Sunday, October 31, 2010

Hell!

The Run Thru Hell was a lot of fun! Boy, it was cold, about 34 degrees at race start. It was 41 by the time I arrived home, about three hours later. The course wasn't the 10-mile one of the usual Run Thru Hell, but a 10K. It was still pretty hilly, although not as bad as the longer course. And, it wasn't 90 degrees with 90% humidity.

Folks were all dressed up, adding to the festive atmosphere. Batman, Spidey, the Flintstones, lots of devils and witches, a couple astronauts/cosmonauts, the Joker etc. I found Waldo. Scoobie was there, too, with Velma or Daphne, I don't know which. A guy dressed as the Olympic gold medal swimmer Phelps was there, complete with medals, drug-paraphenalia, and speedo--he had to be cold! I was disappointed that a gorilla whupped me! He chugged right past me at mile 4 and never looked back--I never saw him again.

I ran pretty well, my fastest 10K in several years. I ran right at the limit of my comfort zone, pretty much pushing it the whole way. I could have slowed some, but couldn't have sped up at all. I thank Chris Burley for keeping me at that good pace. She didn't back off and pushed me on the up- and downhills. I hope I run that well at Big Bird, which doesn't have the hills.

It was great to see so many runners and walkers, more than 3400 I understand. It was a phenomenal number (and I don't use that term often) for a race planned just two months ago! It was in large part due to the efforts of the running community and its affection for Dolores and Harrison Hensley. They have been mainstays and great ambassadors for the Michigan running community for almost 3 decades. I hope the wheel-chair accessible van works out well for them.

It was a great AM....

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