Mission Accomplished

It always rains on the Rodeo Parade, or so it seems. Today was no different as 6400 hearty souls lined up to start the Rodeo Parade by running or walking 5k or 10k. The University of Texas Longhorn band performed the national anthem and we were off.

The weather was perfect, as far as I was concerned, until about 1 mile into the race when the rain and wind converged to challenge our race resolve. I like to run in overcast and cool weather. Rain is not a problem either, although it makes a slicker surface. Wind, on the other hand, is of more concern. Nothing to be done but press on.

My colleague challenged me yesterday to run hard from the gun and win the mind game over the distance. I have a lot of respect for his running so I followed his advice and ran the first mile in 7:45, which is 45 seconds faster than my first mile two weeks ago at the Park to Park. He also told me to line up in the front at the start with faster runners. I did not take his advice, but lined up next to my expected pace time, 8:00/mile. Unfortunately, a lot of runners pay no attention to these signs in spite of the increased safety and courtesy that occurs when people are staggered close to their running pace. I spent the whole first mile zigging and zagging and running on the edge passing hundreds of slower runners who lined up with the gazelles when they should have been back with us normal people. Nevertheless my first mile time turned out fine since I ran aggressively anyways.

I must confess to being annoyed in the first mile but I let it go and need to always let it go. Namaste. I admire everyone who lined up today no matter where they lined up. We all have different motivations for being out there and that is to be respected. There are people of all paces that are pretty serious about their times on the day. I guess I fall into that Type A camp on occasion. There are others who are just along for the joy of the participation in a great Houston tradition. This justaposition of a diversity of motivation and capabilities will always be part of a run like the Rodeo Run. Indeed, the democracy and freedom of running is one of great appeal to me. I enjoy participating in these major community events and seeing so many people doing what they can. Nevertheless, a wave start where runners are seeded by actual historical performance, like at the Bolder Boulder 10k, is a little less annoying at the start.

Back to the race. A faster start is no picnic. The race was long, not comfortable and a challenge of will. Each mile marker was a joy to see and a despair to consider since there was another one to conquer a mile ahead. The mind keeps telling you to slow down. Resist it. Remember the goal. Run on the edge. Any slower the goal is lost. Any faster is exhaustion.

OK, all that is over dramatic. My colleague said the if I cam in under 50 minutes, he would run the Bayou Classic with me on March 11. So he better register and I'll be expecting under 40 minutes out of him. I finished in a chip time of 49:13, which is a 7:55/mile average place. This blows away my previous 10k best by 9 minutes and 20 seconds. Pushing hard from the start worked out. My 5k splits were 24:33 first 5k and 24:39 second 5k

It was good to meet Edwin Quarles before the race. I did not see other HRB folks. The weather being so miserable made the after race party a bit damp.