Hood to Coast 2006

September 1, 2006. Well we made it to the beginning of our last set of runs.

Jim led off, and then passed the baton to Betsy without incident.

At the end of Betsy’s run is where I had felt that I truly, had become a member of the team. See, after her run, and while we walked up to the van, she said that this would be her last H2C Run. I was taken aback, and really did not know what to say, so I said the only thing a true teammate from van 1 could possibly say, I countered with these uplifting words,

"Shut-up and Get in the van".

Jim to Betsy, Betsy to Sara.....

While enroute to the first water stop for Sara, there was a break in the trees and we had a clear view of this unnamed Mt. looming before us, to this day I don't know if it has a name, but I will forever remember Arthur’s words when he turned around and looked me in the eye and said, "Beautiful isn’t it" and I said "Majestic", his reply, "Well let's see if you think that while your running up, over, and down the other side”, You can imagine the look on my face, as I looked at the infamous stage 29.

Jim to Betsy, Betsy to Sara, Sara to Arthur.........

I better not joke

When my turn was eminent, I realized that I was maybe just a little too intense in my preparation and handoffs so I was planning to pull a little joke at the handoff at this stage. Since the area was roped off and was maybe 10-15 Ft in length, I was going to wait at the extreme front end and as Arthur approached I was going to back peddle yelling, "I don't want it I don't want it......,".

Well, if you could only have seen the Drama unfolding in front of me you would understand why I couldn’t. Arthur, and, by the description of his efforts, his Nemesis were in a Death Match to the finish. Coming around the corner with about 25- 30 yds. to go, My Team-mate looked like a thoroughbred, fresh out of the gate at Arlington. Arms pumping, at full stride, knees coming up to his chest,. I’m not sure what that other guy said about his Momma, but there was no way Arthur was going to let that guy finish in front of him.

He obviously didn’t and I was off.

Jim to Betsy, Betsy to Sara, Sara to Arthur, Arthur to Braz.......

The Beast

Its only counterpart in the race would be Jim's Stage 1, his even more difficult, because his was at the beginning, I was finishing. You'll see the first incline up in elevation, Rappelling ropes were available but I declined them since I can't even tie them fancy running Knots everyone was using. The only thing I asked for was, for my first break to be after this point. My plan was to catch as many people as I could and not let anyone leave me behind. The first part I did well. There was this Redheaded guy that came up beside me just after the start, he was going at a very good clip and I had a feeling that I wasn’t going to be able to keep up for long. We ran everyone down; he pulled me through that first difficult section. I was breathing hard and wondering how much longer we had to the van when we rounded a corner together and came on a road that went off to the left. I looked over and told him that that was the route of the elites, and that that's the way he needed to be going, he gave a chuckle as he slowly but surely pulled away.

The van came to view, and as I came on it, thinking of my ego, I requested that they accidentally run that guy over. His efforts were not wasted because I saw him still for quite some time, after every corner, he would pull me along from a distance, until alas he was no more. Well the worst was over and I settled in for the long run up. I asked the gang to be at the halfway point to the top, and if that were not possible to be at the crest so I'd know when the hard part was over.

Run- by- Mooning

On the way up I started to feel the fatigue settle in. I still had a decent turnover but I felt that I was starting to fade. Above there was this guy running and he looked like he was having a tough go at it but managed to stay ahead. Here I had my first and only ill will towards another runner. I saw him start to slack a little and I said to myself, "com’on drop those arms, walk a little bit, and I'll catch you , let's go, com’on, drop'um, let's see you walk" and sure enough he did. I now feel bad about it, but that moment was just what I needed to get pumping again. It didn’t help any, that as I passed him, it was obvious that he was an older gentlemen well into is 50's.

I smiled, said great job, keep going we're almost to the top. As I rounded another corner I saw our group waiting for me. Jim had the water waiting for me downhill of the van, I grab the bottle. Betsy Sara Ginny were lined up, in that order - Yes I recognized each one- when just before I am to pass, in excellent Military order they do an about face, and give me the most perfectly executed beautiful 3 Bun Moon our side of the Rockies.

