I'm writing this with my phone, so ignore the auto text. Oh, and the grammar police should take the day off, Burt. Okay, my time is either 1:29:48, 1:31:01, or 1:31:48. I'm so confused! Here's what happened. Today I was the 1:30 pacer for The Haunted Half. I was so nervous going into this race since lacking quality workouts. I knew I could do it, but I wanted to have fun and talk to others. I kept picturing all of the things I would say and how we would gut it out together in this epic group of people about to PR! Well, that was a delusion. We line up to the start and I raise my sign. Everyone looks at me and walks away. I look at all the other pacers who already have groups forming around them..and they're already laughing and giving tips! I raise my sign higher. Surely no one can see it. I start soliciting to those around me and accusing them of running my pace, "Soooo, you're running 1:30?" They responded with either glares, frightened looks or looks of dismay and then preceded to moved ahead or behind me. Then I get excited! A youngish Guy in his 20's, along with his buddy approach me. I stand up a little taller and try to look seasoned and fast:) He asks, "Are you really going to try and run 1:30?" I respond (beyond excited, lol!) " YES! Are you guys going to join me?" They both laugh and he says, "okay, good luck with that." Off they go. Oh brother, I was in Jr. High again, doubting myself. Then someone asks if I'm a Pacer for my costume (even though I am clearly a cat with ears, whiskers and all.) After explaining that sime if us were pacers, for some reason, I dont think she believed it. Well, its go time! The gun goes off as the headless horseman throws a pumkin right in front of us. I thought that was a strange place to throw it. Oh well, no one slip or trip. Miles 1-3 (6:23, 6:42, 6:39) I was grateful for Andy who gave us all pace bands. I planned to follow it with a little bit of time banked for the end so I could guarantee exact timing. A kid ran up to me in the first mile and spoke of his plans to stick with me. I notice his breathing is pretty labored already as he tells me that he never trains for these races. In fact, the last half he did, he stayed with the 1:30 pacer till mile 8 when he hyperextended his leg. I stop to tie my shoe at 1.5 into the race. He stops to wait with me. I urge him to go on and he does. I catch back up quickly and he starts walking. I never saw him again. Miles 4-6 (6:36, 6:37, 6:41) I'm feeling very relaxed and it actually feels effortless. I'm shocked. Alone, with a girl and a guy about 300 meters ahead. She's in second. 10k at 40:58. 24 seconds in the bank already. Just where I wanted to be for the next section of hill work. 7-10 (6:59, 7:38, 7:23) Three miles of hills. I was so glad I wansn't racing because my breathing was starting to go south. It was good no one was around because I wouldn't make any sense. I see my family cheering and my husband asks if I'm "on." I give him the thumbs up cause I've now got 51 seconds in the bank. I pass the second place girl and encourage her to go with me. I lie and tell her the hills are almost done. She leapfrogs with me and eventually falls back. Now I'm in second and the first girl is 10 seconds ahead. I want to pass her but hold back. I eventually draw her into me by mile 10. And she's a man. First girl isn't in sight. But second slips away to a girl speeding past. 12-13.1 (6:35, 6:50, 1:55) Okay, this is where it gets interesting. At mile 12 you turn into Memory Grove. I missed the turn was chased down. I added another. 10 to my distance. It's okay because it's time to put on the breaks and get my exact time. I creep up to the finish and see 1:27 on the clock. What!? My watch says 1:28:34. I turn around and try to draw other runners in. A few guys come in. I don't want to finish early because I know I'm in third and that just isn't fair. I start running in slow motion and performing leprechaun kicks to show off and waste time. I see no girls in sight so I decide to cross inbetween clocks. "official clock" read 1:29:48 and mine read 1:31:01. Surely somewhere in there I have hit my goal time. I walk up to the timing guy and tell him there is about a 2 min discrepancy (or less? He tells me their timing is off anyway. So I'm not sure what that means. Results come out and I get a trophy for third overall, with a time of 1:31:48! Figure that one, I can't. Guess I shouldn't have started 3 seconds back from the start.:) Sorry Walter. Hopefully Ill get it right next time. I had a great time. It felt controlled like a tempo, just what I wanted today! Thanks for your support this last week while I acted like a DQ, that's short for drama queen around here. She's been here before. | 
