"There's only one hard and fast rule in running: sometimes you have to run one hard and fast."








Sunday, October 2, 2011

TCM

This is what this year's Twin Cities Marathon looked like just past 21 miles, just about when the 3:30 pack went by. It was below 50 degrees for the 10 Milers, but the temperature looked like it was going to get a bit high for the later marathoners. This is my favorite vantage point, as it's the one place the road narrows to a single lane in the most strategic part of the race - the long gradual hill before the steep hill to St. Thomas University.

Few people I know looked like they were having stellar days, though Colin was on PR pace and Bert (whose name escaped me at the time) was right around 3:00 pace in his first marathon. Most of the people I knew were either over 50 years old or are ultamarathoners, who went "slumming" in a road race. I noticed that runners are looking beefier than they used to - saw a lot of triathletes and cr0ss-fit types [if I don't misspell that, I get a ton of trolls here]. Also noticed that almost no one wears gear from other races, but instead advertise a team, place, or cause.

Oh, how I wish I could run healthy...

4 comments:

Colin said...

Thanks for coming out today, Steve, it was great to see you! I finished strong up Summit Ave. today, getting that PR with a 2:56:11 chip time.

Edward Sandor said...

I missed you there, Steve, which is sad, because I walked up that damn hill right past you. 3:28:47 PR for me, 3 weeks off Sawtooth. Not to shabby. Thanks for coming out!

BrianFlash said...

I'm amazed that I almost never see old race gear, particulaly in training. Heck, I have about two tops that aren't old race gear - purchased back when I restarted doing this running thing. Everything else is advertising.

Must be a sign that runners have plenty of disposable income.

The Triathlon Rx said...

"Oh, how I wish I could run healthy..."

Sittin' right there with you!