Go Short, Go Long, Go Very Long

This morning I dragged myself out of bed and biked down to the Blue Rose Cafe for Fleet Feet Tulsa's inaugural Go Short, Go Long, Go Very Long event on the river trails. 5k, 10k, 25k, and 50k races provided runners with plenty of options. After a certain amount of unwise wishful thinking, I opted for the 10k, a safe bet considering how my knee is still on the mend.

At the beginning I managed to hold back, conserving energy as we headed North from the cafe. By the time I hit the turn around at I-44, I was firing on all cylinders. There I was, passing people left and right, feeling pretty good about myself, when this guy in vibram five fingers comes out of nowhere, with huge heel- striking strides, leaving me in the dust. For some reason that ticked me off. I refused to let this guy out of my sights. Irrational, I know, but the perfect impetus to finish strong. While I never was able to catch up, I probably ran faster than I would have otherwise. So thank you, Mr. barefoot heel- striker, for being the perfect hare.

I finished at 49:03. Nothing special in the grand scheme of things, but an effort I could live with.

The organizers are to be commended for serving real beer.

 

And you gotta love the Dr. Seuss themed shirt.