College of the Canyons Race #3; Race Report #12

     Just two days after the Bakersfield race we went back down to Santa Clarita for the third race in the College of the Canyons seven race summer series on Thursday nights. We tried to park where we normally do, but some studio types with Napolean complexes forced everyone to park in a tight grid so Nissan could film a commercial in the adjacent parking lot. Eventually, Keith and Ethan joined us along with Aden and Dave.
     We went through our warm-ups and drills, but I could tell tonight wasn't going to be my night. My legs still felt the results of the race just 48 hours earlier. Not as young as I once was. The weather was uncharacteristically cool for this time of year so I was disappointed I wouldn't be able to push the pace. We all lined up on the baseball field to await the starting gun.
     I went out easier than normal since I was feeling fatigued from Tuesday. I cruised through the first mile in 7:19, not fast but I felt within myself at this pace considering my tired legs. The second mile still had all the big hills. Funny, they just don't seem to go away. For over 30 years that hill by the Valencia Blvd. offramp has been there, and it's still just as steep and as long as it was the first time I ran it. I suffered up the hills and my second-mile split was 7:55. With the hills behind me, I powered down the hills to the track as best I could with a third mile split of 6:34. My finishing time was 21:55. I grabbed a quick drink and went back to find Robin. I cheered Keith on as I went backward on the course looking for Robin. I found her about a half mile out and finished with her. We all headed to the parking lot, changed and headed to Vincenzo's for some pizza and beer.

Ethan, myself, Robin and Keith at Vincenzo's

Bakersfield Summer Series Race #4; Race Report #11

     On July 18th Robin and I headed to Bakersfield for what was supposed to be the fourth race in their summer series. The third race was postponed and later cancelled because of a lack of volunteers to help put on the race. In my previous post, I mentioned that a runner suffered from a medical issue during the race, and unfortunately that runner passed away and I think that might have played into the third race being postponed. It's very sad that Benjamin Greene passed away, and its equally sad the Bakersfield Track Club had to put up with the negative diatribes from Mr Greene's family and acquaintances for simply providing us with an opportunity to run.
     This week the weather cooler compared to the last run, only 100 degrees out. The race had the usual misters and this week there was an industrial type cooling center set up. It looked like it was made for someone working in the Sahara desert, or in this case running in Bakersfield during the summer. Honestly, I don't feel much difference between 99 and 108, I think it's mostly mental. I did my warm up, drills, and strides before the race like always. I think I peed at least three times to make sure my bladder was as empty as possible before the race. Even Robin and Andrea did somewhat of a warm up by walking around the park before the start. Trevor did his usual warm up, he watched us. I again wore my hat and bandanna that I soak in water and carried a frozen water bottle to help keep my hands cool. I headed to the start area where I awaited my designated starting time and wished Shane, Joe, and Carl good luck.
     This time when the gun went off I went out faster than before, trying to take advantage of the mostly downhill first mile. I hit the one-mile mark in 6:42. Not too bad for an old fat guy. The second mile consisted of the only hill on the course and saw us go from pavement to dirt trails for most of the rest of the race. My second mile was 7:14 and I kicked it in for a 7:07 third mile and a finishing time of 21:40. I ate a slice of watermelon and filled my water bottle up since I had used my water to squirt on the back of my neck to stay cool during the race and headed out to find Robin to help her on her run in. I only had to go about a quarter of a mile, and there she was. I walked and jogged at her pace back to the finish again as a cool down and to give Robin moral support.
     After we had all cooled down we headed down the road to Ethel's roadhouse bar and grill for some adult beverages and sandwiches. The food there is really good, and the wait staff was prompt and courteous, definitely someplace I would be returning to.

The giant American Indian statue in front of Ethel's