Day #124: 11 miles; Got to Central Park early and was happy/relieved that I did not have to weigh in for the Clydesdale Division this year. They took my word that I was 222# and/or felt sorry for me/too lazy to get a scale. I was number 653 and made it my goal to finish higher than 653rd place. I stayed in the car a bit and then went to the starting line. It was weird. They had a guy separating girls from guys (nothing like segregation in 2012). We ended up having the same start corral and time though, so it did not make much sense to me.
Mile 1: It took about :35 to hit the line, but I started my watch on the line to ensure accurate chip time. They said there were over 1800 runners in the race! Ran a nice loop along the perimeter of the park and duck pond. (7:43)
Mile 2: Downhill past the school and more on the normal course as in years past towards Ellis Hospital (7:25)
Mile 3: Plunging down some side roads. Nice neighborhoods; running in the center and nearly slipped on the double yellow. Whoops! (7:11)
Mile 4: Past the guy playing the drums where he was every year. Found a group of Kinderhook runners and tried to hang tough as we came down to nearly the stockade. (7:08)
Mile 5: Through the stockade and then a left onto the start of State St. hill. They eliminated nearly all of the hill though and instead we have to hang a left and then go up a parallel road that is slightly lower gradient where it merges with bike path at the top of the street. (7:27)
Mile 6: Blisters forming on the top of my toes where it is rubbing on the NB shoes. Uphill and then rolling through the bike path on the way to the cemetery. (7:47)
Mile 7: Two more uphills, including the "Widow maker" back up the hill that we ran down in mile 2. They really hammer you in the closing miles. My steam was starting to run low. I knew it was going to be a rush finish. I heard some music and just put my head down and kept going. Grabbed a cup of water for the first time. (8:18)
Mile 8: Rolling hills around the pond as we got set to run the first mile backwards on the course. Ouches with each step. Wasn't going to give up now though! (8:38)
Mile 9: An old guy passed me and that's when I decided I wasn't going to let that happen so close to the pond. I have an image to uphold as a Clydesdale. We are noble and majestic and hard working, right? Pushed harder (8:07)
.3: Hopped on a train that was going past me and held onto the caboose for the last bit. Didn't have anyone pass me in the last .3 which was good. (2:22)
Chip Time: 1:12:10, good for my SECOND FASTEST Stockade-athon 15k out of the 8 times I've ran it and a 7:43 pace overall. Found out this morning the day after that I actually WON THE CLYDESDALE DIVISION. Seeing about possibly picking up my award sometime in the next week or two. Was proud of myself. Now comes the hard part - training to beat this time next year. I want to go sub 1:10 in the Clydesdale division! Or can I beat 1:07 for the first time? That's 7:15 pace! Fatty division, I ran hard for the gold, so Now I can indulge! | 
