trying to be a runner

this morning i tested my running mettle and entered the Fast & Flurry-ous 4-miler at Harlow Platts Park in South Boulder. i figured i needed some work on my high end and what better way than to enter a running race against real runners.

a few negative observations first:
- at 180 lbs, i usually have a 30 lb weight disadvantage over the others on the starting line. in other words, i always joke that i could eat my fellow competitors (see the above pic from Laguna Phuket 6k fun run to see what i mean!). i shadowed the Thai guy in the Herbalife jersey for the first 2k and finally went around him when i concluded he was not providing even the slightest draft for me.

- the course was three loops with lots of twists, turns, ducking under trees, dancing over roots, climbing up short steep hills, and was 90% on grass and dirt. this meant, i had to be nimble and agile, again, a disadvantage against the 130 lb wafers (competitors)

a few positives:
- no pressure. it was a good test of fitness and not knowing or caring who the competition was meant i could run my own race and see how i ended up

- 25 degrees-F at the start which meant there would be no chance of overheating (even wearing a stocking cap, gloves, and shorts)

- racing on grass meant i raced in spikes for the first time since '02 when i ran St. Olaf Cross Country my senior year of college

- free winter stocking cap for signing up (a real runners kind from Boulder Running Co)

- listening to JP Henry scream out "Warrior Power" seconds before the race start on the start line brought back memories of high school and college races. NICE, JP!

- having a cheering squad: Emmy and the two pups.

- only getting passed by one person, Darin DeRueck (yeah, i know he's 40-somethin'...but he gets faster as the race goes on)

- passing four runners who went out to fast and moving up from 18th or 19th or so into the top 15

- all the pain was over in less than 25 minutes (22:50 was my watch time). i haven't worked that out yet but it should be 5:43 or 5:44 pace per mile.

- watching Thor almost chew off Colleen DeRueck's baby girl's fingers because she was holding a stick (Thor LOVES sticks)

- coffee time now sitting inside the house!

Here's a report from the Daily Camera: http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/jan/24/cabada-de-reuck-claim-fast-and-flurry-ous-titles/