A Local 5k

I've started getting into a routine here with my running and I currently run three or four times a week in my neighborhood.  There is a decent trail, off the street and safe from cars, which leads me to a nice park to run around. The park isn't quite as nice as McKinley in Sacramento. The trees look to be only 2-3 years old instead of those huge (oak?) trees that litter McKinley. Here, there is a aquatic center in the middle of the park, and you can see the different colors of the plastic slides that just seem to yell out "MODERN" in contrast to McKinley's brink buildings and tennis courts. But all and all, it's nice. There are families walking their dogs, kids playing soccer, and lots of people running, and biking, the 1.35 mile circumference. I can't complain.

Last Wednesday, I ran over to the park and when I arrived, I noticed more people than usual - many, many, more than usual, running the park. And they were wearing bibs, with numbers. Ah, a race. Looking more closely I saw a sign for the "Corporate games, 5k." What are the corporate games you ask? I have no idea - although I can probably make the same guess as you. I saw people playing beach volleyball corporate games last week on the beach, so they must be a big deal. Anyways, while I don't know what the corporate games are, I do know what a 5k is (3.1 mile run, for those that don't know), and I was excited.

There is a big part of me that was so happy to see all these runners. So many of those people were pushing themselves to their limits, breath so hard, sweating so much, all while wearing  cotton shirts saying "Games on." I was so proud of them getting off their couches and moving their bodies. This is such a fantastic place with fantastic weather for running that everyone should be outside on a regular basis. Go athletes!

Of course, there was this real little part of me that just had to show them what a real runner looks like. Now don't get me wrong, I remember when I couldn't do a mile, and a 5k felt like it was going to kill me. But, that's not now. So, when I joined them for a lap, I turned up the pace up, and just started passing them, one by one, two by two. It was fun. There were a couple of guys faster than me, but for the most part, I kicked some major booty. Once I turned off to head back home, I had to keep the pace up. I would have felt awfully guilty if I only sped up for the 1.35 miles that I hung out with the racers. That would have been like only putting in the effort for a third of the distance, and while I didn't mind showing up the runners, it seems like cheating to do it for such a short distance, so I sprinted home (home is 1.85 miles from the park). Was I wrong for being a little competitive? Well, I don't think so. I think I was a source of inspiration to many. :-)

Well, the days go on, and today I did my long run. What torture:

Now, to be fair, I didn't take pictures of the RV park I had to run by, or the rusty fence that separated me from the amtrak train tracks. I was in a groove by the time I hit those places and didn't want to stop (great excuse!).

And this, this is the best way to get an ice bath after a run (whoever said the water was warmer here, LIED).

When it comes to races, though, I have a big choice to make. I told a lot of people that I was going to run CIM, but now, in November - drum roll please - the Blerch is going to make an appearance in Sacramento. This is the race to beat all races.  Cupcakes and Nutella at aid stations, Blerches chasing the runners, the Oatmeal. How do I say no to Beating the Blerch? But if I do that in November, I can't do CIM in december. I can't fly up there for two runs in less than two months, plus thanksgiving, christmas, etc. I can only do one, and all my running friends are doing CIM. Sigh. (that is if they happen, there have been issues about the train and cancelled races. We'll see.)

First world problems - too many choices.