Go, you chicken fat, go away!

When you have Filiberto's the day before, you make sure you pack some TP with you.  It was a beautiful morning, but I didn't have a bowel movement beforehand.  I got a headstart on Mike.  He caught me right around 0.55 miles.  I told him I didn't know if I could hold on for the entire run.  I said, "Luckily I brought some toilet paper with me."  He said, "You did?"  The way he said it made me think that he might need some.  But I wouldn't be able to afford any so I said, "Yeah.  Just a little bit."  He continued past me, but he wasn't running as fast as he usually does.  Or I was running faster than normal.  I thought I might actually pass him, but it I enjoy having him in front of me.  That way the traffic sees him and is more aware of me.  Selfish?  Maybe.

Right at 1.2 miles the pressure was too much.  I found a nice tree to go behind.  I popped a squat and well, you know.  I had just enough TP, so I'm glad I didn't share.  I got back out on the road and Mike was well ahead of me, but I could see his butt lamp from time to time.  He was now half a mile ahead of me. 

At one point I could see a headlamp pointing in my direction.  I wasn't sure if it was Mike, a cyclist, or another runner.  Then I saw the butt lamp, and figured it was Mike.  I was thinking maybe he was going to ask me for some TP.  I felt a little bad, but I have to take care of numero uno.  Or numero dos, depending on how you look at it.

I was actually gaining on Mike.  Looking at Strava, I can see a couple of times that he had to stop.  I reached the top and stopped briefly to pull my briefs up.  By which I mean retie my shorts.  As we were running up, there was plenty of vehicles coming downhill, but not one that came uphill.  I finally saw one at the 2.75 miles to go mark.  That's always nice.  I felt like I was running pretty well and pushing it a little.  But that last mile seemed to drag.  Mostly the last half mile, but that's usual because the slope starts to flatten out.  I finished and Mike was upset at how poorly he had run.  The truth is, it wasn't that bad.  His pace was still a minute faster than mine.  He told me that his shins were killing him and that he was glad we only did the 7.4 (to the top and back) today. 

The reason we only did the 7.4 is because I was going on a 1 mile hike later with my Wolf den.  All 4 boys showed up and 1 father.  I'm glad he came because Vickie started feeling real sick after her walk this morning.  He was able to substitute for her.  We went to the Riparian Preserve in Gilbert.  I think the boys had fun.  Well, they certainly enjoyed the doughnuts when we finished.