Now any Normal, Athletic, Heterosexual, Male would have stopped to smell the roses, well, not literally in this case, but you know what I mean; but all GI Joe here could muster to yell is, "Am I at the top, or halfway ?" I had my Nano on full blast so obviously I didn’t hear the answer, so being the numb nuts that I am, I yell it again.

I hear Sara yell, your half way there.

My best mile ever

There were many other vans at the top as expected, so the crowd was exuberant and plentiful, with the congratulations coming from all directions.

Then I finally see the drop. I settle into my new stride, hold the new pace until it becomes comfortable, and settle in for the last haul home. There were 3 other runners in front of me that I could see. 2 Girls relatively close to each other and then another guy a ways up. I closed in on the girls and passed without any difficulty. My strides were strong, easily coming up and turning over, so the effort was more in keeping balance and not twisting an ankle.

Catching this guy was going to be an effort because we seemed to have the same frequency in footfalls. I know mine had to be a bit longer but not by much. The Nano was on, I was on a tempo play-list and then George T. comes on again. This is a sign I cannot ignore. I immediately went to full blast and zeroed in on the beat. It seemed as though the length in my stride cut down a little because I know the tempo kicked up. By now I was taking the shortest route possible, cutting to the inside corners and running down the middle of the street. Although I wished this guy no Ill will, I'm not sure if it was my breathing he heard, or what have must been the slamming of my feet into the asphalt but I saw him sort of flick his head to the side as if to try to see who was coming. When I saw this, it was like a second wind, I knew I had him. I caught him and we ran together for a while, I remember him suddenly drop back and then tuck in behind me and I thought he was going to ride me to the end but then something beautiful happened.

It seemed as if the steepness of the road had changed and it became more gradual. This made the impact somewhat easier, thus allowing me to lengthen my stride while maintaining the tempo. Man if there was something as perfect harmony in running I was there. I remember not hearing my feet so much as slap the pavement, but more of a tap tap tap, I visualized a stone skipping over water. I don't think it was "The Running High" we've all heard of because I know I was breathing hard and still tying to keep my balance, but man I was in a Rush.

My fastest mile ever was the first mile on a slight downhill in a 5 k that must have been about 2 years ago. I was with the lead group, I remember to this day I was # four when we passed the guy reading out the splits on the first mile and I hit 5:40, I was like holy shit. The fact that I blew up in the end does not matter. That was a cold start, On Jan 1, as in, the first friggin A.M. after New Years; I was Hung Over and even had the Runs before the start.

Now here I was humming like a Formula One Race Car in Possibly the best shape of my life. Lord I would kill to know what I put on that mile.

So, by now, I know that when you see cars standing still it must mean your coming up on the exchange. I round the last turn, see the coral and Sprint out the end to pass it on to Ginny. I gave it to her and actually ran passed her during the exchange (I think). Sara is with the clipboard and as a mother who has come to know her child so well asks, “You want your beer now right?”.

Well I haven’t gotten our spreads yet because Sara and Gary went off to Montana for a couple of days to enjoy a house they won the use of in a secret charity raffle, but I do know 5 and 29 are of similar distances and that I came in on 29 a couple of minutes faster.

I will never forget that 3 mile stretch for the rest of my life.

Well Renee has left for a 3 Day stint in Argentina with her friends, believe me she’s earned it.

I have to watch Brooke and her 1.5 year old cousin Nick tonight.

Because I love them?

No, because, it will get me Max. Brownie points across the board.

So, To follow:

Post Partum Depression, The guy that told me to shut my Pie Hole, The free Pitcher of beer I won from the owner of the Bar, more of Jim’s Snoring, My two new black toes, the Bonfire, and how you should never venture to far from your fire after Skinny Dipping in the Pacific because you just might not make it back to YOUR fire, and Final Thoughts.

Hopefully this will end soon.

Braz

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