For those of us that run, there are 2 really big nightmares the night before race day. One, sleeping through your alarm clock and getting there late. The second, forgetting something important, like your bib with the timing chip on it or any ID that the race organizers need to identify you. Needless to say, we officially checked off one of those boxes on Sunday morning.
As mentioned, we did the team relay (Tim, Jamey, myself, Dan & Andy). After picking Tim up and heading to the race, Dan realizes he forgot Tim's bib. Not a big deal, there isn't a chip on the bib and after 20 minuets of discussion we have it figured out how we would handle it. We park at the mall, in which the buses will take us to the start (about 10 to 15 min). We get out of the truck and start walking toward the buses and Dan stops dead in his tracks. He goes pale. Looks at the 4 of us and...well, a not so kind word was shared with the group. It is about 5:15 at this point, and the race starts at 7 AM. Dan left the timing chip with Tim's bib...at home...25 min away. He turns and heads to his truck to go home a get it. Every runners worse nightmare is unfolding right in front of us.
Long story short, Team H2GO, was able to see how well the race directors Trouble Shooting Systems worked. We were able to get another chip, even though Dan went all the way home and made it back just in time for the race, but we were all set by then. My sides were hurting from laughing so hard though once I was OK with the fact that we got the chip. Like I said, it was a perfect morning for running, and did I mention as a Pro Football lover, this is my favorite place.
So we were able to watch the start of the race and Tim lead off the team and was pretty close to the front (he's pretty fast compared to the rest of our team).
I ran the 3rd Leg of the relay. It wasn't bad, only 5K, but the last 1.5 miles is pretty much ALL UP HILL. At least that is how it felt at the time. My goal for my leg was to run as fast as I could for the first 1.5 miles, which was mostly the flat, the hang on until the end while handling the hills. We were in pretty good shape when I took the slap bracelet from Jamey and we were with a lot of the lead Half and Full Marathon runners. So I thought I was all that and passed them. Note to self, they are running a 6:30 pace. To late for that! I was moving! I did great for the 1st 1.5 miles. Then the hills, the wind, all of a sudden 3 people jump on my back (not really...but man I hit the wall), my lungs were on fire and my heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest and slap me (again...not really).
I made it, finally, and passed off to Dan then my body cursed at me for the next 12 hours. I know what it feels like to push until it can't go any more. I was able to keep our pace...but it wasn't pretty.
Our goal was to break 3 hours. We finished at 3:02;35. Its a team effort. Dan and Tim were held back by myself, Jamey and Andy. But it was fun and we've got years to relive this experience. Oh, and we will too.
We didn't really know how we finished when we left, but we felt good about our chances at placing. Later that afternoon, my phone was blowing up with text messages. For a bunch of goof balls that forgot our chip and made fun of each other for past several months, relentlessly I might add, we did pretty good. We finished 6th overall and 2nd in the Men's Open Division. Couldn't be more proud of these guys and I wouldn't want to do this with anybody else. What a blast.
So what did I learn from this experience? I learned that I have to train for my leg a lot better. I let it all out way to soon and should have paced myself much better than I did. The other thing I learned is the I am no where near these elite runners. They are in a totally different league, and bless their souls, that is hard to do. But it won't stop me from trying. I may never even sniff that speed, but I just have to keep working. My goals can't change, or else they aren't goals anymore. I cannot wait until next year!
God Bless you and keep working hard!
Coach Bill
