5K that is….
Jesse and I drove down to Ventura to do the 5k. My goal, or should I say, my hope was to win my age division and score some points for the HDR Grand Prix Contest. Some friends were there with loftier goals.
- Lance Close and Erik Ruble were doing the full marathon trying to PR and qualify for Boston.
- Krysti Ruble was also running the marathon and hoping for a PR.
- Eric Dombrowski, Deborah Petty, Bev O Neal and Joe Heflin were doing the half marathon, and hoping to PR.
- Jesse, well his goal was the same as mine, I suppose.
Most of the above goals were accomplished. At 6 the half marathon and the full marathon began at separate locations. I called Chuck, who had driven Lance to the race and was providing water and encouragement as he had done for me last year, and had received a report that Lance and Erik were off to strong sensible starts. As the race was about to begin they announced that former 2 time National marathon champion – Gary Tuttle. I turned to see him right behind me. Now I had another goal. I started as quickly as I could and ran as steady as I could. He remained behind me. The fast half marathons were starting to pass me on the last mile. About a mile out Rosamond Runner – Ervin Velasquez went by. I finished in 22:16.8, and won my age group. I got a chance to talk with Gary Tuttle for a while after the race. Jesse came in around 25 minutes and won his age group as well.
I watched as Eric Dombrowski finished in 1:36 knocking 8 minutes off his PR. A while later I caught an excited Joe Heflin who knocked a similar amount from his PR! I missed Bev and Deborah, but they PRd as well!
I ran a little more than a mile up the marathon course to the area where the bike path goes under the freeway. There I awaited Erik and Lance. I spotted Erik and ran up beside him saying “Let’s do this!” He let me know later I gave him a good scare. When I found him he was 20 or 30 meters ahead of the 3:25 pace group and moving farther ahead little by little. He looked strong! After a mile or so I dropped back to check on Lance. He was 20 or so meters behind the pace group and starting to fade back. I tried to encourage him and rally him to catch up, but we faded ever so slowly farther behind the group. After a while I stopped and left him to continue with a little more than 4 to go.
Eric came storming to the finish in 3:21! He obliterated his PR and qualified for Boston. Congrats Erik!
I found out that Chuck joined Lance not to long after I left him and stayed with him till about 25 1/2. Lance finished in just under 3:29. This is a very respectable, high quality race for him, though I know he is disappointed in not qualifying for Boston. You ran a VERY good race Lance. Jesse and I waited for Krysti to finish. She PRd coming in at around 4:01!
GREAT JOB EVERYONE!
oh, Erik was very thrilled to learn that my 1st place age group scored me 6 points in the GRAND PRIX contest. His Personal Record smashing Boston Qualifying marathon effort scored him 3. 🙂 Doesn’t seem fair does it.
Congratulations to everyone on their outstanding performances!