 3 - 19:20. I attributed this to a downhill, I have a pretty good stretch and can let my legs find their own rhythm. I moved into 5th and was gaining on 4th. I caught 4th on the next little rise, and he stayed with me as i reeled in 3rd on the next downhill. 3rd and I started pulling away from the other guy, and it was us two, with 1st and second about 50 yards ahead. 3rd was a much bigger guy than me, and I foolishly let him pull ahead, into the wind, without drafting him.

Gettig closer to the finish, I was pacing third about 50 feet back, and thought, with about 1/4 mile left, I had plenty left for a good fast kick. I started to ramp it up and saw 3rd coming back to me, but.....SHIT...wind cramp in the solar plexus. All I could do was pace him, now about 20 feet behind.

finish - 26:16. 4th over all. Shit! 4th in my first back!! I ran 6:34 pace which is only 4 second per mile slower than the last race I ran in february. The 3rd place guy unfortunately was in my age group, I was 8 seconds behind him..damn...should have hopped in his draft when we were coming back in the headwind....but...I got 2nd in my age group!! Shit!!! Am I a fucking stud...or what?!?!

OK, back to reality. 6:34s is nothing to crow about, but it's waaaayyyyy better than what I had even hoped for. I feel good, no pains anywhere. But those wind cramps...Clearly, a lack of intervals, and a lack of anaerobic (sprint) work. It's a bit late in the year, but there are a few good races to come, and now that I know I can sustain 30 minutes running just below AT, I'll work in some intervals.

See you on the road.