I run therefore, I am!

Ran with the HHS XC team in 95 degree temps around a 5 mile loop. Very Hot outside. We distributed the uniforms to the team today and they look great. 

Ok first of all I had a huge eye opener on this race from a different perspective as I was in charge of the aid station on mile 6.  I also ran the race too. So I have to thank my wife and Father in Law who ended up very sticky from gatorade and Bill my brother in law for taking charge and Kimball the slowest runner I know. lol Ok so the race got started a bit late which gave me time to do a 1 mile warmup to the secret potties.  I have been suffering from stomach issues the past week from switching my runs from morning to the heat of the day. I think that is what its from.  I went to the start and had several runners ask how I got the bib number 1. It was actually from Kris Siddoway for helping out with the aid station but I had to lie and tell everyone I won the race last year. haha My main goal in this race was to try and stay with Paul Peterson for as long as I could and I was hoping that would be mile 6.  Little did I know from talking to Paul after the race that he had the same goal except to keep up with Patrick (Kenyan runner) for 6 miles. The gun went off and Patrick and Terran and Paul sprinted! I thought it was to get a good position in the race so I went after them and there were 4 runners all together and me and a 13 year old who I didnt take serious at all. After a half mile I couldnt believe they were still in sprint mode. I immediately dropped back as I knew they were in 4:45 mode.  Not much hill to help out either.  I had a little pack of runners with me including the 13 year old who was so funny to watch but had a lot of talent! He would surge and then fall back to our group and the runners in the group wouldnt go in front of me and help out with the slight headwind.  Every time the kid came back he would tell me good job! It was funny.  I thought for sure he would die off at mile 3 but he hung strong till mile 8 which is where I had stomach issues again. I talked to the kid as he told me he was going to slow down and I told him to relax his shoulders and take it easy for a mile and that I was going to use the Porta John at mile 9.  He fell back about 200 yards in that mile and I jumped in the crapper and did my stomach issue relief and then when I came out 2 minutes later I saw a guy coming up behind but the kid was a .25 mile ahead of me so I pushed a fast mile  and then the dreaded mile 11 and 12 came up which I seriously hate. It slowed me to a 6 pace instantly and I caught the kid at mile 11.5 and told him to try and stay with me. He did great! at mile 12 we finally had a down hill and I told him I was going to speed up a bit and he didnt want to so I took off and with a half mile to go I turned to tell him to pick it up and he did! I ended up about 20 seconds ahead of him but was amazed at his talent!  I tried to do a cool down jog with Kelli after but only made it a half mile and had to walk back. I almost threw up several times which I think was from the humidity.  I took 1st in age and 7th overall.  I took Paul Petersons money he won and his trophy to his house and talked to him a bit at his house afterward. Very fun day!