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Trucktoberfest and a Half Marathon

Hey look, two weeks in a row!  Today's post is more of an update.  Friday we had "Trucktoberfest" where they invite about 10 local food trucks on base, have a live band, and the Make Goodfellow Great Clubs are invited to come out and try to recruit new members.  Last year it was very well attended and I had roughly 35 people sign up for the run club.  Of course, only a handful ever showed up, but that's better than this year.  I had two people come by and the event wasn't nearly as well attended as the year before. It wasn't well advertised, took place on a Friday before a three day weekend, and the students weren't mandated to show up like last year.  We sat around, talked a bit to some of the other club leaders, and grabbed some really good food before heading out.  Mila did get a video of the kite though.

Sunday I ran the ECVFD Stop, Drop, and Roll 1/2 Marathon.  It's the biggest fundraiser of the year for the volunteer fire fighters and the only half marathon in the area in 2017.  I took it as a training run and we had a few RWB and Road Lizard members out there.
Runners milling around just before the start

THE GOOD

I beat my original goal of 1:50, finishing in 1:46:56, good enough for 3rd overall in a very small race (18) and my third fastest 1/2 ever.
The course had some wildlife, including a longhorn and goats.  
The starting temp was pretty good, in the mid 60s.  
There were mile markers!  I think it's the first time I've seen them here.  Also, the course was measured pretty darned well too.
The course was clearly marked and there were volunteers waiting at every turn.  No one got lost and with Kent and me out there, that's saying something.
Dennis ran a 7 minute PR!
The volunteers were great, always positive, encouraging, and helpful.
Mila and her mom showed up to cheer me to the finish and take some pics (I'll put them at the end).  It always gives me a boost seeing her there during my races and it's nice to have pictures too.  

THE BAD

I started too quickly.  I was feeling pretty good so even though my goal was sub 1:50, I ran the first 5 miles at PR pace (7:42ish).  Then I realized that this was not the day for PRs. The hard way.  I didn't go under 8 for a mile the rest of the race.  I had been comfortably in 2nd but 3rd place caught up to me at the 7.5 mile turnaround and passed me shortly after.  I was able to keep him in sight til 11 but he was finished strong and ended up beating me by about 2 minutes.  
I understand that the course layout worked well with such a small race and only a few volunteers, but going over the same stretch of road 6 times in less than 2 hours became a bit of a drag.  
I wouldn't call it a hilly race, but it wasn't flat either.  We were constantly going up or down with maybe only 3 miles of flat on the whole course.  

THE UGLY

My post race shower.  The CHAFING!  Apparently I'd missed some spots and ended up with a bloody left nipple.
The amount of sugar and carbs I destroyed at the post-race IHOP breakfast with Team RWB.  Those cinnamon pancakes are awesome though.

Next week I have the Shannon Pink Ribbon Run on Saturday, the largest race in San Angelo, and a 50k training run Sunday.  I'd love to have people come and run (slowly) some stretches with me!  Let me know if you're interested.  


George after his 5 miler

TimeClock Plus running team after the 5 miler

the view from the finish line
a handome guy coming down the last stretch


still coming

almost there (with twisted up form)


almost there

OK shewwww

glad to be done

here comes Kent!

he had a very strong finish, making up probably about a minute and a half on me over the last 5k


Dennis makes his own finish line


Here comes Daniela, flanked by her escorts Dennis and Kent



First place in the age group!  And a pic w/Sparky
Kent's pretty happy about meeting Sparky


not quite as legendary as a bloody sock (watching the Red Sox play game 4 right now)

Sunday morning easy/hill run while reppin Jason
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