BH-BL APPLE RUN

Well I did it....I finished the Apple Run again this year. I did not achieve my main goal which was to finish with a better time than I did last year. But I did do better than 3 of the 4 5K's that I have done this year.

It was a warm morning here in Burnt Hills for October. The weather was around 60 Degrees. I came last night to Burnt Hills and slept over at my parents house. I did get a good sleep, but Andy woke up at 5:30 am!!! So I just rested until 7:00 when I had to get ready.

Around 8:15, Brian, Dad and I headed over to the Middle School to sign in. Brian was running the fun run and had to get his number. Brian and I get our numbers/goody bags and I send him and Dad back to watch the beginning of the race at the house. I wait for Teresa and Rob to show up at the middle school. I see a bunch of people that I grew up with and we all talk a bit, just to catch up from not seeing each other over the years. Teresa and Rob show up and the race is about to begin.

Promptly at 9am the race starts. I'm towards the back, because I know that I'm going to be running alone. Teresa and Rob were near the front. They stop the traffic on the road the runners get ready and the horn goes off.

In the race info, it said no head/ear phones. I feel like the only one that does not have them on. So to keep a pace, I start counting. I get to around .25 miles and see Ma, Dad, Andy and Brian sitting at the end of the driveway (in lawn chairs) and taking pictures of me. At least I look good at this point.

I head to mile 1, which is near where we take a new road. The time keeper yells 10:22. Ok this is faster than I really wanted to go. I wanted to take the first mile easier and get faster with each other mile. Oh well.

I start talking to myself, telling me that I can do it. I get to the water stop and take a drink, I slow down my pace, but I don't walk or stop. Then my history from Middle School comes up behind me. He says that I am helping his pace. I'm thinking Oh Great. He is speed walking, and I am helping him with his pace. He then gets a little bit faster after staying with me for about .25 miles. I get to mile 2 and the time keeper yells out 22:21. Ok, I know that I slowed down my pace . That time can't be right. I can't be going at that good of a pace.

Then two women come up behind me. They were great. One was a trainer and the other was a first time runner. They talked to me an help me keep a good pace. It was like have Trac, Bridget or Teresa with me. I made a pack with Teresa this year that she had to run the race at her speed or at least Rob's. This lady kept me and the other women going. She helped me until the very end. The other women's child was running the race. This girl was fast. She had to be around 7 or 8 years old. She did walk at times, and like a good girl she ran in with her mother and they finished at the same time.

At this time we are near the finish, Teresa and Rob are waiting near the finish line cheering me on. I start to run faster, trying to give it all that I got. I finish around 34:04. I'm pleased. I did not stop, I kept a good pace at the end. I know that I slowed down a lot between 2.5 and 3 miles. So I'm pleased. Again I get at the end, someone asked me if I'm ok, do I need oxygen. I just wished I did not look like I'm going to die right there right after a race. Of course, at the end there was Brian, Andy, Ma and Dad holding up signs and taking pictures of me crossing.

I do have to brag about Teresa though. With a very bad head cold, she finished at 29:20 something (that is how she told me) and Rob finished around the same time.

I also know the person who won 2nd in the male 30 - 39 age group. I met him in the bar at DIRT Week (the Superbowl of our car racing endevores) and told him about the race.

Brian did awesome during the Fun Run. He was so excited that he got a number and a goody bag. He was so excited about doing the race that he made is own sign. It said

BRIAN
440
THORP

440 was his race number. He wanted us to hold this sign while he was running. He was also running with the hat that he got in his goody bag. I will post it as soon as I get home.

He did so good but the 1 mile was just too much for him. But for the first .25 miles he kept up with the big kids. Around the 4th corner, it looked like he was done for. I told him to sprint then he could end the race. He sprinted like his life depended on it. He got so excited he got a ribbon.

So I have to wait until next year to conquer the Apple Run. I know that I can beat my time. Today just was not my day.