Back from TV land!
Just walked in a few hours ago from the New Haven Road Race, and let me say I had the best time ever at this race. I’m thinking its because its the first time I’ve had people there to run with (with the exception of my very first race), but this time people were really racing and not just carrying me along.
I didn’t have a camera to take pictures with for the race so I have none to share, but if you go and look at everyone else’s blog you can see some. There was lots of picture taking so I’m hoping people post alot if they can.
The day before the race, I drove down to meet up with Dianna, David, Susan, Lara, and Sarah. I stayed at the New Haven Hotel and it turned out to be really nice. An old style hotel with real furniture (TV and everything!). Some guy came out and parked my car for me (and I was glad to see he actually worked there). So, I dropped my stuff at the room and headed over meet the RBF group. I had to give Dianna a quick phone call to find out where they were. Its a big city, they might get lost. ;)
And you know what’s funny? Everyone looks like their pictures. It was like being on the back set of a TV show that you watch all the time. Only this time the people are talking to you. Ok, and this is really stupid (and embarassing) but I hesitated when I saw Lara (not sure if it was her) because she didn’t have the head bandana on, and that’s how I always think of her from her race pictures. I’m sure there’s some psychological term for that type of odd logic. Too much time on the computer. Must spend more time talking with people in person.
We had a great dinner at the Italian place that Dianna had scoped out for us. I had the spaghetti with meatballs, a couple pieces of pizza, and allegedly two slices of Dianna’s DELICIOUS cheesecake. Apparently, I was given two slices but when I looked down, they had been eaten. :) Damn good stuff, let me tell ya. Sarah brought two giant tubs of cookies that she made, and plastic baggies to bring some back to with us! I took 4 to be polite. :)
I was up at 5:30 this morning and ready to leave by 6:00 (I was a little hyped up), so I wandered around the hotel room and rechecked my stuff and watched part of a TV show about people living underground and a woman dressed like Sheena. Enough of that. Move the truck to a parking garage and go meet Dianna.
Dianna was there at 7:30 on the green. Let me say that she is definately well organized. She had the sunscreen, bugspray, spare safety pins, bodyglide, extra socks, mouthwash, three umbrellas, spare shoes, first aid kit, video equipment, and her bike (I think she takes it everywhere).
Jank , April Anne, and Michelle joined the rest of us out there just before race time. Lara and Susan were running the 5K and I think the rest were in the 20K, so everyone split off to their respective start lines when we got close to the time.
I started out the race up near the front with April Anne, David, and Sarah, all three of which rapidly vanished soon after the gun. David and I ran for a bit while the other two burned rubber and were gone almost immediately. Then David disappeared and I was sure he was ahead of me, so I kinda sped up to catch up to him.
I ran in the crowd for the next 6 miles or so. There was a billion people out there! Lots of water stops and friendly people cheering from the side. Oh yeah, and there was a big dead squirrel in the middle of the road that I think was trampled to death by the runners because it looked pretty fresh. Ewwwww.
Around mile 6 (I think) Dianna appeared next to me, and we ran together up to mile 10 or so (?). Dianna runs very fast. I think I would not have been so good about pacing if she wasn’t there. Its so much easier to run faster if someone fast is running with you. Around mile 10, Dianna got really sick of my constant chatter and began to speed up. She just kept running faster and faster, hoping to get me out of breath so I would shut the heck up. I finally let her go and soon she caught up to April Anne just a little ways ahead of me.
I caught up to April Anne and then poor April Anne had to listen to me jabber. We booked along the last 2 miles before hitting the big sprint at the end. As we came into the final 50 yards, we spotted Sarah, Susan, and Lara cheering along the side. Hi guys! Zoom! April Anne and I were gone and over the line.
1:42:57 according to my lying Forerunner (8:18 pace, and an auto-PR as a first time 20K). And let me point out that Forerunner had no damn idea about paces during this race. Oh yes, it was all over the place. If I could run a 7:15 pace and have it feel like that, my running career would be in the bag. :D
Lots of water, cookies, yogurt and a big loaf of bread afterwards. And ofcourse, Sarah brought out more of the cookies she had made, and I didn’t want them to go to waist waste, so I politely took four after eating two. By the way, those 4 and the 4 from last night were gone before I got to New York.
And let me point out that all these people looked so incredibly comfortable after the race. I felt like someone had run me through an oatmeal machine and shot me out the reject chute. I wanted to lay down on the grass and die, but had to force myself to sit and look like calm so people wouldn’t think I was whining. You have no idea how loud the creaking was when I got out of the car at the rest area driving home. But everyone else after the race looked like they had been sitting and drinking mint juilips on the porch this morning, refreshed, relaxed and comfortable. Amazing. I’m beginning to wonder if they faked the whole darn race.
I want to say THANKYOU to Dianna for being the super race coordinator and New Haven Ambassador! You did an awsome job getting everyone together and making sure we had all what we needed. I was happy to not get lost, which seems to happen on some of the longer trips.
I also want to say how great it was to meet RBF folks for the first time. Everyone was so incredibly nice, and really so very like their blogs. Sometimes folks are not what they appear to be, but everyone I met seemed be very cool. This was the best race I ever ran in. I had so much fun and it was the first time I really enjoyed the running. I think the only reason for that was because there was a bunch of totally awsome folks there with me. Thanks everyone for making it such a great race!
