Age Before Beauty – As If

I was hoping to title this entry “Third Time’s a Charm”, but that was not to be.  This past Tuesday I completed my involvement in the 2014 Aquaman Swim - Run Series organized by Without Limits Productions.  While the race series does not officially end until July 29^th, I can finish no better nor worse than 2^nd in the overall standings.  This is the third time I’ve competed in this event and my third runner-up finish.  I’ve had enough splash ‘n’ dash fun for the summer. 

Points are awarded based on the best four finishes.  I have 74 points and Antonio Soto has 78.  For the record, I am old enough to be Antonio’s father.  He is 28 and I am 50.  Not to cry in your Gatorade, but it is a sad day when you realize you just can’t compete on a non age-graded level. 

 

I put in a lot of effort to prepare for this event and was physically drained after Tuesday’s race.  After nearly three hours of racing, there was only a minute and eight seconds difference in our overall times.  I should be happy that I was even competitive in the race, but I like to win and I train so I can give myself the best shot at doing that.

After all of my races I like to do a post-mortem.  This gives me the chance to learn; to see where I can improve and to stroke myself for doing something well.  I look for the positives in races and in this case, they were easy to spot. 

1.     I actually won one of the races.

2.     I had the fastest average transition of anyone in the race.

3.  Most importantly, I became better acquainted with Galen Classen and Tom Weber.

I have known Galen through officiating Colorado high school swim meets.  Earlier this summer Galen supported his brother Ken’s participation in the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim Race. 

Tom and I train with the Phidippides Track Club.  It was great hearing about the races he competed in this summer.  On Bike to Work Day Tom ran the 31 miles from his home in Thornton to his office in the Tech Center - a very impressive feat. 

I should also comment about the venue.  I like open-water swimming.  I love the smell of pond scum in the evening…smells like victory.  The weather was almost ideal for the swim portion of the race.  There was little wind which means there were few waves.  The course is a triangle with the hypotenuse pointing straight at the Cherry Creek Dam, which looms about a quarter mile from the far buoy. 

 

The run course is an out and back affair.  Starting at the swim beach, it goes uphill towards Parker Road where the turnaround is. 

After the race the event organizers treat the athletes to pizza from Pudge Brothers.  It is a really nice touch.  I’ve never met a slice I didn’t like so I’ve really enjoyed these past four Tuesdays.

Short And Sweet

This past Friday, Independence Day, I competed in the HRCA Independence Day 5K.  The circuit started and finished at the Highlands Ranch Town Center.  In the final moments before the race began, I was chatting with fellow Runners Roost teammate Bridget Tschappat.  We both commented on how hot it was.  We usually finish our morning runs before 8:00 (the start time for the race) and don’t run when it is that hot.

I had a revelation.  The last time I ran a 5 kilometer race was about 20 years ago.  It was an evening race in Denver’s City Park.  I don’t recall my time, but I remember it was the first, and only, time I ran under 5:00 for a mile.  That was the first mile, of course, and I finished the race gasping for air, sounding like a sea lion. 

Man, I could get used to 5 Ks.  The race is half over before you break a sweat or feel any discomfort.  If you go out too fast, you only suffer for a mile or so.

  

The hrcaonline.org web site boasts a “total ascent of 80.13 ft”, though MapMyRun shows a total of 121 feet of climbing.  What’s 41 feet amongst friends?  Most of that climbing comes in what race organizers call “shake & bake hill” which the runners climb at mile 2.  There is also a 2/3 mile climb from Broadway & Highlands Ranch Parkway to the finish. 

Here is the map of the course:

I really shouldn’t complain about the climbing as it feeds into my strength.  Since I have little speed, I took advantage of those hills and passed a few runners on them.  I finished 11^th overall – 1^st in my new 50 – 59 year age group – with a time of 18:48.

Saturday my younger daughter and I participated in the 2nd annual MHM Cancer Sucks Freedom Swim.  I paced my daughter to a second place finish for female swimmers – the first female sans-wetsuit.  Here is a photo of me with both of my daughters at last year’s event.  Aren’t they beautiful?