Where's the Donuts?

I debated hitting the "race report" button or not... 

I don't know the etiquette behind running bandit. I'd never really thought about it much, and I've never done it. I suppose it's bad if too many people do it, but when it's a local sold out race on a gorgeous day and I know a friend had paid for an entry and dropped it -- who's really going to take the time to hassle me? So when faced with that choice this morning because of a snafu with my bib pick-up (I was replacing a guy, but he wanted the shirt so he showed up and took his packet and bib, and didn't tell me and left), I compromised: I'd run, but stick with Mike and enjoy the morning with him instead of a true race. That way, I rationalized, I'd still be a part of things, but I wouldn't be up with any leaders or mess up the timing system or lie if I won my age group (theoretically, of course). Sound fair?

Mike's three weeks out from Ironman so he wasn't racing either. We were there to participate and cheer his wife and sister-in-law in on their marathon. After packing away my guilty conscious at the start (I was certain everyone was eyeing the guy without a bib), Mike and I took it out at a really comfortable pace. We ran 7:15s the first two, chatting the whole time. Wonderful weather, sun came out, saw a few friends on the course, it was maybe 70 degrees, and NODM really is a jewel. The half is all on paved trail that runs through forests, lilac fields, and along the Straight of Juan de Fuca. Some hills, but for sooome reason they are much easier while running 13.1. (I felt them during a marathon last year.)

So we stuck that pace, with a few miles closer or at 7 minutes/per, for about 9 miles. Then we decided to get a little workout in. So we burned through a 6:55, 6:45, 6:35 and a 5:45. It was fun to feel that strong and stride out through the finish. I stepped off the course at the 13-mile marker, let Mike run 0.1 on his own and avoided any hassle at the finish. But, it wasn't a real race, I know that. 1:30 was a walk in the park with my friend on a sunny day that serves as a nice workout for the week, and that's fine. At least I didn't pay for it (or get the UGLY shirt they gave out), right?

(I should admit here, however, that I took full advantage of the generous post-race spread. Maybe some of my guilt is earned.)

adidas adistar -- 25

No idea of the actual distance here, so it's an estimate, and the pace was incredibly inconsistent, and I forgot to start my watch. But it was a great run. 

I was fully prepared to leave my khakis on and just yell encouragement at the Jaguars running in the rain today — until the head coach, after warm ups, tells the team they'll be following Coach Dave out for a run on the streets. So I hustle and throw some shorts on and lead my (surprisingly willing) troops from Memorial Stadium over to 15th and Naval. One of the steeper hills in town is at that intersection (not as steep or as long as Alder, where I live, but a pretty good grade). So we trucked these kids up and down and up and down and up and down, me running back and forth like a cattle rancher (or, more likely, the sheepdog who runs next to a cattle rancher doing the herding work). Most kids ran 4 to 6 repeats, we kept a few of the better kids out and dragged them through as many as 12. I'd guess I ran the hill 14 times or so. Only one of them was all out, when our star runner decided he was going to challenge the old man on a hill.

He fell over at the top, I headed down for another repeat. It's child abuse, but it's good for them.

supernova glide blue

Easy Beach Drive run with Mike. He's tapering for an Ironman, I'm tapering because I have more important things to do these days and no immediate races scheduled. I'm flying to Kenya two weeks from today though, my brother and I are spending two weeks there at a small village called Rusinga Island, where a friend of ours is from, as well as some traveling around the country. Maybe I should be in shape in case the Kenyans want to challenge me. 59:40

supernova glide blue -- 390