I started Leg 25 at about 7AM. It started at the south end of Rockport Reservoir and gradually climbed up to Oakley city with about a 400 foot net elevation gain. It was about 43 degrees but the sun had come up so overall great running temperature compared to yesterdays 1st leg of about 85 degrees. My body wasn't happy that I was doing yet another fast run with little sleep. Right of the bat my side started aching but not bad and after about a mile I started to feel a little better and I started to speed up. The team gave me some water after about 2 miles and I was thirsty for it, even in the cooler temperatures. Probably wasn't rehydrated quite enough. At about mile 3 my left quad decided it wanted to cramp up and I actually walked for about 30 seconds. I HATE walking in a race. Anyway I started up slowly and kept increasing the pace and my body let me do it. From then on I was able to run good. I picked off 31 people on that leg.
It felt really good to be done. I drank alot of fluid and was feeling happy. Kevin ran after me on leg 26 and handed off to Will. After Kevin recovered, who took some great pictures during the race, we got back in the suburban and headed down the road. After about a mile we saw Will walking. It was then that I guessed I might get another opportunity to run. We talked to Will and his knee was bothering him. I took off my sweats and he gave me the batton and off I was again. This was a fun leg for me because there was no expectations of how I was suppose to do. I took the 1st mile easy with a 7:17 trying to get my body adjusted to the idea of running again then I picked up the pace as the course started to go down hill. the next miles were 6:45, 6:31, 6:43, and .24 miles in 6:30 avg. with an overall average of 6:48.
Everyone on the team had a fun time and many stories to tell. Tom ran great but wasn't pleased with his results, Kevin was running after breaking his leg in several places a year ago, Paul and Scott ran tough. Kerry ran the second to last leg of about 6.9 miles in the heat and looked wasted at the finish but happy. Unforturnatley Steve found out his dad had a stroke right after the race. Hope everything is ok. Anyways lots of stories and memories. | 