Volunteering Is A Workout

Saturday morning started with a 72.5 mile bike ride. This was a "Poker Ride", which involves picking up a card at various stops along the ride. The winner is the one with the best 5 card hand. The first 10 miles was on my own at a 16.4 mph warm-up pace. The next 55 miles was with a peloton of Space City Cycling Club members doing the poker ride and we averaged 19.6 mph. The last 7.5 miles was a cool down and completed the ride at an overall pace of 18.5mph. My poker hand was 4, 9, 10, Q, K of different suits so I had nothing.

In the afternoon I set up the BARC tent for the Half Marathon in Sam Houston Park today. Had fun with Bayou City's John Phillips, since I hassled him that I had my tent up before theirs and he struck right back about our tent representing two clubs (BARC and CLFC) and isn't that just wrong. The BCRR folks are always having a good time, they run hard and fun just as hard. Back to Sam Houston Park at 5:30 am to volunteer as a timer for the race under the command of running renaissance man himself Coach Steeeve, who organized time and pace at every mile, 40 Strider relay teams while he himself is in Australia and other amazing feats of wonder for us mere mortals. Not to mention that his better half is even more amazing, putting on such an event as this massive half marathon with attention to detail and excellence everywhere. I guess some of Barbaras skills have rubbed off on Steeeeve over the years, it can't be natural for a Wolverine. Free fajitas for volunteers, a nice t-shirt, a half marathon shirt and door prizes, timing duties in the middle of the course so I could see all my friends, all balm to salve the soul of a runner who wants to run yet is content to time. Thanks Steeeve!

Well time most of the time. We were fortunate to be at mile 5, which meant our day was pretty much done at about 80 minutes into the race. Don't tell Steeeeve, or he won't have me back, but I did not go to the water stop and help after timing duties (blush). Instead I took a few pictures and paced a few friends along the course. The longest run was from our mile stop to the 13 mile mark with Veronica. She said we did the last mile in 8:07. That is a mile PR in jeans for me. I guess technically I bandited for a mile, but hey I had a volunteers shirt on. I also ran in Sarah for a few tenths and got a chance to see Cassie, Christy, Vic, JD, Jessica, Bill, Steve, Holden , Jen and assorted other dignitaries.

Down with the BARC tent, lug it to the car and away we go. I had intended to ride another 30 or 40 miles on Sunday afternoon, but I'm plum done for the day.