September 5th, 2005 19:47
Jon, it was so great that you were able to make this trip and join us!!! And since you are so humble, I will mention your most amazing truffles - of which I kindly took a container PLUS a baggie full because I, like you, am very “polite.” :D
Enjoy the Cape!
September 5th, 2005 19:52
Race results are posted and your Forerunner did not lie…I’ll let you go look. Your gadget fared way better than my gadget!
It was great to meet you AND run with you! And your upbeat chatter was a welcome distraction. I started to feel kinda crappy around mile 7 and you were just so bubbly and silly…it was perfect. So thank YOU! (and thanks for the wonderful truffles!)
I’m so glad you made the trip…and please consider joining us again next year. I’ll bet I can find you (and your family) more affordable accommodations next time (now that I know you won’t chop me in to pieces).
September 5th, 2005 20:25
New Haven Sept 2006, sounds tempting, especially if you are there with more goodies.
Great write up and an awesome job on your first 20k.
September 5th, 2005 20:56
Great recap! Congrats on the race!
September 5th, 2005 21:20
Wonderful stuff Jon. I wish I could have been with you!
September 5th, 2005 21:30
Sounds like fun! I should try and make it out there next year. (It’s not too far to drive from the Bronx!)
September 5th, 2005 21:39
Jon, you are as funny (and kind)in person as you are on the blog. I am SO glad to have met you, and I hope it won’t be the last time. I am enjoying your truffles as I read through the blogs tonight. YUMMMMMMMM. You ran a great race–really strong. Congratulations. Enjoy the rest of your trip and be sure to come back and visit.
September 5th, 2005 22:11
it sounds like you all had so much fun. and i totally saw the pictures on someone else’s blog. fun times. and congrats on a speedy speedy race. enjoy new england!
September 5th, 2005 22:40
Wow!!!!! That’s all I can say! What a fantastic day, and if you’re forerunner is right, even wow-er (and even if it’s wrong.) And you made me laugh out loud with your after-race description. Someday…maybe when I grow up…I can run with you big people too!
September 5th, 2005 22:49
Great race, and great write-up! How great that you got the chance to meet all of these people … oh yeah … no truffles left over!? :)
September 5th, 2005 22:56
way to go dude! nice race and it sounded like a great time. curious minds want to know…how long was the drive?
September 6th, 2005 00:58
Great race congratulations on your PR ;) Great race report too, I almost felt like I was with you all the way! Maybe next year I can be!!
September 6th, 2005 05:48
Man, cheesecakes and truffles, you guys are my kind of runners :) Glad that you had such an awesome race! You sound in so much better spirits!
September 6th, 2005 11:17
I checked out the pics at Susan’s…and I have to say I thought you would be shorter…with less hair…weird.
September 6th, 2005 11:40
Thanks for making the trip! It was great to meet you. Cannot wait for next year…
September 6th, 2005 12:21
Thanks for the great race report, you made me laugh. Congrats on the PR.
September 6th, 2005 13:08
You guys are so funny! You’re a bunch of eaters with a running problem, from the sounds of it… Great post, Jon. I have to admit, I was very excited to see pictures of you on the other RBFers blogs! It was a bit like peeking behind the yellow curtain at the Wizard of Oz. Congrats on a great run, by the way. I was dying when you described your after race condition to theirs ~ me thinks you and I should definitely be running together!
September 6th, 2005 13:22
I am so pleased I motivated you in the race by leading you to believe I was AHEAD of you. I tracked behind you by 50-100 yards for several miles until Dianna picked you up and you surged on out of sight.
It was great to meet you. I’ll always remember us standing on the steps of city hall on Sunday looking in all directions to find you and then seeing a guy walking towards us with a cooler bag full of what we all knew would be something delectible. Sure enough … it was you and the truffles. Thanks for coming east and winning the longest drive contest. Your time and pace were mighty strong too.
September 6th, 2005 14:44
Jon…I’m so happy that you made the trip out East! It was SOOOO much fun to meet you :-) You ran such a great race…but, man, you totally need some shades :-) All the best for a fun time this week with the family, okay?! And totally, your truffles are chanting my name…amazing yumminess.
September 6th, 2005 15:04
Sounds like a great weekend, and totally worth the trip.
September 6th, 2005 18:00
All I have to say - other than a hearty congrats - is that I never knew you had a moustache :) Glad y’all had such a great time.
September 6th, 2005 18:25
So gald you had such a great trip! Wonderful post!
September 6th, 2005 21:19
I?m so glad you were able to make it to the race. I had a blast running the last part of the race with you. Any thoughts of making it to Hartford in October? :)
September 6th, 2005 21:29
Congratulations on an awesome run … you are super fast! Sounds like an amazing trip!
September 7th, 2005 15:42
Sounds like you all had a great time. I will have to join you sometime…just for the treats.
September 7th, 2005 21:31
Congratulations on your PR! Sounds like everyone had an amazing time. Something for you to look forward to AGAIN next year.
September 9th, 2005 08:44
I’m catching up a little late - but oo I love everything you wrote! Wish I could have been there *sigh*
September 9th, 2005 19:30
Jon, you write a great blog. I can’t believe I did not get off my oatmeal ass go to New Haven. I am kicking myself. New Haven 2006, I’m there!
September 13th, 2005 22:35
Okay, now I am really jealous. I’m busy for a few weeks tying the knot and BEHIND My BACK all the cool RBF’ers meet each other and race?! Flashbacks from high school, when other people on the drill team didn’t invite me to their slumber party. Seriously, great job on the race - gotta start calling you Speed Racer ….