Journey of a Fat Man

Sorry I am a bit late getting this out.  It has been a hectic couple of weeks with the move, new job, new home, etc. etc.  I have been working 11-13 hour days and just did not seem to have the energy when I got home to jump on the computer.

I had a blast running in the 10k at the Prairie Rose State Games this last Sunday.  It was a beautiful day, about 60-65 degrees, sun was shining, so it was a wonderful morning for a run.  The best part was that I got to run it with my older brother, whom I have not had the opportunity to spend much time with over the past few years. 

There were three events that started roughly around the same time.  The 5k speed walk, 5k road race and 10k road race.  The 5k and 10k runners took the line together with the speed walkers to follow about 5-10 minutes later.  We were in Sertoma Park in Bismarck.  This park reminds me a lot of Lindenwood in Fargo.  Large mature trees, lots of great shade, and the State zoo.  We would end up doing a complete circle of the park, starting in the middle Eastern side, working North, West, and then South.  In the South West corner the 5k and 10k people would separate, with the 10k heading under the walk underpass that goes under Bismarck Expressway towards the Equestrian paddock, and the 5k would instead head East to complete the circle of the park.  The 10k was an out and back route returning through the tunnel then following the 5k-ers.  We (my brother and I), just made it past the two mile mark when the leader of the 10k pack was on his way past us again (he ended up finishing the 10k in 33 minutes).  We thought we were in the back of the pack until rounding the turn-around point, where on our way back we came across two or three "casual" competitors like ourselves. 

It did not bother me in the least being in the back of the pack.  It was a peaceful day and I was there just to finish.  Put another checkmark in the life "to-do" list.  10k done….CHECK!  Now, my sights are set on the half marathon in September.

I noticed along the way that the mileage that they had marked out on the course was off a bit from what my Nike+ device was telling me.  About .2 miles off to be exact.  I know that my device is fairly accurate.  In fact just the week before I was on the track to test it on a mile jaunt and it was right on, so I am not sure if it came out of synch or if the folks that measured the course may have been off a bit.  They did have to change the route at the last minute because of construction on the Memorial Bridge.  We were intended to run over it then back around, but traffic was cut to one lane, so they had to choose an alternate.  In either case, 6.2 or 6.4 miles, it did not much matter to me.  I was going to finish in either case.  They did not chip time the race, so the time started from the moment the whistle blew until you crossed the line.  So, I have three times for you.  The first is the time my Nike+ told me I did 6.2 miles in (1hr 17 minutes 25 seconds).  The second is the time my stop watch told me I crossed the starting line and then came across the finish line (1hr 19 minutes 54 seconds).  And finally the third was the time they recorded me finishing the race (1hr 20 minutes 6 seconds).  I am proud of all three, whichever happens to be the actual time.  Our overall pace was 12:24.

This was a wonderful experience that I would without a doubt take place in again.  Maybe next year I can convince a few others to take up the challenge and maybe do a few events.  Dodgeball anyone?