Weather was perfect for a race. Mid 40's overcast and very little wind. Started out very conservative while I was trying to get into a flow. Chatted with a few guys I know while the race was in the early stages. Actually got some good insight from one of the local Irongods about motivation! Oh and he asked me why I'm not running Boston! I told him I would rather beat him in Kona than beat him in Boston.

Managed to keep an eye on the guys I run with while I was chatting it up. I didn't want to let them get to far away. There was a pack of about 20 running together. They managed to get maybe 150 yrds on me before I decided I better bridge the gap! Told John he better go with me he just kind of chuckled and said go get 'em! Caught back up with the group but was in oxygen debt when I got there. I tried to stay 15-20 feet behind the last person until my HR settled down and I started breathing normal again. I didn't want them to think I was working that hard. Most of the guys in this pack I know fairly well so I wanted to stick with them. The guys that have won my age group at the last two races were in this pack. They wouldn't beat me today...

The pack splinter fairly quickly which doesn't happen all the time. Michael and Scott(the two in my AG) will typically run the race together. Michael was the first to go. By 3km in I was in a much smaller pack of only about 5. Myself and Scott were running here. I was trying to listen to him and judge how he was running. I had doubts that I might beat him today. Right after 4km I glanced over my shoulder to see where he had gone and he had started to drop back abit. I tried to encourage him to get back with me. I didn't see him the rest of the race.

This course was marked in km's so I decided that I would just keep a first 5k split and a second 5k split. By 5k I was running with only one guy. I thought entering the race that he was much faster than me. I think he maust of had a bad day because if I remember right he has beaten me easily in the past. We ran together, exchanging the lead up until about the 8k point. That was really good for me because battling him kept my pace honest. I couldn't slow down. Mentally it really helped also. I know that I helped pull him along also. So Thanks for the run Rod! At about 8k I shot a quick look back to see where Michael was and to my suprise Rod had dropped back enough that I knew I wouldn't have to worry about him catching me. Michael was a non factor also as I know he doesn't usually kick real hard at the end. I probably beat him by a minute and some change.

The last kilometer of the race make a little loop around a walking trail so you are fairly close to the finish area the whole time. Mentally tough to focus on finishing at a good pace. One more quick look with about 600 yrds left and Hector Rios comes flying by me. There was no way in HELL I could have matched him to the finish. I told him to go get the guy in front of me. FYI he didn't but he was still moving! Another plus is that he is a few years older than me so he wasn't gonna get my hardware!

Approaching the finish I was very suprised by what my watch was telling me. Very low 37's. Nice. My PR is 37:01 so I was little over that but my training has been very sporadic recently. And I probably could have pushed a little harder. I wasn't in complete disallusion the last mile like I should be.

Not sure! Maybe push harder earlier. I think I ran a smart race today!

Very little time for a cool down as I had late morning plans South of Wichita. Watched a few of the guys finish. Tom looked like he could have ran in the 30 minute range when he came in. He looked strong! Stood around for just a minute with him and Scott and asked them to pick up my hardware, if I won any. Made my way to the truck and left!


Testicular Fortitude!


Like Lisa said this race benefits a VERY good cause. And the organization does a wonderful job with this race. I wish some of the other organizations in town would come out and watch how to do it right! Other than a RunWichita event this might be close to the best one in the area. $500 to the winner makes for a very fast finish. The local stud that ran in the Olympic Marathon Trials got out sprinted at the finish line. Or so I hear!